OT: Did one at-large bid disappear?

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Well, that didn't take long for an upset in a mid-major conference tournament.

Belmont hit a three-pt FG late to get the auto-bid from the OVC over 25th ranked Murray State. Will MSU get an at-large for another OVC team? If so, the bubble just shrunk a little.

 

[septimusharding]

Originally posted by Purdue Grad in Texas:

Well, that didn't take long for an upset in a mid-major conference tournament.

Belmont hit a three-pt FG late to get the auto-bid from the OVC over 25th ranked Murray State. Will MSU get an at-large for another OVC team? If so, the bubble just shrunk a little.

I would think so, but the ESPN article on the game says: "Murray State: Coach Steve Prohm likely missed out on his second NCAA berth in his four seasons." But if Murray was really deserving of that #25 ranking, I'm not sure a last-second loss to a decent Belmont team knocks them out of the field. But apparently their SOS is really weak, even if they did win like 20-some in a row.

There could be trouble brewing in the Missouri Valley as well. Wichita State got upset today in the semifinals of their tourney. Northern Iowa is still alive, so as long as they win, there won't be a bid thief from that conference. But if they lose to Illinois State in the final, there's another spot gone.

In short, I'm very glad we won today.

This post was edited on 3/7 10:13 PM by septimusharding

 

[lbodel]

I posted on another thread - I'm not sure there's more teams that play their way into the tourney unexpectedly than teams that blow their opportunity to make it. IU is one example if they don't win a game in the BTT. Illinois lost 4 of their last 6 six games - likely playing their way out of the tournament barring a run in the BTT.

 

[dal9]

i believe murray state had some kind of incredibly weak noncon

 

[seminolesboilers]

Murray State is not receiving an at-large bid...no bubble teams hurt there. Illinois State beating Wichita State...does hurt bubble teams.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Originally posted by seminolesboilers:
Murray State is not receiving an at-large bid...no bubble teams hurt there. Illinois State beating Wichita State...does hurt bubble teams.

I tend to agree; just wondering if that was the consensus. Northern Iowa and Wich State will get in, regardless.