Imagine the 'Cats finish .500.
- Thread starter bringbacktherantboard
- Start date
Not unless Phillips and Co. are willing/want to pay for the CBI.
In my mind, the loss to Central Michigan all but ended the 'Cats post season aspirations. While it's true that pulling out a few of those heart breakers in January would have made a significant difference, a 10-3 non-conference record might have allowed the 'Cats to sneak into the NIT with 6-12 conference mark and a good showing in the BTT.
That being said, a .500 finish would mean the 'Cats closing out the regular season by winning 5-6 out of their last 7 and having a good to great showing (1 or 2 wins) at the United Center. That would be absolutely phenomenal way to wrap up 2014-15.
In my mind, the loss to Central Michigan all but ended the 'Cats post season aspirations. While it's true that pulling out a few of those heart breakers in January would have made a significant difference, a 10-3 non-conference record might have allowed the 'Cats to sneak into the NIT with 6-12 conference mark and a good showing in the BTT.
That being said, a .500 finish would mean the 'Cats closing out the regular season by winning 5-6 out of their last 7 and having a good to great showing (1 or 2 wins) at the United Center. That would be absolutely phenomenal way to wrap up 2014-15.
I say cut the man some slack. Each of the past 6 seasons the 'Cats been in the postseason mix at the beginning of February. While important in the long term, this season has been pretty tough for fans of the program.
We were in the post season mix two seasons ago? I bet to differ on that one. That was a pretty brutal season as well...
Well (2012-13), after the Feb 2nd win over Purdue, NU was at 13-10 and 4-6 on the Big Ten. Sort of in the mix at that point.
edit- when Swopshire went out for season they were toast for sure. Carmody was toast before the season even started.
This post was edited on 2/19 5:45 PM by julescat
edit- when Swopshire went out for season they were toast for sure. Carmody was toast before the season even started.
This post was edited on 2/19 5:45 PM by julescat
I hope that NU would at least consider rewarding the team with the CBI if they finish the season that way.
So at 12-11 (5-5), we were "very much in it," but when someone else suggested that we were in the mix at 13-10 (4-6) the year before, you disagreed. Who knew that one additional conference loss meant so much?
IMO we were bad in both seasons and, despite the decent records going into February, had no realistic postseason hopes in either case.
IMO we were bad in both seasons and, despite the decent records going into February, had no realistic postseason hopes in either case.
Were we in 4th place the year before? Sitting at 4th place beyond halfway through the conference season meant we pretty much we in control of our own chances and didn't need to worry about scoreboard watching. Of course, we crashed until a nice couple wins to finish the season out...
"Place" is somewhat irrelevant and very fluid year to year. For example, Purdue is sitting pretty in the standings, yet Lundardi has them out. So if one record is "in it" the other would seem to be "in it" too.
However, I'm of the Styre school that we weren't really in it either year.
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However, I'm of the Styre school that we weren't really in it either year.
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The B1G was a beast last year and I think being fourth that far into the conf season held some water...
If we ended up finishing 500, (after the BTT) then I really hope Phillips has us play in the CBI (especially if the only stipulations are hosting games) because I'm very confident we'd do pretty well, which would add some additional buzz to a strong finish to the season. Plus it would be the basketball equivalent of bowl practices, getting the younger guys more games and practices (a potential of 6 games if we made the finals and it went to a 3rd game). Feel like a long season like this might eliminated the winter slump,if you even wanna call it that- or if you just wanna say some misfortune.
This post was edited on 2/19 7:05 PM by NTCAT
This post was edited on 2/19 7:05 PM by NTCAT
NIT: 3 games over rule of thumb
"We were in the post season mix two seasons ago? I bet to differ on that one."
Every year since the tournament shrunk back to 32 teams, the NIT has at least taken one school from an elite conference that finishes 3 games over .500 (non-conference auto bids really determine how many of said teams get in) - see below.
As Jules pointed out, the 'Cats were 13-10 (4-6) and in a dog fight with Iowa until the Swopshire and Olah injuries finally broke their back in the 2nd week of February. I cut last year's team (12-11) some lack because of the 5-5 start to conference play and how strong the defense was performing. It should be noted there were several NIT threads on this board both years (not to mention Turk's 2014 "We're a lock for the NIT...9th seed in the West" proclamation).
Even without the luxury of hindsight, was a postseason birth likely for both squads? Clearly not. But a .500 finish in 2013 and 5-3 finish last year would have gotten those teams to 3 games over. Given the accumulated data 10 games into conference play, the NIT was at least a possibility at the time, which was the gist of the post you contested.
Just to back up my case here's 5 years of data:
2014 NIT - Georgetown 17-14, West Virginia 17-15
2013 NIT - Providence 17-14, Washington 18-15, St. Johns 16-15
2012 NIT - Iowa 17-16
2011 NIT - California 17-14
2010 NIT*- Cincinnati 18-15 Texas Tech 17-15, St. John's 17-15, Connecticut 17-15, North Carolina 16-16
*20-13 (7-11) Northwestern was at least 1 seed below all the previously mentioned schools. Thanks selection committee.
This post was edited on 2/20 3:03 PM by ColumbusCatFan1
"We were in the post season mix two seasons ago? I bet to differ on that one."
Every year since the tournament shrunk back to 32 teams, the NIT has at least taken one school from an elite conference that finishes 3 games over .500 (non-conference auto bids really determine how many of said teams get in) - see below.
As Jules pointed out, the 'Cats were 13-10 (4-6) and in a dog fight with Iowa until the Swopshire and Olah injuries finally broke their back in the 2nd week of February. I cut last year's team (12-11) some lack because of the 5-5 start to conference play and how strong the defense was performing. It should be noted there were several NIT threads on this board both years (not to mention Turk's 2014 "We're a lock for the NIT...9th seed in the West" proclamation).
Even without the luxury of hindsight, was a postseason birth likely for both squads? Clearly not. But a .500 finish in 2013 and 5-3 finish last year would have gotten those teams to 3 games over. Given the accumulated data 10 games into conference play, the NIT was at least a possibility at the time, which was the gist of the post you contested.
Just to back up my case here's 5 years of data:
2014 NIT - Georgetown 17-14, West Virginia 17-15
2013 NIT - Providence 17-14, Washington 18-15, St. Johns 16-15
2012 NIT - Iowa 17-16
2011 NIT - California 17-14
2010 NIT*- Cincinnati 18-15 Texas Tech 17-15, St. John's 17-15, Connecticut 17-15, North Carolina 16-16
*20-13 (7-11) Northwestern was at least 1 seed below all the previously mentioned schools. Thanks selection committee.
This post was edited on 2/20 3:03 PM by ColumbusCatFan1
"Maybe they're worried that Gold Coast Tickets won't be able to sell to visiting fans of CBI opponents."
Well done, Styre.
Well done, Styre.
If postseason is only NCAA, thenwe were out both years but if it was NCAA, NIT or other, the answer is somewhat different. Purdue is in the position of postseason for sure and after the win at Indiana yesterday, they would likely be in rather than out of the NCAA at this point.
Last year we were out of postseason because of our weak OOC. The year before, we were in good shape for postseason till Swope went down. This year, if we got to 0.500 we might have a shot at something because of how it would mean we finished strong but it would only be a shot.
Last year we were out of postseason because of our weak OOC. The year before, we were in good shape for postseason till Swope went down. This year, if we got to 0.500 we might have a shot at something because of how it would mean we finished strong but it would only be a shot.
The CBI has had Big 10 teams with losing records each of the last 2 years: Penn State last year at 15-17 and Purdue in 2013 at 15-17. Heck, Oregon State won the CBI once after entering it with a 13-17 record.
In other words, if you're a big conference team and you really want into the CBI, they'll make it happen.
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In other words, if you're a big conference team and you really want into the CBI, they'll make it happen.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
Or a 20+ point victory over Penn State.
The 'Cats are playing well enough right now that .500 is within reach. (I also think they're better than their record right now.) It would really be a shame to see their season end when they're playing their best basketball of the season right now.