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[Fudd]

Originally Posted by masonflyer Fudd, the reason that people are focusing on A 10 regular season and tourney results is because that is the pathway to an NCAA bid. It is very difficult to get an at large bid without a top 4 finish in the A 10. Likewise, it is very hard to get into the semi - finals, more so the finals without the first round bye. Just look at last year. A semi - final birth may have gotten UD into the tourney, a finals loss would have definitely done it. If that would have happened they may have won 2 NCAA tourney games the way they played in th NIT. I for one would have given BG an A had that happened.

It's a little bit different every year depending on a teams non-conf SOS/performance and how the top of the league shakes down. Sometimes we are a 1 or 2 bid league (2004 and 2005). Rarely 8-8 or 9-7 (Saint Joe's 2007) teams from the A10 have made the NCAA as at-larges. 10-6 and 11-5 really get you strong in the conversation, but if you are weak in the non-con, you are still at risk (Saint Louis 2009, Rhode Island 2008)(UMass 13-3 2006)(Saint Joe's 14-2 2004).

Of course doing well in the A10 is a big factor, but the non-con can factor in very heavy depending on the quality of the league.

And then the bottom line of my argument: Purnell did a lot better in the league, but still only went to the NCAA 2 times in 9 years. That is the same as BG in 7 years, but without BG's NCAA win. I respect that people want to do well in the A10 consistantly, but if it isn't resulting in increased trips to the NCAA, it is nothing but A10 wins. That isn't going to move the needle by itself.

NCAA tournament > A10 tournament

	Rhode Island RHODE ISLAND The University of Rhode Island was chartered as the state's agricultural school in 1888. The school became the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1892. Located in southern Rhode Island, URI is a quintessential New England campus - rural in feeling yet close to the city of Providence, the state's capital. Linked to the city, the beaches, and nearly every corner of the state by both rail and public transit, the campus is easily accessible from Boston and New York URI currently offers 100 majors in seven degree-granting colleges. There are more than 12,000 students on the Kingston campus, about 3,000 in Providence, and a complement of about 700 faculty. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Rams.

	Massachusetts MASSACHUSETTS UMass Amherst, the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system, sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, 90 miles from Boston and 175 miles from New York City. The campus provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. UMass enrolls over 20,000 undergraduates and 5,000 post-grad students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Minutemen. Women's teams known as the Minutewomen. Sports achievements include NCAA Final Four appearances in men's basketball and women's soccer.

	Saint Louis SAINT LOUIS Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 12,700 students. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Located in St. Louis, MO, and just five minutes from the Gateway Arch, SLU offers 85 undergraduate programs and over 50 graduate study tracks. Over 99% of the SLU faculty hold the highest degree in their respective fields. Fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Billikens, but also commonly known as "Sloo", the phonetic pronunciation of the school's initials. Athletic claims to fame include multiple national titles in men's soccer and men's basketball star Larry Hughes.