Top 25 with W tonight?

[Mr_Sweets]

UD currently sitting #31 in AP

Everyone not already in the AP top 25 ahead of UD has lost the front end of their weekly games (USC, S. Carolina, NW)

***Exceptions being Iowa State (who I assume will lose to Baylor Sat.) & VCU (who I assume will lose to RI Sat.)

Can we leap frog enough teams to be #25 come Monday with a W tonight?

[Medford]

They may be 31st, but they are only on 5 ballots, so its very unlikely they make the leap into the top 25 next week with a win tonight pretty much no matter what else happens. 1st, while we understand a win at Davidson isn't easy, nor was a home win over a resurgent Mason squad on Tuesday easy, the national media won't take significant notice of either. 2nd, this late in the season, for many voters their top 25 is going to be fairly stagnant. Frankly it kind of should be, if you truly believe that last week you had the 25 best teams in order on your ballot, would one loss significantly change your outlook knowing that all other teams not on your ballot had losses prior that still count? 3rd, there are teams that are not getting votes currently that w/ a solid week will pick up votes and potentially surpass UD (I'm thinking Michigan St is a likely candidate)

What I think will happen, with a win tonight, is that UD will move up slightly on the polls of the 5 voters who already have them in. They'll pick up some additional pollsters votes that had previously given votes to Maryland, Wisconsin, Creighton, Northwestern, South Carolina, teams that have already lost this week. I said in the Bubble watch thread that I thought a good mark for UD this week was 5 or more ballots, which they landed exactly on. I still think if they can show up on 10 or more next week heading into the game w/ VCU & @ GW they'll be in good shape. Win both of those games the following week and I think they slide into the top 25 prior to heading to Pittsburgh. If the polls are have merit in the selection room, then that is all that matters as they would be ranked prior to their the selection committee's first votes being cast Wednesday evening.

[NJFlyr71]

Probably not. Which is OK by me, since the Top 25 curse would take affect and we lose the very next game. I do not want a loss to VCU @ home!

[IndianaFlyer]

Sorry NJFlyer, I just don't buy into the curse in sports. You either play good enough to win or you don't. Top 25 is great publicity. If we want to continue to move forward on a national basis we need to be top 25 every year. If we are top 25 for VCU game, which I don't think we will be, it will bring even more national focus to the game.

[Mr_Sweets]

Originally Posted by IndianaFlyer Sorry NJFlyer, I just don't buy into the curse in sports. You either play good enough to win or you don't. Top 25 is great publicity. If we want to continue to move forward on a national basis we need to be top 25 every year. If we are top 25 for VCU game, which I don't think we will be, it will bring even more national focus to the game.

Kind of what I was hoping...

VCU losing to RI (and we win @ Davidson), gives us that 1 game cushion... AWESOME!... BUT if we both win tonight/tomorrow, potentially putting both of us in the top #25 with great exposure for the 3/1 game @ home.

[Bucketnight]

I think the "curse" has more to do with the fact that there is a very narrow margin between the 10 or 12 teams that are in contention for the last several spots in the Top 25. Talent wise, we have resided pretty firmly in that area.

If not for the Steve tragedy, we probably would have been good enough to have risen above that level and little thought would have been given to curses. Progress has been made but we still need a slight increase in talent to get to the point where we aren't hoping for multiple teams to lose so that we can slip into the rankings.

[Smitty10]

Originally Posted by Bucketnight I think the "curse" has more to do with the fact that there is a very narrow margin between the 10 or 12 teams that are in contention for the last several spots in the Top 25. Talent wise, we have resided pretty firmly in that area. If not for the Steve tragedy, we probably would have been good enough to have risen above that level and little thought would have been given to curses. Progress has been made but we still need a slight increase in talent to get to the point where we aren't hoping for multiple teams to lose so that we can slip into the rankings.

The reason there seems to be a curse is that usually it takes about a 6 to 8 game winning streak to get us in the bottom of the ranking. After 6 to 8 straight wins, we are due to lose. Not only that, but just about every top team in a conference gets upset by one of the bottom teams. When it happens to us, we slide down very quickly because voters don't respect losses to SLU, Fordham, Duquesne etc.

I would like to get there as the brackets are filled out though, a 5 or 6 seed would be nice.

	Fordham FORDHAM Fordham University is an independent Jesuit university established in 1841 as St. John's College on old Rose Hill Manor in the village of Fordham, then part of Westchester County in the Bronx, NY. The name Fordham is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "ford" and "ham," meaning a wading place or ford by a settlement. Rose Hill is the name given to the site in 1787 by Robert Watts, a wealthy New York merchant, in honor of his family's ancestral home of the same name in Scotland. The College was originally staffed by diocesan clergy. The name was officially changed to Fordham University in 1907. Fordham's 10 schools enroll 14,448 students. There are 7,652 undergraduates, of whom 3,842 live in University-managed housing either on-campus or in the local community. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Rams. Athletic claim to fame is consistent mediocrity in nearly all sports and few A10 title winning programs.

	Duquesne DUQUESNE Duquesne University is a private, coeducational university, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania located on 48 secluded acres, on a bluff above downtown. Founded in 1878 as a Catholic college by the Order of the Holy Spirit. It is the only Spiritan institution of higher education in the world. Duquesne offers 10 schools of study and 100 degree programs to 6,000 undergraduates and 3,800 graduate students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Dukes.

	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.

[MNFats]

I don't believe in curses either...but this isn't really a curse. It does take a different mentality to win when you are the "hunted". We have done VERY well over the years as the "hunters" - as evidenced by our record against Power 5 teams.

Our record as the "hunted" is not as good. Being top 25 puts you squarely in "hunted" territory - especially in conference games.

Looking at the last 2 seasons (14/15 and 15/16) we played 36 conference games. We were top 25 for 9 of those games. We won 81% (22-5) of the games when we were not ranked. We won 55% when in the top 25 (5-4).

Go one season before that and we played 2 games in the top 25 (out of conference). We beat Delaware St, then lost to Illinois State.


15-16 - Ranked 15 - Bonnies - Loss
15-16 - Ranked 15 - @St Joes - Loss
15-16 - Ranked 19 - @Rhode Island - Win
15-16 - Ranked 19 - Duquesne - Win
15-16 - Ranked 24 - @George Mason - Win
15-16 - Ranked 25 - U Mass - Win
15-16 - Ranked 25 - @LaSalle - Loss
14-15 - Ranked 22 - Richmond - Win
14-15 - Ranked 22 - @Davidson - Loss
13-14 - Ranked 25 - @Illinois State - Loss
13-14 - Ranked 25 - Delaware St - Win


I would say this team, as much as I love them, has not shown the ability to play the role of the "hunted". I would love to see us be top 25 and the #1 seed in the A10 tournament. I think our seniors have the mentality to succeed in that scenario.

	Richmond UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND Founded in 1830, the private liberal arts university in the Commonwealth boasts 2,800 students in 57 majors within its picturesque 350-acre campus. The Robins School of Business is one of the Top-20 business schools in the country. Nickname is the Spiders and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	St Bonaventure SAINT BONAVENTURE Founded in 1858, St. Bonaventure University is a liberal arts college located on 500 acres in southwestern New York state. SBU offers 43 undergraduate majors, the most popular of which are elementary education, journalism, psychology, accounting, marketing, finance, and management. Total undergraduate enrollment is 2,000. Virtually all freshmen and most undergraduates live on campus. A founding member of the A10 Conference. Famous athletes include Bob Lanier. Historical nickname was the Brown Indians, but later changed to the Bonnies. Their mascot is a wolf.

	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.

	Duquesne DUQUESNE Duquesne University is a private, coeducational university, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania located on 48 secluded acres, on a bluff above downtown. Founded in 1878 as a Catholic college by the Order of the Holy Spirit. It is the only Spiritan institution of higher education in the world. Duquesne offers 10 schools of study and 100 degree programs to 6,000 undergraduates and 3,800 graduate students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Dukes.

	LaSalle LA SALLE In 1863, La Salle University was established through the legacy of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the Christian Brothers teaching order, which De La Salle founded 300 years ago. Located in Philadelphia, La Salle is an educational community shaped by traditional Catholic and Lasallian values. La Salle's main campus is an ideal place for students to pursue an education. The 130-acre park-like setting includes 54 buildings and is located approximately six miles from Center City Philadelphia. The University can accommodate 2,114 resident students in its 12 residence halls, two apartment complexes, and 75 townhouses. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Explorers. Notable athletes include Tom Gola and Lionel Simmons.

[mook]

I don't care about numbers until NCAA seeding

[ruechalgrin]

This is most difficult game of next 3. 58% chance to win @Davidson (supposed to win 73-70), 68% chance to win VCU home (supposed to win 73-68), and 70% chance to win @GW (supposed to win 72-66). All #s according to kenpom.

This is a really tough game!

[Canonball]

Not that concerned unless it makes a difference in seeding. It would be nice if the Flyers squeaked out a 5-6 seed to avoid a second round game against a 1/2. Then again UD did land a 4 one year and it blew apart.

[Donniex3Era]

Originally Posted by ruechalgrin This is most difficult game of next 3. 58% chance to win @Davidson (supposed to win 73-70), 68% chance to win VCU home (supposed to win 73-68), and 70% chance to win @GW (supposed to win 72-66). All #s according to kenpom. This is a really tough game!

Right you are - line is UD -3

[IndianaFlyer]

Originally Posted by Canonball Not that concerned unless it makes a difference in seeding. It would be nice if the Flyers squeaked out a 5-6 seed to avoid a second round game against a 1/2. Then again UD did land a 4 one year and it blew apart.

If you have a of history of being in the top 25, even in a little bit of a down season you seem to pass the committes "eye test" to make the tourney with a seed in the top 5 or 6. That's what being a yearly top 25 program does for you. Even if Butler drops their next couple of games they are going to pass the eye test with the committee and drop little if any in seeding.

[shwag33]

I think I'd rather play @davidson than vcu at home this year if a win is required.

[DGO67]

Originally Posted by Donniex3Era Right you are - line is UD -3

That line movement is very unusual for UD in that, as a favorite, UD typically
loses favor with bettors. My decadent gambling days are far behind, but the residue of my experience says game results can not prognosticated by line
movement. However, going from -1.5 to -3 makes me like our chances tonight...especially as the away team!

[Smitty10]

Originally Posted by Canonball Not that concerned unless it makes a difference in seeding. It would be nice if the Flyers squeaked out a 5-6 seed to avoid a second round game against a 1/2. Then again UD did land a 4 one year and it blew apart.

That's not a UD thing, that was an Oliver Purnell thing.

[m21eagle45]

Originally Posted by czwalga I think I'd rather play @davidson than vcu at home this year if a win is required.

Have you watched VCU on the road? They are a VERY different team on the road. We would be much better off playing them at home that at Davidson, even with just pulling out the win in OT.

[Mr_Sweets]

Originally Posted by Mr_Sweets UD currently sitting #31 in AP Everyone not already in the AP top 25 ahead of UD has lost the front end of their weekly games (USC, S. Carolina, NW) ***Exceptions being Iowa State (who I assume will lose to Baylor Sat.) & VCU (who I assume will lose to RI Sat.) Can we leap frog enough teams to be #25 come Monday with a W tonight?

So...

Dayton - Win (2 this week)
Iowa State - Win (2 this week)
NW - Loss (2 this week)
S. Carolina - Win (1 & 1 this week)
VCU - Loss (1 & 1 this week)
USC - plays Sun. (1 loss this week so far)

#23 & #24 (Maryland & Creighton) both lost as well.

Dayton should be in the top 25 Monday
Posted via Mobile Device

[TX Flyer]

Originally Posted by Mr_Sweets So... Dayton - Win (2 this week) Iowa State - Win (2 this week) NW - Loss (2 this week) S. Carolina - Win (1 & 1 this week) VCU - Loss (1 & 1 this week) USC - plays Sun. (1 loss this week so far) #23 & #24 (Maryland & Creighton) both lost as well. Dayton should be in the top 25 Monday Posted via Mobile Device

Miami beat duke so they are ahead of us and Iowa beat #24 Maryland so they are ahead of us. You should know an A10 winning 2 games (23 on season) doesn't mean as much. UD will not get the same respect as evident by all the tourney bracket bias

[FlyerBob]

No worries. We win next two and we are set up nicely for a national ranking before the A10T. And we'd lock in a decent seed. Now if we can also win the A10T (win out rest of season) which I'm not counting on- who knows what that could mean for us

It's a great time to be a Flyer!

[maddog07]

Rpi around 100, 15-13 Iowa is ahead of us--please!!

[TX Flyer]

Originally Posted by maddog07 Rpi around 100, 15-13 Iowa is ahead of us--please!!

Didn't think I needed the sarcasm smiley. Point is, P5 schools will bump ahead of us for beating ranked teams whether they are better or not.

[jack72]

We are up to #22 in RPI, one ahead of ND and only one behind X. With no Steve, and finally everyone else back and healthy, this is where we should be in the rankings, 20-25.

[Mr_Sweets]

#28 (32 votes)

#27 OK State
#26 Minnesota
#25 Miami
#24 Iowa State
#23 Virginia
#22 Wisconsin
#21 Wich State
#20 St Marys

[SC_Flyer]

Added data from UDPride's RPI link:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
                  RPI National Ranking                     RPI    Record   Record  Record  Record  Record   
                  Rank Team                       Conf.   Rating  Overall  Top-25  Top-50  Conf.  N-Conf.   
----------------------|--------------------------|------|-------|--------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
#28 (32 votes)  --> 21  Dayton                     A10     .6109    22-5     0-2     3-3    14-2     8-3

#27 OK State    --> 27  Oklahoma State             BIG12   .6041    19-9     1-5     3-7     9-7    10-2
#26 Minnesota   --> 16  Minnesota                  B1G     .6258    22-7     1-1     7-5    10-6    12-1
#25 Miami       --> 35  Miami (FL)                 ACC     .5960    20-8     3-5     4-7    10-6    10-2
#24 Iowa State  --> 36  Iowa State                 BIG12   .5955    19-9     2-5     4-6    11-5     8-4
#23 Virginia    --> 19  Virginia                   ACC     .6197    19-9     3-5     5-7     9-7    10-2
#22 Wisconsin   --> 32  Wisconsin                  B1G     .5999    22-7     1-3     3-6    11-5    11-2
#21 Wich State  --> 40  Wichita State              MVC     .5923    26-4     0-1     1-4    17-1     9-3
#20 St Marys    --> 17  St Mary's (CA)             WCC     .6225    26-3     1-2     2-3    16-2    10-1

Wichita State is surely getting more love than they deserve. Quite frankly, it's a bit of a shocker.

[CT Flyer]

Originally Posted by SC_Flyer Added data from UDPride's RPI link: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| RPI National Ranking RPI Record Record Record Record Record Rank Team Conf. Rating Overall Top-25 Top-50 Conf. N-Conf. ----------------------|--------------------------|------|-------|--------|-------|-------|-------|-------| #28 (32 votes) --> 21 Dayton A10 .6109 22-5 0-2 3-3 14-2 8-3 #27 OK State --> 27 Oklahoma State BIG12 .6041 19-9 1-5 3-7 9-7 10-2 #26 Minnesota --> 16 Minnesota B1G .6258 22-7 1-1 7-5 10-6 12-1 #25 Miami --> 35 Miami (FL) ACC .5960 20-8 3-5 4-7 10-6 10-2 #24 Iowa State --> 36 Iowa State BIG12 .5955 19-9 2-5 4-6 11-5 8-4 #23 Virginia --> 19 Virginia ACC .6197 19-9 3-5 5-7 9-7 10-2 #22 Wisconsin --> 32 Wisconsin B1G .5999 22-7 1-3 3-6 11-5 11-2 #21 Wich State --> 40 Wichita State MVC .5923 26-4 0-1 1-4 17-1 9-3 #20 St Marys --> 17 St Mary's (CA) WCC .6225 26-3 1-2 2-3 16-2 10-1 Wichita State is surely getting more love than they deserve. Quite frankly, it's a bit of a shocker.

Agreed! And after looking at that I'm not sure why more voters didn't gopher Minnesota...

[ClaytonFlyerFan]

Originally Posted by SC_Flyer Wichita State is surely getting more love than they deserve. Quite frankly, it's a bit of a shocker.

Originally Posted by CT Flyer Agreed! And after looking at that I'm not sure why more voters didn't gopher Minnesota...

Your both naturals at the comedy thing.

Natural disasters that is

[Gilchrist's Autograph 2]

And someone must be thinking "I Owe A" big favor to IA State to rank them that high.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Glen Clark]

Bleacher Report's Brian Pederson has Dayton at #24 this week

_____________________
Whether your glass is half full or half empty, you still have more to drink

[AC91]

Originally Posted by CT Flyer Agreed! And after looking at that I'm not sure why more voters didn't gopher Minnesota...

And once again it looks like they took a flyer on UD!

[Mr_Sweets]

#28 UD - play 3/1 vs #35 VCU

#27 OK State - play tonight vs #24 Iowa State
#26 Minnesota - play 3/2 vs Nebraska
#25 Miami - Lose to #36 VT
#24 Iowa State - play tonight vs #27 OK State
#23 Virginia - Win over #5 UNC
#22 Wisconsin - play 3/2 vs Iowa
#21 Wich State - play 3/3 vs Bradley/Drake (MVC Tournament)
#20 St Mary's - play 3/4 vs San Diego/Portland (WCC Tournament)

Go OK State or Iowa State? Which one losing moves the needle more for UD?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Gazoo]

Originally Posted by CT Flyer Agreed! And after looking at that I'm not sure why more voters didn't gopher Minnesota...

Everyone is so cavalier about Virginia and Wisconsin, who have a lot of losses lately. We should all badger the voters about continuing to give them so much love.

[CE80]

I see the writers have not gone zaga over the GU Bulldogs this week after their loss to BYU.

[bp]

This thread gets worse every time I check it

[Mr_Sweets]

Originally Posted by bp This thread gets worse every time I check it

Not intended when I started it.. smh

[TXFlyerFan]

Originally Posted by Gazoo Everyone is so cavalier about Virginia and Wisconsin, who have a lot of losses lately. We should all badger the voters about continuing to give them so much love.

Cavalier, Virginia...I see what you did there.

[CE80]

Originally Posted by bp This thread gets worse every time I check it

Couldn't think of one huh.

[Medford]

Originally Posted by CE80 Couldn't think of one huh.

Well he could have taken that Seminol moment to really Bear down and find the Devil in the details of each post. Perhaps a Gael force wind, a cyclone or even a hurricane will allow the Flyers to soar higher in the next rankings. Shocking thought I know, but I hope its in the Cards.

[LIBob]

Originally Posted by Medford Well he could have taken that Seminol moment to really Bear down and find the Devil in the details of each post. Perhaps a Gael force wind, a cyclone or even a hurricane will allow the Flyers to soar higher in the next rankings. Shocking thought I know, but I hope its in the Cards.

You definitely ram-med a lot into that post.

[CE80]

Originally Posted by Medford Well he could have taken that Seminol moment to really Bear down and find the Devil in the details of each post. Perhaps a Gael force wind, a cyclone or even a hurricane will allow the Flyers to soar higher in the next rankings. Shocking thought I know, but I hope its in the Cards.

I am not worthy.

[Medford]

Originally Posted by CE80 I am not worthy.

Perhaps if you climbed out of the gopher hole you've been in and cowboy'd up you'd find enlightenment. Truthfully, this whole thing is Hookie, but we're just a bunch of heels.

[CE80]

Originally Posted by Medford Perhaps if you climbed out of the gopher hole you've been in and cowboy'd up you'd find enlightenment. Truthfully, this whole thing is Hookie, but we're just a bunch of heels.

It's too bad that earlier in the season at the Wooden Legacy when the fog lifted over Los Angeles and you could see LA we didn't have a chance to hit a neighborhood tavern and have a couple of boilermakers.

[UDTradition]

IF VCU wins tonight...they will have identical season records. Am I the only one who hates this situation? In NFL football it seems like my team ALWAYS loses when this is the case.

I think barring an 0-3 finish...UD is a lock. VCU is not. They are motivated and have in favor the curse of identical records.

[66flyer]

Considering the iffy VCU last second wins recently, a second consecutive loss would be fitting tonight.

[Smitty10]

Originally Posted by UDTradition IF VCU wins tonight...they will have identical season records. Am I the only one who hates this situation? In NFL football it seems like my team ALWAYS loses when this is the case. I think barring an 0-3 finish...UD is a lock. VCU is not. They are motivated and have in favor the curse of identical records.

If projecting out, we have a very lose-able game at GW and they should beat GM at home. So the Flyers can use that as the motivation to win it all while they hold serve.

[CT Flyer]

And we are at HOME, that should mean something too.