unclecarl

https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=383596

Predictions this early in the season are always iffy, and in this cockamamie season they're downright dicey. Despite that, Warren Nolan predicts us going 24-1, losing once to Dayton, and somehow Dayton winds up on top at the end. For his final season-long predictions click here.

FWIW, Bracketologists.com has Dayton, of course, in as a 1-seed, Richmond as a 10-seed, and we're one of the first four out. The three possible opponents before we meet Dayton are all Q3 teams, so a win won't enhance our NET very much. A win over Dayton, of course, means a big up-spike in NET, but as you say, Roy, a loss in the championship game could knock us out, unless it's "just" another buzzer-beater loss a la the Dayton game. So many variables, so little time. The simple solution is just win all three games.

Talking head on Stadium Channel talking about dark horse team: No, it's not URI. The team to watch is St. Louis.

This counts as a Q1 win, so it will definitely help. So far, we're 3-3 in Q1 and Q2. And climbing. Beating Dayton will really prop us up.

I don't know how often bracketologists update their info, but as of today the A10 has two bids; VCU shares a 12-spot with Xavier. What you say about Syracuse-VCU comparison has vexed me for years. I would hope that the Selection Committee is above such thinking, but I'd bet that in the back of their minds they're considering TV ratings. BTW, I can't remember who pointed out the warrennolan.com site, but thank you, thank you, thank you. Lots of NET-centric info there. For God-only-knows-what reason, Sagarin isn't loading for me nowadays, so this alternative is most welcome. FWIW, there are two predictions for the DUQ game: The R1 says we lose by 3 and the ELO says we win by 4.

ICYMI, Sport Illustrated is giving us the win. They have us in the Midwest section as a 14-seed playing 3-seed Purdue. https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2019/03/17/ncaa-tournament-bracket-predictions-selection-sunday-watch-march-madness

When it gets close to game time, try http://firstrowi.net/basketball. You may have to be patient. Yesterday the link didn't show up until 5 minutes into the game. As always, be wary of the popup ads. Also, sometimes the feed freezes, but that could just be because of my crank-powered laptop.

If I'm reading/figuring KenPom's figures correctly--always debatable--his prediction is Dav 70 - SLU 68.

Adman, thank you for the link. My usual source (firstrowi.net) isn't even carrying the game.

If worse comes to worst and the game's not carried locally, check firstrowi.net. Depending on market size (they don't know nuthin 'bout Olean, NY) sometimes they carry our games. Considering the game's in NYC, I suspect that they'll offer it. If not, we always have Rammer. BTW, if firstrow does carry the game, be careful about all those damn popups. They can be a real pain in the patoot.

Speaking of "next year and beyond", is there a list somewhere of who, not counting the A10, is actually scheduled so far? Google has been no help; it keeps pointing me to 2016-2017. (And, inexplicaby, to a lot of UMass links.) Listening to the talking heads yesterday about mid-majors' inability to schedule "quality games" in order to get higher seeds has me wondering who we have lined up so far.

On the surface, this sounds like a good move for SLU. I've heard of Learfield, mostly in passing during (most likely) football radio broadcasts. So anything that expands the SLU brand, especially locally, is a good thing. (It's disheartening at times to see the proliferation of Duke or Michigan merchandise, for example, in the 314.) I have to wonder if this presages a change of venue for broadcast rights, specifically from WXOS to another station. I don't mean that to be an alarmist speculation; I'm just wondering. JMM28, what do you have in mind when mention "secondary broadcast stations"? To my non-cable-subscribing brain that means KPLR.

All the talking heads are saying "blowout" this morning. I hope there are plenty of crows in Orlando for their post-game meal.