The upsets that happened should make the selection committee start looking at the best teams, instead of giving the P5 conferences 7 bids. Instead, it will probably make them double down and get even more protective of their precious favorites.
Regarding the title of the thread: Marshall plays West Virginia tonight. I do not think it is out of the question for Marshall to win this one. If they do pull it off, they then may run into a wall in the Sweet 16 with Villanova.
Nova will go down in flames!
Actually, seriously, they've had a couple of WTF games this year. The loss to St. John's in particular. They can be had! WKU played 'em tough this year (66-58).
Go Thundering Turd! (I don't care about them winning, I just want the money for CUSA, which is all that matters....or so I am told)
Well whatever label you choose, the reality is the P5 conferences have established the narrative whereby they control the selection process. When you hear the talking-heads (like Jay Bilas, the hoops' version of Mark May) say, well such-n-such team went 8-10 in their conference, but 8 wins in that league is very good! and they deserve an invite to the Dance. Meanwhile a so-called "mid major" has a 27-6 overall record, 14-2 in their league, but hey! they didn't play anybody, and thus no Dance for them! There ya go....
That is why in my 300+ system, ONLY non-conference games count. No more of this crap where the P5s get credit just for playing each other in conference play. That is simply self-serving bullshit! It's amazing what happens to all these incredible teams when they have to play a "mid major" on a neutral court, with fair refs! Ooops!
When does UMBC play today, and will goofy CBS even provide coverage?
I doubt if those two guys, Maura and Lyles, will play anywhere near the level they did on Friday. Don't see how they could. That was unreal. Best performance by a backcourt, I guess going back to Wittenburg and Lowe with NC State in 1983. Anyway, Go Retrievers!
Unfortunately our press is not as intimidating or as successful as WV! We pressed them and they killed us every time with a dunk or transition 3. IF we ever play them at home we might have better luck pressing them but it did not work for us. They just could not buy a basket or a rebound all game, when they didn't turn it over, that is.
WKU beat USC 79-75 in the NIT. Plays at Okie State next, quarterfinals.