Maui Invitational: Illinois vs USC

[rbachhuber]

If you click on the link for the Maui Invitational, you see a list of opening round games and regional games, including Illinois vs. Colgate. If the final eight teams have already been chosen to go to Hawaii, what's the point of the opening round games?

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Originally Posted by IntenselyOrange

I think most are expecting a bubble-type season which makes SOS an extremely important number.

SOS is only somewhat important, IMO. What's really going to hurt us (potentially) on selection Sunday is a lack of quality wins. Might get one in Maui, the other 2 chances will be @Gonzaga (big underdogs) and vs Mizzou (slight dogs?). We have other high major opponents in Maui along with Auburn and Georgia Tech, but none that look likely to be top 50 type teams.

Originally Posted by rbachhuber

If you click on the link for the Maui Invitational, you see a list of opening round games and regional games, including Illinois vs. Colgate. If the final eight teams have already been chosen to go to Hawaii, what's the point of the opening round games?

I think it's just to allow more teams to play in the exempt tourney.

[jhayton]

Does anyone know if the Chaminade's and Colgate's of these tournaments play for guaratees? Or is that only when a DII school gets called on to be a whipping boy?

[freddbird]

Originally Posted by jhayton

Does anyone know if the Chaminade's and Colgate's of these tournaments play for guaratees? ?

What does that even mean? Guarantee of what?

[cjcastan]

Originally Posted by freddbird

What does that even mean? Guarantee of what?

Guarantee of cash money

[jhayton]

Originally Posted by cjcastan

Guarantee of cash money

Exactly, my dad was an athletic director for a DIII school who had an agreement with Minnesota State (who won a national title recently) that they would play them once a year for three years for a specific amount of money.

I know this happens a lot in football, but not sure about basketball. I was just curious if the trip to Maui was enough to draw them out there, or if it was $$$. This is actually the way a lot of smaller schools fund their athletics programs.

[jhayton]

BTW. Minnesota State is a DII school.

[stevo99]

Originally Posted by WesterveltVictoryCigar

SOS is only somewhat important, IMO. What's really going to hurt us (potentially) on selection Sunday is a lack of quality wins. Might get one in Maui, the other 2 chances will be @Gonzaga (big underdogs) and vs Mizzou (slight dogs?). We have other high major opponents in Maui along with Auburn and Georgia Tech, but none that look likely to be top 50 type teams.



I think it's just to allow more teams to play in the exempt tourney.

If we lack quality wins on Selection Sunday, we'll have no one to blaim but ourselves. There won't be a lack of opportunities in the B10.

[TCTORNADO]

Originally Posted by jhayton

BTW. Minnesota State is a DII school.

Alma Mater of Paris Parham!!

[Indicchief]

If we get to the championship game against NC it would be a nice rematch for Groce!! Beat them in regulation.

[IntenselyOrange]

Originally Posted by stevo99

If we lack quality wins on Selection Sunday, we'll have no one to blaim but ourselves. There won't be a lack of opportunities in the B10.

That is my thought too. I'll go further to say, if we don't have some quality wins, we won't be on the bubble.

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Originally Posted by stevo99

If we lack quality wins on Selection Sunday, we'll have no one to blaim but ourselves. There won't be a lack of opportunities in the B10.

Obviously, but you've made your margin for error much smaller. This is the kind of scheduling that's hurt Northwestern's chances in the past, they have a nice non-conference record, but for NCAA bid purposes, they might as well have not played anyone at all.

[Dan]

(Early) preview of USC

One Pac-12 coach said “if the pieces fit” he expects a much-improved USC team. That won’t be hard. USC lost 10 straight to close the season. Combined, Illinois and USC went 1-19 in February and March. Here’s hoping both are improved by late November.

Klee

[bleedsorangenblue]

A match up of underacheivers on the rebuild could make for a good game....... but does Klee have to rub it in?

[FinalFour88]

Is USC currently under sanctions related to OJ Mayo? Do they have fewer scholarship players?

[stevo99]

Originally Posted by WesterveltVictoryCigar

Obviously, but you've made your margin for error much smaller. This is the kind of scheduling that's hurt Northwestern's chances in the past, they have a nice non-conference record, but for NCAA bid purposes, they might as well have not played anyone at all.

The thing that has hurt N'Western more than anything is not winning the games they had to have in the league the last 2 years. The NCAA was dying to put them in last year, but couldn't because they lost multiple games down the stretch and played themselves off the bubble.

My way of thinking has always been that you challenge yourself out of league to the extent that your roster needs to be challenged. There is no need for Groce to overschedule given the circumstances this year. Especially when you consider the quality of the league.

[Indicchief]

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

Is USC currently under sanctions related to OJ Mayo? Do they have fewer scholarship players?

Not any longer, they were for one year.

Talking of this match up, I would not be too certain of a victory. 50-50 is where I would put it.

[FinalFour88]

Originally Posted by Indicchief

Not any longer, they were for one year.

Talking of this match up, I would not be too certain of a victory. 50-50 is where I would put it.

I agree with your 50-50 call. USC might be still working on their chemistry with new players, but our players might be having some growing pains with the new Groce system.

[MTILLINOIS]

I'm not confident on any of these games. We are still shy on a PG on this team. Until we can get a PG on this team, I'm a "Glass is half empty" kind of guy.

[Illini2016]

We got a nice spot. Looks favorable. Anyway, I want to beat USC, Texas, and UNC/MU very badly, so let's do it.

[ryls]

Maurice Jones, who was the best player for USC last year has been ruled academically ineligible, they will still be much improved but his loss hurts them.

[drumanimal]

I was recently on a USC board and they think they are going to blow us away...:laugh: I think it will be a close game. As many have pointed out already our PG is going to be key this season. Should be a fun tourney to watch.

[redriver]

Originally Posted by rbachhuber

If you click on the link for the Maui Invitational, you see a list of opening round games and regional games, including Illinois vs. Colgate. If the final eight teams have already been chosen to go to Hawaii, what's the point of the opening round games?

There is a mainland portion to the Maui this year with Colgate, Elon, other teams. It allows teams to maximize the number of games they play by playing in an excempt tournament where three games count as one. Therefore getting more experience, a better chance to win 20 games, and money.

[quhawks12]

Opening Maui Invitational odds to win the tournament courtesy of beyondthebets.com

Butler +800
Chaminade +50000
Illinois +300
Marquette +500
Mississippi St +1200
UNC +150
USC +800
Texas +175

[Botb9]

Sort of surprised on those odds. Essentially, that means they "seed" us third?