Bracketology
For me it comes down to bigs, we have enough guards/wings to get it done...but against Purdue when Giorgi sat, Kipper was playing the 5 and AJ has been locked in covering a 4, so a combination of style and balance could make it tough.
But ADLR did not play against Purdue. He was available to play against the kitties.
If ADLR is available or not, obviously available is better, but I'm still concerned about his health through a 4 or 5 day back to back tournament run and the difference between fully healthy & not available. We had 1 big we chose to play for Purdue, that isn't enough. We have 3 point guards, we have AJ, DW, KN, AG, & TJ all getting some tick at wing, I think we have enough guys to run for 4 or 5 days and be fine from the 1-4. We may have only Giorgi at the 5,that's were I think the long run would show the most.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Same, except for Friday ... really hopin' we can play Thursday and win so I can go! There was some surprising action yesterday, which now leaves us with a three-way tie for first place with only a few days to go. When I plugged in my remaining predictions (which includes us beating IU tomorrow but losing at PSU), these were the seeds I got:
1. MSU
2. PUR
3. MICH
4. UMD
5. WISC
6. IOWA
7. OSU
8. MINN
9. ILL
10. RU
11. IND
12. PSU
13. NEB
14. NU
That would give us an 11:30 am matchup with Minnesota on Thursday (BTN), which I would not complain about (other than not being able to watch very well at work). Winning at PSU, too, might give us the 7-seed and a 6:00 pm game on Thursday. Either way, with a friendly crowd, familiar court and beatable opponent, I will be very upset if we lose on Thursday (or, God forbid, Wednesday). If we can win that first game, we would play 1-seed Michigan State on Friday at 11:30 am (BTN). I don't like the time slot at all, but as far as "top opponents" go, give me MSU over Purdue or Michigan...
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Sorry to double post (Dan, feel free to edit!), but it has been a few hours. 
IF we make it to Friday of the BTT, my girlfriend and I are for sure going to go and support the Illini (we won't get into the city until Thursday night). For those who have gone before, there aren't "fan sections" are there? I figured it was random seating, but I also seem to remember seeing clusters of different teams' fans on TV in the past. Thanks in advance for any advice!
IF we make it to Friday of the BTT, my girlfriend and I are for sure going to go and support the Illini (we won't get into the city until Thursday night). For those who have gone before, there aren't "fan sections" are there? I figured it was random seating, but I also seem to remember seeing clusters of different teams' fans on TV in the past. Thanks in advance for any advice!
The Dave
- CA
Sorry to double post (Dan, feel free to edit!), but it has been a few hours.
IF we make it to Friday of the BTT, my girlfriend and I are for sure going to go and support the Illini (we won't get into the city until Thursday night). For those who have gone before, there aren't "fan sections" are there? I figured it was random seating, but I also seem to remember seeing clusters of different teams' fans on TV in the past. Thanks in advance for any advice!
I went last year for Day 1 at MSG. They didn't even have assigned seating there. Just go in and sit wherever you want. I'm guessing it is different on subsequent days and/or based on the change in venue. But you can hope that it's GA seating...
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Wow, after Minnesota beating Purdue and Northwestern (!!) beating Ohio State handily, the picture really changes up a bit ... that 7-seed is very attainable, but I am honestly wondering if we even want it, haha. If the 8-seed or 9-seed, we would likely play Ohio State (a team we beat at their place) and then Michigan State if we won (another team we beat). If we got the 7-seed, I think we would play Indiana first round (soon after hopefully just beating them) and then Purdue (a team I think we match up horribly with).
Obviously, you play to win and get the highest seed you can, but playing OSU first round, MSU second round and then hoping someone other than Wisconsin makes it through to play us in the semifinals (likely Maryland) is a much easier path to a run, IMO.
Obviously, you play to win and get the highest seed you can, but playing OSU first round, MSU second round and then hoping someone other than Wisconsin makes it through to play us in the semifinals (likely Maryland) is a much easier path to a run, IMO.
First round against OSU is ideal. They are done with this season.
Stubhub has tickets to Wednesday's play in round this year at UC for $6 and yes, it is GA.
One game at a time. Win that one.
Agreed. Win the next game. Do that 9 more times.
We need to beat PSU & Rutgers needs to beat Indiana.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
In a vacuum (God, I have been saying that too much lately!), playing Northwestern and then Iowa is the best we can hope for ... however, playing on Wednesday is such a significant blow to going on a run, IMO. We need to beat Penn State and get into that 10-seed game. Selfishly, I will be getting into Chicago Thursday night, and I have made it a goal to go to our game on Friday, should we have one. I need that 10-seed!!
According to the generator if we win Sunday and IU loses to Rutgers we're the eight seed. Of course with the generators pick in the others coming through as well.
Deleted member 173571
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Guest
I agree that the best we can hope for in a vacuum is the 11 seed, but since that comes with an extra game, the best scenario is the 10 seed with Ohio State as the 7 seed. That requires the following outcomes:
1. Beat Penn State
2. Ohio State beats Wisconsin (it’s at Ohio State - so they have a shot if Wessen plays)
3. Indian beats Rutgers.
Unfortunately, the 2 seed will be Purdue so you could argue playing in the 8/9 game is better if Michigan State beats Michigan and this becomes the 1 seed.
1. Beat Penn State
2. Ohio State beats Wisconsin (it’s at Ohio State - so they have a shot if Wessen plays)
3. Indian beats Rutgers.
Unfortunately, the 2 seed will be Purdue so you could argue playing in the 8/9 game is better if Michigan State beats Michigan and this becomes the 1 seed.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Toying around with the simulator, it seems our dream scenario is for these three things to happen (assuming all other matchups turn out well for the favored team):
1) Michigan beats MSU
2) Northwestern beats Purdue
3) We beat PSU
That would get us to the 10-seed and a Thursday matchup with 7-seed Minnesota. Should we win, we’d play a 2-seed MSU on Friday, and that’s easily our best matchup out of possible top seeds (PU, MSU, UM).
1) Michigan beats MSU
2) Northwestern beats Purdue
3) We beat PSU
That would get us to the 10-seed and a Thursday matchup with 7-seed Minnesota. Should we win, we’d play a 2-seed MSU on Friday, and that’s easily our best matchup out of possible top seeds (PU, MSU, UM).
Looking at the 11 seed path....I don’t hate it (minus the extra “bottom 4” game). This season has been a roller coaster but if any team can rise up and do some damage it’s these guys.
Right now, it projects as NW, Iowa and Michigan. I think we are capable of occasionally beating Michigan, but not when it is our third game in three days and they haven't played for a week.