Let’s be honest, the top of the MAAC caught absolutely zero breaks in the ESPN BracketBusters. Iona is playing on TV, but its a no-win home game against Nevada. Also, if you looked at RPI and accomplishments before the pairings were announced it was quite logical to assume that either Loyola (MD) or Manhattan would get a marquee home game on television as well. Look at the schedule and you’ll find none of it.
Tag: BracketBusters
BracketBuster Pairings Being Announced
Iona is going to be hosting Nevada at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 on ESPN or ESPN2. This is a tough game for the Gaels to stomach. It’s not a game that winning really helps. Nevada is currently 59th in RPI and 91st in KenPom rankings. While they’re cleaning up in the WAC right now it’s not particularly useful in terms of getting a bubble game. Wichita State was sitting there and Iona could’ve used it. Also, Iona has to return this game at some point. I’m sure Tim Cluess isn’t happy about this game.
Stony Brook will take on former America East conference member Northeastern at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. That’s a nice game for both teams involved. There’s some history, there’s a chance for SBU to get a win over a CAA team that actually might help their conference rating and it means that the Seawolves get to go to Massachusetts again. I’m not sure if they really want to, but if it’s okay for a conference road trip I think it’s fine for a BracketBusters game.
Per a whole bunch of sources Manhattan will be hosting UNC-Wilmington on Feb. 18. There’s a whole bunch of reasons why this is a terrible matchup. Let’s start with the fact that Wilmington has lost six of its last seven games, including to Towson on Saturday. Bonus though: Brian Mull, who writes for the Star News in North Carolina and does great tempo-free work, will be coming to the game.
Hofstra will host Siena at 4 p.m. on February 18. Here’s a nice regional matchup between to teams at pretty similar levels. There’s some reasons to be excited for this game. Also, if both these teams move upwards as expected over the next few seasons the return game could be valuable to both side as well.
Last Guess: BracketBusters
Back on Friday afternoon I tried to project the BracketBusters as best I could. Well, now that we’re just a few hours away from the actual announcement and have some better data to work with according to RPI – and rumors – it’s time to make some final guesses about who will be on TV and who will be playing where.
Who isn’t a BracketBuster?
Sixteen conferences and 142 teams are participating in BracketBusters this season. While most people are making jokes about how everyone gets to play, it’s interesting to see which conferences aren’t present this season. For instance, the Atlantic 10, Great West, Northeast Conference and the Ivy League present four examples of why a conference would sit out an event that offers 26 schools a decent bit of national exposure (and the rest a home-and-home series).
NYC Buckets Archive 