Mizzou fans should be praising Wins Above Bubble after failing to get one last SEC win.
Winning at Oklahoma, at home against Arkansas, or yesterday at Kentucky would have solved this issue. But most people believe the Tigers are still solidly in the NCAA tournament.
Their WAB score is better than most others on the bubble, and keeps them closer to a 8 or 9 seed than a team on the cutline. But all that signifies is that the very tail end of the bubble is weak, but the NCAA field is quite strong. So the talk of the bubble being weak, it’s really only the teams that are fighting for like
one last spot. This is where you really hope there’s a bid stealer or two.
Bid thieves are any conference winners you aren’t counting on. For example, most bracketologists aren’t going to account for the MAC sending two teams. So when Miami OH lost in the MAC tournament, they were expected to be in the tournament thanks to an undefeated season (until last night) and a 2.61 WAB score. Another MAC team winning the automatic qualifier is a bid thief, moving the cut line up by one.
Other bid thieves could happen in the Mountain West, where Utah State is safely in, thanks to their 2.42 WAB score. The next highest WAB score in the MWC is New Mexico, and they’re under water. So is San Diego State.
Other bid thievery could be a team not expected to make the tournament in a high major league, winning the conference tournament. Those teams right now include Ole Miss, Oklahoma (although I could get talked into them deserving a bid at this point), or Georgetown.
There are no bid thieves left in the ACC, Big 12, or Big 10. So really it comes down the one we already know is happening (the MAC), then the Mountain West, the Atlantic 10, and then the remnants of the high majors listed above. So for VCU and SLU, you want one of them to win the Atlantic 10 tournament. You want Utah State to win the Mountain West… and then watch as Ole Miss, OU, and Georgetown lose also (all three will very likely lose soon).
Mizzou really doesn’t have a lot to sweat about other than some very random hijinks happening. Now Auburn? Yes, they should worry. Texas? Probably sweating bullets. Mizzou? Only a tinge of nerves. Will Wade should be more nervous than Dennis Gates, anyway. Now onto Selection Sunday!
Yesterday at Rock M and Rock M+
The news of the day was the Missouri loss to Kentucky. I have a bevy of links to share from that, although I’m not sure when a Study Hall will come on it. But in the meantime, Make sure you read Matthew Gustafson’s gamer, Mizzou unable to complete second half comeback:
“Some of the miscues, maybe on defense, but I think just the turnovers [gave] them life,” Mitchell said when asked about the slow start, “When you’re playing a game that’s almost like a road game, you can’t do things like that, and that’s two games in a row we kind of let a team get a little bit of life.”
Mitchell again fueled the MU offense when it mattered most, scoring 23 points over the final 20 minutes and finishing with 32 total to tie the career high he set last game against Arkansas.
Mizzou started to battle back with a 7-0 run initiated by Phillips, cutting its deficit to single digits with 13:03 remaining and prompting a UK timeout.
It was a fun comeback until it got stunted. Frustrated by a non-goal tend call? Yeah, same. But it was at least a pretty fun game, just wish the Tigers had found a way to come out on top.
- You can relive the GameThread here, lots of comments to read!
- The Rock M+ Game Thread also, complete with a Study Hall preview
- Bubble Talk, how is everyone else playing?
There’s also intel on a certain recruit, if you were inclined to find out. If you were unaware, Quentin Coleman, a top 40 recruit from the St. Louis area was committed to Wake Forest, now he’s a free agent. Subscribe if you aren’t already.
TURNING TO FOOTBALL which I’m totally ok with despite being inundated with basketball… Nathan is still looking at the spring camp battles and there’s a lot of excellent depth at Linebacker:
Behind him, there are several intriguing options. Jeremiah Beasley and Dante McClellan both possess the athletic tools to compete for significant playing time this spring. Either could push for the second starting spot depending on how the competition unfolds. Brian Huff and Jason King round out the returning group and provide additional depth, though both will need strong springs to carve out consistent defensive roles.
McClellan had that terrific pick 6, there’s few things more fun than watching a defender run out of gas and still have 20 yards to go. But I think the newcomers list is also super intriguing.
Rock M Radio: Still previewin’ the SEC Tourney
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