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Bracketbuster Games

7K views 98 replies 23 participants last post by  UVM Hoop Cat 
#1 ·
Still probably still a long shot, but Vermont and Albany both appear to be on the edge of TV games for the Bracketbuster. UVM's win over Stony Brook really helped their RPI, but it will likely drop a bit with the next few games before the TV matchups are announced.

I would like to see a Vermont matchup with Iona, Loyola or Canisius, as that could be a TV/ESPN3 game given their RPI. But the question is how much will the Bracketbuster committee consider geography in this final year of the event.
 
#46 ·
For the home teams I think after Belmont, Wichita State, Indiana State, St. Mary's, Akron, and Valpo we probably have just a good a shot as any other team.
 
#47 ·
Hard to tell what is going to happen. A few of the teams right around Vermont won tonight, but few were actually "good" wins. Niagara, who beat UVM, had a nice win against Iona tonight, so you have to assume they will get one of the home games. I'm afraid the selection committee might knock Vermont down a bit to get the Canisus matchup and miss out on a TV game.

I wonder what the bracketbuster committee will do with Northern Iowa. They'll be right around .500 overall and mid pack in their conference, but have a decent RPI. Do they deserve a TV game?

I think the fact that Patrick Gym looks decent on TV with a packed house could give UVM a small, small boost to get a game. I'm sure at least a couple of these teams don't get a good crowd, and that wouldn't look good to put that on the big or little (computer) screen.
 
#48 ·
1) I don't think the selection committee (read: ESPN) is ever going to knock someone *out* of a TV game, to set up a non-TV match-up...assuming I'm understanding you correctly. In other words, they'll figure out the TV match-ups they want, regardless of how they need to get them...then the rest will fall into place.

2) As good as Patrick Gym typically looks in a TV environment (and UVM, and their fans, have done as much as possible to always put on an aesthetically pleasing performance from a TV stand-point)...I gotta think most schools in a similar position, presented with the prospect of a televised game, would be able to make similar efforts.
 
#49 ·
Despite their RPI, I don't see ESPN giving a TV game to some of the schools with .500 records- especially because they are the 3rd or 4th team from the same conference. I think UVM has that going for it.
 
#50 ·
Yeah, that Niagara win over Iona will make them jump UVM for sure. Our loss to Niagara isn't looking so bad right now, they are 14-8 and 10-1 in the MAAC.
 
#51 ·
Damn, would have loved to get that Niagara game back right now. Niagara is the 9th best home team right now and should easily get a TV game. UVM is now the 14th best home team. Not liking our chances of a TV slot, hopefully I am wrong. Looks like we'll prob get Canisius, outside shot of playing Illinois ST. (They are like 18th) Wonder how Blue would feel about that? ;)

http://www.rpiforecast.com/bb.html
 
#52 ·
It's never just 1-13 based on RPI so I still like our chances, however Northern Iowa had a huge win over #15 Wichita State and Jordan Clarke and Drake got a nice win over Indiana State. Should be interesting.
 
#55 ·
Yeah, I'd rather it not be Canisius unless it's on TV. We've already played Buffalo and Niagara via the Bracketbuster. Don't really need another Buffalo opponent.

Loyola (MD) or Iona would be more interesting if it has to be a MAAC opponent.
 
#56 ·
Final RPI ranking shows Vermont 12th on the list for home teams. But Niagara and Davidson dropped right behind them. Canisius is 13th for away teams, so that seems like it would be pretty easy to match them up with UVM. I agree it would be nice to face Iona, Loyola or Ohio instead.

I would assume Vermont will either get a TV game or ESPN3 game. Fingers crossed for maybe an ESPNU game. There are three teams ahead of Vermont on the home list who haven't beaten any teams 51 to 100 in the RPI, with Vermont showing at 2-0 in that category.
 
#59 ·
UVM sent a blurb out about ESPNU BracketBusters Selection Show tonight:

BURLINGTON, Vt. - The matchups for the 11th annual Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters, a two-day men's college basketball event pitting potential NCAA Tournament hopefuls against each other, will be broadcast live on ESPNU tonight (Feb. 4) at 6:30 p.m. Host Matt Schick along with Andy Katz and Joe Lunardi, will reveal the 13 nationally televised games across ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.

The Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters games are selected from a pool of 122 teams representing 15 conferences. ESPN2 will feature five BracketBusters games, while ESPNU and ESPN3 will each televise four games. The 13 televised Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters matchups are selected by ESPN, while a committee of conference commissioners determines the additional non-televised games.

Vermont is one of two schools (Albany) from the America East Conference participating in this year's BracketBusters event. The Catamounts have played in the BracketBusters series seven times and own a 4-3 record in the event. Last year, UVM earned a 92-70 win over Niagara at Patrick Gymnasium in the BracketBuster game.

UVM is a home team in this year's BracketBuster event, and as part of the agreement, all 71 home teams will play a return game at the home facility of their opponent.

Teams participating in this year's BracketBusters have produced 101 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last seven years. For more information on the 2013 Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters, click here.

Vermont is 14-7 overall and 7-2 in America East (2nd place). The Catamounts have won five of their last six games, including a 49-43 win at Hartford on January 30. UVM hosts New Hampshire on Wednesday (Feb. 6) at 7 p.m. at Patrick Gymnaisum.

Tickets can be purchased online at UVMathletics.com, via the phone at 802-656-4410, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office located in Patrick Gymnasium or in person one hour before tipoff in the Patrick Gymnasium lobby.

Wednesday's game will be broadcast on WCAXtra and also streamed online for free via CatamounTV at UVMathletics.com. The game can also be heard on ESPN 101.3 FM and online at 1013ESPN.com with Chris Villani calling the action.


http://uvmathletics.com/news/2013/2/4/MBB_0204132503.aspx?elinkdata=2337147
 
#60 ·
Will be interesting to see if Murray State gets a TV game, because they were just on ESPNU on Saturday against Austin Peay. Entertaining game- Isiah Canaan is fun to watch.
 
#63 ·
Where is the info? I want to look at all the matchups?
 
#66 ·
I don't margin of win or key players missing as a factor in things. It doesnt matter how much you win by. Some teams run styles of play that are meant for blowing teams out and some teams run styles for grinding out games. Both can make a team win the same amount of games. Just because you blow teams out and try to extend leads instead of playing a slower steady style of basketball doesn't make you better.

I don't like injuries because certain players are more injury prone than others. IF you have a team that is full of injury prone players it bs to say if we were fully healthy. That team would never be fully healthy. You are as good as the players you can put out and KEEP on the floor. A team should be rewarded for having players who stay healthy or don't get suspended.
 
#67 ·
UVM doesn't try to blow teams out of course there BPI isnt going to be that good. When UVM has a good lead they will try to run the clock and grind out the win. Just because UVM doesnt full court press and fast break with a 15 point lead doesn't mean their win should count any less.
 
#80 ·
They said the "BPI" also adjusts margin of victory to the pace of play.

Or they've got this super-secret formula so it comes out to the teams they want to get.

One of the talking heads said the CAA dropping out of the BB was another factor.
 
#68 ·
Not terribly exciting opponent- but fair match up given both teams and cool it will be on ESPN3.

On the court Canisius will be a tough opponent. Billy Baron is tough and he will be gone next year.

The Creighton/St. Mary's match-up will be good.
 
#71 ·
Albany will play Fairfield.
ALBANY — The University at Albany will play Fairfield of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in an ESPN BracketBusters game at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.

Fairfield, which played Siena Monday night at Times Union Center, was 10-13 overall (5-6 in the league) going into that game.

The Danes are 17-7 overall and 6-4 in the America East Conference. This is the first time the two teams have ever met. The BracketBusters game between Fairfield and UAlbany is not one of the 13 that will be televised over the ESPN networks.

The time and date for the game have yet to be determined. It can’t be played on Saturday night, Feb. 23, because the American Hockey League Bridgeport Sound Tigers have a game at Webster Bank Arena at 7. The Sound Tigers also have a home game on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 3 p.m., so it looks as though the basketball game would have to be played either Friday night or Saturday afternoon.

The game on both team’s schedules calls for it to be played on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Bridgeport.
http://blog.timesunion.com/collegesports/ualbany-will-play-at-fairfield-in-bracketbuster-game/15273/
 
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