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Post by The Bofa on the Sofa on Nov 1, 2006 9:15:05 GMT -5
There was a very important match last night for the Missouri Valley, as conference leader Wichita St took on Oral Roberts, the top team from the Mid-Con. Despite being at Wich St, Oral Roberts won.
That's a really bad loss for the Valley. None of the top teams (Wich St, UNI, Missouri St) have any real good wins. Now, Wich St goes and loses to the top of the Mid-Con. That is going to be noticed when it comes to NCAA tournament selection, and the issue of conference strength.
Right now, I can't see the Valley getting more than one team in the tournament. Wich St might have been able to pull it off before, but with this loss now, they have lost that. This was an opportunity to get a respectable win against a probably NCAA team, but they couldn't get it done.
The Valley tournament is at Illinois St in Normal.
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Post by bucky415 on Nov 1, 2006 13:45:42 GMT -5
That is too bad for the Valley, but it will make the tournament pretty interesting. So many teams in the running for one bid, but I am guessing Bradley isn't one of them, unfortunately. I wish I were going back to Illinois for Thanksgiving so I could see some of the tournament. I was able to catch two matches in 2001 when it was in Normal and then drive the 115 or so miles to DeKalb and watch two MAC tournament matches. It was a long day but some good volleyball. I am also hoping the Valley champ doesn't end up in Madison playing the Badgers in the first round. I think they are going to be better than the champs of some comparable leagues, last night's result notwithstanding.
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Post by Greenie on Nov 1, 2006 14:02:06 GMT -5
You, know, you are probably right... the Valley will get one team in, but a team like LBSU, with one significant win will get in. Not that I dislike LBSU, or think they shouldn't get in, I just think that some conferences get more respect, even in a down year.
Bummer for WSU. I really thought they got screwed last year and hope they win the tourney to get in this year. Coach Lamb is a good guy.
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Post by TheSantaBarbarian on Nov 1, 2006 14:23:16 GMT -5
You, know, you are probably right... the Valley will get one team in, but a team like LBSU, with one significant win will get in. Not that I dislike LBSU, or think they shouldn't get in, I just think that some conferences get more respect, even in a down year. That could be because the Big West is the #6 conference and "The Valley" is #11 and also that there is more seperation (in points) between the Big West and "The Valley" than between the Big West and the #1 ranked conference, the Big Twelve. |
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Post by doc on Nov 1, 2006 22:27:54 GMT -5
It won't matter when it comes time to pick tournament teams but the Shockers played without their starting setter last night. It's still a loss and doesn't help the conference. I think UNI could still get an at large if they take care of business the rest of the way and make it to the finals of the Valley Tournament.
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Post by The Bofa on the Sofa on Nov 2, 2006 7:24:50 GMT -5
It won't matter when it comes time to pick tournament teams but the Shockers played without their starting setter last night. It's still a loss and doesn't help the conference. I think UNI could still get an at large if they take care of business the rest of the way and make it to the finals of the Valley Tournament. That probably depends on how teams like Alabama and Clemson do. For a while, it looked like those teams were going to do pretty well, until Clemson went and started losing to teams they shouldn't have. It's a tired theme, right now, looking for good wins. Wich St has Illinois. UNI has ... nothing quite that good, but next tier wins against Notre Dame, Alabama, and Clemson (and with a bad loss to Kansas St). |
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