UC vs Gonzaga vs Xavier (Mid Majors get Benefit)

[Thegreatone]

As a UC fan I think I can speak to why we always say the Big East is so tough. Because we see teams we are very even with benefiting from being in a lesser conference.

I hear about how good Xavier and Gonzaga are (and they may be), but when I saw our games verse each team I though it was a pretty even matchup.

UC lost to Gonzaga by 2 points in OT. (Winning most of the game)

UC lose to XU by 4 points in double (OT).

Out of Conference records:

**Good win is considered wins over teams that would more than likely make the tournament if it was today**

UC: 10-3 (Good wins over Vandy and Maryland)
Gonzaga: 11-3 (Good win over Wisconsin)
XU: 9-5 (No Good wins)

All of a sudden we enter conference play and:

UC: 16-13 (Big East)
XU: 21-7 (A-10)
Gonzaga: 25-5

Both X and Zags are ranked.

The only good win (tournament team) a team such as Xavier has is in their conference to Richmond in OT at home.

Of coarse Florida and a maybe 1 more A-10 team could play its way in and that would add to that.

Wins verse tournament teams

UC - 4
Gonzaga - 1 (possibly two with a 2 point win over Illinois but that is very questionable)
Xavier - 1 (possibly 1-2 more) None out of A-10

I know it we didn't play them but another example is Butler.

8-4 before conference play and now they are 24-4 after.

This is why UC fans talk about Big East play so much. I am not saying we deserve anything. It is just a fact that if we were in a easier conference our odds of making the tournament would be higher.

 

[DontMissHim]

Xavier is 5-6 vs top 50 RPI- SOS of 22. Florida will be in the tournament-and so will Kent state(not a good win, but still a tournament team that was OOC) Xaviers worst loss is=MArquette. RPI=51.

We are 4-8 vs. top 50 RPI sos-of 14.

Gonzaga, ill give you-sos 101 and not many top 50 RPI wins. Though they did come within 4 of MSU...not saying much.

 

[Thegreatone]

Xavier is a good team. That is not my point to rip them.

How many of those Top 50 wins came outside of the A-10?

 

[Thegreatone]

Florida was a bubble team and lost to Vandy yesterday. I am not too confident they are a tournament team right now.

 

[DontMissHim]

I agree with you- it is easier to get to the Dance in a lower confrecne.(one that still gets 2-3 teams in though) Xavier has a good thing going for them-schedule a hard OOC and win the A-10 games you are suppose to. This is the reason I asked a few weeks ago if it would have been better for our basketball program to stay in the CUSA? Especially if Louisville and Marquette stayed.

To answer your question- 2 top 50 RPI wins come from OOC teams.

 

[Thegreatone]

I agree with you- it is easier to get to the Dance in a lower confrecne.(one that still gets 2-3 teams in though) Xavier has a good thing going for them-schedule a hard OOC and win the A-10 games you are suppose to. This is the reason I asked a few weeks ago if it would have been better for our basketball program to stay in the CUSA? Especially if Louisville and Marquette stayed.

To answer your question- 2 top 50 RPI wins come from OOC teams.

Exactly.

I respect Gonzaga and Xavier a lot. My point is not to bring them down but to demonstrate the gauntlet of the Big East.

(YES WE STILL HAD OUR CHANCES AND WERENT GOOD ENOUGH NO DEBATE HERE)

I thought UC scheduled a nice OOC this year and they did just as well as any either team. But one difference is conference play. Not the only factor but a major one IMO.

Would you agree this team is a tournament team if UC plays Xavier conference schedule? Not asking Wins or Loses just a tournament team.

 

[Thegreatone]

I know UC benefits from the Big East too. Lance Stephenson and Yancy Gates would not have gone to UC if we were in the A 10 or C-USA.

I guess my point is it is a lot harder to rebuild in the Big East. You can be a good team and get ate alive.

I think OOC showed we are a "good" team

 

[DontMissHim]

Exactly.

I respect Gonzaga and Xavier a lot. My point is not to bring them down but to demonstrate the gauntlet of the Big East.

(YES WE STILL HAD OUR CHANCES AND WERENT GOOD ENOUGH NO DEBATE HERE)

I thought UC scheduled a nice OOC this year and they did just as well as any either team. But one difference is conference play. Not the only factor but a major one IMO.

Would you agree this team is a tournament team if UC plays Xavier conference schedule? Not asking Wins or Loses just a tournament team.

Depending on the team that showed up-Yes and No. The team was so inconsistant this year (See UAB/St. Johns/South florida)

Though-with Xaviers schedule I see much of the same things happening(record wise) with possibly losing to Richmond and thats about it.

 

[Kingsley Court]

I know UC benefits from the Big East too. Lance Stephenson and Yancy Gates would not have gone to UC if we were in the A 10 or C-USA.

I guess my point is it is a lot harder to rebuild in the Big East. You can be a good team and get ate alive.

I think OOC showed we are a "good" team

Very true, a point that I think a lot of BCN people just don't understand. It's not the same as rebuilding in the C-USA, its a much more difficult process in the BE.

 

[DontMissHim]

I know UC benefits from the Big East too. Lance Stephenson and Yancy Gates would not have gone to UC if we were in the A 10 or C-USA.

I guess my point is it is a lot harder to rebuild in the Big East. You can be a good team and get ate alive.

I think OOC showed we are a "good" team

By all means it is very difficult to rebuild in the Big East---with that and the fact that we figured being in a smaller confrence (like A-10 or what CUSA use to be) I was surprised not many people thought being in the old C-USA would have been better for the program to date.

 

[Thegreatone]

By all means it is very difficult to rebuild in the Big East---with that and the fact that we figured being in a smaller confrence (like A-10 or what CUSA use to be) I was surprised not many people thought being in the old C-USA would have been better for the program to date.

In years like these I think people would believe that the old C-USA would be better. Going into the future we hope to be a big player in basketball. If you are a player in the Big East you will have a chance to compete for national titles.

Plus you talking to a fanbase that just saw their football team win a BCS conference twice. The thought of going to C-USA is unappealing. I know you meant Bball but that is part of the thought process.