Part 2…WCC scores, news, and more...

The Power Rankings are out, and you might be surprised how much the Pilots are mentioned.  Of course, it is not always in a flattering way.
wcc-power-rankings

One spoiler: "the worst team in modern WCC history"

up7587 wrote:
One spoiler: "the worst team in modern WCC history"

Not yet.

Pepperdine was 2-16 just two years ago.


USD won one conference game in 2003-2004

Geezaldinho wrote:

up7587 wrote:
One spoiler: "the worst team in modern WCC history"

Not yet.

Pepperdine was 2-16 just two years ago.


USD won one conference game in 2003-2004

SCU was 0-16 in 2011-12.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Last four byes: NC State, UCF, Alabama, Arizona State
Last four in: Seton Hall, Temple, Clemson, Utah State
First four out: Minnesota, St Mary's, Butler, Belmont
Next four out: San Francisco, Dayton, South Carolina, Georgetown

Somehow, SMC keeps hanging right around the bubble of most bracket projections out there including this morning's from Lunardi. Their resume in terms of who they've beaten isn't great, and they're likely staying afloat purely because of their NET and Kenpom rankings which both have them in the 30s.

I think Lunardi is being kind to SMC here. I'd have both Butler and Belmont ahead of them at this point, but if they can actually pull off a 2-0 final week they'll probably jump into the projected field.

(Before having their hearts broken again on Selection Sunday)

Dean Murdoch wrote:http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Last four byes: NC State, UCF, Alabama, Arizona State
Last four in: Seton Hall, Temple, Clemson, Utah State
First four out: Minnesota, St Mary's, Butler, Belmont
Next four out: San Francisco, Dayton, South Carolina, Georgetown

Somehow, SMC keeps hanging right around the bubble of most bracket projections out there including this morning's from Lunardi. Their resume in terms of who they've beaten isn't great, and they're likely staying afloat purely because of their NET and Kenpom rankings which both have them in the 30s.

I think Lunardi is being kind to SMC here. I'd have both Butler and Belmont ahead of them at this point, but if they can actually pull off a 2-0 final week they'll probably jump into the projected field.

(Before having their hearts broken again on Selection Sunday)

Butler lost at home tonight

JimmAlacki wrote:Butler lost at home tonight

Big East basketball is the best basketball to watch, IMO, and tonight's matchup between Butler and Providence was no exception.

The Friars led by 5 with less than a minute to go in regulation, but an old-fashioned three, and two behind-the-arc threes by the Bulldogs sent the game to OT.

But then Providence came back in OT with two big threes and a couple of late free-throws to win.

The Butler loss could help SMC and the WCC... if Bennett weren't the Gaels coach, I'd be a lot more excited.

DoubleDipper wrote:

JimmAlacki wrote:Butler lost at home tonight

Big East basketball is the best basketball to watch, IMO, and tonight's matchup between Butler and Providence was no exception.

The Friars led by 5 with less than a minute to go in regulation, but an old-fashioned three, and two behind-the-arc threes by the Bulldogs sent the game to OT.

But then Providence came back in OT with two big threes and a couple of late free-throws to win.

The Butler loss could help SMC and the WCC... if Bennett weren't the Gaels coach, I'd be a lot more excited.

Definitely agree

DoubleDipper wrote:The Butler loss could help SMC and the WCC...

I feel like other teams losing isn't what's going to get SMC in.

The Gaels are going to need to do this themselves and in the form of a win over Gonzaga...either this Saturday at home, or in Vegas in the tournament final. The answer to the "who have they beat" question can't just be New Mexico State, they need more.

GU is one away from sweeping the conference, rolling to a 19 point halftime lead at UOP, and winning 86-66.
USF blew their opportunity for the #2 seed, losing at home in OT to USD, 91-90.
SCU opened up a 17 point halftime lead at LMU, but lost it all and fell 72-70.

So the two teams I thought would be in good positions, USF and SCU, lost. I believe SMC is now locked into 2nd place, BYU into 3rd if they beat USD, and 4th if they lose and USF beats LMU. USF has to win to have a chance at 3rd.

LMU, SCU and USD are all 7-8, with SCU having the best odds to win 8 games and avoid a Thursday game in Vegas. PU is 6-9 with the next easiest game, playing UOP in Malibu. LMU, USD and PU could all end up tied at 7-9, with only one getting out of a Thursday game. Wouldn't it be fun if SCU loses Saturday, and they all end up 7-9? How's that tiebreaker work out?

The "most likely" final standings were shook up by USD's win at USF last night.

1 Gonz 16-0
2 SMC 11-5 (1-1 vs BYU; 1-1 vs USF)
3 BYU 11-5 (1-1 vs SMC; 0-2 vs USF)
4 USF 10-6
5 SCU 8-8
6 Pepp 7-9 (3-1 vs USD/LMU)
7 USD 7-9 (2-2 vs USD/LMU; 2-0 vs LMU)
8 LMU 7-9 (1-3 vs USD/LMU; 0-2 vs USD)
9 Pac 3-13
10 Port 0-16

up7587 wrote:LMU, USD and PU could all end up tied at 7-9, with only one getting out of a Thursday game.  Wouldn't it be fun if SCU loses Saturday, and they all end up 7-9?  How's that tiebreaker work out?

Head-to-head in that four-way tie: SCU 3-2, Pepp 3-3, LMU 3-3, USD 2-3. I have no clue how the WCC would apply the tiebreaker in that situation where not all teams have played each other the same amount of times.

From the USD play-by-play guy on Twitter:

@JackCroninPXP wrote:Here are the scenarios for San Diego heading into the final game of the regular season Saturday at BYU:

If USD wins, they are guaranteed a first round bye.

If they lose, the Toreros also need both Pepperdine and LMU to lose to Pacific and USF in order to get a first round bye.

GU (16-0) broke open a tight game after halftime, and won at SMC (11-5) 69-55.
LMU (8-8 ) went to USF (9-7), and won their 20th game 74-69.  Quite a USF collapse, and LMU is officially a dangerous tourney team on a 3-game win streak.
UOP (4-12) went to PU (6-10) and won 73-72, sweeping the Waves, too.
BYU (11-5) beat USD (7-9) 87-73.

Final standings: GU and SMC take the top two seeds, like always. BYU is 3rd, like always, since they lose the tiebreaker with SMC. USF stumbles to 4th. LMU swept SCU to win the tiebreaker, and is 5th; SCU is 6th. USD is 7th. PU is 8th, and opens the tourney against 9th place UOP (can UOP beat them three times?). UP plays USD in the second game Thursday night, at 8pm(ish).

Home teams went 1-4 tonight, 3-6 for the week, and 45-35 for the season (56%).