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For 94
Feb 14, 2017 19:40:25 GMT -5
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Post by thewalk on Feb 14, 2017 19:40:25 GMT -5
Can we play butler at 4-1?
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For 94
Feb 14, 2017 19:50:58 GMT -5
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Post by pcfriarsfan94 on Feb 14, 2017 19:50:58 GMT -5
They are 4th place right now. 2-4 looks like a toss up right now. If we are 9-9 we will be the 5 or 6 seed.
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For 94
Feb 14, 2017 20:05:17 GMT -5
Post by thewalk on Feb 14, 2017 20:05:17 GMT -5
I don't see how we won't be a 6 if we worm our way to 9-9...means 2ws required in bet...
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For 94
Feb 14, 2017 20:26:22 GMT -5
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Post by pcfriarsfan94 on Feb 14, 2017 20:26:22 GMT -5
Idk, we could be 5th with 9-9. We beat Marq and SJU 9-9 likely has us ahead of them. Don't see SHU or Gtown getting over 9-9.
For our chances at winning the BET, I'll take the 6 all day. Avoid Nova's side and anything can happen.
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For 94
Feb 15, 2017 0:07:26 GMT -5
Post by dex on Feb 15, 2017 0:07:26 GMT -5
Kevin McNamara: PC, URI headed in opposite directions
Ed Cooley's Friars host Xavier tonight. Tuesday
By Kevin McNamara Journal Sports Writer
For the first time in years, it's midway through February and both the Providence Friars and Rhode Island Rams still have legitimate NCAA Tournament hopes.
This news is greeted quite differently, however, on Smith Hill and in the village of Kingston.
At Providence, there is a renewed sense of hope heading into Wednesday night's game against Xavier. It's the Friars' second straight game against a top-15 RPI foe and an upset of the Musketeers on top of last Saturday's win over Butler would keep Ed Cooley's team pointed in the right direction toward a fourth straight NCAA bid.
At URI the mood is dramatically different. There is only fear and loathing on Upper College Road on the heels of last Friday's crushing 75-74 loss to Dayton. It's easy to see why fans would throw in the towel after watching a four-point lead with 24 seconds left go up in smoke, but the season is far from over. The Rams will head into the home stretch when they host Fordham on Wednesday.
If you've read this far and are thinking, "Hey, these teams aren't NCAA tourney timber," you're not crazy. It's true. Right now both the Friars and Rams have more holes than the Atlanta Falcons second-half defense, but both teams also can see a pathway to big-time games in March. The reason is what college basketball insiders are calling "a thin bubble." This means there just aren't enough teams around the country that — at this point anyway — have résumés that will impress the NCAA's selection committee.
Outside of West Coast Conference powers Gonzaga and Saint Mary's, there is a dearth of so-called mid-major teams that can claim one of the 36 at-large berths in the 68-team field. That means we will certainly see teams with .500 (or even a game under) conference records in the field from the best leagues, which this season looks like the ACC, the Big 12 and the Big East.
That brings us to the Friars. Providence (15-11, 5-8 Big East) has some good, and very bad, qualities to weigh. First off is finding a way to dig out of a 3-6 start in the Big East that, in retrospect, was due to a brutal schedule. Five of PC's first nine games were on the road and four were versus top-25 teams. Throw in the worst loss of the season in a meltdown at DePaul and Cooley's group has a lot of work to do.
The good news is the Friars (RPI 67) can get to 9-9 in the Big East and a spot on the NCAA bubble heading to the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. A win on Wednesday over the Musketeers or at Creighton next week seems mandatory, as are home games against Marquette and DePaul. The Friars already have three top-50 RPI wins and seven against the top 100 and will have chances to pad those numbers. Those categories could be difference-makers on Selection Sunday.
"If we're trying to do anything postseason-wise, you take one game at a time," Cooley said, "We have five games left, three at our house and two on the road. We just have to find a way to beat Xavier."
While Rhody fans are out of practice with this whole NCAA tourney/bubble talk thing, everyone needs to ditch the doom-and-gloom Dayton hangover, buck up and get ready for what can still be an exciting final few weeks of the regular season. The Rams (16-8, 8-4 Atlantic 10, RPI 40) actually have a tougher road than the Friars due to the weakness of the Atlantic 10. Of the team's final six foes, only one (VCU, RPI 27) has an RPI in the top 90. That's the Rams only chance to improve their thin top-50 (1-3) and top-100 (2-8) numbers.
But it's easy to see the Rams beating VCU and not losing more than one other game on the way to a 13-5 league finish. It's also not hard to envision the Rams making what will be a mandatory deep run into the A-10 Tournament, if not winning it.
"We know exactly where we stand today," said Dan Hurley. "I expect to coach an even more determined group of guys over the next six games."
It's interesting to note that the Friars seem to be playing with house money, while the Rams looked tight in crunch time vs. Dayton. That's a reflection on preseason expectations that saw PC picked to do nothing and URI welcoming an NCAA-or-bust attitude. It's all well and good to whip up interest and ticket sales but now March is in sight and the Rams are learning that you have to earn a bid, not live off preseason hype.
So can the Friars actually make the NCAAs? The next two games (Xavier, Creighton) will help tell the story. And the Rams? That question may linger until the A-10 tourney in Pittsburgh.
And, hey, if things don't turn out right, there's always the NIT. Round Two at the Ryan Center anyone?
--kmcnamar@providencejournal.com
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For 94
Feb 16, 2017 9:49:31 GMT -5
Post by yankeefriar on Feb 16, 2017 9:49:31 GMT -5
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For 94
Feb 16, 2017 10:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by pcfriarsfan94 on Feb 16, 2017 10:59:21 GMT -5
Where does he have us in there now? I'm currently on mobile, so can't see. I'd guess we are in his first 4 out category after last night. We have moree top 100 wins than pretty much every bubble team, so if we can add another top 25 win at Creighton and win one at the BET we could be on our way if we handle business.
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Post by dex on Feb 16, 2017 11:03:20 GMT -5
"Next four out"
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mikemc
Friar Fanatic
Posts: 3,241
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For 94
Feb 16, 2017 11:11:28 GMT -5
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Post by mikemc on Feb 16, 2017 11:11:28 GMT -5
9-9 in conference and need 2 at MSG to dance. (BC and DePaul)
Just the way it is in Friartown.
....gotta love friartown...
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For 94
Feb 16, 2017 11:24:23 GMT -5
Post by yankeefriar on Feb 16, 2017 11:24:23 GMT -5
Last night's win moved basically moved us from an NIT 3 seed, to an NIT 2 seed.
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