MVC-MWC challenge revival?

[rlh04d]

I'd like to see it come back but I'd much rather see the BracketBusters back. The MWC can help some teams but if the Valley were to ever get in the position where we had several teams with an at-large shot, it could hurt us if they were having a down year. Maybe make it a weekend in late January/early February and match the pairings so Wichita St doesn't get paired with UNLV in a down year and actually hurt their RPI.

Also, they have 11 teams and we have 10. I don't remember how that worked? I feel like I remember Evansville playing two MWC teams in a week period or did 1 team a year from the MWC just sit out?

I would take the overall boost to conference SOS over WSU's individual SOS any day. It would benefit us more RPI wise.

[RoyalShock]

From a realistic standpoint, the Valley-Mountain challenge is far more likely to happen than any resurrection of the Bracketbuster's concept. But if we're going to dream . . .

First off, no references to brackets or busting them. It screams small-time. Call it the Coast-to-Coast Challenge or something.

Second, pick the conferences carefully. Other than the Valley, I would suggest the MWC, A-10 and WCC. If they would be open to it, and UConn and Cinci haven't bolted, bring in the AAC.

Third, forget about a return game the following season. Instead, make the event last a full week, including two games, one at home and one on the road. They could be consecutive games (weekend, mid-week) or be on consecutive weekends. Whatever would best flip ESPN's trigger.

Set the match-ups as soon as all conferences have begun their league schedules and play the games the first week of February. That would make for a nice break from conference play.

Use Pomeroy as the primary system since it's far more accurate in early January than the RPI and in my opinion, the far better rating.

[rlh04d]

Use Pomeroy as the primary system since it's far more accurate in early January than the RPI and in my opinion, the far better rating.

I don't like the last suggestion, simply because the selection committee uses RPI over KenPom. KenPom would give you the best opponents; RPI would give you the games most valuable to your tournament seed.

Just with a quick glance ... Florida would be a very tough matchup for anyone right now (KenPom #25), but you're not going to get a huge RPI benefit from that tough test (RPI #70). Or on the other hand, Colorado St (RPI #35 vs KenPom #65).

If we were pairing Valley teams off of that metric, WSU would clearly get the tougher test, but UNI would clearly get the bigger tournament benefit.

[RoyalShock]

Use Pomeroy as the primary system since it's far more accurate in early January than the RPI and in my opinion, the far better rating.

I don't like the last suggestion, simply because the selection committee uses RPI over KenPom. KenPom would give you the best opponents; RPI would give you the games most valuable to your tournament seed.

Just with a quick glance ... Florida would be a very tough matchup for anyone right now (KenPom #25), but you're not going to get a huge RPI benefit from that tough test (RPI #70). Or on the other hand, Colorado St (RPI #35 vs KenPom #65).

If we were pairing Valley teams off of that metric, WSU would clearly get the tougher test, but UNI would clearly get the bigger tournament benefit.

I don't disagree with any of that. But in order to pick the teams early (giving time to promote the heck out of the match-ups) enough to play in early February (a better place to break from conference games, in my opinion), I'm willing to forget about the RPI.

Even the BracketBuster matchups didn't go strictly by RPI since teams from the same conference couldn't play against each other and being limited to pre-determined home-away designations. I also don't believe the difference between using RPI and Pomeroy is going to make or break any team's at-large chances.

[TheAsianSensation]

I'd rather not use any type of rating system. Just get Elgin and the other commish in a room and bang it out. Let's not be bound by arbitrary numbers.

I've been screaming for years about the sense a WCC/MVC challenge would make. For God's sake, if we have to promise Gonzaga they'll get Wichita every time to get it done...just get it done.

[TheAsianSensation]

It's getting official.

http://m.pjstar.com/article/20150122/SP ... 1420206795

[MVCfans]

It's getting official.

http://m.pjstar.com/article/20150122/SP ... 1420206795

Great news.

[Play Angry]

Very interested to see if this kicks in next year or not until 2016-17.

[BCPanther]

Jake has mentioned that it will start next year. He expects UNI to have a home game, fwiw...

Be really interested to see the matchups.

[Play Angry]

Jake has mentioned that it will start next year. He expects UNI to have a home game, fwiw...

Be really interested to see the matchups.

Nice, thanks.