With the NCAA Tournament only weeks away, The Gaming Juice’s resident Bracket Big Board steward will occasionally break down teams living in Bubbleville, discussing their standing and what’s needed to escape the sweat on Selection Sunday.
Miami (OH) Redhawks
| Record | 27-0 |
| NET | 48 |
| SOS | 345 |
| Quad 1 | 0-0 |
| Big Board | No. 11 seed |
On the surface, the Redhawks are the sexiest of swimsuit models. However, engage in conversation, unpack the psychological layers and suitors quickly uncover several glaring issues, knocks that promptly reduce their overall attractiveness.
Many college analysts will throw temper tantrums on air imploring the Selection Committee to give a one-loss Miami (OH) team an NCAA tournament spot, but such outbursts are completely baseless. Why? Travis Steele’s club has played ZERO Quad 1 games and only ONE Quad 2. That’s right. They’re 23-0 against Quad 3 and Quad 4 competition. The other three wins? They were notched against non-qualifying schools Trinity Christian, Indiana East and Milligan.
Yes, Miami has nuked the nylon in recent matchups. In its last seven games, it ranks No. 7 nationally in effective field-goal percentage offense, splashing 61.6% from two and 37.5% from three. That level of production is obviously commendable, but, again, it was logged against NIT representatives at best.
Kick and scream all you want, Miami excuse makers. In the end, it must secure the MAC auto berth to struts its stuff on the national stage in March. Period.
Next three games: at Eastern Michigan, at Western Michigan, vs. Toledo
Indiana Hoosiers
| Record | 17-10 |
| NET | 36 |
| SOS | 25 |
| Quad 1 | 2-10 |
| Big Board | No. 11 seed |
Indiana brass, you paid Curt Cignetti roughly the value of Montserrat. Just have him coach the basketball team as well.
That’s the likely sentiment in and around Hoosier Nation. Not remotely competitive in an intrastate showdown against Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana extended its Quadrant 1 record to a nauseating 2-10. Now very much placed in a precarious position, it needs to apply another layer or two of mascara to lure the Selection Committee’s at-large interest. With three straight home games upcoming -- Northwestern, Michigan State and Minnesota -- IU could bat an alluring eye or three. Go 3-0 over the stretch and its NCAA Tournament entry will be rubber stamped. Even if it beats the Wildcats, Gophers and takes a road matchup at Ohio State, entry into the Big Dance won’t be denied.
For that to occur, the Hoosiers defense must tighten. Over the last 30 days according to BartTorvik, they’re No. 144 nationally in eFG% D. They’ve also gotten owned on the glass, slotting north of No. 225 in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage.
Lamar Wilkerson can fill up endless buckets. The Big Ten’s leading scorer is a major reason why Indiana has netted an appreciable 1.235 points per possession over its last eight games. If Tucker DeVries and Tayton Conerway accompany the team’s No. 1 with excellent numbers of their own, they can hang with most opponents.
Next three games: vs. Northwestern, vs. Michigan State, vs. Minnesota
Ohio State Buckeyes
| Record | 17-9 |
| NET | 39 |
| SOS | 48 |
| Quad 1 | 0-8 |
| Big Board | First four OUT |
The Buckeyes are shooting blanks. Puzzlingly, of the 102 bracketologists tracked on the Bracket Matrix an astonishing 55 (53.9%) have Ohio State dancing. It prompts “But, why?” questions immediately.
Jake Diebler’s bunch are lacking one very critical measurement -- a single Quadrant 1 win. Maybe this 18-year bracket dude is still too new to the game, but, last checked, recording victories against quality opponents is a necessity. Conference affiliation helps and the upcoming slate provides additional chances for them to earn a tick or two in the category, but if not achieved, a Big Ten Tournament run will be required. Finish 3-2 over their final five games and win 1-2 games in the BTT and the Buckeyes are likely called out on Selection Sunday.
Thanks to the sharp veteran play of guard Bruce Thornton, Brutus packs considerable thump offensively. Over the last month, they’ve converted over 37% from three, tallying an outstanding 1.238 points per possession as a collective.
However, on defense, the Buckeyes aren’t the saltiest nut in the mix. In their last eight games, they rank No. 264 in eFG% D. Their yielding interior nature explains the undesirable standing. It also denotes why they’re 200+ in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage during the span.
Ohio State may have a higher Wins Above Bubble (45) rank compared to fellow barely IN teams like Texas (49) and TCU (53), but the zero marquee triumphs blink in bright neon.
Next three games: at Michigan State, at Iowa, vs. Purdue