2012 BracketBusters Game

[gman2]

Feb 13, 2012 19:20:21 GMT -6 ghostofdylan said:

Learned tonight: After two more years, the Horizon League is pulling out of this event.

Once the MEAC and SWAC got involved, you knew that BracketBusters was terribly bloated.

We're reportedly looking to do a challenge series instead, sometime early in the season.

That is good news, the BracketBuster has outlived what ever purpose it was suppose to serve.

I still have two tickets for the game this Saturday, Section 206, Row 1 Seats 9 and 10.

[BBFran]

That is excellent news. This thing has been a dead man walking for years.

[Rawls]

If we can improve our non conference scheduling, that's great news. If we can't, it hurts us. I'd love to see a HL-MVC Challenge, but I'd hate to see it come at the death of a system carries several national TV opportunities, opens new recruiting doors, and an opponent based on success level. If the BracketBuster dies but I keep seeing D-II schools, transitional schools, and sub-200 RPI clubs on our schedule, this will have been a mistake.

Knock Fairfield all you want, their RPI puts them ahead of 8 of our other 12 noncon opponents and 7 of our 9 Horizon opponents. Doesn't sound like anything I want to run from.

[loveyouso]

I also GREATLY enjoy the Bracket Busters games.

[Pounce Needs Pals]

I'm with Jeter, I don't like when the games are played so late in the season.
I think they should be played the weekend before the Super Bowl (end of January) when no NFL games are on. I do enjoy watching other schools from mid-major leagues.

[ghostofdylan]

Feb 15, 2012 15:57:57 GMT -6 Rawls said:

If we can improve our non conference scheduling, that's great news. If we can't, it hurts us. I'd love to see a HL-MVC Challenge, but I'd hate to see it come at the death of a system carries several national TV opportunities, opens new recruiting doors, and an opponent based on success level. If the BracketBuster dies but I keep seeing D-II schools, transitional schools, and sub-200 RPI clubs on our schedule, this will have been a mistake.

Knock Fairfield all you want, their RPI puts them ahead of 8 of our other 12 non-con opponents and 7 of our 9 Horizon opponents. Doesn't sound like anything I want to run from.

Totally agree about the non-DIs and provisional D1s.

I think it's a matter of timing as much as anything. It seems that the Horizon League would be much more supportive of this event if the games were played in late November or early December.

I also think that the ESPNU package was originally devised to give all conference members more national exposure than they get on a single Saturday in mid-February.

Look at Jeter's conundrum with Fairfield. He wants to win the game and get on the fast track to 20 wins, which has only been achieved here 10 times in 115 years, but he also knows that the next three to six games are infinitely more important. So do you rest injured starters Kaylon, Ryan, James and Tony and accept likely defeat or fight like hell to win and possibly jeopardize the next three to six games?

[DunneDeal]

Im wondering, that if the Horizon leaves the Bracketbusters, will this also change the Horizon Leauge scheduale where now instead of playing two early confrence games, we can move those and not step out of confrence once the confrence play begins.

[Rawls]

I believe so, Dunne

The problem with moving the BBs earlier in the season is a less even match. The thing I enjoy about them is that you draw a team based on how well you've done in that season. By moving up the draw date, you have less information to use and therefore less reliable information.

[loveyouso]

Dylan:

Terrific question. My inclination is to try and win every game. BUT, I can't argue with the theory behind resting the normal starters. It will be very interesting to see what Jeter decides to do.

[DunneDeal]

If you move the BB date, just kill it off. Well IMO kill it off anyway, but like I said I would love to stay in confrence play once it begins.

[PantherU]

I like having two conference games at the beginning of December. I just think that the Horizon League needs to promote it as a real event, like "Opening Weekend" or something like that.

[GoPanthers33]

Feb 16, 2012 12:27:29 GMT -6 PantherU said:

I like having two conference games at the beginning of December. I just think that the Horizon League needs to promote it as a real event, like "Opening Weekend" or something like that.

I agree I have always liked the "quick dip" into conference play.

And they definitely should promote it.

[Kingsbury]

Smart move by the HL to get out of the Bracket Buster. Out here in WCC country, only 3 of the 9 schools play in the Bracket Buster.

[gman2]

Feb 16, 2012 10:57:44 GMT -6 Rawls said:

The thing I enjoy about them is that you draw a team based on how well you've done in that season.

The problem with the scheduling of the teams when they are scheduled is that a team can go into decline like CSU. So what was the top HL team when the BB pairing was announced is no longer the top team.

[Rawls]

Feb 16, 2012 22:19:06 GMT -6 gman2 said:

The problem with the scheduling of the teams when they are scheduled is that a team can go into decline like CSU. So what was the top HL team when the BB pairing was announced is no longer the top team.

That's a risk in non conference scheduling no matter when you do it. You want to give the team and their fans enough time to accommodate themselves. You may be able to move the draw date up a week or so, but you get a better match than the blindfolded game of darts that is the regular non conference scheduling.