Busting Up The Brackets, Part I

The latest edition of Bracket Busters is upon us again, and once again, there are games with significant NCAA tournament implications. The concept, for those unfamiliar, is taking mid-major programs and pitting them against each other on national television so the committee and fans alike can get a glimpse at the "next George Mason" (formerly the "next Gonzaga"), as well as get a late season RPI boost they wouldn't otherwise get from their conference breathren. Every team signs on for two years, as to ensure a home game, as well as an away game in the series.

The toughest part about the Bracket Buster concept is that the participating teams are chosen before the season starts, which can result in some teams without NCAA at-large dreams being invited based on projections and estimations. This season, George Mason fits that bill as they are all but out of contention for one of the coveted 34 spots.

Here is a breakdown of the major games, as well as a rating of how this could shake up the field of 64+1 if they should need to gain an at-large berth into the tournament. The event starts Friday, and concludes on Saturday night.

Drexel at Creighton
Conference affiliations: CAA (Drexel), MVC (Creighton)
At-large implications: High
Breakdown: Creighton needs this game as the icing on their profile cake. With a 12-4 record in the uber-competitive Missouri Valley Conference, the Blue Jays have an RPI rating of 24, SOS of 27 and a 3-2 record against the RPI Top 50. The Dragons sit outside of the top fifty at 53, but are a tough team that blazed out of the gates last season during the Preseason NIT but faltered down the stretch. Drexel is in the thick of the CAA race, but the league is having a down year.
Players to Watch: Creighton's Nate Funk is a great scorer (17.3 ppg) and the guy you want on the line when the game is on the line (87.4 FT%). Drexel is led by center Frank Elegar and senior guard Bashir Mason.

Bradley at Virginia Commonwealth
Conference Affiliation: MVC (Bradley), CAA (Virginia Commonwealth)
At-large implications: Moderate
Breakdown: The Rams and the Braves come into this game ranked 46th and 51st respectively in the RPI ratings, which means that this game is essentially an elimination from at-large consideration. VCU has done all they could with their schedule-- they have won all fifteen games against the worst of the worst, sub-150 RPI teams. VCU plays an uptempo style of basketball which should make for a fast paced game. Both teams average better than 75 points. At 8-7, Bradley is another team that is well outside of the tournament, but could use this game as a springboard to a big March.
Players to Watch: The guards for both teams. This game should be a track meet, so there should be plenty to see in transition.

Winthrop at Missouri State
Conference Affiliation: Big South (Winthrop), MVC (Missouri State)
At-large implications: High
Breakdown: Surprisingly, the team with at-large dreams is not the team from Missouri State. Winthrop, who came a desperation three pointer away from knocking off Tennesse last year, needs this profile boosting win, as they suffering in the computers (RPI of 78) due to their conference. They have played a handful of certain tournament teams, coming up short in all four game. Missouri State sits in third place in the Valley, which should be good enough to get in. They have a resume boost, having beaten Wisconsin on a neutral court in December.
Players to Watch: Winthrop's Craig Bradshaw and Missouri State's Blake Ahearn. Classic mid-major stars who are lacking that one quality that kept them from being blue chippers.

More previews to come later...

(posted by JH)