Three reasons that St Mary's gets into the dance

[AzZag]

Aside St Mary's skewed record.

1. Patty Mills. His Olympic performance had NCAA hoops junkies excited for this year. And with his return, it lifts St Mary's in.

2. Gonzaga. It St Mary's was in a conference like the SWAC or MEAC, they wouldn't even be considered right now regardless of record. But, with a team that is the Duke of the West in their conference, they have more leverage and weight.

3. Stephen Curry/Davidson. Every "expert" felt that Patty Mills and St Mary's was this year's version ever Stephen Curry and Davidson. We all crave upsets and Cinderellas to bring down the big boys of the BCS conferences.

[zagsfanforlife]

Stephen Curry can also be the reason they make the NIT.

If the NCAA wants a dynamic matchup, they will make the bracket so that Curry would matchup with Mills

[BobZag]

Oh what a tangled web we weave.

[AzZag]

Stephen Curry can also be the reason they make the NIT.

If the NCAA wants a dynamic matchup, they will make the bracket so that Curry would matchup with Mills

I am sorry, I respectfully disagree. The NCAA could care less about the NIT. It is all about CBS/DirectTV and their multi-billion contracts to broadcast the NCAA tourney. Think about what ratings were like last year with Curry. A possible St Mary's vs Duke Sweet 16 is much more attractive than a Xavier vs Duke matchup

[BobZag]

And I'll add that CBS is not stupid, well, not usually, but with so much talk of Mills, it would behoove them to put SMC in, instead of, say, a plodding Big 10 team with a .500 record in conference.

[zagsfanforlife]

I agree AZzag, just trying to stir the bowl .

[MotoZag]

One reason why they won't make it. Mississippi St. just won the SEC and St. Mary's is one of maybe two teams that are getting the oust due to this upset.

[bballbeachbum]

Pop!

whose bubble just kapoofed? Penn St.? SMC? AZ? Can I get a Wisconsin anybody?

nice to be on the sideline for this stuff or my stomach would be toast

GO TEAM ZAGS!!!

[Ezag]

But then how does a team like Arizona not get in and St Mary's does?

[bartruff1]

No way..

But then how does a team like Arizona not get in and St Mary's does?

....St Mary's to the NIT...tainted team..

[Nevtelen]

But then how does a team like Arizona not get in and St Mary's does?

Because Arizona has had tons of chances to prove they're a good team and instead they proved that they're just not all that great. 2-9 on the road? The only place they have won is at home. They've lost to some poor teams on the road (and even at home). SMC, when they have had a chance and had their full roster as they do now, did what they could - won every game in front of them but 1 (or 2 if we count the @ GU game).

The biggest crime here, though, is that both Tenn and Miss St will get in. I don't think I have seen two worse major conference teams in the tourney in years. Tenn has really fallen apart down the stretch.

Neither Miss St or Tenn would have won the WCC this year IMO. Ugly.

[Pleasant Peninsula]

Three reasons St. Mary's doesn't get into the tourney (sadly)

1. Mississippi State

2. Southern Cal

3. Cleveland State

[gu03alum]

Lunardi has SMC out of the bracket now.

Bracketology

[BobZag]

I, BZ, hereby disagree with Lunardi. I think St. Mary's gets in.

It has been said, so it shall be written.

[ZagAddict]

Here we go... the GREAT SMC debate is about the be over.

Just for the record... I vote NO for SMC.