I don't think our only path to tourney is auto bid after loss today.  However the results have hot been good for us.  St John's is losing at home.   They will fall out of top 50.

Last edited by duqkurt (2/28/2016 4:49 pm)

godukes1970 wrote:

This was the worst game that I have seen the women's team play this season.  I've believed that winning the A-10 conference untied was crucial to the Dukes' getting into the NCAA tournament.  A win today might have returned the Dukes to the Women's Coaches' Poll's Top 25.  They will drop in both polls.   Now it appears that winning the A-10 tournament (earning an automatic bid) may be the only way they get into the Big Dance. As a result of today's loss, the Dukes tied for first place with GW and St. Louis .  However, they will be seeded #3 for the tournament.  Their first game (quarterfinal) will be at 7 pm on Friday, March 4th.  If the Dukes win that game, their next game (semi-final) will be on Saturday at 1:30 pm.   
I think the team is wearing down because the staters have played too many minutes throughout the season. There are not enough dependable substitutes that Coach Dan feels comfortable playing extended minutes so he gives the starters minimal rest time on the bench.  It appears that this necessitated practice has taken its toll. 

If anything, I think the rest of the conference has caught up to us because Burt had to simplify the offense because we had so many freshmen, not because of the minutes played.  April's been inconsistent shooting all year.  A lot of the Duke's struggles this afternoon was the play of St Bona.  They're a top 50 team for a reason, and now finished 16-0 in the Reilly Center, one of the hardest places to play in the NCAA.

Nice article Rogabee!

Duquesne RPI stands at 23 after the loss.   No hit at all.   So I would have to agree with Rogabee.  Win the first round game and you are in.   

Doesn't matter what the other A10 schools do because no one on the bubble will pass them going into tourney with that high an RPI. 

If the Committee selects the best 64 after at large, regardless of conference affiliation.  The committee has said in the past that conference tournaments placement doesn't matter.  It is your overall record.   If they don't flip, they should get in with a first round win.

Last edited by duqkurt (2/29/2016 2:31 pm)

Polls, especially those voted by media are the most unreliable source of information in determining the field.  It would be nice to be mentioned, and I think the Dukes deserve to be included, but it won't keep them out of the tournament.

scduke wrote:

If Charlie Creme of ESPN is right, I'll be a happy man. In today's Bracketology, he has the Dukes as a #7 seed, apparently as A-10 Champions. Go for it, ladies!

I think the seeding is more important than the projected A10 championship.   Even if they were to lose the first round game at this point, I can['t imagine them dropping out completely.   Pitt was an 8 seed last year going into the ACC tournament and lost to a horrible VA Tech in the first round and only dropped to a 10.  

I think that winning the first round game, makes DU a lock.  
Crème called Seton Hall a lock for the tournament and they are an 8 seed and face a 9-20 Butler team in the first round.   Seton Hall lost to St Johns twice.    So if Seton Hall is a lock, then a higher seeded DU has to be as well. 
 

Last edited by duqkurt (3/01/2016 2:51 pm)

rogabee wrote:

Not quite a 7.  Take a look at his procedural bumps.  He has the Dukes as an 8 but bumped to a 7.

The 8 may be a tad aggressive, and I'll probably have them as a 9ish (I'll do another one later tonight and hopefully have it up tomorrow).  That being said, I still think the Dukes have a high probability of a bid should they beat Fordham.

Seton Hall is a lock because of their one top 25 road win, four current top 50 wins, and no bad losses yet.  It's a resume that can stand a bad loss especially with wins over fellow bubble teams NC State and Rutgers.  DU's on the same seed line, but their seed is likely not as stable as SHU's given DU has only two top 50 wins.

Thanks I missed that bump up.   I am revising my original post because I superstitious.