CSU scored 11 points in 2nd half, 3 FG and blow 14 point half time lead and lose by 16, CSU 5 loses now in MWC

UNM-Reno next, loser has 5 loses, if UNLV takes care of business tomorrow will be in 5th place.

One game at a time, be mentally ready to play, Hicks better be in the rotation over Webster, he and Nowell now bench-roll players.

KenPom shows us an 11 point dog. But we always play them tough. The Pit will be rocking.

NM 73
Rebs 67

There has been quite a bit of discussion on a few different threads about having a chance at the NIT or not.

Following is a relatively deep dive into the NIT. I'm using today's NET as an example - so keep in mind the specific teams will change as time goes by and wins or losses accumulate. But the concept will be the same.

The NIT used to guarantee a spot to each conference winner that lost in their Tourney. The rest of the 32 team field would be filled out with the remaining teams available by rank. This is no longer the case.

This year the first 12 teams will be spots guaranteed to the two highest ranking teams not chosen for the NCAA Tourney from six conferences. ( PAC 12, Big 10, Big East, Big 12, SEC and ACC). They will then pick the next 20 teams as the best available from NET. ( the best 4 of these teams will be combined with the 12 autobids to make the 16 teams with first round home games).

So, where would we stand? It is impossible to predict exactly how many teams will be chosen for the NCAA as at large selections. This is because you can't accurately predict Conference Tourney upsets. But for reference the 46/47 ranked team is normally the last team in at large. ( the remaining teams are tourney winners and they are at times ranked into the 200's)

So the NIT will start @ rank 47 and choose the next 12 best ranked POWER 6 teams not selected for the NCAA's. Using today's data they would go down to rank 68. Then they would go back to rank 47 ( because they had to skip over non Power 6 teams) and pick the best 20 remaining. They would end with No. 80. ( Keep in mind this is inexact because some of the teams in the 60's and 70's may win their Tourney and get in the NCAA's - but it's pretty close)

We are currently 87th NET. We need to get at least to 80 to have a sniff. We'd be solid if we could get to the low 70's. We have three shots at quad 1 wins in conference and hopefully 2 shots in the Tourney. We most likely need to win two and not lose a gimme to get to the 70's.

I think it's very doable.

Webster is in a slump. Season long. Kind of like Wink SR year. If we had last year's Webster i think we would have 4 more wins. CKK retained Gilbert with his defense we would 4 sure had 4 more wins. Those 3 quad 4 loses we lose no matter. A very inconsistent team. It's gonna be very interesting stretch run.

Predictions, thoughts, concerns, opinions...

Running it back this year. $20 buy-in and the brackets will be filled out on ESPN. DM me or comment if you're interested.

Crazy to think that if the Utah state game was a win - which in reality it was - we’d be in sole possession of first place right now

Depending on the book, SF -2.

Mahomes is crazy good as a dog ATS (something like 10-1 straight up in those games).

Thoughts?

Why are fruits and vegetables tastes so sweet and fresh this time of the year? At least here in Florida. Watermelon even though cost around $7 per, so dang sweet.

Heard that stripers fishing came back at Lake Mead? My uncle send me some smoke stripers. I have heard their are boils? So happy to hear that.
Today, I took my boys fishing at a fresh water river. Caught a 10 pounds channel cat. What a fattie.

I doubt if I will ever see it, but I’d like the Super Bowl halftime show to be a big spectacular marching band. Spelling out “Las Vegas” from end zone to end zone. Playing Viva Las Vegas and Goin to Kansas City and If you’re going to San Francisco circa 1967. A big, great marching band, on the field at halftime…Imagine that.

I'm sure everyone on this board understands how important NET rankings are. They'll be used as the primary method to choose both the NCAA and NIT tourney participants. Everyone also knows games are rated Quat 4 to Quad 1 depending on a number of factors. ( these factors make up a formula that is a close held secret) These factors determine how difficult the game is and if a team should win a game or not.

BUT, I think some fans underestimate how devastating a Quad 4 loss is - much less three of them. As an example I'll compare Grand Canyon with UNLV.

Grand Canyon, WAC, is currently 43 in NET (@ 47 is usually the cutoff for NCAA at large selection). They are 1-1 in Quad 1 wins and 11-0 in quad 4. We are currently 87 in NET ( out of range for ANY post season play) We are 4-4 quad 1 but 3-3 in quad 4. (Grand Canyon - 43rd - UNLV 87th) Had we won those 3 Quad 4 losses we'd be @ 40th NET. Those 3 games cost us OVER 40 SPOTS in NET. Our season was pretty much determined in the first week of December.

To me the lesson learned here is when developing a schedule you want the worst D1 OOC teams possible. You don't want the best teams in the Southland conference - you want the worst team. Beating a GOOD quad 4 team gets you no more than beating one of the dregs. But every loss costs you 13 spots in NET you will never get back.

Do you want Kruger fired
or do you want UNLV to win this year ????

I hope Kruger gets us to the dance

I hope he gets is to the sweet 16

I hate politics

I don’t see it but man, if they offer 7-8 million to Odom and a deep assistant pool. Going to be TOUGH to turn down.

This reminds me of the Kruger situation when Oklahoma offered, and LK turned them down. Then Oklahoma made an offer he couldn’t refused.

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Can we use our home locker room and take down the stupid barriers?

I keep reading people saying that the MWC is down, but the truth is that this is the best year the MWC has had in a decade or more based on the overall record.

2017 - 2018 54.85% winning
2018 - 2019 51.11%
2019 - 2020 53.98%
2020 - 2021 53.71%
2021 - 2022 57.14%
2022 - 2023 58.27%
2023 - 2024 62.69% add in the final 80 games, and that percentage drops to 59.71%

Based on percentage winning, the MWC is stronger this year than in past years. Of course, you can take into consideration overall strength of schedule, but most likely that will be similar year to year.

In comparison the Pac12 has won 57.14% of their games and will be at 55.52% at the end of the season. Maybe that is why the Pac12 has three teams expected to get in, and one of those is in the last four.

I haven’t seen actual online evidence of it, but have heard that some schools have “people” (maybe boosters set it up, who knows) that put out bogus negative articles that are then used by a staff to present to players in an effort to piss them off, pump them up. I don’t know how many schools or which schools do, but it makes sense. Coaches will use whatever they can to gain a competitive advantage. I suspect this info isn’t online to minimize libel (lawyers?) but maybe it is in some bogus website with a hefty paywall so it can’t be accessed easily. I don’t know that part of it. Maybe this has been going on awhile? It‘s the first I’ve heard of it.

UNLV had the #1 transfer portal class in the MWC:

Is the real deal. I'm stating the obvious. He's gonna Highly sought after this off-season. Or next. Depending on who our coach is gonna be. And what his NIL deal looks like. Don't forget about Hicks. That kid's gonna Be a first team nomination in whatever conference he is bye his junior or senior year. Once he learns his defensive assignments better and gets more green light opportunities he will only shine even more. The kid has the tools To be our best Freshman guard since Marshall. Not including DJ of course.

Earlier in the year they needed to make three's to win. Tonight they won at the pit making only two three's.

It looks like the USU game theft could be meaningful. Right now we are at 5-4 and tied for 5th. If the Refs didn't steal the Utah State game we'd be 6-3 and tied for second with USU and SDSU. Behind Boise at 7-2. It would be a shame if we got screwed in the Tournament seeding due to Referee Incompetence. That game could also be the difference between CKK keeping his job or not depending on how the rest of the season plays out. The MWC should start spending more $$ on referees and getting some that can actually see.

Wide open, everyone has 3 losses now, Reno beating up USU on the road
CSU beat BSU

UNM/Reno next 2, everything to play for, win those 2, MWC is there to be taken.
Just think AF hasn't been competitive after beating UNLV, simply amazing. UNLV could be at least tied or actually in 1st place!
Why do I even care?

Boise's OC is leaving.

Brennan has interviewed for UCLA. Fisch is also going to interview.

Lots of movement is on the horizon which will only give all of these schools more chances to grab BM.