Here's my take, please feel free to bash my rationale. After the initial hit of
Kirkland's injury, and losing 4 of 5, they have played decent to good ball, and
proved their ability to succeed without Kirkland.

They've gone 4-3 with with 3 top-100 wins (one of which a top-50 win at
Syracuse, which was very very key, a roadie and top-50, big for a potential 8-12
seed late in the season).

Their losses are to 3 top-50 teams (all of whom are staring down favored seeds
in the tourney) and played 2 of them very tough, and they've even "gotten back"
two of the initial losses right after the Kirkland injury (the aforementioned
17-point win at 'Cuse and the 6 point win over Louisville).

I think it is difficult to leave out a team ranked #25 in the RPI and with the
3 ranked schedule in the country who isn't playing decisively poor in the
absence of an injured player. If they don't lose their final three (@Hall, home
v. W.Virginia, 1st round of the BE tourney), I have to think they are in
(unless, MAYBE, they lose the final 2 regular season games, beat a bottom-tier
BE team in the first round and lose to a bottom-tier team in the 2nd round, who
got there via upset). There's just too many teams with uglier resumes. Heck,
I've read actual arguments for more than one Mountain West Team ... I know Cincy
gets in before 2 of them.

Then again, if we have any crazy results in Conference Tourneys (West Coast,
Patriot, Washington St winning the Pac-10 tourney, Baylor winning the Big-12
tourney, and yes, Jerry, Purdue winning the Big 10 tourney), all bets are off.

The good news is, most likely, you'll get to be talking tournament much longer
than the rest of your office, whether Cincy gets in or not.

beisthen <beisthen@...> wrote:
What should we make of the University of Cincinnati?

18-10 after last night's close loss vs Villanova. 7-7 in Big East play
with at Seton Hall and vs. West Virginia remaining on the regular
season schedule.

Cons...3-8 in last 11 after Armein Kirkland blew out a knee. Bad loss
vs. Dayton (177th) in December, before Kirkland's injury.

Pros....26 RPI....good wins vs. LSU (16th), at Vanderbilt (59th), at
Syracuse (27th), at Marquette (21st) all before Kirkland's injury.
Split with Louisville (67th) after Kirkland's injury.

So, the resume looked really good in mid-January and kinda lousy if
recent history is the primary guide.

Should Bearcat fans be planning for the Big Dance or that other post-
season tournament?

BobE, Villanova '83, surrounded by an office full of UC alumni.









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