Topic: Men's Basketball Cayman Islands Classic

[whf]

Certainly not getting us what many of us had hoped for, but apparently still a good trip for the kids; and a great place to play a few games against other mid-majors to give us a look at what we are/how we stack up amongst the routine college basketball programs at regional colleges and universities.

[jdonaccbus]

We open up with Utah State. They just signed Ian Martinez, the University of Maryland's 6th man, who is athletically gifted to say the least.

2023 Cayman Islands Classic bracket, per release:

Oakland/Drake
Loyola Marymount/Stephen F. Austin
Marshall/Utah State
Florida International/Akron

[chris88]

We open up with Utah State. They just signed Ian Martinez, the University of Maryland's 6th man, who is athletically gifted to say the least.

2023 Cayman Islands Classic bracket, per release:

Oakland/Drake
Loyola Marymount/Stephen F. Austin
Marshall/Utah State
Florida International/Akron

Not great competition but at least neutral court vs other non-power D1 schools.  Still put chance of winning it below average.

[gochneaur645]

We get to play a neutral court game against an at-large team from last year's NCAA tourney. That alone makes this trip worth it.

[Flat Tire 2]

We get to play a neutral court game against an at-large team from last year's NCAA tourney. That alone makes this trip worth it.

 FYI; The coach who took USU to NCAA tourney last season; Ray Odom left USU and took the VCU job. I know Odom from my days living in RVA; great hire by VCU! At least 7 of the USU players enter the portal. It will be interesting to see how good the USU will be this season. You can do a internet search to see what happened to USU. The new USM coach did pick up a player from Maryland; Ohio U also picked up a player from Maryland.

[ironcheftvdinner]

Ryan Odom and his staff are an outstanding group of coaches. VCU will be pleased.

[whf]

Actually a pretty good tourney, have watched all these teams in the last year.  Don't sleep on Oakland or Akron....

[coalherd]

Info out today says we play Utah State on Nov. 19th in an afternoon game.  On Nov. 20th, Herd will play either Akron or FIU in another afternoon game.  Third game on the 21st with opponent and time to be determined!!

[MUfan08]

From an RPI standpoint (using last years numbers)

Utah State 17-our first opponent (quad 1 team last year and we didn't play any last season and it was used against us for at large bids)

Drake 34 (quad 1 team, possible to play them)

Akron 96 could be our second opponent (quad 2 team)

LMU 100 (quad 2 team)

Stephen F Austin 148 (quad 3)

FIU 207 could be our second opponent (quad 4)

Oakland 251 (quad 4)

Higher than last years games against
Chicago state 307
Coppin State 291
Tennessee Tech 257

[herdorbust2]

From an RPI standpoint (using last years numbers)

Utah State 17-our first opponent (quad 1 team last year and we didn't play any last season and it was used against us for at large bids)

Drake 34 (quad 1 team, possible to play them)

Akron 96 could be our second opponent (quad 2 team)

LMU 100 (quad 2 team)

Stephen F Austin 148 (quad 3)

FIU 207 could be our second opponent (quad 4)

Oakland 251 (quad 4)

Higher than last years games against
Chicago state 307
Coppin State 291
Tennessee Tech 257

Last year means nothing this year with the portal. Those teams don't even look like last years teams. Hopefully non of them are as good so we can we a couple.

[MUfan08]

Last year means nothing this year with the portal. Those teams don't even look like last years teams. Hopefully non of them are as good so we can we a couple.

Huh, who knew the portal changes teams....no crap and welcome to 2021

Instead of being on your basketball rampage, take a look at things in perspective

We saw how good it was beating crappy teams last season, nothing to show and sitting at home.

This tournament is quite refreshing and we should be playing better teams than Coppin, Chicago.

While I am quite pessimistic on next season (lucky to get to 13 wins, but could change once I see the team practice a bit) this tournament should help in overall RPI and hopefully gets the team better prepared for conference play.

[herdorbust2]

Huh, who knew the portal changes teams....no crap and welcome to 2021

Instead of being on your basketball rampage, take a look at things in perspective

We saw how good it was beating crappy teams last season, nothing to show and sitting at home.

This tournament is quite refreshing and we should be playing better teams than Coppin, Chicago.

While I am quite pessimistic on next season (lucky to get to 13 wins, but could change once I see the team practice a bit) this tournament should help in overall RPI and hopefully gets the team better prepared for conference play.

You were the one giving last years rankings and talking about playing them this year not me. Drake and Utah St was very good last year but lost a ton of players, so last years rankings mean nothing. Just like we are a shell of ourselves and we couldn't even win the SB last year with FOY, POY and a first team all conference player.

[s1uggo]

Only $3000 each plus flights!! Should come in a little under $10k for 2 people for 4 days!! Have fun!!

[MUfan08]

You were the one giving last years rankings and talking about playing them this year not me. Drake and Utah St was very good last year but lost a ton of players, so last years rankings mean nothing. Just like we are a shell of ourselves and we couldn't even win the SB last year with FOY, POY and a first team all conference player.

No crap I used last years numbers, do you have this years numbers and how the teams will finish?

Also, do you know for the teams in the tournament what players are coming in or transferring in?
Of course not you are just rambling.

What does that last sentence even mean? Who is arguing we are going to be better than last season (Heck I just posted we will be lucky to win 12 games).

The point of my post was to show using the most available data the teams in this tournament are better than Coppin, Chicago and Tenn Tech.

Anyways, not getting in your vortex of wanting to get the last word on things. Enjoy your Saturday

[Flat Tire 2]

Utah State besides losing a lot their players to the portal,  also their lost their coach to VCU. Realistically, comparing Utah State team/program to this year team might be a reach. We all have seen a hot mid major  teams return to being average when they lose their coach. All I am saying is let's wait to see what happens with USU this year.

[herdorbust2]

No crap I used last years numbers, do you have this years numbers and how the teams will finish?

Also, do you know for the teams in the tournament what players are coming in or transferring in?
Of course not you are just rambling.

What does that last sentence even mean? Who is arguing we are going to be better than last season (Heck I just posted we will be lucky to win 12 games).

The point of my post was to show using the most available data the teams in this tournament are better than Coppin, Chicago and Tenn Tech.

Anyways, not getting in your vortex of wanting to get the last word on things. Enjoy your Saturday

And my point is the most available data means nothing this year. You may as well take Bowling Greens data from last year and slap it on Oakland this year. It means zilch!!!

[herdorbust2]

Utah State besides losing a lot their players to the portal,  also their lost their coach to VCU. Realistically, comparing Utah State team/program to this year team might be a reach. We all have seen a hot mid major  teams return to being average when they lose their coach. All I am saying is let's wait to see what happens with USU this year.

Exactly.

[MUfan08]

Utah State besides losing a lot their players to the portal,  also their lost their coach to VCU. Realistically, comparing Utah State team/program to this year team might be a reach. We all have seen a hot mid major  teams return to being average when they lose their coach. All I am saying is let's wait to see what happens with USU this year.

Again, comparing the teams in this tournament to who we played in Coppin, Tenn tech and Chicago last year, it appears better, but it might not at seasons end.

Not directed at you in this comment, but it is funny people jumped off going to this tournament because Ole Miss and Wake bailed out.

Ole Miss has not been to the tournament since 2019, has not won their conference in 10 years, never won the NCAA, and they were rated 178 in RPI.

Wake has not been to the tournament since 2017, has not won the conference in 20 years, never won the NCAA, and they were rated 94 in RPI.

Also, history just taking Utah State, they have been to the tournament 23 times (Ole Miss has been there 9 times and Wake 23 times) they at least have a history of having a solid team, but this year could be different. They also been to the tournament recently in 2019, 2021, and 2023 (19 and 21 was before Ryan Odom was coach).

Again not directed at you, but the other poster making comment that previous seasons means nothing, is idiotic (but it is not surprising with him). It at least gives a pulse on what competition we could be seeing and getting this team better for the 2023-2024 season.

This tournament will be good for the team because we are hopefully limiting the bottom feeders to what we played last year in OOC. A harder schedule is what the fans were killing Danny last year too.

[herdorbust2]

Again, comparing the teams in this tournament to who we played in Coppin, Tenn tech and Chicago last year, it appears better, but it might not at seasons end.

Not directed at you in this comment, but it is funny people jumped off going to this tournament because Ole Miss and Wake bailed out.

Ole Miss has not been to the tournament since 2019, has not won their conference in 10 years, never won the NCAA, and they were rated 178 in RPI.

Wake has not been to the tournament since 2017, has not won the conference in 20 years, never won the NCAA, and they were rated 94 in RPI.

Also, history just taking Utah State, they have been to the tournament 23 times (Ole Miss has been there 9 times and Wake 23 times) they at least have a history of having a solid team, but this year could be different.

Again not directed at you, but the other poster making comment that previous seasons means nothing, is idiotic (but it is not surprising with him). It at least gives a pulse on what competition we could be seeing and getting this team better for the 2023-2024 season.

This tournament will be good for the team because we are hopefully limiting the bottom feeders to what we played last year in OOC. A harder schedule is what the fans were killing Danny last year too.

Talk about idiotic???? Poo pooing wake forest and ole miss lmao!!! Have you ever heard of something called name recognition? It's like in football when most people wanted to see Illinois instead of N Illinois in a bowl game. It's like beating a ND even if they was to have a few off years instead of beating a Liberty. It's why we would rather see a 10-15 Ole Miss come to the Cam over a 19-6 Ball St. NAME RECOGNITION!!!! This tournament has zero of that now. Yawn!!!!

[Flat Tire 2]

Talk about idiotic???? Poo pooing wake forest and ole miss lmao!!! Have you ever heard of something called name recognition? It's like in football when most people wanted to see Illinois instead of N Illinois in a bowl game. It's like beating a ND even if they was to have a few off years instead of beating a Liberty. It's why we would rather see a 10-15 Ole Miss come to the Cam over a 19-6 Ball St. NAME RECOGNITION!!!! This tournament has zero of that now. Yawn!!!!

It is interesting Utah State has a 6-24 record in The Big Dance. They have only made it pass the first round once since 1971 and have a record of 1-16 in The Big Dance during that time period. They have been mostly had a double digit seeding in that period. Impressive they made it to the NCAA that many times, but you have to wonder about the quality of their conference.

Wake Forest has made it to the round of 32 (meaning they have won at least the opening round game) 15 times since 1971; they have six appearances in The Sweet Sixteen since 1971 and three appearances in the Elite Eight since 1971. You are correct, no comparison between Wake and USU when it comes to basketball tradition and name recognition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_State_Aggies_men%27s_basketball
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_Forest_Demon_Deacons_men%27s_basketball

[MUfan08]

Talk about idiotic???? Poo pooing wake forest and ole miss lmao!!! Have you ever heard of something called name recognition? It's like in football when most people wanted to see Illinois instead of N Illinois in a bowl game. It's like beating a ND even if they was to have a few off years instead of beating a Liberty. It's why we would rather see a 10-15 Ole Miss come to the Cam over a 19-6 Ball St. NAME RECOGNITION!!!! This tournament has zero of that now. Yawn!!!!

What are you babbling about, geez

Again, the tournament opponents here are better than playing Coppin, Chicago and Tenn Tech.

[herdorbust2]

What are you babbling about, geez

Again, the tournament opponents here are better than playing Coppin, Chicago and Tenn Tech.

How do you know? It's totally different teams than last year. They may be dogs this year. You babble about us winning 24 games last year and unlikely to win 12 this year. See the difference?

[MUfan08]

It is interesting Utah State has a 6-24 record in The Big Dance. They have only made it pass the first round once since 1971 and have a record of 1-16 in The Big Dance during that time period. They have been mostly had a double digit seeding in that period. Impressive they made it to the NCAA that many times, but you have to wonder about the quality of their conference.

Wake Forest has made it to the round of 32 (meaning they have won at least the opening round game) 15 times since 1971; they have six appearances in The Sweet Sixteen since 1971 and three appearances in the Elite Eight since 1971. You are correct, no comparison between Wake and USU when it comes to basketball tradition and name recognition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_State_Aggies_men%27s_basketball
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_Forest_Demon_Deacons_men%27s_basketball

So we should not go to the tournament because Wake Forest didn't go? You were the one calling out Utah State, I'm just pointing out they at least have a history of winning their conference, going to the tournament and recently successful. Oh and we play them. Wake has not done anything in years (and this is coming from a semi Wake fan), but still have the ACC tag on them.

Notice you didn't mention anything about Ole Miss.

Is it disappointing that Ole Miss and Wake isn't in the tournament, of course, and, the teams in the tournament is better than playing Coppin, Tenn Tech and Chicago state.

[MUfan08]

How do you know? It's totally different teams than last year. They may be dogs this year. You babble about us winning 24 games last year and unlikely to win 12 this year. See the difference?

Difference is I know the Marshall team and what we needed to replace and do not think we have done it this offseason or gotten better. You are basing these teams being bad off of no quantifiable data or reference. Just that you are flying off because Wake and Ole Miss are not there.

That's the difference

Also, the teams in this tournament will be better than Coppin, Chicago and Tenn tech who we played last year.

[Flat Tire 2]

So we should not go to the tournament because Wake Forest didn't go? You were the one calling out Utah State, I'm just pointing out they at least have a history of winning their conference, going to the tournament and recently successful. Oh and we play them.

Notice you didn't mention anything about Ole Miss.

Is it disappointing that Ole Miss and Wake isn't in the tournament, of course, and, the teams in the tournament is better than playing Coppin, Tenn Tech and Chicago state.

Well, Ole Miss has done a lot better in The Big Dance than USU in the most recent years. Since 1981 they have made it to The Big Dance nine times; advanced to the round of 32 three times and made it to the Sweet Sixteen once. I don't  where know you come from, but Ole Miss is a much more recognizable program than USU.

 I would like to see the financials of this tournament. I would guess it is a "pay to play deal"? I don't think MU should be spending a lot of money on an off shore tournament without playing a recognizable basketball program. I bet MU could have saved a ton of money by participating in a tournament in the USA. We should be playing a road game at a P5 school and getting game experience against a good program and receive a nice paycheck than spending money to fly offshore to play mid majors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ole_Miss_Rebels_men%27s_basketball