Bumblin' B's

[Just Bill]

You are absolutely right, although, as you said, this is a subjective call. What has been a frustrating experience for me over the last few weeks is to see what I believe to be a team which could potentially make a run in the playoffs, but doesn't get the chance that other teams, of equal or lesser strength, will have.

True of course, but if you've been familiar with ANY NCAA tournament in the last 30 years, this shouldn't have come as a surprise to you.  Does the America East champ have a better chance to go deep than the 6th place ACC team?  Probably not, but the NCAA believes in equal access, so the American East champ gets to go.

Really, it's an area where I commend the NCAA.  If they really wanted to go for the money grab, they'd drop all the AQ's and put in the top 64 teams on RPI.  Then none of the "no-name" schools would ever get in.

[Westwhisperer]

Well for years Chapman had the opportunity to play Colorado College in Jan and Feb and passed unless we came to CA (usually Santa Cruz). The NCAA doesn't care when you play the games as we didn't have many West Region games after December.

I'm not sure if the current criteria factors in the home, away and neutral status of the games, but it did back then and it was our job to understand the criteria and give the student-athletes the best possible chance to earn the bid.

We (including yours truly) drove vans from CSprings to Phoenix to play in the Cactus Jam and then on to Socal where we beat Laverne on a neutral court and CMS on their home court before driving back to CSprings where we beat Nebraska Wesleyan a few days later to "earn" our bid.

Hard to have any sympathy for the Chapman staff who has a much better landscape to work on. At a higher level the media would call them out on this but thanks to Pat and the D3Hoops organization I would say they have been effectively called out at this point.

[OxyBob]

Hard to have any sympathy for the Chapman staff who has a much better landscape to work on. At a higher level the media would call them out on this but thanks to Pat and the D3Hoops organization I would say they have been effectively called out at this point.

2009-2010 Chapman University Men's Basketball Schedule

Nov. 16  Chapman Faculty Lunchtime Team (scrimmage)
Nov. 18  Orange High School (exhibition)      
Nov. 21  at La Verne

Caltech-Chapman Thanksgiving Tournament at Caltech
Participants: Caltech, Chapman, La Verne, New England College      
Nov. 27    New England College   
Nov. 28    La Verne
   
Chapman-Caltech Pre-Christmas Tournament at Chapman
Particpnats: Chapman, Caltech, UC Santa Cruz, La Sierra   
Dec. 5  La Sierra
Dec. 6  UC Santa Cruz    
      
D-III Independents Holiday Tournament at UC Santa Cruz
Participants: UC Santa Cruz, Chapman, La Sierra, Maine-Presque Isle, Rust, Nebraska Wesleyan (scratched)
Dec. 11 La Sierra   
Dec. 12 Maine-Presque Isle
Dec. 13 Nebraska Wesleyan La Sierra   
   
Dec. 19  at Caltech      
Dec. 23  at Los Angeles Trade Tech       
Dec. 30  La Sierra (canceled)

Whittier New Year's Holiday Tournament
Participants: Whittier, Chapman, La Sierra, La Verne      
Jan. 2  La Sierra
Jan. 3  La Verne
   
Jan. 9    La Sierra (make-up game from Dec. 30)
Jan. 16  West Coast Baptist   
Jan. 22  Golden State Baptist    
Jan. 23  at West Coast Baptist
Jan. 24  The 5 big guys who play in Eisenhower Park   
Jan. 30  at La Sierra   
Feb. 6    Braille Institute of Los Angeles
Feb. 10  UC Santa Cruz
Feb. 13  at Golden State Baptist   
Feb. 17  La Sierra    
Feb. 20  West Coast Baptist    
Feb. 24  at La Sierra      
   
D-III Independents Postseason Tournament   
Feb. 27  UC Santa Cruz
Feb. 28  La Sierra

OxyBob

[Westwhisperer]

That is priceless. The irony is that I didn't catch on until I got to the 5 guys in the park date!

Joking aside I do feel for the players who were never given the best possible opportunity to earn the bid due to scheduling. That is, after all, what this is about.

[scottiedoug]

Maryville was not able to deal with Trinity TX in their gym but the youngsters got some motivational experiences that will help them get a Bumblers Bid next year and then do a better job representing the Bumbler Class.   It's up to Elms and Scranton this year!  Good luck from Tennessee.

[dahlby]

Let's see, 8-0 against SCIAC, maybe our OWP and OOWP will improve with this tougher competition. 






PS; You forgot about the Venice Beach and Laguna Beach Invitationals. And of course there is the Midnight Madness Fraternity Classic!!!

[Just Bill]

I'm not sure if the current criteria factors in the home, away and neutral status of the games, but it did back then and it was our job to understand the criteria and give the student-athletes the best possible chance to earn the bid.

This is no longer factored in numerically (like the old QOWI), but it is likely considered by the committees when discussing things like "results vs. ranked teams".

[Greek Tragedy]

They sure like La Sierra!  And I thought it was bad when Eau Claire played Finlandia, only three times!!

[oldchap]

They sure like La Sierra!  And I thought it was bad when Eau Claire played Finlandia, only three times!!

Chapman cannot escape playing La Sierra because there are only 3 Independents within driving distance in the West (Chapman, UC Santa Cruz and La Sierra). The fact that they played them 5 times this year is a total fluke: Pomona and CLU couldn't agree on game schedules, despite the fact that they had both committed to play Chapman, and Weslayan Nebraska pulled out of the Independent tournament at the last minute because of money problems. The coaching staff had to scramble to find ways to fill the schedule.

The argument has been beaten into a pulp. Oxybob's mock schedule is hilarious, but he should be a little more sensitive to the players who are working really hard and don't see their efforts rewarded. If I was in their shoes, I would be offended.

Next year, I hear that they will play La Sierra ONLY 3 times, still pretty bad, but it's no different than CMS playing Pomona three times this year. Chapman would love to chose tougher Independent opponents but they're all back East.

[TeeDub]

Next year, I hear that they will play La Sierra ONLY 3 times, still pretty bad, but it's no different than CMS playing Pomona three times this year.

I bet playing Pomona three times in a year is just a little different than playing La Sierra...

[Ron Boerger]

Maryville was not able to deal with Trinity TX in their gym but the youngsters got some motivational experiences that will help them get a Bumblers Bid next year and then do a better job representing the Bumbler Class.   It's up to Elms and Scranton this year!  Good luck from Tennessee.

Maryville played well given the circumstances.  They just couldn't buy a three until it was too late.  There are some good ballers on that squad. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Scranton goes down to Brandeis and Elms is a few seconds away.  We've wiped out Pool B in round 1.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Scranton goes down to Brandeis and Elms is a few seconds away.  We've wiped out Pool B in round 1.

While we love 'em, there's a reason they're the 'bumblin's'!

[scottiedoug]

Maryville will be better next year, if nobody gets hurt or cannot find the money for school. All but one person who played any will be back as will a junior who was hurt all year whom many of the Scots' observers at the beginning of this year thought was the Scots best player.  Adding him into the returning bunch will be an interesting challenge and the result should make this team better able to not bumble. 

What are next year's projections for Elms, Scranton, Chapman, and Susquehanna and the rest of the Bumbler hopefuls?

[ronk]

  Scranton, Susquehanna, and the rest of the Landmark will no longer be official Bumblers. I overestimated Elms, having them reach the championship game. Ralph has stated Elms' Bumbler status for next year earlier on this board. Arrivirderce!!!!