UNI vs. Illinois State

[Daserop]

I would sub in either winning @ Illinois State or Richmond for Virginia Tech.

Winning at Stephen F. Austin in the 2nd game of the season was ginormous for UNI. SFA beat #5 seed VCU in the tournament last season and had won something like 33 straight game on their home court and is currently a Top 50 RPI team this season. That was about as good a non-conference win as you can get for a "mid-major". And, yes, I know we all hate Iowa and scream about how awful they are and what not, but that was a quality victory on a neutral court.
Pretty solid non-conference schedule for UNI actually. It is too bad that Virginia Tech and Northwestern couldn't have been replaced by, say, North Carolina State and Purdue for the tournament down in Cancun, but that's how it goes. Northwestern has actually ended up being a decent win, as they have gotten better down the stretch in the Big Ten, yesterday being the exception.

Northwestern has a overall losing record...how is that a decent win?
UNI could have scheduled a more difficult schedule.

UNI final overall record is 30-3...

17 out of their 30 wins (57%) came against an opponents with a losing overall record.
20 out of their 30 wins (67%) came against opponents with 12 or more losses in their overall record.
UNI played only 5 games in which their opponent had less than 10 losses in their overall record. Their record in those 5 games is 3-2.

 

[CyFan61]

If UNI wasn't an in-state school, and this board was still swarmed with fans of a mid-major team as overrated as UNI is this year, people on here would still be in the right criticizing that team.

But the UNI apologists refuse to acknowledge that and just assign any criticism, however warranted, to an ISU fan inferiority complex.

I don't hate UNI, I don't even dislike UNI, but with so many fans of theirs on here, of course we are going to talk about them. And then I will let people know how overrated I believe they are.

 

[istater7]

Northwestern has actually ended up being a decent win

No, no school in the Big 10 can look at a win vs Northwestern as a decent win, so why should UNI?

 

[HFCS]

Fair enough.

Question for you; up until the regular season finale at WSU, UNI was 10 points away from being undefeated; lost by 6 in double OT at VCU back in December when VCU was at full-strength, and by 3 at Evansville in the conference opener (similar to the Texas Tech game. UNI had a 16 point lead at one point in the game). If they were undefeated up until January 31st, would you have been okay with them being in the Top Ten, since that would have been "running the table"?

yeah, I don't have a huge issue with where Gonzaga was most if the season doing nearly what you describe the BYU game. Also I don't think vcu would be much in the b12 if they struggle in the a10.

if UNI and WSU both make the elite eight like the ap poll suggests they should I'll actually enjoy it, I don't enjoy ranking them eighth before doing anything that impressive

 

[ISUChippewa]

]Northwestern has a overall losing record...how is that a decent win?
UNI could have scheduled a more difficult schedule.[/I]

UNI final overall record is 30-3...

17 out of their 30 wins (57%) came against an opponents with a losing overall record.
20 out of their 30 wins (67%) came against opponents with 12 or more losses in their overall record.
UNI played only 5 games in which their opponent had less than 10 losses in their overall record. Their record in those 5 games is 3-2.

Northwestern is right outside the Top 100 right now and with a good run in the Big 10 tournament could make their way into the Top 100. That's a decent (not great) win for a mid-major in the non-conference schedule.

I agree, UNI could schedule better. How about getting ISU back on the schedule every season?

 

[Erik4Cy]

No, no school in the Big 10 can look at a win vs Northwestern as a decent win, so why should UNI?

Cannot say I have seen Northwestern under "good wins" on ANY of the thousand bubble watches ESPN has put up for teams. I feel like NW would be much more likely to be under "bad losses" for teams, if anything.

They are 11th in conference of 14 teams.

 

[ISUChippewa]

If UNI wasn't an in-state school, and this board was still swarmed with fans of a mid-major team as overrated as UNI is this year, people on here would still be in the right criticizing that team.

But the UNI apologists refuse to acknowledge that and just assign any criticism, however warranted, to an ISU fan inferiority complex.

I don't hate UNI, I don't even dislike UNI, but with so many fans of theirs on here, of course we are going to talk about them. And then I will let people know how overrated I believe they are.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have to imagine this might be aimed at me, since I'm on record about my dual fandom, and I will admit that earlier in the season when this whole ISU vs. UNI ******* match started that I may have gotten a little personal and thin-skinned myself, but do you honestly believe that UNI (or dual) fans sticking up for their team during the best season in school history equals being an "apologist"?

 

[CyFan61]

do you honestly believe that UNI (or dual) fans sticking up for their team during the best season in school history equals being an "apologist"?

Probably not the best term to use, in the same way that calling those who criticize UNI "butthurt" isn't the best term to use.

Fact is UNI is a good team. And it's fair to think they may be overrated. I would think that having Iowa State playing well would make it less likely for ISU fans to be "butthurt" about UNI. If ISU was NIT bound this year, or worse, I'd feel annoyed watching Iowa guys like Tuttle and Morgan play for a team like that when ISU didn't offer them. But this way I enjoy watching the local products have success knowing that ISU is as well.

I just think UNI is overrated and has not proven really anything to merit their ranking. The good thing about this is that we will know very soon what the deal is with UNI. When they get a 4 seed, I hope the 5 in their pod doesn't get knocked off in the first round, so UNI gets a test from a team ranked right around where they are in their 2nd game.

 

[ISUChippewa]

yeah, I don't have a huge issue with where Gonzaga was most if the season doing nearly what you describe the BYU game. Also I don't think vcu would be much in the b12 if they struggle in the a10.

if UNI and WSU both make the elite eight like the ap poll suggests they should I'll actually enjoy it, I don't enjoy ranking them eighth before doing anything that impressive

Again, fair enough.

But I still don't get this made up argument of MVC vs. Big 12 that some of you keep bringing up in these discussions. I have never suggested that the MVC is anywhere close to the Big 12 this season, and I would laugh at any Panther fan who tried to do that. Even casual basketball fans who don't know what "mid-major" means would be able to figure out that the Big 12 is better.

I will write that if UNI was truly overrated as much as some people on here keep on insisting, the numbers would be a lot worse than they are (RPI, BPI, etc.). Those numbers are pretty damn high, as opposed to (again) Murray State, with their gaudy record. That's a team you could have made a case for being overrated, although not anymore after the rankings come out tomorrow.

 

[ISUChippewa]

Probably not the best term to use, in the same way that calling those who criticize UNI "butthurt" isn't the best term to use.

Fact is UNI is a good team. And it's fair to think they may be overrated. I would think that having Iowa State playing well would make it less likely for ISU fans to be "butthurt" about UNI. If ISU was NIT bound this year, or worse, I'd feel annoyed watching Iowa guys like Tuttle and Morgan play for a team like that when ISU didn't offer them. But this way I enjoy watching the local products have success knowing that ISU is as well.

I just think UNI is overrated and has not proven really anything to merit their ranking. The good thing about this is that we will know very soon what the deal is with UNI. When they get a 4 seed, I hope the 5 in their pod doesn't get knocked off in the first round, so UNI gets a test from a team ranked right around where they are in their 2nd game.

Fair enough. I think we may have to agree to disagree without being disagreeable on the subject of whether or not UNI is overrated, and I do honestly appreciate the civil discussion.

I really do hope UNI gets a 4 seed. Might be the worst 4 seed on the S-curve, but I'll take it. I think a 5 seed is the floor.

 

[CyForPresident]

Northwestern is right outside the Top 100 right now and with a good run in the Big 10 tournament could make their way into the Top 100. That's a decent (not great) win for a mid-major in the non-conference schedule.

I agree, UNI could schedule better. How about getting ISU back on the schedule every season?

In Hilton every year? Sure. In Cedar Falls? No.

ISU can take the extra home game against any counterpart MVC team and make more money than potentially playing in Cedar Falls. Nevermind ISU can then avoid a potential bad loss too

Personally, I'd love to see UNI and Drake come to Hilton every year. Until you guys are ready for it, you get one game every two years in the Well.

 

[ISUChippewa]

In Hilton every year? Sure. In Cedar Falls? No.

ISU can take the extra home game against any counterpart MVC team and make more money than potentially playing in Cedar Falls. Nevermind ISU can then avoid a potential bad loss too

Personally, I'd love to see UNI and Drake come to Hilton every year. Until you guys are ready for it, you get one game every two years in the Well.

You so sure about that? ISU has beaten UNI more recently in Cedar Falls and Des Moines last season than they have in Ames. Based on the track record, I'm pretty sure UNI is "ready for it", whatever that means.

For the record, as a dual fan I would love to see the home and home get resumed, but I also recognize the chances of that are slim and none. I'd be okay with UNI playing at Hilton and then in Des Moines the next season.

 

[Cincyclone]

There's a difference between thinking UNI is overrated and being repeatedly nasty about their program. I don't think they're a top 10 team but I think they're a lot better than most on here give them credit for.

 

[ISUChippewa]

There's a difference between thinking UNI is overrated and being repeatedly nasty about their program. I don't think they're a top 10 team but I think they're a lot better than most on here give them credit for.

Very well put, and to add to that I think sometimes, as a passionate fan, that it can be hard to tell the difference.

If I wasn't the dual fan that I am (and believe me, I'll be cheering just as hard for ISU to win the Big 12 as I was for UNI today) with the (mostly) objective perspective that I at least like to think I have, threads like this would drive me nuts.

 

[Cybyassociation]

Respect is earned not given. Theyve earned nothing by beating nobody.

They'll earn a top 10 ranking and a good seed in the tournament.

 

[CyFan61]

Fair enough. I think we may have to agree to disagree without being disagreeable on the subject of whether or not UNI is overrated, and I do honestly appreciate the civil discussion.

I really do hope UNI gets a 4 seed. Might be the worst 4 seed on the S-curve, but I'll take it. I think a 5 seed is the floor.

I think UNI is in solid shape for a 4 seed right now. And then we'll get to see what they have in a 4-5 game, hopefully. If they make the Sweet 16 with a win over a 5 seed, then they've at least held serve with their 4 seed, and I'd quiet down about their being overrated.

It's hard to know how talented this UNI team actually is with the schedule they've faced. I think back to the ISU teams of 2012 and 2013, which were 8 and 10 seeds respectively, and I think UNI's talent this year is maybe comparable to those teams (as a rough guess). But, again, I don't know, so I hope we get to see some good games with UNI in March Madness. With the exception of Evansville, UNI has won every game that they should on their schedule, which is more than Iowa State can say about the season (with Texas Tech and South Carolina losses looming large).

 

[dmdom]

Looks to me, too many people spent the day holed up in their basement hating on UNI. I was a damn nice day to be outside and get some vitamin D. Just my opinion, bash me all you want.

 

[Wesley]

There's a difference between thinking UNI is overrated and being repeatedly nasty about their program. I don't think they're a top 10 team but I think they're a lot better than most on here give them credit for.

Hope to play them to settle the issue.

 

[mctallerton]

Northwestern is right outside the Top 100 right now and with a good run in the Big 10 tournament could make their way into the Top 100. That's a decent (not great) win for a mid-major in the non-conference schedule.

I agree, UNI could schedule better. How about getting ISU back on the schedule every season?

Do you consider South Carolina a bad loss? I do, their RPI may be in the 90s but that doesn't mean as a top 15 RPI team we shouldn't have crushed them.

 

[Erik4Cy]

Looks to me, too many people spent the day holed up in their basement hating on UNI. I was a damn nice day to be outside and get some vitamin D. Just my opinion, bash me all you want.

You better have made that post from your phone while you are outside getting your D.

I don't think it's about hating on UNI anyway. UNI played a weak schedule and was in a weak conference but had a stellar season. They completely deserve to have their shot to prove the belong with the big boys. At this point it is just whether people believe they will prove themselves or not. It's nothing but opinion whether you think they are for real or not. I have no clue myself, they could pull a 2010 Farokmanesh in the tournament or they could lose to a Georgia State, Arkansas, or Wofford. Who knows?

We will know for sure in just a couple weeks, but until then people can debate whether an instate school is as good as their record shows or are a just an untested team who feasted on cupcakes. Free Country. Merica.