Eagles draw road game at Montana

[VictorG]

This was sent to me by my Father-in-law who lives in OK.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/EmailStoryDisplay.asp?ID=060201_Sp_B6_Eagle5406



Eagles draw road game at Montana
By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
2/1/2006

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Oral Roberts will face 16-3 Grizzlies in Bracket Buster contest.
It shouldn't bother a team that traveled 10,000 miles to play seven straight road games earlier this season to travel 1,200 miles for another.

That's roughly how far Oral Roberts University will go to play the University of Montana on Feb. 18 in Missoula, Mont.

The Golden Eagles received their assignment Tuesday as a result of their participation in the ESPN BracketBuster pool.

The 13 television games were announced Monday and pairings for the additional 74 teams were announced Tuesday.

ORU played last year's BracketBuster game at Missouri State in Springfield, a three-hour drive from Tulsa.

"We caught a break with a game where our fans could make a bus trip to watch us play, and they had a lot to do with our winning that game," said ORU coach Scott Sutton.

The Eagles won 86-76 over the Bears, coached by former ORU mentor Barry Hinson.

"If we had had our choice, (Montana) would have been down our list. But we obviously didn't have any control over that. We respect them. They're a good basketball team and they're having a great year," Sutton

said.

The Grizzlies are coached by Larry Krystkowiak, who led them to the NCAA Tournament last season, his first at the helm.

Montana's 16-3 overall record includes an 88-69 win over Stanford of the Pac-10 at Dahlberg Arena, where the Grizzlies are 9-1 this season.

The Grizzlies' ratings percent age index is 71, according to Kenpom.com. ORU's RPI is 160.

Montana is led by 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Andrew Strait (17.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and senior guards Kevin Criswell (15.9 ppg) and Virgil Matthews (10.4 ppg, 4.5 apg).

One advantage for ORU playing a second straight BracketBusters road game is that it guarantees a home game against the same foe next season. Home participants are contracturally obligated to return the game the following year.



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Mike Brown 581-8390
[email protected]

 

[Mung]

While I'd like to whine about how shitty this bracketbuster deal is for the griz, it's twice as bad for Oral Roberts.

I hope they stop doing it next year.

 

[Grizbacker1]

While I'd like to whine about how shitty this bracketbuster deal is for the griz, it's twice as bad for Oral Roberts.

I hope they stop doing it next year.

I am assuming you saw Krysko's thoughts on this game. He would rather not have it, period.

 

[Mung]

I wish more coaches would be so vocally opposed. That's the only way they'll knock it off. I'm sending those wretched ESPN readers a bunch of antifreeze and hoping they do the right thing...drink it.

 

[Grizbacker1]

I wish more coaches would be so vocally opposed. That's the only way they'll knock it off. I'm sending those wretched ESPN readers a bunch of antifreeze and hoping they do the right thing...drink it.

Don't get thinking it is a Margarita and do a taste test Mung. :drinking: :thumb:

 

[TrueGriz]

The way home and road wins and losses are weighted for calculating RPI, the bracket buster is primarily a benefit to road teams. That is, win on the road is worth 1.4, and win at home is .6. Loss at home is 1.4 and loss on road is .6.

The worst teams are going to be on the road to give them a chance to improve their RPI if they can upset the home team. Which is the reason why MGR found that the road teams were weaker in RPI rankings in the bracket buster. To help teams like Oral Roberts, not Montana.

Oral Roberts is not going to lose to much with this, but a lot to gain. Nothing much to gain for Montana.

 

[Swillbury]

Just another win for the griz.....