Maryland 70 Cornell 62

[jtn27]

I really think the media wants Harvard to get in because it makes for a sexy story. Remember that  Harvard was the favorite heading into the game in Ithaca despite being a clearly inferior team (evidenced by their 32 point loss). Anyone whod watched a basketball game involving both teams could have told you that Cornell team was the FAR superior team. There may not be a pro-Harvard bias, but there's definitely for a bias for a good story and lets face it what's the better story, Cornell dominant Ivy League power who can play with the best in the country, or replacing that with Harvard. The media loved the Cornell story, but Harvard making that same run is the media's wet dream.

The media (which basically means ESPN) may want Harvard to get in, but ESPN is not the selection committee and they are are they responsible for the polls. You can spout conspiracy theories all you want, but I don't buy it. If Harvard makes the tournament as an at large bid it will have nothing to do with the media.

Like the NCAA doesnt care about ratings? Which is why you get a crappy major team over a deserving mid major all the time,

Harvard is neither a major nor mid-major team. They might make a good Cinderella story but they have a non-existant fan base. The NCAA will get better ratings by inviting a team with a large fan base.

They are an appealing name for a neutral fan to get behind though. They'll definitely get neutrals to watch.

This.  Like it or not Harvard still has a more recognizable name, so they're always getting the media hype, even in seasons where we beat them by 30+.  And ESPN likes the lazy story (you know, where a far superior QB doesn't get the Heisman because he didn't have enough "Heisman moments", i.e. 30 seconds of clips we can just show you instead of actually analyzing why he is better because God forbid our "college football experts" do some fucking work) so they're going to want to focus on the more recognizable team with good academics that you already have heard about in the Facebook movie instead of alerting you to the fact that a better team with good academics happens to exist.

Also, does anyone know if Harvard and Penn tie the RS this year will Harvard fans rush the court again.  Or is rushing the court for a RS title tie before you lost the playoff game really something you only do once?

ESPN might want Harvard to make the tournament but if Penn wins the auto-bid and Harvard makes it as an at-large, it will lead to claims that the quality of the tournament has been watered down because of the inclusion of two teams from an inferior conference. While ESPN might not care about this, the selection committee certainly will and will want to avoid it. In fact, ESPN will probably play both sides by having some of their analysts say what a great story Harvard is and some others say Harvard is undeserving.

[Ben]

Also, does anyone know if Harvard and Penn tie the RS this year will Harvard fans rush the court again.  Or is rushing the court for a RS title tie before you lost the playoff game really something you only do once?

Of course they'll rush the court. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, Princeton - PRINCETON, THE IVY BASKETBALL POWERHOUSE -- fans rushed the court after they beat Sucks earlier this year. It has gone too far.

Also, if they clinch, it'll be on Saturday against us. I doubt that they're bringing a big contingent of fans.

[mountainred]

Also, does anyone know if Harvard and Penn tie the RS this year will Harvard fans rush the court again.  Or is rushing the court for a RS title tie before you lost the playoff game really something you only do once?

Of course they'll rush the court. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, Princeton - PRINCETON, THE IVY BASKETBALL POWERHOUSE -- fans rushed the court after they beat Sucks earlier this year. It has gone too far.

Also, if they clinch, it'll be on Saturday against us. I doubt that they're bringing a big contingent of fans.

They'll bring all of their fans.  So, yeah, we are in agreement, not many making the trip.

And while ESPN would love the lazy story of Harvard and Lin because that's how they roll in Bristol, the identity of the Ivy rep in this year's tournament won't move the ratings dial a bit.  The NCAA doesn't care who the Cinderellas are, as long as they have a few in the first weekend and as long as they have the decency to lose in the round of 16 because they are lousy for ratings.

[css228]

Also, does anyone know if Harvard and Penn tie the RS this year will Harvard fans rush the court again.  Or is rushing the court for a RS title tie before you lost the playoff game really something you only do once?

Of course they'll rush the court. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, Princeton - PRINCETON, THE IVY BASKETBALL POWERHOUSE -- fans rushed the court after they beat Sucks earlier this year. It has gone too far.

Also, if they clinch, it'll be on Saturday against us. I doubt that they're bringing a big contingent of fans.

If they had the gaul to rush our court it'd be an ugly scene. I know I wouldn't take it well.

[Trotsky]

Also, does anyone know if Harvard and Penn tie the RS this year will Harvard fans rush the court again.  Or is rushing the court for a RS title tie before you lost the playoff game really something you only do once?

Of course they'll rush the court. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, Princeton - PRINCETON, THE IVY BASKETBALL POWERHOUSE -- fans rushed the court after they beat Sucks earlier this year. It has gone too far.

Also, if they clinch, it'll be on Saturday against us. I doubt that they're bringing a big contingent of fans.

If they had the gaul to rush our court it'd be an ugly scene. I know I wouldn't take it well.

[css228]

Also, does anyone know if Harvard and Penn tie the RS this year will Harvard fans rush the court again.  Or is rushing the court for a RS title tie before you lost the playoff game really something you only do once?

Of course they'll rush the court. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, Princeton - PRINCETON, THE IVY BASKETBALL POWERHOUSE -- fans rushed the court after they beat Sucks earlier this year. It has gone too far.

Also, if they clinch, it'll be on Saturday against us. I doubt that they're bringing a big contingent of fans.

If they had the gaul to rush our court it'd be an ugly scene. I know I wouldn't take it well.

Can't believe I did that. *gall

[Al DeFlorio]

Harvard requires OT to get past Columbia last night.::doh::

[Jordan 04]

FYI. Cornell/Harvard on ESPN3 tonight.

[Rita]

Harvard requires OT to get past Columbia last night.::doh::

They were "lincredibly" lucky. :-(

[jtn27]

I was sitting behind the Harvard Crimson reporter at the game last night. Before the game even started, he had written part of his story about Harvard winning. I know it worked out for him, but I found the arrogance to be appalling. (Although, to be fair, when I called him out on it he told me he had written 3 versions, including one for a Cornell win. I guess the 3rd version was a Harvard win plus a Penn loss.)

[billhoward]

I was sitting behind the Harvard Crimson reporter at the game last night. Before the game even started, he had written part of his story about Harvard winning. I know it worked out for him, but I found the arrogance to be appalling. (Although, to be fair, when I called him out on it he told me he had written 3 versions, including one for a Cornell win. I guess the 3rd version was a Harvard win plus a Penn loss.)

That's not arrogance, that's effort. Give him an A for effort. [insert Harvard joke here]

[jtn27]

Princeton beat Penn. But on the plus side, now we get to see Harvard get embarrassed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

[Chris '03]

Princeton beat Penn. But on the plus side, now we get to see Harvard get embarrassed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Typical.  The one time I root for Penn to do anything useful....

[css228]

Time to root for Sucks to lose by 40 in the first round.

[Jordan 04]

Time to root for Sucks to lose by 40 in the first round.

Well, if anyone knows first round losses in the NCAA's, it's Sucks.