At this point, as many as we can possibly muster up. I think it's at least 17-18. UNI is a probable loss. Ill. St. can be beaten, but doing it on the road will be tough. For the rest of the schedule, a loss or 2 in those games (Bradley, Drake, SIU, Mo. St.) would probably mean we need to make a deep run in St. Louis to be considered for a tournament at all. Indiana St., though much better than the bottom dwellers, is another MUST win to get into those tournaments. Let's start the postseason win counter with this game.

Here are a few MVC team season profiles (at the conclusion of Arch Madness) for teams that have reached postseason play:

Conf. RPI Rank: 11 NCAA Team: Wichita State (auto)
2013-14 Indiana State NIT Record: 23-10 (12-6) RPI: 71
2013-14 Missouri State CIT Record: 20-12 (9-9) RPI: 85
2013-14 Illinois State CBI Record: 16-15 (9-9) RPI: 134

Conf. RPI Rank: 8 NCAA Teams: Creighton (auto), Wichita State (at large)
2012-13 Indiana State NIT Record: 18-14 (9-9) RPI: 72
2012-13 Northern Iowa CIT Record: 18-14 (11-7) RPI: 83
2012-13 Evansville CIT Record: 18-14 (10-8) RPI: 106

Conf. RPI Rank: 8 NCAA Teams: Creighton (auto), Wichita State (at large)
2011-12 Illinois State NIT Record: 20-13 (9-9) RPI: 100
2011-12 Northern Iowa NIT Record: 19-13 (9-9) RPI: 73
2011-12 Drake CIT Record: 17-15 (9-9) RPI: 134
2011-12 Evansville CBI Record: 16-15 (9-9) RPI: 131
2011-12 Indiana State CIT Record: 18-14 (8-10) RPI: 129

This season the MVC is ranked 10th in Conference RPI, and barring spectacular collapses both Wichita State and Northern Iowa will receive NCAA bids. As of today, the RPI is 113. We have some decent wins under our belt to help us a bit (Boise State, Kent State, and Evansville), and a pretty good road record.

Basically, the minimum is an above .500 record against D1 teams, finishing at least 8-10 in conference, with an RPI of 130 or better. That means going 4-3 before Arch Madness, at absolute bare minimum. Anything better, or that and one or more wins in St. Louis would probably lock it.

Posted this in a separate thread as well, but here's an article I wrote in advance of today's game about Crisman getting moved to bench, and how he is taking that in stride and also having some of his best games of the season off the bench.

Here's the link
http://thecatchandshoot.com/loyola-guar ... -to-bench/

Any word on whether Thomas will be able to go? I'm hoping to make it up there this afternoon

As of yesterday, I was told Thomas is still questionable.

Thomas is starting.

Evansville lost to Bradley and ISUr is in danger of losing to SIU.

A win here could shake things up big time.

SIU blew a lead but managed to pull it out against ISUred.

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Cigarboy sucks!

It's a final in Carbondale, and SIU knocks off ISUr, 65-59.

5 turnovers in the first 9 minutes...no wonder we're down by 9.

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Cigarboy sucks!

Why does this team just rain 3's on us?