Adding a game to 09 schedule with a week left

[DaytonBuck]

In an effort to add a game to get Saint Mary?s guard Patty Mills more playing time prior to what the Gaels hope is the NCAA tournament, coach Randy Bennett has added a last-minute game against Eastern Washington on March 13.

Mills has missed the last nine games after suffering a broken bone in his hand. He was cleared to practice earlier in the week and hoped to be given the go-ahead to play in this weekend?s WCC tournament on Friday.

Saint Mary?s is 24-5 and is the No. 2 seed in the WCC tournament. The Gaels have a bye until Sunday?s semifinals.

With Mills in the lineup, Saint Mary?s was 18-1 and looked like a team worthy of going to the Big Dance. Since he has been out of the lineup, the Gaels are 6-4.

Eastern Washington is 12-17 and lost to Portland State on Saturday in what the Eagles figured was their final game of the season.

However, Bennett called Eastern Washington coach Kirk Earlywine in an attempt to get Mills another game as a tuneup for what he is hopeful will be the NCAA tournament.

Fox Sports

This is by far the strangest scheduling move I've ever seen pulled. I get why Saint Mary's is doing this but I don't think I've seen this done before.

 

[OHSportsFan]

So, when do bubble teams start adding games against other bubble teams in order to improve their resume late season?

Two teams that may think they are on the outside looking in may figure it would be best to "go all in" so to speak and schedule what essentially could be a "play-in" game.

 

[Jake]

I think Saint Mary's is in even without this game. They not only started 18-1, but they led at Gonzaga at halftime the game he got hurt. He had 18 points in the first half before breaking his hand.

With him, they are a very competitive team, if he's 100%. His first game back, last night, it was apparent he's rusty but they won anyway.

They play Gonzaga tonight in the WCC tourney title game and then they're off. I think adding a game makes sense, but I see the potential for chaos as described, above.

 

[buckeyesin07]

So, when do bubble teams start adding games against other bubble teams in order to improve their resume late season?

In this situation, though, St. Mary's would likely hurt their resume by adding a game--even if they win, E. Wash. is such a bad team (in the 200s, according to RPI), that St. Mary's RPI will go down after playing this game.

 

[LitlBuck]

I think Saint Mary's is in even without this game. They not only started 18-1, but they led at Gonzaga at halftime the game he got hurt. He had 18 points in the first half before breaking his hand.

With him, they are a very competitive team, if he's 100%. His first game back, last night, it was apparent he's rusty but they won anyway.

They play Gonzaga tonight in the WCC tourney title game and then they're off. I think adding a game makes sense, but I see the potential for chaos as described, above.

Totally agree. I think they are in without having to play another game but the St. Mary's coach just wants to give Mills some added playing time to get him back in game condition. However, I still don't even know if that is fair to add an extra game just to get a player who was injured in game shape. If they were a bubble team, I would definitely have problems with the extra game but I don't think that is the situation here.