Location only comes into play for assignment once the 64 teams are selected . . .
Whose resume is better, Troy or Louisiana?
This ranges anywhere from 0 to 4. 5 would be an outlier and I do not know if we have ever had that many. I remember a few times when there were 4. Typical is close to 2.
I think everyone would agree that Tulane and Charlotte are stolen bids. Had Xavier lost in the conference tournament title game, that would have given them a 3-13 record vs. the RPI Top 50 (10-15 vs. the RPI Top 100). Their RPI ranking would have been about 50 as well. I do not think they would have been selected. That would be 3 stolen bids.
A debate can certainly be had for UNCW ... but a loss to Northeastern would have given them an RPI in the high 40's (48, 49, etc.). They did win the #7 RPI conference regular season. But they were also 0-7 vs. the RPI Top 25 and a loss to Northeastern would have left them at 7-11 vs. the RPI Top 100. It would have been close.
So I would say we had 3 stolen bids ... possibly 4.
Brian
Big difference here. The committee is trying to select the best teams possible. Intent is the key here. Their opinion may differ from yours ... but they are attempting to select the best teams.
If they select a team out west to the field because Palo Alto has a regional (over a more deserving team), this is explicitly not trying to select the best teams (fully) to the field.
Brian
Kansas State's 12-14 Q1 record could be used to justify ... as well as tying for fourth place in the Big XII. Overall SOS could also be used. While I think this is ridiculously redundant ... they still do it. I swear that selection committee members could not pass a basic statistics exam.
Another thing that I believe will come into play ... Kansas State will be evaluated against conference mate Oklahoma. K-State swept the Sooners and finished 13-11 in the conference while Oklahoma had a losing record (11-13). I think Oklahoma gets picked over K-State due to RPI differential. We have already seen that hint in the national seed/host site selections (South Carolina, Indiana State). The gap here is 15 spots. Meanwhile, I think it will be difficult for the committee to select Oklahoma while leaving Kansas State at home.
I am not saying I agree with it. But I am stating my concern with what the selection committee will do.
That ... and RPI ranking (Oklahoma).
Louisiana and Troy is a different scenario. They are conference mates (tied for 3rd place), playing a number of common games. Troy has a higher RPI by 9 spots. This is not insignificant. Many many times the committee has used RPI differentials like this to drive a decision. Troy also defeated Louisiana on the road 2/3. These significant hurdles are not enough to override what is a 4-6 record vs. the RPI Top 50 (which is not bad) and 2-5 vs. the RPI Top 25. Meanwhile, their RPI Top 100 is 16-14 (comprised of more breadth than UCI). I think the committee evaluates Troy over Louisiana and I do as well.
Brian
So, in simple terms, there is enough there, there in that bunch up between 61 and 68 to put in and or exclude any particular team the committee wants to take action for or against . . .
In the past month the Cajuns have beat #1 lsu, #7 coastal Carolina three times, and #20 southern miss.
Well, 1 hour to find out!
Will the announcement be on ESPN?
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