Sure. Why Not. Picking the Field of 65.
College Basketball March 10th. 2008, 4:49pm
Because so many people acted like we were drunk when we said no soup for Kentucky or Arkansas, we decided to tally the numbers. And we were wrong (clearly, we haven’t been paying attention to Bracketology). Who knew the bottom of the field was this weak? The bubble is so horrendous that right now, Kentucky gets in, and so does Ole Miss. Sorry ’bout Arkansas and the rest of the ACC. All of this is subject to change many times over the next five days. We kind of hope Davidson loses to Elon because it’ll get in anyway. And we’re always up for the committee taking an above-average mid-major over an underachieving high-major. Just like VCU.
ACC: UNC, Duke, Clemson (3)
America East: MD Baltimore County (1)
Atlantic Sun: Belmont (1)
A-10: Xavier, Dayton, Massachusetts (3)
Big East: Georgetown, Louisville, Connecticut, Notre Dame, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Syracuse (7)
Big Sky: Portland St. (1)
Big South: Winthrop (1)
Big 10: Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State (5)
Big 12: Kansas, Texas, Kansas St., Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas A&M (6)
Big West: UCSB (1)
Colonial: George Mason, VCU (2)
CUSA: Memphis (1)
Horizon: Butler (1)
Ivy League: Cornell (1)
MAAC: Rider (1)
MAC: Kent. St. (1)
MEAC: Morgan St. (1)
Missouri Valley: Drake, Illinois St. (2)
Mountain West: BYU, New Mexico, UNLV (3)
Northeast: Robert Morris Sacred Heart (1)
Ohio Valley: Austin Peay (1)
Pac 10: UCLA, Stanford, Washington St., USC, Arizona, Oregon (6)
Patriot: American (1)
SEC: Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Mississippi St., Mississippi, Kentucky (5)
Southern: Davidson (1)
Southland: Stephen F. Austin (1)
Summitt: Oral Roberts (1)
Sun Belt: South Alabama, Western Kentucky (2)
SWAC: Alabama St. (1)
West Coast: Gonzaga, St. Mary’s (2)
WAC: New Mexico St. (1)
Highest rated RPI teams denied – Miami (28) and West Virginia (33). Why the Cuse over WVU? The ‘Neers non-conference strength of schedule: 116. Syracuse 16. Why Dayton over VT and Arkansas? Barely any difference in SOS, VT hasn’t beaten a Top 50 team, Dayton’s had injuries and Arkansas has underachieved. Non-conference RPI: Dayton 4, Arkansas 42. Still, much of this is subject to change. If Baylor loses to Colorado, we’re probably booting the Bears in favor of someone like WVU, UAB, Villanova, or even a team that gets hot, like Temple.
96 Responses to “Sure. Why Not. Picking the Field of 65.”
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March 10th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
in Thad we trust…
i just don’t see it happening tho.
March 10th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
If WVU gets left out that would be two straight seasons where he’s lead a BCS conference school to ten-plus league wins and not made it
Sometimes bad things do happen to bad people
March 10th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Illinois St. does not deserve to be in after that abortion of a game on sunday.
March 10th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
i could care less for Danny Greens dancing on the sidelines, but that ” TEA BAG” on Paulus was one of the best in game dunks in UNC-Duke rivalry since the Stackhouse reverse slam
March 10th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I think my Flyers need to convincingly beat SLU and give Xavier a battle in round 2 to have a good shot.
If they beat Xavier, they’re a lock.
March 10th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
TBL- There is no way you can throw in Arizona and leave out Arizona State.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
TBL- my CANES are going to make noise in the brackets
WVU will prevail over the CUSE, no gmac to help jimmy B in the garden this year
March 10th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
you also got VCU in the bracket TBL. cmon now, they ruined there shot yesterday
March 10th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Arizona over ASU?
March 10th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Make a rule, nobody under .500 in conf. play is allowed in as an at-large. Then everyone will know what rules to play by. Oh and also, you can’t lose to Gardner Webb among your 11 losses, yeah I am looking at you Kentucky.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Why is vcu out?
Asu’s non conf was blah, az had an injury, but asu is still def in the mix
March 10th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
@TBL: I’m shocked. You kind of gave ASU some love.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
WCC is Gonzaga and St. Mary’s
WAC is New Mexico St.
And I think Miami will make it, the ACC won’t get just 3 bids, no matter how bad they are this year.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
@spencer
Ohio St. is in. They beat MSU and Purdue in the last couple of weeks. I know the Big Ten is weak this year, but still, I can’t see them not getting in.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Acc will get a fourth team. The are ranked 1 in conf RPI.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
tbl, im working west coast hours today so i can hang with my west coast crew on here if there is one LOL
you dont think that lost yesterday hurt VCU chances? i just see whoever wins the colonial and thats it from that
do you have any thoughts/opinions on Davidson?
March 10th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Is this supposed to be a prediction, or how you think it should go? Because Miami is a L-O-C-K. I don’t think the Canes are very good, but they are making the tournament. Period. There isn’t a scintilla of doubt. Quit dreaming otherwise.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I agree ASU’s nonconference is a joke but even with that crappy RPI they still spanked a very good Xavier team. Oh and they beat Arizona twice
March 10th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
SM – who from the ACC?
Jay V – Why would you say they are a lock? And do you feel that way even if they lose in the opening round of the NCAA tourney?
March 10th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
There will be four, maybe five from the ACC. There are four locks as it stands, and if Miami makes the quarters and UMD the final then five is a very good possibility.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
i’ll be beyond ecstatic if my alma mater, american university of the lowly patriot league, gets in. they have to win against colgate on friday. of course it won’t matter, they’ll get bounced in the 1st round. man i wish that team had the reincarnate of kermit washington (the last guy in college hoops to average 20 pts & 20 rebounds, fyi).
March 10th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Why is VCU a lock? They beat UMD? You cant have it both ways Mid-Majors. When they beat a high major the win counts the same as if a High-Major beat them (aka- no one in the ACC is touting a UMD win, but VCU can?)
March 10th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Miami. with Maryland and Vtech most likley needing to win some games in ACC tourney to have a chance
March 10th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
i guess not TBL, i think Stephen Curry is a lights out shooter and his team will be a Gonzaga/Butler sleeper of a team in this years brackets
March 10th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
pray tell, why’d you exclude Miami? I know you’ve been dogging the ACC this year, but excluding Miami while giving the SEC 5 teams is ridiculous. Let’s compare ole Miss and Miami. Miami RPI 28 SOS 32 conf record 8-8 (played UNC once, Duke and Clemson twice). Miss RPI 42 SOS 60 conf record 7-9 (played Tenn once, Kentucky once, Vandy once, MSU twice). Both have decent wins out of conference (Miami VCU and @ Miss State, Miss South Alabama and New Mexico at home, Clemson on neutral court). Best win- Miami beat Duke, Miss beat Vandy. Last 10 games, Miss is 5-5, Miami is 6-4. Most embarrassing losses: Miami lost to Winthrop (Miss beat winthrop), BC, swept by FSU, and NC State, Miss swept by Auburn (120 in pomroy statistics), lost to LSU, South Carolina Alabama.
I’m pretty sure if it came down to the two teams, Miami would get the nod easily right now. The ACC may be top heavy, but it certainly doesn’t have any automatic wins on the schedule unlike every other conference in the land (subtract 2 wins from every Pac 10 team’s conference record to account for Oregon state) and the bottom of the SEC is just atrocious this year.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Irish – I dont think Davidson can be considered a sleeper since 1,000 “Experts” have put them on their sleeper list. I know they are good, I get it. Yes, I think they can win a game, maybe two, but I would not call them a sleeper.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
ooh, just switched Ole Miss’s schedule to rank teams by RPI…5 losses to sub 100 RPI teams (3 to sub 150). Miami has 2, Winthrop and BC.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Illinois State getting in would be a joke.
Sorry, TBL, but Miami and Arkansas are all but guaranteed of getting in.
Good call on Dayton – they’re in for now, but probably want two A-10 wins to make it concrete.
I don’t know what to make of VCU, but it’s going to get pretty dicey with them if the Syracuses, Marylands and New Mexicos continue to win.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Good to know Miami’s a lock. I did not get the memo.
Oh, someone asked if this was a prediction or how i think it’ll go – this is our version of bracketology. no different than joe lunardi’s or any other blogger’s. purely subjective.
Irish – I think Davidson is a lock tonight and i like them in March, although everyone will say, ‘they came close, but didn’t beat anyone!’ This was in Nov/Dec, of course.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
@sterlin-who would be a sleeper in your eyes this year? Gonzaga
March 10th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
There are no guarantees Championship week, people
Miami has to play a floundering NC State team … even though the Pack have lost 7 in a row, you know what they did last year here … and they beat Miami in OT once … who can find Miami’s record in ACC tourney history?
March 10th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
thanks TBL
also, you never gave me your fax # to send you that memo
March 10th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Saint Mary’s if they make it (thats and unimpressive 5 games to close the year)
Illinois State has 4 sub 100 losses to go with no top fifty wins.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
irish. Gonzaga is good one. also USC
March 10th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
SM- i love me some Mayo. I saw that game against Stanford on Sat in which he played well.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
What is a guarantee, though, is that Robert Morris lost to Mount Saint Mary’s last night, so they will not be in the tournament. Better update that Northeast representative to either Sacred Heart or the aforementioned Fightin’ Jim Phelans.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
oh, just if people are wondering…the Giants haven’t gotten their super bowl rings yet. As captains, Eli and Strahan are picking them, and Strahan wants a ten table ring which is holding things up.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
great update. Will be rooting for Sacred Heart because i just went to the NE conf website and found this
March 10th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
TBL…Miami’s RPI suggests they are a lock. Period. It would be unprecedented based on any analysis of the committee’s criteria over the past 10 years to think Miami doesn’t get in, regardless of how they fare in the NCAA tourney?
I am a CollegeRPI subscriber, and the TOS prevents me from cutting and pasting, but suffice it to say that no team with a similar resume has ever been left out, and, quite frankly, they are most likely going to be seeded in the 7-9 range…not even close to that of a bubble team.
Like I said before…i don’t think they are that good. But they are getting in.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
love me some infielders from California, that girl is good enough for a post TBL lol. i always used to get letters from Sacred Heart in the mail when i was in high school.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Cut and pasted from Dayton fan boys – a list of top 40 RPI teams that were snubbed:
2006:
#21…Missouri State…20-8…SOS=46….lost 1st round of conference tournament.
#30…Hofstra………….24-6…SOS=129…lost 3rd round of conference tournament.
#39 Creighton………..19-9…SOS=55….lost 1st round of conference tournament.
2007
#30…Air Force………..22-8…SOS=80….lost 1st round of conference tournament.
#36…Missouri State…21-10…SOS=42…lost 2nd round of conference tourmament.
#38…Bradley…………20-12…SOS=21…lost 2nd round of conference tournament.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
One other thing, TBL…what do you have against Miami anyway?…You do realize they won at VCU, don’t you? They also won AT Mississippi State. they clearly have some significant non-conference wins.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
TBL…what do all those teams you C&P’d have in common?…they all are from outside the Big 6 conferences.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
@Jay V-my alma mater beat Duke as well to go along with what you said
March 10th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
More from that Dayton thread:
In the past 3 seasons:
95% (114/120) of sub 40 RPI teams made the NCAA’s.
99.17% (119/120) of sub 40 RPI teams that made it to their conference semi’s have made the NCAA’s.
100% of sub 40 RPI teams that have reached their conference semis AND had a sub 100 SOS have made the NCAA’s.
Miami had better handle its business against NC State. One win will do it, otherwise, they’re sweating Sunday.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
are you serious? your leaving the canes out? they went .500 in the ACC and had 20+ wins.. get outta here TBL.. lets make a bet on that
March 10th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
more tomorrow TBL. i gotta go
March 10th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I’m seeing those NOV wins in San Juan, not technically on the road
Nothing against Miami. Just not a good team this year.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
not after seeing that CORTES YOU THE MAN
March 10th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
haha thanks man.. just moved to lithia but im a miami boy born and raised.. marlins heat canes kimbo straight 305
March 10th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
much love cortes, keep coming around man.
March 10th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Cortes – if Miami loses, let’s talk
March 10th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Yep, you are right the VCU win was in San Juan, the Mississippi State win however was not.
In any event, like I said, it would be unprecedented for them not to get in based on resume…regardless of the NC State outcome.
Highest ACC RPI from last 10 years not to get a bid…43 (Clemson last year).
March 10th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
@irish.. appreciate the love, will continue to be here
@TBL… i’d make that bet even if they bow out in 1st round of ACC tournament.. they have enough on their resume without that win IMO.. but the win does push them over the top
March 10th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Welcome back, Cortes
March 10th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
its time to play wheres the qb…can you find the sony, oreo,sprint pitchman in this picture?
March 10th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
no link nick, but with you i bet it was the trophy that OSU stole from the U LOL
March 10th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
You know me too well, irish.
March 10th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
front row seats mrejr. How do you think he snagged those seats? Even Laetner was one row back
March 10th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
He got them from Cutliff, which apparently is a NCAA violation
March 10th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
dont even wanna see that crap! glenn sharpe.. ughh….i always wondered, if they would have gotten that call if coker would be here still.. 2 titles in 4 years, how could you justify firing him.. in any case shannon has done a good job with the recruiting.. the new 7th floor crew is on the way baby!
March 10th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
winner irish you get 5 pounds of expired spam with a used platic spork. congrats!
March 10th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
*plastic spork
March 10th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Is it me or is that Peyton Manning under Singler’s left elbow?
March 10th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Since TBL loves the stats..The number one rated conference has never gotten less that 5 teams into the NCAA tournament. I know the ACC is weak but just throwing that out there.
I’m inclined to agree with TBL though that if Miami doesn’t win that first round game they could be in deep trouble because their profile isnt that great. The highest rated RPI team from a BCS conference to get left out was LSU at 38. Thats about where Miami would end up with a first round loss.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Ole Miss making it in over Arkansas and Kentucky would be surprising to me.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
So I guess you think Maryland’s recent tailspin nullifies that win over UNC? I guess I get that, but I’d throw the Terps in. 18-12, 8-8 in the ACC with a win over the No. 1 team looks like a tourney berth even if it’s a 14 seed or whatever.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
A Big 6 school never gets anything lower than a 12, NHZ.
Plus, I think Maryland’s gotta be out right now after that tank job at Virginia.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
If Dayton, Illinois State, and VCU all get in, I’ll shit twice and die. Illinois State has no case at all, other than “we were second in the MVC, and the MVC has been a multi-bid league for years!” Look at their resume. Their best – best! – win on the season is a toss-up between Creighton and Southern Illinois. And don’t get me started on Dayton. UMass has a much better cae than them, and UMass should be squarely on the bubble…
I’ll be shocked if the Mountain West gets three. No way in hell do they deserve it. All three teams’ best wins are over each other. BYU is in, and the potential semifinal game between UNLV and New Mexico is almost definitely a play-in/out game.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Maryland?!?! Their win over UNC was their only one against a team that will be in the Dance (unless NC State wins the ACC Tourney or something)…I’d say a late season slide plus early season home losses to Ohio and American would nullify a win against an NBA team at this point
Just remember…you can’t spell “Terrapins” without the letters N-I-T
March 10th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Well the South Alabama loss takes a spot from a major conference program. Great resume, very good team, should be dancing. Or, it could just take the spot of Western Kentucky.
Gonzaga – love them – was just down five late in the first half but has come out smoking and is now up five on SD. SD win would take a spot from somebody. Can’t see the Zags losing this one; can see them in the Sweet 16.
Jack – valid points, all of them, but if you want to yank three teams from us, please mention the ones that get in in their place.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I get the feeling that South Alabama will get screwed here since they didn’t even make it to their conference tourney final (and God help them if they do get an at-large and have to suffer the wrath of Billy Packer for bumping off a mediocre Maryland or Ohio State team)
March 10th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
What makes South Alabama so great? The fact they are in the discussion just shows they are just as mediocre as UMD/OSU/etc. Play someone other than bottom feeders in the big six and WIN those (some)of those games.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Well they did play three SEC teams beating tourney team Miss St and losing at Vandy in double overtime while beating this San Diego teams that’s looking damn good, real good
They’re better than than whatever shit BCS school that will get in as an 11 seed…the RPI might have its flaws but if you’re in the top 30 you’re pretty good
March 10th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
The South Alabama loss throws a fascinating monkey wrench into things. Also, San Diego is beating Gonzaga. Will that knock St. Mary’s out, or will the WCC become a 3-bid league?
TBL: As of right now (things are subject to change, obviously), I’d swap out Dayton for UMass, Illinois State for Miami, and the UNLV/New Mexico loser for … hmm, hard to keep out Arizona State: they swept Arizona, split with Stanford, USC, and Oregon, and beat Xavier by 20.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
If SD wins this (Goddammit I love the WCC final every season…it would probably be worth getting ESPN Full Court to watch this league all year) I think St. Mary’s gets the shaft
They didn’t win their regular season title and didn’t win their tournament (and didn’t even reach the final), that’s not a good combination for a mid major
March 10th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I don’t think SMC should get the shaft if San Diego pulls this out; the Gaels are Tournament quality, no doubt.
South Alabama is the most intriguing case from here on out. I want to root for them, but will have to wait to see how other bubblers (Oregon, ‘Cuse, Maryland, Dayton) perform in the upcoming days.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
“Well they did play three SEC teams beating tourney team Miss St and losing at Vandy in double overtime while beating this San Diego teams that’s looking damn good, real good”
Butters, I’m asking this honestly and not being sarcastic: do really think that’s a better resume than those of the “BCS” conference bubble teams? One win over a legitimate tourney team, one close loss to a tourney team, and a win over a solid but unspectacular non-conference team? You just described the absolute minimum qualifications for a bigger conference team to get on the bubble. Should that get them in just because they’re a lovable mid-major?
March 10th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
@ Jack. Maybe. Let’s remember that it is harder for smaller guys to get enough quality out of conference, so when you beat MSU and take Vandy to the ropes, it warrants some consideration. Tons of people have shown their ability to lose while South Alabama has shown its ability to win as well. Should we punish the smaller school because they have less chances?
March 10th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Well I’m kinda drunk and not really thinking straight (getting in shape for the Tournament, less than two weeks to go) but my thinking is that the last few seasons have shown that teams that are able to go 16-2 in their small conferences is no less impressive than a team like Maryland or Florida going 8-8
Personally I’m all for teams with big records over mediocre scrubs…neither is going to win the whole thing anyway so you might as well give someone who actually accomplished something during the season a chance
March 10th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
My problem is that they get credit for “playing Vandy close”. UMD played Duke close twice, Clemson once, won @Charlotte (+.500 in the A-10). But since they play in a high major none of that matters. Trust me, UMD does not belong in w/o an ACC final appearance (and wins over CLEM/DUKE along the way) but the double standard to how you look at games the teams played is ridiculous.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
But it’s not an even playing field…who can say whether or not South Alabama would have done better against an ACC schedule than Maryland
The Terps had many, many chances and only won once…South Alabama played three top level schools and won once
And I’m pretty sure none of South Alabama’s losses were as bad as losing at home to American like the Mighty Turtle did
March 10th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
@ CHJ: That is indeed the eternal question with mid-major bubble teams. Do we look at their relatively small number of games against legit teams as sign of a “weak schedule,” or do we lament their lack of opportunity to “prove themselves”? I don’t claim to have an answer, and I will readily admit that I may be a tad ornery about the issue, due to how many times, as an OSU fan, I’ve had to hear about how the Buckeyes haven’t “proven themselves,” while I watch people just throw around Illinois State, New Mexico, UNLV, and whatever A-10 team is hot this week as “locks” to get in.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Sharpe – Maryland’s had chances, and blown it lenty more times than South Alabama. When is enough enough for the big boys?
March 10th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
From what I’ve seen Ohio State can been pretty good if on their game…they gave my Badgers all they could handle, could have stolen one at Indiana and beat Purdue and MSU at home to end their season
If they beat the Spartans again I think they deserve a look at getting in
March 10th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Butters: we also led Tennessee for most of the second half on the road before losing by 5, and gave UNC a battle before losing by 10. In my opinion, OSU is the very definition of a bubble team. I think another win over MSU makes the Bucks a lock, while a loss puts them right on the razor’s edge, likely either the last team in or first team out.
San Diego’s gonna pull it out. What I said earlier about how interesting the South Alabama situation is? Multiply that by five, and you’ve got the WCC situation. It’s gonna be a long, long week for St. Mary’s.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
North Texas…but thats not the point. The point I was making was that a win by South Alabama against a team isnt the same as a win by high major bubble team (UMD is the example, but it goes for all.) The fact that UMD/Syr./UK, etc. are losing games at home to teams like American (probably Tourney Team) shows they are getting chances, but also b/c if a high major bubble goes to South Ala. and loses? They get hammered by the pundits. There is nothing to gain by going on the road and playing them. You cant deny the double standard.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I can’t see the WCC sending three teams to the Tournament (although the Valley so famously sent a handful a couple years back)…nights like tonight are why conference tournaments are so stupid yet so intriguing at the same time
Breaking it down though I’d bet St. Mary’s resume is more impressive than South Alabama’s with wins over Drake, Oregon and Gonzaga
March 11th, 2008 at 3:36 am
St. Mary’s gets in along with SD. Wazzu needs to go deep cuz im takin all my pac 10 teams deep as always. UCLA, UNC Vandy and Stanford (or duke) TEABAG PAULUS!!! TEABAG PAULUS!!!!! TEABAG PAULUS….
March 11th, 2008 at 7:16 am
I was going to come in this thread just to say the same thing as Draft King: I don’t think Ole Miss is the fifth team from the SEC. I see both Arkansas and Florida getting in before Ole Miss. Just my opinion, but Ole Miss, after a great start, has played like garbage the last part of the season. Arkansas and Florida have been up and down, but I think have a better resume. Not to mention Florida is the repeating back to back champion. It all depends on the SEC tourney though.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:16 am
The WCC is a lock to take three. I don’t consider St.Mary’s even on the bubble, they are in.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Sean John I’ve been waiting for that. Ole Miss is a total joke. Hate on Arkansas all you want and call me a homer, but 7-9 in any conference should not get you anywhere but the NIT, I don’t care how good you started against shit teams. Damn I hate Ole Piss.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I don’t think there was anything wrong with the Valley getting four teams a few years back. After all, two made the Sweet 16, plus Southern Illinois made the Sweet 16 last year and by all rights should have knocked off Kansas if not for a last-minute breakdown and some questionable officiating. Believe it or not, winning second place in that conference – even in a “down” year – is a pretty nice accomplishment.
Then again, their non-conference schedule is a joke so I wouldn’t be heartbroken at them not making it in. I just don’t think there’s enough reasons to keep them out. If the only reason you’re keeping them out is because they got shot out of the gym (when their legs were gone, all their shots were short and their over-reliance on one player was exposed) by the second-most dominant Valley team (other than last year’s SIU squad) of the decade, that kind of invalidates the selection process, in my mind.
Look at what they did the whole season, not just the one time they were on national TV.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Ole Miss and Arkansas are virtually identical.
RPI: 43, 42
SOS: 61, 40
Top 50 wins: 5, 4
Non-conf RPI: 8, 41
Last 10: 5-5, 5-5
Head to head: Split
Best ROAD win: Georgia, Auburn or LSU
If anything, i lean to Ole Miss for their tough non-conf schedule.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I know I am fighting a losing battle here, and I know that no one except me gives a shit, but Arkansas played 4 teams listed above in Non-Conference (VCU, Oral Roberts, Oklahoma and Baylor) and went 3-1, with the only loss coming AT OU. Ole Piss played 3 teams listed above (So. Alabama, Winthrop and Clemson) and won all three.
I just think if you are going to give it to one or the other you have to go with the Hogs strictly because of conference record.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Assuming both win their opening SEC tourney games, beating Vandy def trumps Georgia, so Arkansas likely will leapfrog Ole MIss
ps – there is no losing battle here … everyone is armed with the same information, it just matters how everyone interprets it. You could see it differently than Joe Lunardi or me or Andy Katz. The great thing about projecting the field – it’s purely subjective, and nobody has an advantage.