NCAA Tournament Somebody Help Me.

**pvfan** · March 6th, 2006, 01:16 PM

This thing used to be pretty simple, until a few years ago when they decided to screw around with the RPI Forumla. Well, now you have MVC teams going in front of ACC Teams? Granted I'm a Terp fan and they are on the bubble but would somebody please explain to me how the following teams are locks and how some of these teams RPI's are where they are.

Arkansas: RPI 45 considered a lock (lost to Maryland)
California: RPI is in the 50's yet are ahead of Maryland who has a RPI in the mid 40's.
Alabama: RPI one ahead of Maryland
UK: Lock due to an RPI in the 20's. Yesterday they lost at home to Florida who's RIP was some 12-15 spots lower than them, I think that alone proves how messed up this system is.

I just dont understand where this stuff comes from, Maryland has a SOS of 12. They have lost 11 games 6 of those 11 games were to teams in the top 10, Cal lost to Eastern Michigan. Then you've got teams like A & M who could sneak in due to a poor Big 12. If Maryland beats Ga. Tech Thursday they should go, you win 9 games in the ACC with an unbalanced schedule that has you playing the two toughest teams twice, and your pretty good imo.

Lets look at the MVC standings.

TEAM CONF W-L TOTAL W-L
Wichita State 14-4 24-8
Missouri State 12-6 20-8
Southern Illinois 12-6 22-10
Creighton 12-6 19-9
Northern Iowa 11-7 23-9
Bradley 11-7 20-10
Drake 5-13 12-19
Evansville 5-13 10-19
Indiana State 4-14 13-16
Illinois State 4-14 9-19

Well, no wonder the top teams get so many wins, half the league is horrible. There is no middle ground, basically all you have to do is beat up on the sorry teams and split with the other big boys and by some act of God (ESPN) your the hottest thing since Bryce Drew. Lets look at the ACC Standings now.

Duke 14-2 27-3
North Carolina 12-4 21-6
Boston Coll. 11-5 24-6
N.C. State 10-6 21-8
Florida St. 9-7 19-8
Maryland 8-8 18-11
Clemson 7-9 18-11
Virginia 7-9 14-13
Miami (FL) 7-9 15-14
Virginia Tech 4-12 14-15
Georgia Tech 4-12 11-16
Wake Forest 3-13 15-15

Little more balanced wouldn't you say? Plus Ga. Tech is the only team in the league that is completley ruled out of posteason play at this point unless they win the ACC Tourny.

Now, this is where I get really lost on this RPI mess.

Missouri State's #6 Out of conference RPI (S0S 46):
Northern Illinois (119) Home- Win
Arkansas St (225) Road- Win
Georgia Southern (159) Home- Win
Texas A&M CC- (202) Home- Win
Oral Roberts (136) Road- Win
Detroit (180) Home- Win
Arkansas (45) Road- Loss
Arkansas St (225) Home- Win
Wisconsin-Milwaukee Road- Win

Maryland OOC RPI was 45 (OOC SOS 59) and the Terps played GW, Arkansas, Gonzaga, Temple, and Minnesota.

And beat Arkansas and Minnesota. So, some math guru out there explain to me how Missouri State is better than Maryland.

**1inStripes** · March 6th, 2006, 01:27 PM

If Maryland can get two wins in the ACC tourny that may help put them in. If they get only one win, they better hope there are no big upset winners in conference tournament play.

**CoeburnCane** · March 6th, 2006, 01:28 PM

Double D, I don't mean this as a flame or as an attack on Maryland but answer me this honestly, you being a Maryland fan aside...

Even if they do make the tournament, how far would you expect them to go? I mean, it's possible that if they make the tournament that they may play one of these MVC teams and get destroyed. Maryland's not that good due to injuries, McCray being out, and lack of good guard play. Maryland is the type of underachieving big conference team that we see every year in the Tourney--barely makes it in, mainly due to recent successes, and then goes against a team like UW-Milwaukee, Hampton, Bucknell, Penn, Valpo, Northern Iowa, etc...and loses to them badly, springing that mid-major to a Sweet 16 or even Elite 8 run.

I have a co-worker that's a Maryland fan, grew up just up the road from the university. He's basically told me he's cut his losses and is looking forward to next year and the recruits coming in--and doesn't expect a tourney bid, except to the NIT. Can't say I don't blame him. You guys need to get the future in there and put them on the floor in order to start competing again on a yearly basis. If Gary doesn't do that, then you may be looking at a NIT run of about the next 3-4 years.

**pvfan** · March 6th, 2006, 01:38 PM

I agree, they have no chance of winning it all. At the same time does one of these at large teams from the MVC have a shot? Just because you cant win it all doesn't mean you dont belong, NCAA is big for recruiting, pub, and money.

**CoeburnCane** · March 6th, 2006, 02:42 PM

At this point in time, everyone knows Maryland doesn't have a shot. By the same token--everyone ASSUMES one of these MVC teams doesn't have a shot. If I were picking right now, I'd pick one of those 5 teams that the MVC might get to get to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8, before I'd pick Maryland to get out of the first round this year.

Yes the tourney's important for recruiting and pub, but it's all about what kind of pub you're gonna get? If the pub is bad (aka - losing to a mid-major school that it doesn't seem they have any business losing to), then an appearance isn't worth it. It's best that they head to the NIT, possibly win that, and then rebuild & regroup for next year.

**Biggin** · March 6th, 2006, 03:50 PM

Im gonna tell you guys a secret-the MVC really isnt very good.

Trust me, wait till tourney time.

**pvfan** · March 6th, 2006, 05:08 PM

I'm not saying that they shouldn't get any at large bids but more than the ACC is a bit much imo. I'm dumb I guess, I always thought .500 in the ACC was good enough to get in, I guess if Maryland was lucky and got to play VT and Wake twice instead of Duke and UNC twice you all would think they were great because they'd be 10-6 as opposed to 8-8. Oh and Mega Arizona is a lock for some reason, somehow there rpi is through the roof, yet honestly they imo are on the same level as my Terps.

**CoeburnCane** · March 6th, 2006, 06:03 PM

I honestly see both Maryland & Zona as major underachievers this year. Both should have played a major role in deciding their conference champ, but fizzled out. Both showed signs of life at different times this year, but never put it all together...both for different reasons.

And as for the MVC getting more teams than the ACC, I doubt that will happen. I'd say they'll get 3-4 at most, and that includes Southern Illinois's automatic bid. The ACC may have a surprise team in store--someone like Maryland or Miami might get taken based on how they perform in the ACC tourney. As for locks out of the ACC, you've got Duke, UNC, BC, NCSU, and FSU right now. It's possible that the committee takes one of the next teams in line behind those 5 if they show well in the ACC tourney.

**gcdevil22** · March 6th, 2006, 03:31 PM

psssshhhhttt...doesn't matter because VT is gonna run the tables and win the ACC tourney and take Maryland's spot...so HA!! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]