Selection Sunday-NCAA tournament thread

Since the NCAA took it over, I don't think schools are allowed to turn down NIT bids.

 

I've been told by people who ought to know that Virginia has a difficult time scheduling home-and-homes with other major conference schools. They aren't quite sexy enough to get fans and TV excited about, but good enough to possibly beat you and they play a frustrating style. They've had Oregon, LSU and Iowa State on the schedule in recent years, but not seasons where it would have helped them. Oregon and Iowa State would have done wonders for the RPI and strength of schedule this year, but a couple of years ago not so much .

The football team schedules a lot nice out of conference games, and the AD would like to do the same thing in basketball.

 

I've heard a theory, but haven't seen if the numbers back it up, that since the NCAA took ownership of the NIT, more of the final at-large spots have gone to mid-majors, which allows it to play up the Cinderella angle for the NCAA Tournament and send more "brand names" to the NIT.

Schools like Kentucky and Tennessee might at least attract some small level of interest in their NIT games. Nobody would even know if La Salle and Middle Tennessee State were playing in it.

 

Poor Virginia. If only they had an easier time scheduling those OOC home-and-homes like St. Mary's does.

 

Scheduling a road game at a similar, but more accomplished mid-major killed UVa's strength of schedule this year. I know the mid-major schools struggle to schedule too, my point is a lot of people say "just schedule better" when unless you are a marquee name and ESPN is going to help set games up for you, it can be difficult.

 

I feel fairly confident in saying that Virginia having trouble scheduling and St. Mary's having trouble scheduling are concepts that can occupy the same space at the same time.

 

Then Virginia should call up St. Mary's -- I'm sure they'd love to play!

 

Just using Virginia here because they are the team being discussed.

Virginia needn't play AQ schools to have a strong OOC schedule.

Richmond, VCU, ODU and GMU would gladly play a home and home with Virginia every single year. Generally strong programs with top-100 RPIs. Cheap, easy travel, little or no missed class time. Lots of UVa alums in each region who would love to see the Cavs wkithout going to Charlottesville. Just have two in Charlottesville and two on the road.

Throw in Charlotte, WVU or Temple, who would also gladly do home-and-homes with an ACC school, and you can load the rest of your OOC schedule with home games against MEAC or Big South tomoto cans and call it good.

 

Not sure if this was mentioned earlier or not.....

Rayshawn Goins, leading scorer for James Madison University, was arrested Sunday night on charges of obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct. Way to go, dude! Wait a week and no one will notice. Do it now and you look like an ass in front of every basketball fan in America.

 

They do on the women's side all the time.

 

Gonzaga was a great story 10-15 years ago, when they were David slaying Goliath. Now they're Goliath, so they don't get the underdog rooting points anymore. They don't sneak up on anyone.

 

You have a marvelous way of saying what doesn't need to be said.