Selection Sunday thread

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

Man, people are really banging that Drexel drum. I even heard someone say they beat Temple on the road. TEMPLE!

I have no problem if the Dragons get in, but they shouldn't be ahead of ODU. The Monarchs beat Drexel twice -- once by 27 points in Philly! -- and finished two games better in the CAA. ODU has a higher RPI, a better record against the RPI Top 50 (and 100 for that matter), and a better record overall.

There's no need to overthink this one. Old Dominion first, then Drexel if there's room.

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

The biggest problem the committee will have is balancing out the brackets if they don't want to abandon their rule of having two conference teams face each other before the elite 8. The ACC presents the biggest problem especially if Florida St gets in (which they deserve to be.)

Because of the parity in the ACC, almost the entire conference (except for Carolina and Maryland) could be seeded in the 6-10 range. Virginia, Duke and BC all deserve a 6 or a 7 seed and Lunardi last had Virginia Tech as a 6 as well. If the committee seeds Carolina as a #2, only three other ACC teams can be seeded a 3, 6, 7, 10 or 11. I can see them seeding the teams 1-65 and then constantly redrawing the bracket to get four ACC teams in the upper half and four in the lower half.

Most likely scenario if North Carolina wins :

Upper Half - Carolina 1 seed, Maryland 4 seed, Virginia Tech 5 seed, Florida St 12 seed
Bottom Half - Virginia 6 seed, BC 7 seed, Duke 7 seed, Georgia Tech 10 seed

Total insanity in Indy today

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

So who will North Texas play in Dayton?

Most experts have them as a non-play-in 16, but I'm not convinced.

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

Probably FAMU or Jackson State. Those are probably the two teams that should be in the play-in game, but the NCAA has always strayed away from matching the two champions of historically black conferences in the game for fear of being branded racists. Of course, if you put the MEAC and SWAC champs in that game, it'd draw a lot better than North Texas-Central Connecticut State. HBC fans come out in droves for HBC matchups, even ones that take places time zones away from the campus.

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

You're right about that. It would be a shame, though, if there isn't room for Drexel. They did what any mid-major needed to do in the non-conference -- schedule tournament teams from power conferences on the road and win them. The Dragons have only had 11 home games this season. Most teams from power conferences have that many during the first two months of the season alone, before hitting the conference schedule.

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

ODU should go ahead of Drexel, but Drexel has a sexier profile. Why do I have this feeling they'll put Air Force in again? Perhaps they're worried about their houses getting bomb'd.

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

There aren't going to be any N.C. State fans among the bubble coaches. Of the conference-tournament finals today, the Wolfpack is the only team that reduce the number of at-large berths.

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

So you think Arkansas will make it regardless? I wouldn't be so sure about that. From SI's Stewart Mandel ...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/stewart_mandel/bubble.watch/

Even before facing Florida, the Razorbacks will merit serious at-large consideration, but are by hurt by three factors: 1) The highest-ranked RPI foe they've beaten during their current run is No. 46 Vanderbilt (and that was the second-highest team they've beaten all season); 2) Because of time constraints, the committee will likely have to determine Arkansas' fate before seeing how they perform against the Gators and 3) On a neutral floor earlier this season, the Hogs lost 71-56 to Texas Tech, one of the primary teams they're being considered against.

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

And hour and change left. Who wants some of this?



Pretty good story down in Corpus. Let's see if they can close the deal.

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

It's nice that Drexel played lots of road games. It also went 1-5 against the best three teams in its conference. It also lost to two teams that have an RPI near 200 (Rider and William & Mary).

I think that cancels out some of the road wins.

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

I will say this: The fact that Pitt is still fifth in the RPI -- four spots ahead of Georgetown -- shows that the RPI is not always a good tool.

 

Re: Countdown to Selection Sunday thread

I'm assuming you're speaking of Kansas State. I don't think KSU belongs. Four losses outside the top 50. A couple of good wins (at Texas, vs. USC) but nothing earth-shattering. Kansas State shouldn't be in.