This year truly is a historically weak bubble for NCAA tourney teams

[dukedevilz]

I don't actually follow the selection process closely enough to be able to argue whether a San Francisco belongs in over an Indiana. However, I think putting the mid-majors in makes the tournament far more interesting (at least to me).

I'd far prefer a 6 vs 11 matchup with a #11 San Francisco/Wofford/Lipscomb trying to knock off a power conference #6 seed, compared to a #11 Indiana/Nebraska/Florida trying to do the same. I understand that fans of Indiana/Nebraska/Florida feel differently, and that those names draw higher viewership than some team that only people on this message board have heard of.

That's a big part of it for me, too. We already have enough Power Conference teams in already. I cringe when I see teams get in with 13-14 losses - and teams like Saint Mary's are left out. Last year I want to say SMC went 3-2 verse the top 50 (low sample size, admittedly), and they were in the top 40 in every efficiency rating. They also went 29-5 in the season.

 

[hailtoyourvictor]

That's a big part of it for me, too. We already have enough Power Conference teams in already. I cringe when I see teams get in with 13-14 losses - and teams like Saint Mary's are left out. Last year I want to say SMC went 3-2 verse the top 50 (low sample size, admittedly), and they were in the top 40 in every efficiency rating. They also went 29-5 in the season.

They had 5 losses (4 to teams outside the kenpom top 50) and their 2nd best win was to kenpom #60 New Mexico.

I’d cringe if they got in.

 

[dukedevilz]

They had 5 losses (4 to teams outside the kenpom top 50) and their 2nd best win was to kenpom #60 New Mexico.

I’d cringe if they got in.

New Mexico State was in the top 50 of the RPI, which is what I'm counting since the NCAA Net Rankings weren't available then. The fact that they were in the top 40 of every efficiency rating says something. One of those bad losses was by 5 points, another one was in OT. Another one was to an NIT team. Honestly, if you play 20+ sub-100 teams, odds are you're going to drop a game or two. I seriously, seriously doubt Indiana or Nebraska (without Copeland) could go 12-4 in the WCC.

 

[hailtoyourvictor]

New Mexico State was in the top 50 of the RPI, which is what I'm counting since the NCAA Net Rankings weren't available then. The fact that they were in the top 40 of every efficiency rating says something. One of those bad losses was by 5 points, another one was in OT. Another one was to an NIT team. Honestly, if you play 20+ sub-100 teams, odds are you're going to drop a game or two. I seriously, seriously doubt Indiana or Nebraska (without Copeland) could go 12-4 in the WCC.

That is an example of why RPI was so bad, not a good argument as to how deserving St. Mary’s was. St. Mary’s had a single top 60 win. Yikes.

 

[IUfanBorden]

Duke = WAY better
UVA = unquestionably better
UNC = same
VT = better
UL = better
FSU = better
Syracuse = same
NCSU = better
Pitt = massively better
GT = same
Clemson = worse
BC = slightly worse
Miami = way worse
ND = worse
Wake = same

So 11 teams are the same or better, with several being significantly better. Only 4 teams are worse, and only one of those four is substantially worse.

Are you sure you're watching games in this league?

UVA is much better......And that is kinda of scary.

 

[jhmossy]

UVA is much better......And that is kinda of scary.

Second round bitches

 

[BasketBallJunkie-UK]

Second round bitches

Keep going, you'll get there one day. Its a learning curve you know lol...

 

[jace4655555]

Second round bitches

Hell, for years it felt like half your team was Indiana high school kids. Since IU isn't going to do anything I might as well pull for the team that has the most kids from Indiana.

 

[jhmossy]

Hell, for years it felt like half your team was Indiana high school kids. Since IU isn't going to do anything I might as well pull for the team that has the most kids from Indiana.

Kyle Guy is our only player from Indiana since Jamil Tucker in the 2009-2010 season.

 

[jace4655555]

Kyle Guy is our only player from Indiana since Jamil Tucker in the 2009-2010 season.

Yeah, I should have added that I'm not certain how many Indiana guys you all have. But, for a few years it seemed like you all were in the running till the end for a bunch. It maybe just a perception thing since I don't keep up with your roster, but It really felt like you all were getting a bunch.

I'm actually surprised that it's just Guy...i would have sworn that there were more. Don't get me wrong, i believe you, but for some reason the perception for me was different.

 

[dukedevilz]

That is an example of why RPI was so bad, not a good argument as to how deserving St. Mary’s was. St. Mary’s had a single top 60 win. Yikes.

They also won at Gonzaga. So they won 2 of their 3 games against top 60 teams. Remember, this is essentially the same team that went to the Round of 32 in 2017. Certainly teams aren't always the same from year-to-year even with continuity, but no way was there 36 better at-large teams.

 

[hailtoyourvictor]

They also won at Gonzaga. So they won 2 of their 3 games against top 60 teams. Remember, this is essentially the same team that went to the Round of 32 in 2017. Certainly teams aren't always the same from year-to-year even with continuity, but no way was there 36 better at-large teams.

Their second best win was kenpom #60. That doesn’t impress me over a 30 game season.

 

[dukedevilz]

Their second best win was kenpom #60. That doesn’t impress me over a 30 game season.

They only had 3 games with top 60 opponents. So, winning 2 of 3 isn't bad. Did you even watch Saint Mary's last year? They had one of the best players in the country in Jock Landale (2nd Team All-American); Emmett Naar was 2nd in the nation in assists. There was a reason why they were ranked 20th in the country going into the conference tournaments. Even after a bad showing in the WCC Tourney, Lunardi said they were still safely in as a 10 seed.

Honestly, their profile looks very similar to the Buffalo team this year. Buffalo is currently 2-1 verse the top 50, and they also have 2 sub-100 losses (both came down to the wire, much like SMC). I don't think any person in America that has watched Buffalo would say they are an NIT team. Same thing for anyone that watched SMC last year.