Big East Games of Interest: 2015-2016

[stever20]

The top 50 of the Ken Pom ratings, when the NCAA says they use the RPI. A top 40 RPI for a Horizon, Ivy, or Summit program is much more difficult than a top 60 RPI for a team in a stronger conference. If they have top 40 RPIs and compete in the conferences they do, that means they were competitive enough out-of-conference to retain a relatively high RPI even when playing pretty bad teams in their conference schedule. They don't have much control over their conference schedule, so they should be rewarded for doing well in the part of their schedule that they can control.

The NCAA doesn't say they just use the RPI any longer.... They use a lot of systems, not just the RPI. And the selection chair from last year admitted they used advanced metrics more than even they admitted on Selection Sunday.

[stever20]

just looking at the A10 bracket, VCU and St Bonnie's could play each other in the SF. I think that could easily be a play-in/play-out situation, where winner is in, loser is out.

[stever20]

still fairly early- 17:36 to go, but Loyola Marymount is upsetting St Mary's 33-27. Would pretty much guarantee the WCC is a 1 bid league- St Mary's isn't getting in, BYU isn't getting in, and Gonzaga probably isn't getting in on their own.

[CoachK]

just looking at the A10 bracket, VCU and St Bonnie's could play each other in the SF. I think that could easily be a play-in/play-out situation, where winner is in, loser is out.

Possibly. Do you think the same about the UConn - Cincy game ? Oh wait, they are AAC teams, they must be in.

[stever20]

just looking at the A10 bracket, VCU and St Bonnie's could play each other in the SF. I think that could easily be a play-in/play-out situation, where winner is in, loser is out.

Possibly. Do you think the same about the UConn - Cincy game ? Oh wait, they are AAC teams, they must be in.

A lot of that will hinge on the Cincy/SMU game tomorrow. I think Cincy could beat SMU and lose to UConn, and be in- ESPECIALLY with all the carnage that happened today. I think if Cincy loses to SMU though, the loser of the UConn/Cincy game is EXTREMELY tenuous- and most likely out. But the winner would definitely be in.

[ecasadoSBU]

The top 50 of the Ken Pom ratings, when the NCAA says they use the RPI. A top 40 RPI for a Horizon, Ivy, or Summit program is much more difficult than a top 60 RPI for a team in a stronger conference. If they have top 40 RPIs and compete in the conferences they do, that means they were competitive enough out-of-conference to retain a relatively high RPI even when playing pretty bad teams in their conference schedule. They don't have much control over their conference schedule, so they should be rewarded for doing well in the part of their schedule that they can control.

The NCAA doesn't say they just use the RPI any longer.... They use a lot of systems, not just the RPI. And the selection chair from last year admitted they used advanced metrics more than even they admitted on Selection Sunday.

Yeah, they are finding ways to make the system less transparent. Now no one but the NCAA selection committe has any idea what system they use, how much of it they use, and in what proportion. At the end of the day this is made to benefit the power-5 (+Big East for now). Once they realized that too many mid-majors were getting in based on RPI (and pulling impressive Cinderella runs) they decided to go against it. Its no coincidence. This system is a freaking joke and just giving more and more power to the major conference.

The RPI is not perfect. But it's a well know index, the equation is easy to understand, and most important of all... It was transparent. Everyone understood why they were in/out of the tourney. Now, it's all blurred between RPI/KenPom/[insert anything else]

We [Big East] may be on the right side of this system for now... but soon they will turn against us and diminish the league. I hope that I'm wrong

[stever20]

The top 50 of the Ken Pom ratings, when the NCAA says they use the RPI. A top 40 RPI for a Horizon, Ivy, or Summit program is much more difficult than a top 60 RPI for a team in a stronger conference. If they have top 40 RPIs and compete in the conferences they do, that means they were competitive enough out-of-conference to retain a relatively high RPI even when playing pretty bad teams in their conference schedule. They don't have much control over their conference schedule, so they should be rewarded for doing well in the part of their schedule that they can control.

The NCAA doesn't say they just use the RPI any longer.... They use a lot of systems, not just the RPI. And the selection chair from last year admitted they used advanced metrics more than even they admitted on Selection Sunday.

Yeah, they are finding ways to make the system less transparent. Now no one but the NCAA selection committe has any idea what system they use, how much of it they use, and in what proportion. At the end of the day this is made to benefit the power-5 (+Big East for now). Once they realized that too many mid-majors were getting in based on RPI (and pulling impressive Cinderella runs) they decided to go against it. Its no coincidence. This system is a freaking joke and just giving more and more power to the major conference.

The RPI is not perfect. But it's a well know index, the equation is easy to understand, and most important of all... It was transparent. Everyone understood why they were in/out of the tourney. Now, it's all blurred between RPI/KenPom/[insert anything else]

We [Big East] may be on the right side of this system for now... but soon they will turn against us and diminish the league. I hope that I'm wrong

I think a key team to watch is PC. They are still #56 in Ken Pom. I'm scared to death that the committee is going to really screw them.

[MackNova]

I really don't think KenPom plays that big of a role. Personally, I think KenPom should only be used for seeding. I'm as big a believer in that site as anyone, but actually getting into the tournament should be based on the strength of your record (who you played, who you beat, who you lost to), rather than how good your statistical profile is. If a team wins 16 games by 30 points and loses another 16 games by 1 point each, I don't want them to get a bid.

Wichita State will be an interesting case study. Most people have them firmly in. The metrics think they're a top 25 team. But when you look at who they played and who they beat, it's a pretty blank slate.

[adoraz]

I wouldn't get bent out of shape over the committee. Based on the last two years they clearly view the Big East in the same light as the other power conferences. Now the AAC is a different story, and there's a legitimate argument that teams were snubbed or underseeded the last 2 years, but that's a different topic.

[DudeAnon]

What is wrong with just using RPI as they have been? Kenpom flaw is giving more merit to blowout wins. Margin of victory shouldn't matter, just who wins and loses.