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On the Prowl: The Bubble Jury
Selection Sunday (now apparently a big enough event where the title gets capitalized) is merely days away, and many teams have been lobbying like mad to try to get the coveted bid to the NCAA Tournament. Many have the kind of profiles worthy, and many (are you listening, Purdue and Illinois?) do not. But before I listen to the cases of these schools, I would like to release this disclaimer:
To be accepted into the tournament is indeed a great honor, but as a bubble team it is important to recognize the following reality: it is basically a done deal that you will not get past the Round of 32, barring some sort of major upset/miracle, similar in nature to Chaminade over Virginia or Hampton over Iowa State. Thank you.
Let's get started, shall we?
Kansas State
NO. No, no, no, no, NO! I don't care if Battlin' Bob Huggins is the fearless leader of this team. Kansas State getting into the NCAAs would be a travesty and a further procurement of BCS Bias over reason. This team finished 10-6 in the very weak Big XII, their only real win of substance a victory over Texas (no, Oklahoma doesn't count. Kelvin Sampson left, remember?). Do the right thing, selection committee: don't give Valley fans even more to whine about in terms of preferrential treatment of BCS teams. If K-State gets in, they have a legitimate case.
Syracuse
Sorry, but I'm not convinced this team deserves a bid. Their RPI lacks (48), and suddenly we have started to let them off the hook because of a win over UConn? Last I checked, UConn was in danger of missing the NIT, NCAAs be damned. While I think Syracuse isn't as mediocre as their record indicates, let this be a lesson that I think many Big East bloated powerhouses are starting to understand: your nonconference schedule can come back to haunt you.
Stanford
I really had to think about this one. If it were me, I'd give Stanford the nod just because they managed to put together a 10-8 conference schedule in what is undoubtedly the craziest, bloodiest conference in the nation. In other words: The Pac-10 ROCKS. Stanford has the kind of talent that would keep it at the top of lesser BCS conferences (Big XII, anyone?) and they would likely be in a lot better shape as a result. Keeping toe-to-toe with the likes of Wazzou, Arizona, Oregon, and UCLA means you are worthy, at least to me.
Michigan
If we're going to take a fifth team from the Big Ten, why isn't it Michigan instead of Illinois or Purdue? I understand that Michigan got battered around when they played a few name opponents, but they also beat a few good ones too in Michigan State. This team also came surpsingly close to beating Ohio State. So... let's review: Michigan gets creamed by good teams, and beats good teams, depending on the day. Inconsistent, yes, but still a worthy tournament consideration. Compare that with Illinois/Purdue, who in my opinion, don't have squat. Purdue lost to Indiana State by over 15, for crying out loud.
Air Force
If there's one thing I'm a proponent of, it's awarding teams for consistency throughout the year. Air Force falls under that category as they found ways to win all year long. So they're on a skid right now. Are you telling me you would let Purdue/Illinois in over them? (Sorry, I have this thing against Purdue and Illinois.) They're still 22-8 in a respectable conference. Many say that the concept of a 20-win season doesn't mean as much these days, but I say it's quite the opposite. It the parity-era of today, 20 wins means quite a bit. Just ask the likes of Okie State, or anyone in the SEC West. Let 'em in.
Missouri State
You know how Bob Barker will tease anticipatory contestants when it all comes down to one final number to win a new car? He'll keep rambling on while they nearly pee in their pants? That's basically how Missouri State has felt since they dropped a decision to Creighton that was a little bit closer than the score indicated (but not much). What would it mean if the 3rd-ranked team from the 5th-rated conference in the country did not get into the tournament, with a win over Wisconsin (Especially when compared to, say, Purdue or Illinois)? I am not quite as nervous as Missouri State or its fans because I get this impression the committee has them in as at least an 11-seed, but I understand they've been burned on this before. At-larges are a game of both numbers and quality wins in context. Missouri State has both.
Selection Sunday (now apparently a big enough event where the title gets capitalized) is merely days away, and many teams have been lobbying like mad to try to get the coveted bid to the NCAA Tournament. Many have the kind of profiles worthy, and many (are you listening, Purdue and Illinois?) do not. But before I listen to the cases of these schools, I would like to release this disclaimer:
To be accepted into the tournament is indeed a great honor, but as a bubble team it is important to recognize the following reality: it is basically a done deal that you will not get past the Round of 32, barring some sort of major upset/miracle, similar in nature to Chaminade over Virginia or Hampton over Iowa State. Thank you.
Let's get started, shall we?
Kansas State
NO. No, no, no, no, NO! I don't care if Battlin' Bob Huggins is the fearless leader of this team. Kansas State getting into the NCAAs would be a travesty and a further procurement of BCS Bias over reason. This team finished 10-6 in the very weak Big XII, their only real win of substance a victory over Texas (no, Oklahoma doesn't count. Kelvin Sampson left, remember?). Do the right thing, selection committee: don't give Valley fans even more to whine about in terms of preferrential treatment of BCS teams. If K-State gets in, they have a legitimate case.
Syracuse
Sorry, but I'm not convinced this team deserves a bid. Their RPI lacks (48), and suddenly we have started to let them off the hook because of a win over UConn? Last I checked, UConn was in danger of missing the NIT, NCAAs be damned. While I think Syracuse isn't as mediocre as their record indicates, let this be a lesson that I think many Big East bloated powerhouses are starting to understand: your nonconference schedule can come back to haunt you.
Stanford
I really had to think about this one. If it were me, I'd give Stanford the nod just because they managed to put together a 10-8 conference schedule in what is undoubtedly the craziest, bloodiest conference in the nation. In other words: The Pac-10 ROCKS. Stanford has the kind of talent that would keep it at the top of lesser BCS conferences (Big XII, anyone?) and they would likely be in a lot better shape as a result. Keeping toe-to-toe with the likes of Wazzou, Arizona, Oregon, and UCLA means you are worthy, at least to me.
Michigan
If we're going to take a fifth team from the Big Ten, why isn't it Michigan instead of Illinois or Purdue? I understand that Michigan got battered around when they played a few name opponents, but they also beat a few good ones too in Michigan State. This team also came surpsingly close to beating Ohio State. So... let's review: Michigan gets creamed by good teams, and beats good teams, depending on the day. Inconsistent, yes, but still a worthy tournament consideration. Compare that with Illinois/Purdue, who in my opinion, don't have squat. Purdue lost to Indiana State by over 15, for crying out loud.
Air Force
If there's one thing I'm a proponent of, it's awarding teams for consistency throughout the year. Air Force falls under that category as they found ways to win all year long. So they're on a skid right now. Are you telling me you would let Purdue/Illinois in over them? (Sorry, I have this thing against Purdue and Illinois.) They're still 22-8 in a respectable conference. Many say that the concept of a 20-win season doesn't mean as much these days, but I say it's quite the opposite. It the parity-era of today, 20 wins means quite a bit. Just ask the likes of Okie State, or anyone in the SEC West. Let 'em in.
Missouri State
You know how Bob Barker will tease anticipatory contestants when it all comes down to one final number to win a new car? He'll keep rambling on while they nearly pee in their pants? That's basically how Missouri State has felt since they dropped a decision to Creighton that was a little bit closer than the score indicated (but not much). What would it mean if the 3rd-ranked team from the 5th-rated conference in the country did not get into the tournament, with a win over Wisconsin (Especially when compared to, say, Purdue or Illinois)? I am not quite as nervous as Missouri State or its fans because I get this impression the committee has them in as at least an 11-seed, but I understand they've been burned on this before. At-larges are a game of both numbers and quality wins in context. Missouri State has both.
