Well, most of you are probably more interested in the skating party pics… so here they are.
Today’s real topic – to my astonishment, MSU was once again snubbed by the NCAA selection elites. This sets a new record for team with the best computer ranking to not get into the tournament (as of yesterday it was 19). This shatters the previous record (amazingly MSU now has 2 of the top 3 best rankings to get left out – the other was in 2000 with 34) of 33. Which begs the question…what is the point of having an RPI if the selectors are still going to arbitrarily pick who they want to be in the tournament. Or rather – what do they have against MSU? It’s great that the MVC got 4 teams in, but it should have been 5 and everyone knows it, and Bradley should not have been in at all. Basically it seems to me that the selection committee only started watching basketball last week, because thats pretty much the only time all season bradley was playing well.
The committee said MSU’s first round loss in the MVC tournament was a key factor in leaving them out. Well geez, there are 6 good teams playing in a tournament with 8 slots – not everyone can make it to the finals. But of course if the conference was called the ACC or something, then it wouldn’t matter because everyone just knows that they are all good teams and should be in anyways despite their record.
Really, I’m just irritated because MSU gets the shaft from the NCAA once again, and personally I think so did Creighton. Somehow Bradley, Air Force and Utah State all slipped in ahead, with far worse stats (Air Force has an RPI of 51 (MSU 19), a strength of schedule of 150 something (MSU 40 something), and NO wins against top 50 teams (MSU has 4). As the guy on tv said, it looks like committee is really making a statement that they don’t have much confidence in the MVC. I think they just don’t want a chance for too many upsets by MVC teams – this might steal attention away from their beloved Syracuse and other east coast teams. Jerks. I hope a lot of people go to the NIT game next friday so we can collectively give the finger back to the NCAA tournament and enjoy a bonus home game.
It’s simple. Play better teams in your non-conference schedule. Plus another factor that had nothing to do with the Bears…4 teams from the Valley?! That is stupid…they could not afford to give them 5. Why? Because the ACC only got 4…and I’m sorry but the Valley is no ACC…yes the competition might be just as tough in the Valley, but the talent level is about half of the ACC. Yeah, I said it.
Utah State would destroy the Bears…they moved conference just to play tougher games…that is a team grabbing hold of their destiny. They are a good mid-major team. That’s it. Utah State is one of the only teams in the Nation to win 23+ games the last 5 years…they invite big names to play them such as Duke, UConn and other top ten teams…but their invites are turned down, because who wants an early season blemish…and the best part, they made a big media fuss about it…so everyone knows they want to play the best. That goes a long way.
Plus, this happens every year to someone’s team…I’m just happy Indiana got a #6 seed…heck I’m happy they just made it…it’s been two years.