Monday, March 15, 2010

It Just Doesn’t Add Up


I’m not shocked that Illinois was left out of the NCAA tournament; I’m simply very frustrated and a bit befuddled about how they were left out, and how other teams were chosen over them. All I ask for is consistency, logic, and honesty. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, however, as these three things are obviously lacking in every other facet of the NCAA (officiating, investigations, etc.) So in order to let off a little steam and see who beat us out and why, the following is a listing of the 5 teams that most likely stole our spot in the field of 65:

Minnesota (they are in because they beat Illinois and had a relatively easy schedule)
Good Wins: Butler, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan St, Purdue (no Hummel)
Bad Losses: Portland, Miami (FL), Indiana
Notes: Played a week non-conference, played a week conference, beat Illinois by 2, made a tourney run against teams with suspensions or injuries and then got beat by 29against a team Illinois took to double overtime.

Florida (they are in because the SEC needed more than 3 teams)
Good Wins: Florida St, Michigan St, Tennessee
Bad Losses: South Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia
Notes: 9-7 in a mediocre SEC

California (the only explanation of why they are in, let alone an 8 seed (!!!!!), is that there were 2 powerful PAC-10 individuals on the committee)
Good Wins: Iowa St?, USC?, Washington?
Bad Losses: Oregon State, UCLA, Arizona
Notes: They lost to every quality opponent they played and won the worst PAC-10 ever with 5 losses

UTEP (In because of easy scheduling)
Good Wins: New Mexico St?, Oklahoma?, UAB (x2)?
Bad Losses: New Mexico St, Houston (x2)
Notes: Went on a long conference run in a very weak conference USA

Utah State (They are in because.. umm…. They beat 17 high school caliber teams in a row?)
Good Wins: BYU, New Mexico St.?
Bad Losses: Utah, Northeastern, St. Mary’s, Long Beach St, New Mexico St (x2), Louisiana Tech,
Notes: I don’t know what to say, there is really NO way this team should have gotten an at large bid… NONE!

I can understand how Minnesota got in over us; I don’t agree with it, but I understand it. I can maybe see how Florida and UTEP sneak in… MAYBE. I can not, in any way, see how California and UTEP deserve a spot in the dance before we do.

This leads me to believe that the selection process is either extremely political or it simply over favors the number of wins a team compiles. If the former is the case than I just give up, if the latter is the case then I say next year Illinois should try to avoid all top 25 competition until the Big 10 season. That way we can go 23-10 and get a nice comfy 10 seed.

PS. Don’t get me started about the BS that the committee chair espoused trying to explain how a few teams (including Illinois) were left out. Literally every point he made did not apply to Illinois (non-conference schedule strength, conference schedule strength, wins on the road, and quality wins)... wow, just wow!

3 comments:

  1. Yeah, it is pretty clear that the selection commitee did not put enough weight on quality wins.
    Cal only won 1 game against another team that made it in the tourney, Washington. And they also lost twice to Washington during the season.
    The pac 10 be damned. They only deserved 1 team in, and that is the bottom line.

    I appreciate the artwork. I will second the frowny face.

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  2. Actually on further review, Cal also beat 13 seed Murrey State in their first game of the season.
    So bully for them.

    whatever, the point remains the same.

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  3. It's a shame. Illinois is a team that could have made for better games and a potential Cinderella run (at least a short one). Illinois has shown it can take a #2 seed down to the wire...twice.

    Oh well. I'm pulling for a UI-UNC rematch in the NIT finals.

    ReplyDelete

 
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