Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)
Pre-Selection Sunday Update
With the conference tournaments completed, it is now officially the most wonderful time of the year: March Madness time. And as has become custom, the Selection Committee is giving out info for this year's #1 seeds in the big dance. In what looks to be a top heavy field, there are some familiar faces.
2018 #1 Seeds
There is not a lot to dispute about this year's top seeds -- other than maybe some crying east coast bias. But North Carolina State gets to begin its title defense from the top of the field, and Maryland joins them after barely losing to the Wolfpack in the ACC Tournament Final. Meanwhile, Connecticut took care of business in the Big East, and Arizona State ran over, around, and through everybody to wrap up the top overall seed.
Who will be joining them? We have an idea of most of the field, but that part is easy. The more difficult task is sorting out this year's bubble teams.
There are a number of high quality teams on the outside looking in. None maybe more baffling than Ohio State, who entered the season as one of the most talented teams in the country (93 OVR) but fell flat in the Big Ten. On the other end of the spectrum is Toledo, who has a tournament worthy squad but suffers from not having beaten anybody all season.
However, teams like UNLV and West Virginia will point to their recent, late season success as a reason to place them in the field, while Kansas State and Southern Mississippi will want the committee to look at their total body of work after some late blemishes to their resume. There are many worthy teams, but not everyone is going to make it. Maybe this season could renew efforts to increase the NCAA field after a few failed attempts in recent years.
Tournament Resume: A Closer Look
Record: 17-11 (7-9 9th)
RPI: 35
Last 10: 4-6
Vs. Top 25: 2-3
Road/Neutral: 7-6
Streak: 5 Losses
RPI 1-50: 5-8
RPI 51-100: 3-3
RPI 101-200: 6-0
RPI 201+: 3-0
Good Wins: @ Texas (RPI 6), vs Colorado (RPI 25), @/vs Baylor (RPI 28)
Weak Wins: vs Houston (RPI 147), vs Michigan (RPI 153), vs UNC (RPI 123)
Worst Losses: @ Miami (RPI 76), @/vs Nebraska (RPI 56)
Projected Seed: #11 (Last Four In)
Pre-Selection Sunday Update
With the conference tournaments completed, it is now officially the most wonderful time of the year: March Madness time. And as has become custom, the Selection Committee is giving out info for this year's #1 seeds in the big dance. In what looks to be a top heavy field, there are some familiar faces.
There is not a lot to dispute about this year's top seeds -- other than maybe some crying east coast bias. But North Carolina State gets to begin its title defense from the top of the field, and Maryland joins them after barely losing to the Wolfpack in the ACC Tournament Final. Meanwhile, Connecticut took care of business in the Big East, and Arizona State ran over, around, and through everybody to wrap up the top overall seed.
Who will be joining them? We have an idea of most of the field, but that part is easy. The more difficult task is sorting out this year's bubble teams.
Tournament Bubble Watch
Oregon State 19-12 (RPI 21)
Iowa 22-11 (RPI 32)
Kansas State 17-11 (RPI 35)
UNLV 22-11 (RPI 38)
West Virginia 21-12 (RPI 39)
Texas Tech 20-13 (RPI 44)
Southern Mississippi 19-11 (RPI 48)
Drake 23-7 (RPI 50)
Toledo 21-10 (RPI 52)
Ohio State 20-12 (RPI 55)
Oregon State 19-12 (RPI 21)
Iowa 22-11 (RPI 32)
Kansas State 17-11 (RPI 35)
UNLV 22-11 (RPI 38)
West Virginia 21-12 (RPI 39)
Texas Tech 20-13 (RPI 44)
Southern Mississippi 19-11 (RPI 48)
Drake 23-7 (RPI 50)
Toledo 21-10 (RPI 52)
Ohio State 20-12 (RPI 55)
There are a number of high quality teams on the outside looking in. None maybe more baffling than Ohio State, who entered the season as one of the most talented teams in the country (93 OVR) but fell flat in the Big Ten. On the other end of the spectrum is Toledo, who has a tournament worthy squad but suffers from not having beaten anybody all season.
However, teams like UNLV and West Virginia will point to their recent, late season success as a reason to place them in the field, while Kansas State and Southern Mississippi will want the committee to look at their total body of work after some late blemishes to their resume. There are many worthy teams, but not everyone is going to make it. Maybe this season could renew efforts to increase the NCAA field after a few failed attempts in recent years.
Tournament Resume: A Closer Look
Kansas State did what it could with the schedule it had until the end of February. Maybe the committee will be forgiving of a late season injury to a key contributor, but part of the problem for the Wildcats is that their resume, while not having many holes, lacks a certain element of "pizazz." It doesn't really jump off the page.
Record: 17-11 (7-9 9th)
RPI: 35
Last 10: 4-6
Vs. Top 25: 2-3
Road/Neutral: 7-6
Streak: 5 Losses
RPI 1-50: 5-8
RPI 51-100: 3-3
RPI 101-200: 6-0
RPI 201+: 3-0
Good Wins: @ Texas (RPI 6), vs Colorado (RPI 25), @/vs Baylor (RPI 28)
Weak Wins: vs Houston (RPI 147), vs Michigan (RPI 153), vs UNC (RPI 123)
Worst Losses: @ Miami (RPI 76), @/vs Nebraska (RPI 56)
Projected Seed: #11 (Last Four In)
Do the Wildcats have a signature win? Check. Do the Wildcats lack any terrible losses? Check. Did the Wildcats perform admirably against top competition? Probably good enough. But given the crowding of the bubble this year, Kansas State's resume is severely hurt by its five straight losses to close the season. Yes, there is the Branduinn Gatling injury, but the drop in performance came at a very bad time and shows backwards momentum.
But look past the losses: what do the Wildcats have in the rest of their schedule? It is admirable to schedule a bunch of power conference opponents instead of small conference cupcakes, but Kansas State's out of conference success is misleading. Their 10-1 record with wins over UNC, Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee, and Rutgers does not resonate nearly as well in March when each marquee opponent finished at or near the bottom of their conference. So with Kansas State's non-conference slate hollow, the committee would likely focus on how they performed in the Big 12 -- and that's not really impressive either.
The Wildcats cannot control how other teams do against other opponents. But add that factor in with their fade down the stretch and it becomes clear why Kansas State sitting on the bubble today instead of looking at a 6, 7, or 8 seed.
But look past the losses: what do the Wildcats have in the rest of their schedule? It is admirable to schedule a bunch of power conference opponents instead of small conference cupcakes, but Kansas State's out of conference success is misleading. Their 10-1 record with wins over UNC, Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee, and Rutgers does not resonate nearly as well in March when each marquee opponent finished at or near the bottom of their conference. So with Kansas State's non-conference slate hollow, the committee would likely focus on how they performed in the Big 12 -- and that's not really impressive either.
The Wildcats cannot control how other teams do against other opponents. But add that factor in with their fade down the stretch and it becomes clear why Kansas State sitting on the bubble today instead of looking at a 6, 7, or 8 seed.
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