How is MSU a lock for NCAA?

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

After losing to Minnesota just now, MSU is 19-14 for the season, 10-8 in the Big Ten. Iowa is 18-14, 10-8 in the Big Ten. I'm unaware of what MSU has done to be an NCAA lock while Iowa is out. Can someone enlighten me?

 

[EZ2BJZ]

After losing to Minnesota just now, MSU is 19-14 for the season, 10-8 in the Big Ten. Iowa is 18-14, 10-8 in the Big Ten. I'm unaware of what MSU has done to be an NCAA lock while Iowa is out. Can someone enlighten me?

I really think it's as simple as Michigan State scheduled a brutal non-conference schedule. Plus, they won head to head against Iowa, so that would put them ahead of the Hawkeyes, and at least for me, that makes sense. I do not, however, fully understand the arguments being made for Syracuse.

 

[Underscore2]

Because they had the privilege of losing to Arizona, Baylor, Duke, and Kentucky.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/team-comparison/MICHST/IOWA

 

[bravehawks1]

Look at the name on the jerseys and the coaches on the sideline! Tell me the committee does not see the names of Izzo and Boeheim and MSU and Syracuse and say they are better than 18-14, put them in

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Thanks for the responses. I really don't know why Fran doesn't do the same thing: Schedule four top ten blue bloods and you CAN'T lose. You win, that's a huge deal. Ya lose, it's almost as good. Why bother with Omaha, Memphis, and the like?

BTW: Although the logic is unassailable, I don't think head-to-head is generally an NCAA consideration. For example, back in the days of Tom Davis, Iowa whipped Indiana twice, at home by about 30 points late in the year, the two teams ended up with similar records, but Indiana made the NCAA while Iowa--with at least 20 wins--was sent shuffling off to the NIT.

 

[BirdistheWord]

Because they had the privilege of losing to Arizona, Baylor, Duke, and Kentucky.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/team-comparison/MICHST/IOWA

we could have matched that - guaranteed!

 

[iahawks10]

Thanks for the responses. I really don't know why Fran doesn't do the same thing: Schedule four top ten blue bloods and you CAN'T lose. You win, that's a huge deal. Ya lose, it's almost as good. Why bother with Omaha, Memphis, and the like?

BTW: Although the logic is unassailable, I don't think head-to-head is generally an NCAA consideration. For example, back in the days of Tom Davis, Iowa whipped Indiana twice, at home by about 30 points late in the year, the two teams ended up with similar records, but Indiana made the NCAA while Iowa--with at least 20 wins--was sent shuffling off to the NIT.

Honestly I don't think it's that easy to just tell Duke, UNC, Kentucky, and KU that you're going to play them.

A lot of it is the preseason tournament, ACC/B1G challenge, and Big East/B1G games. The better Iowa is perceived pre season, the better challenge they'll draw against the ACC and Big East. I also think they're sitting out the Big East games next year.

From what I've read to improve the RPI is get rid of the 200-300 ranked games and play more teams in the 100-150. Hopefully the RPI is non existent in the eyes of the committee because a lot teams have figured out how to manipulate it.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

Thanks for the responses. I really don't know why Fran doesn't do the same thing: Schedule four top ten blue bloods and you CAN'T lose. You win, that's a huge deal. Ya lose, it's almost as good. Why bother with Omaha, Memphis, and the like?

BTW: Although the logic is unassailable, I don't think head-to-head is generally an NCAA consideration. For example, back in the days of Tom Davis, Iowa whipped Indiana twice, at home by about 30 points late in the year, the two teams ended up with similar records, but Indiana made the NCAA while Iowa--with at least 20 wins--was sent shuffling off to the NIT.

Well, there are a couple schools of thought. A young team takes their lumps too much and they could lose confidence that lingers into conference play; OR, you let them take their lumps and then try to build them back up stronger. Seriously, though, Iowa played some quality teams in the non-conference--(Virginia, Notre Dame, and Iowa State). You load up anymore and you're now talking one) a worse record than 18-14 and two) a confidence problem that could have carried over into December and January, and then you're talking not even making an NIT. Plus, let's be real, Omaha should have been a W, and then Iowa would have been sitting at 19-13 now and likely one of the last teams In.

Yes, some times the selection committee makes head-scratching decisions, but in general, if the teams have similar conference records, quality non-conference and conference wins, and similar bad losses, head-to-head would be the most logical tie breaker. Except of course if a team is hot at the end of the season, and that could be a trump card, as well. In the case you mentioned, yep, I'm guessing the name on the front of the jersey is what it was all about.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

So in regards to the RPI why don't teams schedule scrimmages against D3 teams that don't count instead of playing terrible RPI D1 teams and hurting your RPI? What's stopping programs from doing that?

 

[LuteHawk]

The Selection Committee always believes that a
Tom Izzo coached team is good for the NCAA
Tournament. It is a bias for Michigan State that will
not disappear until Izzo retires.