What is this guy smoking?

[Bravesfan]

I just heard the analyst calling the Creighton/ISU game on ESPN that the last few at-large spots in the NCAA Tournament go to the teams with the better academic records! What?! Since when did academics EVER become a factor in the selection process?

And this after he implied that this was one of the reasons that the Valley has had six sub-40 RPI snubs since 2000!

I don't get it. Am I missing something here? Someone please explain this to me if I am wrong.

[BUBalum05]

He also said that Woodfox is the best shooter in the nation. Being an announcer doesn't mean you have to be right, you just have to keep talking.

[BUBalum05]

They did mention an interesting fact that the last time the MVC season title winner didn't make the NCAA tourney was in '92 with ISU.

[Bravesfan]

He also said that Woodfox is the best shooter in the nation. Being an announcer doesn't mean you have to be right, you just have to keep talking. Being a good announcer also means you're not working up to only covering ESPN's lower game.

Unfortunately, you're right. But they would have more creditibility if they knew what they are talking about. Nothing against Canellis btw. My gripe was with his analyst who apparently just made this fact up!

[shaunguth]

He also said that Woodfox is the best shooter in the nation. Being an announcer doesn't mean you have to be right, you just have to keep talking. Being a good announcer also means you're not working up to only covering ESPN's lower game.

He is the best 3-point shooter in the nation.

[BUBalum05]

He is the best 3-point shooter in the nation.

Touchee. I'm not up on my stats either, but i'm not behind the mic.

[Bravesfan]

They did mention an interesting fact that the last time the MVC season title winner didn't make the NCAA tourney was in '92 with ISU.

Two of their three "schumucks"..., I mean studio "analysts" think that Creighton does not deserve to be in while favoring teams like Providence (ironic, huh?). Maybe Providence is not a great example in that they took out the #1 team in the country this week. But people like them are still cheerleading for teams like Notre Dame and Georgetown, despite their very mediocre conference records!

And to think Digger and DickyV haven't even started for the day yet! Nothing like "tricle down" BCS brainwashing on that network!

[Bravesfan]

Ah, the blind resume game. I like this! I will say the first two he just mentioned would get in.

[BUBalum05]

Ah, the blind resume game. I like this! I will say the first two he just mentioned would get in.

Beauty of DVR for those not watching ESPN...

Team 1:
RPI: 50
SOS: 21
Last 12: 8-4
Top 50: 5-8

Team 2:
RPI: 43
SOS: 123
Last 12: 10-2
Top 50: 1-0

Team 3:
RPI: 41
SOS: 99
Last 12: 7-5
Top 50: 2-5

[BUBalum05]

Team 1 - Cinci
Team 2 - Creighton
Team 3 - Florida

[Bravesfan]

Team 1 - Cinci
Team 2 - Creighton
Team 3 - Florida

DUH! Now who do you think is going to get in if only two of those three get bids?

[Bravesfan]

they also must have a mandatory MVC tidbit list that they feel compelled to rattle off every time they do an MVC game,
like the 21 RPI of MSU when they were left out and the lowest RPI of a team ever to get an at large bid (and that ISU's RPI is already borderline but their SOS is crappy).

LOL! Isn't that the truth? In a way, it probably is good to keep reminding the committee that they goofed by leaving them out. OTOH, we get it already! No need for them to be mentioning that EVERY time they call an MVC game!

While on the subject, my other pet peeve is when ESPN insists on showing the location, population and nickname of EVERY mid-major team they cover! Like the MVC or other similar conferences are some obscure Division III conference that no one has ever heard of. Who do they think their average viewer is, some uneducated hack who does not know the object of basketball is to shoot the ball into a hoop? Really!

And if I hear one more mention that a Saluki is an Egyptian dog, I'm going to puke! Thank god the MVC has divorced themselves from ESPN during Arch Madness!

[Bravesfan]

at least those yokels don't have SIU's Josh Bone to use for pun's sake....
and say........"throw that Egyptian dog a Bone" every time Bone comes in!

Oh right! I forgot about him!

[Da Coach]

I just heard the analyst calling the Creighton/ISU game on ESPN that the last few at-large spots in the NCAA Tournament go to the teams with the better academic records! What?! Since when did academics EVER become a factor in the selection process?

And this after he implied that this was one of the reasons that the Valley has had six sub-40 RPI snubs since 2000!

I don't get it. Am I missing something here? Someone please explain this to me if I am wrong.

I thought he said this too, but I replayed it, and what he said is the the APR (the NCAA's Academic Performance Rate) should be used to break ties when there are multiple teams close for the remaining at-large slots.
That way, he said, a coach could entice players to go to class "because you could cost us an NCAA bid".

Although it will never be used, it is not a bad idea!

[cpacmel]

I just heard the analyst calling the Creighton/ISU game on ESPN that the last few at-large spots in the NCAA Tournament go to the teams with the better academic records! What?! Since when did academics EVER become a factor in the selection process?

Listening is a skill.

He said "I've sat on these mock selections, and when you get down to these last choices, I'd like to see the APR used to determine the last few spots, since the teams are so close in nature."

He continued on "this way a coach would have to stress players going to class and doing well, as it could be the difference between IN or OUT"