Just looking at the standings in several of the top conferences this season, and it looks like there might be a few more at-large bids available for mid-majors to grab in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. It would have been a great year for a couple other MVC teams to step forward with RPI's in the 40's or better and challenge for at-large bids, but unfortunately, only Loyola is anywhere close enough to be considered, and even they are borderline.
Here are how some of the top conferences from last year are doing this season--
The Atlantic-10 was predicted by some to be really good this year. Last season, there were 7 teams from the A-10 that had 20 or more wins, and the A-10 conference got 3 teams into the NCAA Tournament (Rhode Island, VCU, and Dayton), and a couple others were close
Before this season, I recall seeing several predictions that there could be as many as 3 or 4 or more Atlantic-10 teams in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
But here are the current standings-
Obviously, there are only two A-10 teams with any hope of getting in unless someone pulls a huge upset in their tournament.
The Big Ten got 7 teams in the 2017 tournament (Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue, and Minnesota). But this season, they probably deserve only 4 or 5, though I wouldn't be surprised to see them get more-
The ACC got a record-setting 9 teams in last year's tournament. But this year it might be a couple fewer, although again, don't be surprised to see the NCAA screw some midmajors just to let an ACC team in with double-digit losses and an RPI in the 50's or 60's-
The Big 12 got 6 teams in last year, but there doen't appear to be as many that deserve it this year-
The SEC got 5 teams in last year, and it looks like probably 5 or more will get in this year-
And the Pac-12 got 4 teams in last year, but this year they have only 2 teams with RPI's under 40, so will they get 4 again this year? Maybe not.
Here are the MVC RPI's. Obviously, no team other than Loyola is anywhere close to an at-large caliber team, and even Loyola is borderline. But with the other major conferences looking like they won't accumulate as many at-large bids, maybe Loyola's profile will be enough this year.
So its too bad there aren't any other solid candidates from the MVC for at-large bids this season. The best scenario for the MVC would be for Loyola to go unbeaten until the championship game of the MVC Tournament, and then get upset (why not by Bradley?). Otherwise, it will be a one-bid league.
Here are how some of the top conferences from last year are doing this season--
The Atlantic-10 was predicted by some to be really good this year. Last season, there were 7 teams from the A-10 that had 20 or more wins, and the A-10 conference got 3 teams into the NCAA Tournament (Rhode Island, VCU, and Dayton), and a couple others were close
Before this season, I recall seeing several predictions that there could be as many as 3 or 4 or more Atlantic-10 teams in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
But here are the current standings-
Obviously, there are only two A-10 teams with any hope of getting in unless someone pulls a huge upset in their tournament.
The Big Ten got 7 teams in the 2017 tournament (Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue, and Minnesota). But this season, they probably deserve only 4 or 5, though I wouldn't be surprised to see them get more-
The ACC got a record-setting 9 teams in last year's tournament. But this year it might be a couple fewer, although again, don't be surprised to see the NCAA screw some midmajors just to let an ACC team in with double-digit losses and an RPI in the 50's or 60's-
The Big 12 got 6 teams in last year, but there doen't appear to be as many that deserve it this year-
The SEC got 5 teams in last year, and it looks like probably 5 or more will get in this year-
And the Pac-12 got 4 teams in last year, but this year they have only 2 teams with RPI's under 40, so will they get 4 again this year? Maybe not.
Here are the MVC RPI's. Obviously, no team other than Loyola is anywhere close to an at-large caliber team, and even Loyola is borderline. But with the other major conferences looking like they won't accumulate as many at-large bids, maybe Loyola's profile will be enough this year.
So its too bad there aren't any other solid candidates from the MVC for at-large bids this season. The best scenario for the MVC would be for Loyola to go unbeaten until the championship game of the MVC Tournament, and then get upset (why not by Bradley?). Otherwise, it will be a one-bid league.
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