ESPN rankings of 300 D1 teams

[bucfaithful]

Hello again Bradley fans,
Just to add a little interest to our November matchup, I thought I would point out that ESPN has recently published rankings fof 300 D1 teams (since 1984-85; must be D1 for at least 15 years). Their results (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/s...3#conference):
ETSU: 82
Bradley: 102

Not too shaby for a "directional" University?

[MacabreMob]

Thanks. It was already posted and mentioned in the thread titled:

ESPN: Bradley is 101st Most Prestigious BBall Program

[Rusty 54]

How is this for added interest:

After we obliterate you, you can keep your biased, flawed rankings. Take them all the way back to Tennessee. Because you are not taking a win back with you.

[amckillip]

How is this for added interest:

After we obliterate you, you can keep your biased, flawed rankings. Take them all the way back to Tennessee. Because you are not taking a win back with you.

If we lose this your gonna hate the taste of your foot.

But, all things considered, I don't think you'll be tasting foot....

[Da Coach]

Here is some more objective data from BasketballState that shows just how absurd the ESPN rankings are.--

Bradley-

http://www.bbstate.com/schools/BRAD/history

Here are Bradley's last 15 RPIs (the RPI has only existed for the last 15 years)-
105, 38, 33, 142, 152, 234, 102, 96, 110, 64, 138, 105, 25, 58, 86.
That is an average RPI of 99.

And, only once was Bradley's RPI above 152.
Only once in 15 years has Bradley's RPI been in the lower half of all D1 schools (that was 2002-2003 after the coaching change and the player defections).

ETSU-

http://www.bbstate.com/schools/ETSU/history

Here are their last 15 RPIs-
145, 123, 225, 293, 61, 111, 174, 170, 214, 176, 266, 280, 270, 193, 173.
That is an average of 192 !

Note that 11 out of 15 years, the RPI was 170 or higher!
All but 4 out 15 years, their RPI has been in the lower half of all D1 schools.

Bradley has had a better RPI that ETSU for 13 of the last 15 years, and most years it hasn't been close!

And if the RPI had existed prior to 1993, it would also show that Bradley was ranked well ahead of East Tennessee State for nearly the entire 20th century.

And another comparison:
Here is Bradley's NCAA record--

http://www.bbstate.com/schools/BRAD/tournament

Bradley has been to 8 NCAA tournaments, and have a record of 11-8 and 2 national championship games, 3 Elite 8s, 4 Sweet 16s.

Here is ETSU's NCAA record--

http://www.bbstate.com/schools/ETSU/tournament

ETSU has been to 7 NCAA tournaments, and have a record of 2-8, and they have never won more than 1 game in any year.


NIT-

http://nit.org/history/nit-postseason-all-time-participants.html

BRADLEY has been to the NIT 20 times and won it 4 times. Their overall record is 25-17. Only 1 school (St. Johns- 27 times) has been to more NITs, or won it more (St. John's 6 times).

Years in NIT-1938, 1939 (third), 1947, 1949 (fourth), 1950 (second), 1957 (won), 1958, 1959 (second), 1960 (won), 1962, 1964 (won), 1965, 1968, 1982 (won), 1985, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001

EAST TENNESSEE STATE has been to the NIT 1 time (in 1983) and their record is 0-1. They have never won an NIT game in their history.

[BU Bill]

Nothing like a few facts to put an end to this trash talking! Thanks coach.

[bucfaithful]

One could certainly critique the methodological soundness of the RPI too...Look, all I'm trying to do is get ETSU's name out there a little bit. We have an extremely proud tradition; this game will be close. In all candor, I would like to see ETSU where Bradley is right now in terms of its hoops program. I think we are climbing that ladder quietly...

Does that beer offer still hold?

[Bradleyguy10]

I don't think that ends the discussion at all actually. Reading that only makes me feel proud...which IS a good thing, but I'm one of those types of people where looking at the history of programs doesn't tell me anything on who will win a game or not.

We can all agree Bradley has a rich basketball history, and if we compare every game we play based on history I think Bradley would lose very few times. So we can bang our chests all we want and say look at what we've done, but the bottom line is when it comes to game time it's what we do, not what we've done, no matter who it's against. Need I remind you of some of the loses (including home) that we suffered last year.

ETSU fans...on the other side I want to say that last season we did ALSO take Michigan St. down to the wire, and were winning all but the last 4 minutes or so and had a few double digit leads on them. We did lose, but it does say something about how tough it can be to play at Carver Arena.

If both teams plays to their upmost ability, I believe strongly that we will win, but anyone can beat anyone on any given day, and past NCAA or NIT wins doesn't guarantee anything.

I can safely say I am very much looking forward to this game.

[Grassman]

One could certainly critique the methodological soundness of the RPI too...Look, all I'm trying to do is get ETSU's name out there a little bit. We have an extremely proud tradition; this game will be close. In all candor, I would like to see ETSU where Bradley is right now in terms of its hoops program. I think we are climbing that ladder quietly...

Does that beer offer still hold?

YUP!

[Grassman]

I don't think that ends the discussion at all actually. Reading that only makes me feel proud...which IS a good thing, but I'm one of those types of people where looking at the history of programs doesn't tell me anything on who will win a game or not.

We can all agree Bradley has a rich basketball history, and if we compare every game we play based on history I think Bradley would lose very few times. So we can bang our chests all we want and say look at what we've done, but the bottom line is when it comes to game time it's what we do, not what we've done, no matter who it's against. Need I remind you of some of the loses (including home) that we suffered last year.

ETSU fans...on the other side I want to say that last season we did ALSO take Michigan St. down to the wire, and were winning all but the last 4 minutes or so and had a few double digit leads on them. We did lose, but it does say something about how tough it can be to play at Carver Arena.

If both teams plays to their upmost ability, I believe strongly that we will win, but anyone can beat anyone on any given day, and past NCAA or NIT wins doesn't guarantee anything.

I can safely say I am very much looking forward to this game.

Hey, a few years ago we lost to Lubbuck Christian, an NAIA school, in the Vegas tournament.

[dogsrus]

One could certainly critique the methodological soundness of the RPI too...Look, all I'm trying to do is get ETSU's name out there a little bit. We have an extremely proud tradition; this game will be close. In all candor, I would like to see ETSU where Bradley is right now in terms of its hoops program. I think we are climbing that ladder quietly...

Does that beer offer still hold?

Yes I stand right next to grassman during intermission and you can by me as much Beer as you wish....

[dogsrus]

Hey, a few years ago we lost to Lubbuck Christian, an NAIA school, in the Vegas tournament.

That was the Journal stars fault....

[MacabreMob]

Hey, a few years ago we lost to Lubbuck Christian, an NAIA school, in the Vegas tournament.

At least it wasn't on our home floor. Rhode Island lost at home to Lubbock Christian.

Who won that tourney, anyway? I remember reports that URI did... but there was confusion cause Bradley finished with the same record of 3-1. I think it may have had something to do with points scored/allowed, but I can't remember. I bet DC recalls.

[squirrel]

That was the Journal stars fault....

Yep. That's why we can't call coach "Lubbock Jimmy"