Dear NCAA Selection Committee, I Need Clarification…
The brackets are set, and March Madness is finally upon us, but just like every year, there are some decisions made by the Selection Committee that make you scratch your head.
Photo by: Kirby Lee
March can be joyful, heartbreaking, or maybe even both for teams trying to play their way into the NCAA Tournament and the madness had already begun way before Selection Sunday.
There were more bid thieves this year than the last two years combined through magic runs in conference tournaments by teams who were not expected to receive an at-large bid. NC State, UAB, Oregon, New Mexico and Duquesne are teams that heard their name called thanks to the automatic bid.
But because of these bid stealers, some teams that should have been in the tournament have understandably been left out while others are owed an explanation as to why they aren’t going dancing.
Some teams barely crept into the field while others narrowly missed it, thus ending their season in heartbreaking fashion.
One day after Selection Sunday, I’ve had the time to thoroughly think through some decisions involving certain teams and I need some clarification.
Florida Atlantic Owls
Photo by: Marta Lavandier
Heading into Sunday, FAU were considered a “Bubble Team” and were in danger of missing out of the tournament completely. How they ended up as an 8-seed is beyond me. It seems like the committee went off reputation from last season rather than what they accomplished this year. Being 2-2 in Quad 1 games and having two Quad 4 losses are not worthy of the seed FAU earned. For comparison, the other three 8-seeds all had at least four Quad 1 wins and combined for only one loss in both Quads 3 and 4. Why were the Owls seeded so high up?
Providence Friars
Photo by: Brad Penner
Seeing where the NCAA Selection Committee actually ranked Providence was a disgrace. The Friars are somehow a 3-seed in the NIT. What exactly does this mean and what does it have to do with them not making the tournament? Well, when you add the other teams that declined an NIT Invitation, it means there were, at the very least, 12 other teams ahead of Providence for an at-large bid. How did they fall so low with no bad losses and six Quad 1 wins?
Virginia Cavaliers
Photo by: Ryan M. Kelly
I’m sorry but Virginia is not an NCAA tournament team. They don’t have the best results and they don’t have the best metrics either. Yes, they finished 3rd in the ACC, but only having two Quad 1 wins is a huge red flag. There were clearly better and more qualified candidates for an at-large bid, but the committee still went with Virginia. Why were they chosen over Seton Hall, St. John’s, Oklahoma and others?
Michigan State Spartans
Photo by: Dale Young
Are the Spartans really an NCAA tournament team? They have a great roster, and they have a great coach, but the more I look at their resume, the more I feel they shouldn’t be in the tournament. They have great metrics but are an unconvincing 3-9 in Quad 1 games. Not to mention, Michigan State is the only team amongst the top 14 seeds without a 20-win season. This one is really making me think. The committee just wanted to see Tom Izzo in the tournament, didn’t they?
St. John’s Red Storm
Photo by: Joe Robbins
Not seeing the Johnnies in the tournament, let alone the first four out is mind-boggling. They had great metrics but were 4-10 in Quad 1 games which might have dragged them down a bit. Nonetheless, they ended the season on a high note winning six straight games before losing to UCONN in the Big East Tournament Semifinals. It appeared that the only way St. John’s was getting into the tournament was if they won the Big East Tournament. Exactly how much more did St. John’s need to do for a bid?
Seton Hall Pirates
Photo by: Vincent Carchietta
If you really want to talk about a team that got snubbed, how about the Seton Hall Pirates? Someone explain how you can finish with 13 wins in the Big East, the second-best conference in the country, but still not hear your name called? They have wins over UCONN and Marquette, but it still wasn’t good enough for the NCAA Selection Committee. They didn’t have great metrics, but they had five Quad 1 wins which is more than many other teams that did make the tournament. This has got to be a joke, right?
