Penultimate Bracketology (11/24)

[dietcokefan]

Living in Texas and being a huge MN fan I want them sent to Baylor so I can watch Can someone make that happen for me? lol

[trojansc]

Nov 26, 2024 14:45:39 GMT -5 dietcokefan said:

Living in Texas and being a huge MN fan I want them sent to Baylor so I can watch Can someone make that happen for me? lol

Minnesota needs to hope they aren’t on the opposing seed line of Creighton.

Basically if Minnesota is a 5 or 6 seed, they should avoid Creighton. If they are a 7, seems like a for sure thing.

[pavsec5row10]

Nov 26, 2024 14:47:14 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Nov 26, 2024 14:45:39 GMT -5 dietcokefan said:

Living in Texas and being a huge MN fan I want them sent to Baylor so I can watch Can someone make that happen for me? lol

Minnesota needs to hope they aren’t on the opposing seed line of Creighton.

Basically if Minnesota is a 5 or 6 seed, they should avoid Creighton. If they are a 7, seems like a for sure thing.

Creighton would be easier to travel to for fans at least.

[clob]

Damn. USD (South Dakota not San Diego) gets the Summit League bid over SDSU (South Dakota State not San Diego State).

Can't wait to hear about whether SDSU gets an at-large... this should be VERY interesting. TrojanSC, any thoughts?

Honestly, I think this might be a "test case" of whether you can have a good RPI and just play cupcakes in the non-conference... but don't quote me on that.

[c4ndlelight]

JUST SAY NO to giving at-large bids to teams who didn't even PLAY a Top 70 opponent all year.

[badgerbyproxy]

The loss moves SDSU to 30 in the RPI. If they don’t make the tournament, would that be the highest RPI team not to be selected?

[clob]

I could be wrong, but I think this is may be the first time the selection committee is in this kind of situation.

Very high RPI but hasn't played anyone and lost their conference tournament.

I'm honestly interested to see what the committee will do...

[mr. samwich]

Nov 26, 2024 22:50:31 GMT -5 clob said:

I could be wrong, but I think this is may be the first time the selection committee is in this kind of situation.

Very high RPI but hasn't played anyone and lost their conference tournament.

I'm honestly interested to see what the committee will do...

Maybe not an at large but hasn't this been the debate for BYU getting a seed or not in the past, pre Big-12? Playing cupcake OOC, cruising through WCC conference for a solid W/L and RPI without really facing a solid opponent

[n00b]

Nov 26, 2024 22:50:31 GMT -5 clob said:

I could be wrong, but I think this is may be the first time the selection committee is in this kind of situation.

Very high RPI but hasn't played anyone and lost their conference tournament.

I'm honestly interested to see what the committee will do...

This decade, I believe the best RPI to get left out was #38 South Dakota in 2019.

If you go back further, Tulane was #33 in 2007 (according to RichKern). And they even had a Top 50 win. But that was a while ago.

[Kearney Kingston]

Where were this Kansas wins played?

[volleyl0ver]

Nov 26, 2024 23:20:31 GMT -5 mr. samwich said:

Nov 26, 2024 22:50:31 GMT -5 clob said:

I could be wrong, but I think this is may be the first time the selection committee is in this kind of situation.

Very high RPI but hasn't played anyone and lost their conference tournament.

I'm honestly interested to see what the committee will do...

Maybe not an at large but hasn't this been the debate for BYU getting a seed or not in the past, pre Big-12? Playing cupcake OOC, cruising through WCC conference for a solid W/L and RPI without really facing a solid opponent

BYU at least made the sweet 16 from 2013-2018 and 2021 so it’s not like they were chopped liver lol

[trojansc]

Nov 26, 2024 22:27:59 GMT -5 clob said:

Damn. USD (South Dakota not San Diego) gets the Summit League bid over SDSU (South Dakota State not San Diego State).

Can't wait to hear about whether SDSU gets an at-large... this should be VERY interesting. TrojanSC, any thoughts?

Honestly, I think this might be a "test case" of whether you can have a good RPI and just play cupcakes in the non-conference... but don't quote me on that.

They have no business getting an at-large. the committee NEEDS to set a precedent, and say it publicly.

I’m very much hearing the explanation as: “It’s really hard to win 27 matches”.

If our sport wants teams who don’t play or beat Top 50 teams and DOESN’T want to opt for a team who beat Texas and BYU like last year, we’re moving in the wrong direction.

[vbneber]

Ok Trojansc….. you need to chill…. Not sure what South Dakota ever did to you… but it seems personal. Lol! I watched the game and am happy for USD! They played their A**es off! SDSU was playing without their second outside (wasn’t dressed… injury from last game?) and their libero was playing outside and they still went five sets…. As far as strength of schedule…. They beat Omaha twice…. Who had a tougher pre season and they beat USD twice who also had a tougher pre season…. St Thomas beat them in 5 but St Thomas also took a set from MN. SO even tho SDSU didn’t have a stronger pre season shouldn’t just automatically eliminate them from the convo. They also have had team and individuals in the top 5 or ten in blocking and hitting in the NCAA. Not sure what the committee is going to do… but I for one would love to see them give a mid major some love and have BOTH SD teams in the NCAA!

[bbg95]

Nov 26, 2024 23:20:31 GMT -5 mr. samwich said:

Nov 26, 2024 22:50:31 GMT -5 clob said:

I could be wrong, but I think this is may be the first time the selection committee is in this kind of situation.

Very high RPI but hasn't played anyone and lost their conference tournament.

I'm honestly interested to see what the committee will do...

Maybe not an at large but hasn't this been the debate for BYU getting a seed or not in the past, pre Big-12? Playing cupcake OOC, cruising through WCC conference for a solid W/L and RPI without really facing a solid opponent

BYU usually tried to schedule tough opponents out of conference when they were in the WCC. So, no. In 2019, they played Stanford, Texas, Marquette and Utah. In 2018, they played Stanford, USC, Marquette and Utah. Etc. Even in 2021 (their weakest non-conference schedule recently), they played Pitt and Utah.

Edit: also, the WCC at the time was a pretty good volleyball conference most seasons. You couldn't avoid playing a top 50 opponent all season.

[trojansc]

Nov 27, 2024 0:45:32 GMT -5 vbneber said:

Ok Trojansc….. you need to chill…. Not sure what South Dakota ever did to you… but it seems personal. Lol! I watched the game and am happy for USD! They played their A**es off! SDSU was playing without their second outside (wasn’t dressed… injury from last game?) and their libero was playing outside and they still went five sets…. As far as strength of schedule…. They beat Omaha twice…. Who had a tougher pre season and they beat USD twice who also had a tougher pre season…. St Thomas beat them in 5 but St Thomas also took a set from MN. SO even tho SDSU didn’t have a stronger pre season shouldn’t just automatically eliminate them from the convo. They also have had team and individuals in the top 5 or ten in blocking and hitting in the NCAA. Not sure what the committee is going to do… but I for one would love to see them give a mid major some love and have BOTH SD teams in the NCAA!

It's not personal. You must not know me. This is my 12th year doing this. For example, K-State is a team I have argued strongly for and strongly against depending on the year.

When we talk about strength of schedule, South Dakota State currently ranks #144. The best opponent South Dakota State played all season is currently ranked #70.

Not having a stronger pre-season shouldn't eliminate someone from the conversation. I DO believe not playing a team better than #70 shows that they should have to win their conference to have any shot at an NCAA Tournament bid.

There's only 32 at-large bids. This is a common theme I hear on this board "well, too many mid-P4' teams are getting in, let a mid-major in!". Fine, let both Pepperdine and San Diego in. South Florida too. Give Wright State a bid. Arkansas State. Those teams have proven they can beat a quality opponent.

Massey has South Dakota State as the #60 or #106 best team in the country depending on which ranking you prefer. Pablo says #56.