Why is 'Nova in and 'Cuse out?

There has been some heavy chatter going on amongst my friends and SU fans alike about the possibility of Villanova getting to the NCAA tourney over the Orange. From what I see, it is absurd to think that the Wildcats can be in ahead of Syracuse.

Recently a bunch of writers got together and did a "mock tournament" that the NCAA committee set up. One of the biggest points that was noted by most writers coming out of the night was how little they used the rpi. The rpi was only used when trying to decide between two teams who didn't play each other and had very little common opponents. The main point that was emphasized was how teams were compared based on how well they would do against each other. For example, if you have Drexel, Creighton, and Holy Cross on the "bubble" then you would compare those three teams and rate them from one to three. If the committee decides that only one of the three should get in then only the team rated one is in...Probably Drexel in this case.

Now, what I don't understand is how people like Joe Lunardi who does the ESPN Bracketology, do not take into account what their peers learned during the mock tournament. I'm going to take Villanova, Depaul, Syracuse, and West Virginia as four bubble teams in the BE. If you check my post below you will see my predictions on final records and NCAA tourney teams. Now, I, just like most people in the country, feel that the BE will get 7 bids this year. Throwing out teams that should be in...GTown, Pitt, and Marquette...and then adding L'Ville and ND to the mix of teams probably in...especially since L'Ville has an easy schedule remaining. This leaves us with 4 teams vying for what I feel are two spots.

If you go by what the NCAA committee says they go by, then you will match up each team on the bubble and decide who would win. Pretty simple scenario. Throw out the RPI when comparing teams in the same conference as they usually play each other and most of the same teams. This means the 4 teams mentioned above should be compared against each other and then compare the best teams against other bubble teams. Don't compare Villanova and Depaul against teams like Maryland, Clemson, and Gonzaga. You should compare the best of these four against the best of what is left. If this is the case, and it should be the case, then if you compare these four "bubble" teams based on head-to-head competition then who do you throw out first? VILLANOVA! They have lost to Depaul, West Virginia, and Syracuse. If they lose to Syracuse again then that would mean they would be 0-4 against the BE bubble teams and if you can't beat teams on the bubble in your own conference then why should you deserve a shot against other teams?

This leaves us with Depaul, WV, and Syracuse. Depaul has also lost to both WV and Syracuse so they would be 0-2 against these teams. This leaves WV and Syracuse as the two teams left on the bubble. This would be an interesting debate as to who would win this matchup since they don't play each other. But, if you are saying 7 BE teams get in...which the committee says they don't look at how many teams from each conference get in...then both teams would make it.

What I am trying to say is that in no way shape or form is what Villanova done better than what Syracuse has done. The only teams Syracuse lost to that will not be in the tournment are St. Johns and UConn. Drexel, Oklahoma St, Wichita St, Pitt, ND, and L'Ville all have a shot at making the tournament. Villanova couln't beat Syracuse so how can they be in ahead of them at this point? Only time will tell how the selection committee decides, as these two teams meet to end the regular season in what could be a winner take all game.

Check out my updated BE records through last nights Marquette win on the left hand side. Since making my predictions below I have only missed one game, so the final standing I predicted are looking good right now!

GO CUSE!!