NCAA Tourney teams from the SEC

[dukedevilz]

Kentucky and Arkansas are obviously legit tourney teams. The next four teams are currently projected by Lunardi of getting seeds in the 8-10 range. I look at their low RPI rankings and a largely unimpressive OOC resume, and I honestly don't see how Lunardi even has those four teams that high. Maybe ESPN puts too much stock into their BPI rankings? I'm okay with Georgia and Ole Miss getting in - but more on the 9-10 line. I figure these four teams are essentially beating themselves (.500 records more or less amongst UGA, Ole Miss, A&M and LSU), so to pull ahead in the resume they need better looking out-of conference wins. Texas A&M played a ridiculous game against UK, but their resume is sloppy at best: 2-6 vs top 50 and 5-9 vs. top 100. You're telling me that a team that wins a third of the games against top 100 teams deserves a spot in the tourney? No way. Their only OOC top 100 win was against a .500 team in Arizona State (91 in RPI). LSU has a couple of nice OOC wins, but three conference losses to Auburn, Missouri, and Miss State is a killer. One is forgivable, but not three. I included some figures to track these four teams - I only added Florida because I was shocked they were ranked as high as 35th on the BPI. With 6 OOC losses, and a 8-9 SEC record, they're obviously not a candidate for an at-large.


RPI BPI Top 50 51-100 Top 100 (Overall Record vs. Top 100)
Georgia 36 28 3-5 5-3 8-8
Ole Miss 43 32 4-7 4-0 8-7
Texas A&M 46 37 2-6 3-3 5-9
LSU 47 34 4-4 5-1 9-5 (3 bad losses)
Florida 91 35 2-10 4-2 6-12


GEORGIA (8 seed)
Wins: Chattanooga (100), Seton Hall (74), Kansas State (81)
Losses: Georgia Tech (126), Gonzaga (8) Minnesota (78)


OLE MISS (8 seed)
Wins: Cincinnati (49), Oregon (32)
Losses: Dayton (27), Western Kentucky (115), TCU (123)

TEXAS A&M (10 Seed)
Wins: Arizona State (91)
Losses: Dayton (27), Baylor (10), Kansas State (81)


LSU (10 Seed)
Wins: UMass (68), West Virginia (22),
Losses: Old Dominion (41), Clemson (92)
Conf Losses: Miss State (198), Auburn (158), Missouri (203)


The SEC is obviously getting a boost from the BPI for whatever reason though. Here's how some of Lunardi's seeds might look if the rest of the field was largely determined by the BPI rankings:

Ohio State: (3 ssed)
Mich State: (5 Seed)
BYU: (6 seed)
Maryland: (7 seed)
Texas: (8 seed)
Davidson (9 seed)
Florida: 9 seed)
Vandy: (11 seed)
San Diego State: (12 seed)

 

[dukiejay]

All four of those SEC teams are benefiting from being in that conference. If you recall, there was a couple years back where the ACC had a couple teams slide in based on conference merit too.

 

[dukedevilz]

SEC is the 5th ranked conference, barely ahead of the Pac-12 (they're almost dead even in the rpi conference ratings). The Pac-12 is only getting three teams in, however. Oregon slides in with a #10 seed. The SEC second-tier teams are slightly better, I just don't know if I agree that six should get in ... and I don't agree with the seeds either. I suppose it is inconsequential because I don't see any of them winning more than a game.

 

[HeLooks2MuchLikeDave]

Don't get me started on this. I've been fending off SEC homers for weeks who are claiming their conference is superior to the ACC because they might get 6 in the tourney and we might get 5 (although now it looks like State will get in). I don't have the energy to rehash all these arguments, but just look at Arkansas, LSU, Tex AM, Ole Miss, and UGA's best wins. There are two Top 25 wins among that entire group.

 

[DFerryFan]

Originally posted by HeLooks2MuchLikeDave:
Don't get me started on this. I've been fending off SEC homers for weeks who are claiming their conference is superior to the ACC because they might get 6 in the tourney and we might get 5 (although now it looks like State will get in). I don't have the energy to rehash all these arguments, but just look at Arkansas, LSU, Tex AM, Ole Miss, and UGA's best wins. There are two Top 25 wins among that entire group.

Wait, there are SEC basketball fans that exist? I'm surprised they know that it's basketball season, or maybe they're confused and they're arguing about the SEC in football? That could be the only explanation for anyone claiming the SEC is superior to the ACC in bball this year.

That being said, I think it's ironic that the SEC typically gets screwed in football because their teams are so dominant and beat up on each other every year but only 1 team is allowed to go to the championship game. Good thing about bball is that we have a nice tournament to help decide these things.

 

[dukedevilz]

After the Tennessee loss, LSU has dropped to 55th in the RPI... but Lunardi keeps them at a 10 seed. I'm probably wasting time and energy worrying about this, I just don't think the SEC is overly impressive. Good conference, yes, but not elite - and certainly not deserving of six tourney teams.

 

[dukedevilz]

Also, with LSU dropping out of the RPI Top 50, Texas A&M is now 0-6 verse Top 50 teams... That doesn't merit an at-large bid in my opinion. One more little tidbit: Clemson is 3-1 vs. SEC teams including wins over Arkansas and LSU.

 

[bleediteveryday30]

I think Clemson, State, Pitt, and Miami should all get in over Texas A & M, Mississippi State, and LSU. I honestly think our middle of the pack teams could give some people fits in the dance.