[Cracked Sidewalks] BPI Should be Removed from Team Sheets

[The Sultan]

If Fox or CBS had a metric on the team sheet, it would be just as problematic in my opinion. All it takes is this lining up once to create a bad look.

Further, T-Rank is more respected and referenced by non-ESPN national media and doesn't have this type of conflict. Why not just use that instead of one with contractual conflicts of interest? Or Haslametrics or EvanMiya?

As I said, because potential or perceived conflicts of interest may not actually be conflicts of interest.

If BPI is shown over time to be a bad metric, then they should drop it.  But if it is proven over the course of time to be a good metric, then they should continue to use it regardless of the ESPN connection.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think this is extremely tenuous.  Do you really think people are going to watch one game versus another because it involves one of the last teams picked in the NCAA versus the NIT?  I would think that is WAY down on the list for why people chose what game to watch.

I think you're taking a narrow view of this. Do people chose to watch games based on who made the tournament last season? No. But that's far from the only impact this could potentially have.

More ESPN properties earning bids = more tournament credits = more money for the member schools = more resources to strengthen ESPN properties' programs over time = increased eyeballs to ESPN over time.

ESPN properties earning higher seeds = easier paths to Sweet 16s/Elite Eights/Final Fours = more tournament credits = more resources as previously discussed PLUS more preseason hype the following season for teams that make Final Fours and better. People don't care about who made the tournament the previous season when deciding what games to watch...but games featuring teams who made the Final Four the following season certainly get more eyeballs

ESPN properties earning bids/higher seeds = increased attractiveness to future recruits = ESPN properties strengthening over time = increased eyeballs to ESPN over time

These are just off the top of my head. You can also consider the negatives of each of these as well. In addition to benefitting their properties, they hurt their competitors' properties.

Of course ESPN would prefer that their properties make the tournament and go on deep runs, it's silly to think otherwise. Now this doesn't mean that BPI is some ESPN conspiracy to inflate their properties' resumes. But to suggest that they wouldn't benefit from their properties having more postseason success is illogical.

[The Sultan]

I think you're taking a narrow view of this. Do people chose to watch games based on who made the tournament last season? No. But that's far from the only impact this could potentially have.

I was simply addressing the hypothetical that brew mentioned.

More ESPN properties earning bids = more tournament credits = more money for the member schools = more resources to strengthen ESPN properties' programs over time = increased eyeballs to ESPN over time.

ESPN properties earning higher seeds = easier paths to Sweet 16s/Elite Eights/Final Fours = more tournament credits = more resources as previously discussed PLUS more preseason hype the following season for teams that make Final Fours and better. People don't care about who made the tournament the previous season when deciding what games to watch...but games featuring teams who made the Final Four the following season certainly get more eyeballs

ESPN properties earning bids/higher seeds = increased attractiveness to future recruits = ESPN properties strengthening over time = increased eyeballs to ESPN over time

These are just off the top of my head. You can also consider the negatives of each of these as well. In addition to benefitting their properties, they hurt their competitors' properties.

Of course ESPN would prefer that their properties make the tournament and go on deep runs, it's silly to think otherwise. Now this doesn't mean that BPI is some ESPN conspiracy to inflate their properties' resumes. But to suggest that they wouldn't benefit from their properties having more postseason success is illogical.

I thoroughly understand why ESPN would want "their schools" to perform better.  I just think the link is pretty far-fetched.  Manipulating the BPI to

...improve tournament probability and/or seeding to
...improve tournament credit payouts to
...create more resources to spend on basketball to
...create a better program over time to
...increase eyeballs to ESPN programs

is an incredibly inefficient way to accomplish this.  Especially when tournament credits are a six year rolling average.

So again, I would like to see data from more than just one season.  My guess is that you will find the results pretty much normalize over time.  And if that is the case, I have zero problem with their use of BPI as a metric.  The link between the metric and any perceived ESPN benefit is a pretty slight one.  To the point that I am not even sure it is worth the effort.

[WhiteTrash]

I am surprised that anyone thinks that ESPN is some sort of journalistic entity. ESPN abandoned all independent sports news reporting a long time ago. I'm not sure anyone views them as a source of news and opinion without bias. For example, Jay Bilas declaring that UNC is without a doubt in the NCAA even though every projection had them out. Not even on the bubble.

That said, I'd do the same thing as them if I was management or an investor. They are in it for the money. The have a fiduciary responsibility to the stock holders to maximize profits and value. Independent and factual reporting and opinions will run in direct opposition to their main purpose. If they can promote 'their' teams regardless of facts or disparage and hurt the perception on non-ESPN teams, they will and they should.

[Uncle Rico]

I am surprised that anyone thinks that ESPN is some sort of journalistic entity. ESPN abandoned all independent sports news reporting a long time ago. I'm not sure anyone views them as a source of news and opinion without bias. For example, Jay Bilas declaring that UNC is without a doubt in the NCAA even though every projection had them out. Not even on the bubble.

That said, I'd do the same thing as them if I was management or an investor. They are in it for the money. The have a fiduciary responsibility to the stock holders to maximize profits and value. Independent and factual reporting and opinions will run in direct opposition to their main purpose. If they can promote 'their' teams regardless of facts or disparage and hurt the perception on non-ESPN teams, they will and they should.

Jay Bilas is a color commentator

[Oldgym]

I am surprised that anyone thinks that ESPN is some sort of journalistic entity.

I don't think too many people hanging at the Al have this misconception.  ESPN having its thumb on the scale is, as you say, expected.  But the selection committee?  We have to assume its impartiality. A suspect metric from a not-impartial entity being given any weight throws that out the window.

Independent and factual reporting and opinions will run in direct opposition to their main purpose.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.  Either way we have our terrifying quote of the day.

[WhiteTrash]

Jay Bilas is a color commentator

Exactly. He's an entertainer. He is paid to promote the ESPN brand. Anyone would be a fool to listen to him and expect intellectual honesty.

But I feel like if I watch national broadcasts of the NFL or NBA, the color commentators are not biased like ESPN. But maybe I'm being fooled.

[WhiteTrash]

I don't think too many people hanging at the Al have this misconception.  ESPN having its thumb on the scale is, as you say, expected.  But the selection committee?  We have to assume its impartiality. A suspect metric from a not-impartial entity being given any weight throws that out the window.

I totally agree. BPI should not be part of the equation. Didn't the AP request out of the matrix for the college football championship to preserve their integrity and independence years ago?

[Uncle Rico]

Exactly. He's an entertainer. He is paid to promote the ESPN brand. Anyone would be a fool to listen to him and expect intellectual honesty.

But I feel like if I watch national broadcasts of the NFL or NBA, the color commentators are not biased like ESPN. But maybe I'm being fooled.

That's why I don't pay attention to who he says is or isn't in the tournament.

I mean, Dickie V would put 150 teams in the tournament on a yearly basis.  People worry way too much about what announcers say or don't say.

[WhiteTrash]

That's why I don't pay attention to who he says is or isn't in the tournament.

I mean, Dickie V would put 150 teams in the tournament on a yearly basis.  People worry way too much about what announcers say or don't say.

You're smarter than the casual fan.

Dickie V would award the NC to Duke every year without playing a game if he could.

Look, I still watch ESPN, though not as much as I used too, but like you I understand the context and bias of what I hear.

[mileskishnish72]

To be fair, the ESPN evaluation is probably every bit as fair as the NYT's book rankings.

[WhiteTrash]

To be fair, the ESPN evaluation is probably every bit as fair as the NYT's book rankings.

LOL!!! NYT and 'fair' in the same sentence.

[The Sultan]

I totally agree. BPI should not be part of the equation. Didn't the AP request out of the matrix for the college football championship to preserve their integrity and independence years ago?

"Integrity and indepdence?"  LOL.  No.  The requested out because they wanted to preserve their own national championship declaration.

I mean, I don't know if there is a group of writers less "independent" than college football writers.

[The Sultan]

I don't think too many people hanging at the Al have this misconception.  ESPN having its thumb on the scale is, as you say, expected.  But the selection committee?  We have to assume its impartiality. A suspect metric from a not-impartial entity being given any weight throws that out the window.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.  Either way we have our terrifying quote of the day.

We have little data to presume that ESPN has their "thumb on the scale."  At all.

[brewcity77]

Congrats to Dwayne Killings! As of this morning, UAlbany is ranked #1 in BPI.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bpi

[The Sultan]

With twice as many points as Gonzaga!!!

[muwarrior69]

Jay Bilas is a color commentator

...and I thought he was some old "white" guy who played for Duke.