[Cracked Sidewalks] Selection Sunday, Take 1

[Mr. Nielsen]

NIT

1 Colorado State
4 Buffalo

2 Davidson
3 NC State

1 Memphis
4 Dayton

2 Boise State
3 SMU

1 St. Louis
4 Missouri State

2 Richmond
3 Toledo

1 Ole Miss
4 Louisiana Tech

2 St. Mary's
3 Western Kentucky

First Four Out.
Belmont 
Furman
Marshall
UAB

[MarquetteMike1977]

No Big East Teams in NIT

[MuggsyB]

I think the BEast teams turned down bids.

[MarquetteMike1977]

No Big Ten teams in NIT either

[MarquetteMike1977]

I think the BEast teams turned down bids.

Agree

[brewcity77]

Net not really a factor in selections. Neither was COVID-19. They have a case compared to some of the teams ahead of them.

Actually, NET was a strong indicator. The entire top-40 of the NET got in. 21 of the teams outside the top-40 were auto-bids. So that leaves 7 at-large teams outside the top-40. Here's the list:

#41 Clemson
#45 Drake
#46 UCLA
#47 Missouri
#48 Virginia Tech
#70 Michigan State
#72 Wichita State

If you look at the two outliers, both had top-5 NET wins. No one else from 40-72 that was left out had a win at that level.

[shoothoops]

Actually, NET was a strong indicator. The entire top-40 of the NET got in. 21 of the teams outside the top-40 were auto-bids. So that leaves 7 at-large teams outside the top-40. Here's the list:

#41 Clemson
#45 Drake
#46 UCLA
#47 Missouri
#48 Virginia Tech
#70 Michigan State
#72 Wichita State

If you look at the two outliers, both had top-5 NET wins. No one else from 40-72 that was left out had a win at that level.

Example:

SLU finished with a 43 NET. Wichita St. finished with a 72 NET. SLU had wins over LSU, The Bonnies, and a few other teams with better NET rankings than Witchita St. That is better than Wichita St.'s two wins in the NET top 100.

[brewcity77]

Example:

SLU finished with a 43 NET. Wichita St. finished with a 72 NET. SLU had wins over LSU, The Bonnies, and a few other teams with better NET rankings than Witchita St. That is better than Wichita St.'s two wins in the NET top 100.

The biggest separators are the win and loss columns. SLU doesn't have any win like Houston. At the other end, SLU has 4 losses outside the field, WSU has just two.

I understand the case for SLU. Wouldn't have been a terrible inclusion. I'd have put them over Syracuse or Utah State. But every top-40 NET team made the field & I think those two Q3 losses were just a bit much for the Committee.

[Dish]

First glance lines I like...

Houston -19.5
Abilene Christian +9 (Really hope Joe Public flows money to Texas)
Ohio +8.5 (this will be 7 by tip)

[shoothoops]

The biggest separators are the win and loss columns. SLU doesn't have any win like Houston. At the other end, SLU has 4 losses outside the field, WSU has just two.

I understand the case for SLU. Wouldn't have been a terrible inclusion. I'd have put them over Syracuse or Utah State. But every top-40 NET team made the field & I think those two Q3 losses were just a bit much for the Committee.

...which again makes the point that COVID-19 wasn't considered, (SLU was a top 5 seed weekly for many weeks prior to COVID-19) and NET was selective at best. I would rather see multiple top 20 something NET wins that SLU had vs the one Wichita St. had. Are two wins over LSU and St. Bonnies better than one win over Houston? In my opinion, yes. Then we covered all of the other NET wins SLU had that Wichita St. didn't have vs teams better NET than Wichita St.

[MuggsyB]

I think SLU should have gotten a spot.

[brewcity77]

...which again makes the point that COVID-19 wasn't considered, (SLU was a top 5 seed weekly for many weeks prior to COVID-19) and NET was selective at best. I would rather see multiple top 20 something NET wins that SLU had vs the one Wichita St. had. Are two wins over LSU and St. Bonnies better than one win over Houston? In my opinion, yes. Then we covered all of the other NET wins SLU had that Wichita St. didn't have vs teams better NET than Wichita St.

SLU didn't have any top-20 NET wins. St. Bonaventure and LSU were 27 and 28. Both at home, whereas Wichita also had a Q1 road win over Mississippi. Wichita was better in Q2 and Q3, with road wins in both categories.

I think SLU's play away from home really hurt. Zero Q1+2 wins away from home. Only one neutral court Q3 and one road Q4. 6-3 road/neutral for WSU vs 2-5 for SLU. The Selection Committee cares about how you play away from home, and honestly it's a surprise SLU even got back to the bubble because they were dead and buried in early February. In addition, WSU were still league champs in a top-7 league.

You can only take 68. Hard to get too upset about SLU considering what they didn't do away from home.

[MuggsyB]

5 teams you're rooting for outside of the BEast?

5 teams you can't stand and are hoping for an early exit?

[shoothoops]

SLU didn't have any top-20 NET wins. St. Bonaventure and LSU were 27 and 28. Both at home, whereas Wichita also had a Q1 road win over Mississippi. Wichita was better in Q2 and Q3, with road wins in both categories.

I think SLU's play away from home really hurt. Zero Q1+2 wins away from home. Only one neutral court Q3 and one road Q4. 6-3 road/neutral for WSU vs 2-5 for SLU. The Selection Committee cares about how you play away from home, and honestly it's a surprise SLU even got back to the bubble because they were dead and buried in early February. In addition, WSU were still league champs in a top-7 league.

you can only take 68. Hard to get too upset about SLU considering what they didn't do away from home.

I disagree.

I would have SLU in ahead of Wichita St., Utah State, Syracuse, Drake. etc..for example Drake's only top 96 NET win is Loyola.

SLU had one loss pre-covid, and was considered a top 5 seed for some time. They sat 33 days, no practice, nothing. Then they played a few days later. It's okay to take injuries into account but not COVID-19? Net rankings count, but only some or only up to a point.  The goalposts keep moving.

[brewcity77]

5 teams you're rooting for outside of the BEast?

1) Gonzaga: Perfection is 0-for-life in my time on this earth. I want to see an undefeated National Champ, and no undefeated champ would be more of an underdog than Gonzaga.

2) Alabama: I like Nate Oats and his teams are terribly fun to watch.

3) Oklahoma State: Cade Cunningham is a blast to watch. Hope they are playing the second weekend.

4) North Carolina: They're playing Wisconsin.

5) UNC-Greensboro: I don't see how they beat FSU, but they were the biggest snub of 2019 IMO so I'd love to see them make a run.

5 teams you can't stand and are hoping for an early exit?

1) Iowa: I don't like Fran McCaffrey and don't like teams that don't really play defense.

2) Wisconsin: They're Wisconsin.

3) Syracuse: They don't belong in the field, so watch Boeheim's zone make an annoying Elite 8 run. I just want them to lose early, but when they're supposed to, they never do.

4) Michigan State: I'm fine with Joey Hauser getting a First Four Facial and bowing out early again.

5) Liberty: F**k Liberty.

[MuggsyB]

1) Gonzaga: Perfection is 0-for-life in my time on this earth. I want to see an undefeated National Champ, and no undefeated champ would be more of an underdog than Gonzaga.

2) Alabama: I like Nate Oats and his teams are terribly fun to watch.

3) Oklahoma State: Cade Cunningham is a blast to watch. Hope they are playing the second weekend.

4) North Carolina: They're playing Wisconsin.

5) UNC-Greensboro: I don't see how they beat FSU, but they were the biggest snub of 2019 IMO so I'd love to see them make a run.

1) Iowa: I don't like Fran McCaffrey and don't like teams that don't really play defense.

2) Wisconsin: They're Wisconsin.

3) Syracuse: They don't belong in the field, so watch Boeheim's zone make an annoying Elite 8 run. I just want them to lose early, but when they're supposed to, they never do.

4) Michigan State: I'm fine with Joey Hauser getting a First Four Facial and bowing out early again.

5) Liberty: F**k Liberty.

Interesting.  I think I would go with:

Gonzaga
Loyola-Chi
San Diego St.
Ohio U.
Alabama

As for the five I'm hoping for an early death?

Wisconsin
Mich St
UNC
Syracuse
Iona

[brewcity77]

Interesting.  I think I would go with:

Gonzaga
Loyola-Chi
San Diego St.
Ohio U.
Alabama

As for the five I'm hoping for an early death?

Wisconsin
Mich St
UNC
Syracuse
Iona

Ohio was on my short list...Jason Preston is fun. Iona I'd love to see make a Sweet 16 run, if only so Pitino can thumb his nose at the NCAA. Though Alabama in the first round is a really tough opening draw. Houston or Iowa, maybe, but not sure about 'Bama.

[MuggsyB]

Ohio was on my short list...Jason Preston is fun. Iona I'd love to see make a Sweet 16 run, if only so Pitino can thumb his nose at the NCAA. Though Alabama in the first round is a really tough opening draw. Houston or Iowa, maybe, but not sure about 'Bama.

Pitino is obviously a phenomenal coach but I dislike him.  Although if he was coaching MU I could conceivably come around. 

[CountryRoads]

5 teams you're rooting for outside of the BEast?

5 teams you can't stand and are hoping for an early exit?

Rooting for:
1. Iona (I'm into the controversy, funny they are in and not Louisville)
2. Oregon State (trash program, picked last)
3. Georgia Tech (Alvarado is fun to watch)
4. Oklahoma State (it would help our NET ranking)
5. Alabama (Nate Oats is a cool dude)
**these are in no particular order

Rooting against:
1. Wisconsin (in state rival, in my nature)
2. Loyola (jealous of them)
3. Michigan State (like to see Joey lose)
4. Baylor (they don't deserve a good team)
5. Illinois (rather not see a big 10 team win?)
***I don't feel too strongly about any other than Bucky though

[MuggsyB]

Rooting for:
1. Iona (I%u2019m into the controversy, funny they are in and not Louisville)
2. Oregon State (trash program, picked last)
3. Georgia Tech (Alvarado is fun to watch)
4. Oklahoma State (it would help our NET ranking)
5. Alabama (Nate Oats is a cool dude)
**these are in no particular order

Rooting against:
1. Wisconsin (in state rival, in my nature)
2. Loyola (jealous of them)
3. Michigan State (like to see Joey lose)
4. Baylor (they don%u2019t deserve a good team)
5. Illinois (rather not see a big 10 team win?)
***I don%u2019t feel too strongly about any other than Bucky though

I'm concerned the 20 yr streak could be broken by the B14.  They have three really good teams assuming Livers  can play.  As for the BEast I think both Nova and CU are vulnerable because of some to tough luck.  We could easily go 0-4 as a conf which would be rather upsetting.

[CountryRoads]

I'm concerned the 20 yr streak could be broken by the B14.  They have three really good teams assuming Livers  can play.  As for the BEast I think both Nova and CU are vulnerable because of some to tough luck.  We could easily go 0-4 as a conf which would be rather upsetting.

I guess it would be cool for the BE to have some success, but honesty I'm not that into the BE teams this year (coming from someone who typically roots hard for them). It just hits different rooting for conference when you are a literal bottom feeder.

[MuggsyB]

I guess it would be cool for the BE to have some success, but honesty I'm not that into the BE teams this year (coming from someone who typically roots hard for them). It just hits different rooting for conference when you are a literal bottom feeder.

Ya....it does kind of suck. Especially this year being a b-feeder.  It has not been a good year for the BEast. 

[Farley36]

5 teams you're rooting for outside of the BEast?

5 teams you can't stand and are hoping for an early exit?

Rooting for
1.  Michigan - my brother went there

2.  Iowa - my sister went there

3.  UNC - they play WI and I heard they are MU's greatest victory since 1977

4.  Virginia - I want Sam to have more tourney wins than Wojo

5.  Gonzaga - an undefeated season would be cool to see

Rooting against
1.  Wisconsin - need I say more?

2.  MI St - besides being a rival of MI, Joey Hauser is annoying as f*ck

3.  Ohio St - yuck

4.  Baylor - they cheat, right?

5.  Kansas - not over 2003

[CTWarrior]

Of the 90 brackets on bracketmatrix, only 3 got all 68 teams right. I'm guessing I'll be somewhere in the middle. The vast majority had Louisville in, but most also got Syracuse. I feel okay, but after Utah State was announced as in, I thought for sure Syracuse was out and I had 67/68, which I would've been much happier with. The Orange were a shock for sure, especially avoiding the Last 4.

It seems in the last decade or so Syracuse has often surprised that they got in and with a higher seed than expected.

[Tums Festival]

We've updated the S-Curve with last night's developments. Georgetown and Oregon State steal bids from Xavier and Mississippi. We're down to 6 teams for 3 spots, with Cincinnati lurking as another bid thief.

As an aside, it absolutely sucks as a bracketologist to get suspended by Twitter for using the term "name recognition" referring to Syracuse on Selection Sunday just hours before the reveal because apparently that's posting someone's private information.

Oh well, here's the updates:

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2021/03/selection-sunday-take-1.html?m=1

****Scroll down for an updated bracket, as of 3:56 pm.****

How did Georgetown and Oregon St. "steal" bids? Both teams beat everyone they played in their conference tournaments. It isn't like either team became tournament champions because any of their games were forfeits.