A service of TechSideline.com

A Tough Job for the Selection Committee
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, TSLMail #474, March 4, 2011

The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee gets ragged on every year by a few select fanbases, Virginia Tech's being one of the most outspoken. The reality of the situation is that they have a very difficult job, particularly this year with such a weak bubble field.

Today we're going to give you an example of 17 different teams that are considered "bubble" teams, and throw out their key numbers. We'll list four or so at a time. Here are the first four, which are all ACC schools.

Resume Comparison
Category VT Clemson BC Florida State
Overall 19-9 19-10 18-11 20-9
Conf. 9-6 8-7 8-7 10-5
RPI 63 59 35 48
SOS 91 81 14 83
vs. Top 50 2-6 2-5 1-6 2-5
Quality Road Wins 0 0 0 0
Bad Losses 3 3 1 1


Virginia Tech and Clemson are nearly dead even in the computer numbers. Boston College has much better computer numbers, but only one top 50 win. However, the Eagles also only have one bad loss.

One question I'm asking is why Florida State is considered definitely "in". If the Noles happen to drop their next two, which isn't out of the question considering Chris Singleton is out, their computer numbers won't be any different than Virginia Tech's or Clemson's. They do only have one bad loss, so that helps their cause. I think one more win gets the Noles in for sure.

Resume Comparison
Category Michigan Colorado Baylor Alabama
Overall 18-12 18-12 18-11 19-10
Conf. 8-9 7-8 7-8 11-4
RPI 51 78 74 83
SOS 16 72 49 125
vs. Top 50 2-8 5-6 2-5 2-3
Quality Road Wins 1 1 1 1
Bad Losses 1 3 3 4


Michigan, Colorado and Baylor all currently have losing records in their own conference, and Colorado's RPI is pretty low. However the Buffaloes also have five victories over top 50 teams, which is a very impressive number for a bubble team this season. Are any of those teams definitely in, or definitely out?

Alabama is leading their division of the SEC, however they have four bad losses and a low RPI and SOS. Generally the selection committee leans more towards computer numbers than conference standings, so at this moment in time the Crimson Tide would probably be out.

Resume Comparison
Category UAB Colorado State Penn State Memphis
Overall 21-7 19-10 15-13 21-9
Conf. 11-4 9-6 8-9 9-6
RPI 28 47 56 37
SOS 68 37 6 43
vs. Top 50 1-5 2-5 3-7 4-3
Quality Road Wins 1 1 0 3
Bad Losses 1 3 1 3


UAB has a really nice record and a really good RPI. However, they have just one top 50 win, and that could hold them back. Colorado State is probably in at this point because of their total wins, RPI and strength of schedule. However, three bad losses could turn some heads. Memphis has a winning record against the top 50, and three road wins, and that's probably enough to get them in.

Penn State just doesn't have enough overall wins, but they have defeated three top 50 teams and played one of the toughest schedules in the country. If they can win their last regular season game against Minnesota and then pull off a couple of wins in the Big Ten Tournament, they would have to be considered just based on their computer numbers.

Resume Comparison

Category USC Minnesota Richmond Gonzaga Nebraska
Overall 17-13 17-12 23-7 22-9 19-10
Conf. 9-8 6-11 12-3 11-3 7-8
RPI 79 61 64 66 71
SOS 50 28 165 107 61
vs. Top 50 4-4 3-7 1-3 2-6 3-6
Quality Road Wins 1 0 0 1 0
Bad Losses 6 2 1 2 3


USC is a tough team to read. Their overall record is average, and they have six bad losses, which is a horrid number. However, they also have a good 4-4 mark against top 50 teams, which is very good for this year's bubble field. Minnesota has a very high strength of schedule, but they are only 6-11 in the Big Ten.

Richmond plays in a weak conference, which hurts their strength of schedule. However, 23 wins can't be ignored. Gonzaga is also battling a strength of schedule problem, while Nebraska doesn't stand out in any particular area.

For the most part, it's very difficult to differentiate between most of those 17 teams. They all have their pluses and minuses, and it's up to the Selection Committee to decide who gets in and who gets out. As usual, there are going to be some teams that feel spurned. Hopefully this year it won't be the Hokies.

 

 

VT Saint Patty's Boxers

Virginia Tech cotton boxer shorts with shamrock design and printed logo. 100% soft cotton. 3.5" inseam.

   TechSideline.com Updates From the Past Week
2010-11 Basketball Game Preview: Virginia Tech at Clemson
March 4, 2011
Some say tomorrow's game with Clemson is a must-win game. Others say it is not. Either way, Virginia Tech's NCAA Tournament chances would be greatly enhanced with a road win on Saturday. It won't be easy, because the Tigers are 14-2 at home this season and fighting the Hokies for an at-large berth to the Big Dance.
more

Offer Profile: Brentwood Academy's Woody Baron
March 4, 2011
Brentwood Academy (Nashville, TN) junior Woody Baron was a finalist for DII-AA Lineman Mr. Football honors in the state this past season, the latest honor in what has been an outstanding 3-year career on the varsity level. "I think Woody has always been a great player. Even when he was in middle school, we could tell he was a great football player," Brentwood Academy head coach Ralph Potter said.
more

Friday Q&A: March 4, 2011
March 4, 2011
Today's Friday Q&A talks about football and basketball. It's never too early to look towards next season in both sports. What will Tech's starting lineup look like in hoops next year, and in football, who will start on the offensive line this year? Also, what are Tech's chances in the ACC Tournament, and are the Hokies playing an elimination game against Clemson tomorrow?
more

WR Nixon Boasts One FBS Offer
March 4, 2011
Mario Nixon only has a season and a half of high school football experience, but what he displayed in a limited time was enough to garner a scholarship offer from the University of Virginia. Nixon, a 6-5, 210-pound wide receiver/safety out of Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, VA), scored the offer in late February.
more

Northside's Jackson Lands First Offer
March 3, 2011
Northside (Roanoke, VA) tight end Dakota Jackson's wait for an FBS scholarship offer came to an end on Monday of this week, when Virginia Tech came through for the 6-4 junior. An impressive offseason helped Jackson, who is also drawing interest from Connecticut, Duke, Maryland and UVa.
more

New Commit McKinnon Projected To Play Whip
March 3, 2011
Dahman McKinnon returned to his Hope Mills, North Carolina, home last Saturday as the newest member of Virginia Tech's 2012 football recruiting class. In the 6-2, 200-pound junior, Virginia Tech gets a prospect that seems tailor made for the Whip linebacker spot. McKinnon certainly thought so, as position is a big reason why he committed Virginia Tech.
more

The Toughest Football Games of 2011
March 3, 2011
Virginia Tech's 2011 football schedule was released last month. Sometimes a favorable schedule is the difference between a division championship and playing in the Music City Bowl. This year Virginia Tech's schedule is very favorable, on paper at least.
more

Skill Players Highlight Dale's 2011 Squad
March 3, 2011
Group AAA, Division 6 state champions in 2009, Thomas Dale (Chester, VA) was in rebuilding mode last season. A talented group of players return next season, though, and the Knights are primed make a run at the Central district title. Wide receiver/safety Desmond Frye and cornerback/running back Lorenzo Fields headline Dale's 2012 group, with Frye having already scored an FBS-level scholarship offer and Fields very much on the radar of several FBS-level programs.
more

Virginia Tech Announces Reseating of Lane Stadium and Cassell Coliseum
March 3, 2011
Virginia Tech announced yesterday that a reseating of Lane Stadium will occur after the 2011 football season. After the 2012-2013 basketball season, a reseating of Cassell Coliseum will also occur. Lane Stadium's last reseating came prior to the 2005 football season, and Cassell's last reseating came prior to ACC entry in 2004.
more

Junior Day Notes: Smith, Greene High On VT
March 2, 2011
Last Saturday was a special day for Cox (Virginia Beach, VA) defensive lineman Alston Smith. It was the day he received his first college scholarship offer. Virginia Tech became the first to offer Woodrow Wilson (Portsmouth, VA) athlete Der'Woun Greene several weeks prior. The two Tidewater standouts attended Virginia Tech's junior day event last Saturday, and at this point Blacksburg seems likely to be home for both over the next four or five years.
more

NCAAs or Bust
March 2, 2011
On Monday we talked about Virginia Tech using the Duke game to propel themselves to bigger and better things, namely an NCAA Tournament berth. On Tuesday night, we saw the exact opposite happen, as the Hokies forfeited just about everything they won in the Duke game thanks to an embarrassing home blowout at the hands of Boston College.
more

Hokies Crushed by BC on Senior Night
March 2, 2011
Facing a critical game against Boston College, Virginia Tech was blown out at home 76-61 on Tuesday night. The Hokies dropped to 19-9 overall and 9-6 in the ACC, and took a serious hit to their NCAA Tournament hopes. Boston College improved to 18-11 and 8-7 in the ACC, and improved their NCAA Tournament resume.
more

2010-11 Basketball Game Preview: Boston College at Virginia Tech
March 1, 2011
Virginia Tech is coming off a huge win against Duke, but the Hokies still have work to do. They have an opportunity to pick up another top 50 win against Boston College tonight, and they could lock up a first round bye in the ACC Tournament as early as Wednesday, depending on what Clemson does against Duke.
more

Tech Talk Live Notes for 2-28-11
March 1, 2011
Seth Greenberg was the only guest on Monday night's show. He talked about the amazing weekend in Virginia Tech basketball, and tonight's big matchup with Boston College.
more

Centreville Star Ekanem Adds Offers
March 1, 2011
Rutgers, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech recently came through and offered Centreville (Clifton, VA) defensive end/tight end Ken Ekanem, who now boasts seven scholarship offers in total. Boston College, Duke, Maryland and Virginia had offered previously, and North Carolina, Penn State and Tennessee are among the schools showing serious interest. The 6-3, 230-pound junior has taken visits to Penn State, Virginia, and, most recently, Virginia Tech.
more

Sherman, Atmosphere Impress Charlotte Star
March 1, 2011
In Phillip O. Berry Academy (Charlotte, N.C.) running back/defensive back Germone Hopper, Virginia Tech entertained one of the most dynamic juniors in the state of North Carolina last Saturday. The 6-0, 170-pound speedster, who had previously seen childhood favorite Clemson as well as North Carolina and N.C. State, called the experience in Blacksburg "by far the best" college visit he has had so far.
more

Great Win, but Now It's Time to Close
February 28, 2011
Saturday was the biggest day in the history of Virginia Tech basketball. The whole country got to see College GameDay live from Cassell Coliseum, and later that evening they saw the Hokies knock off #1 Duke. It was a great day for the program. Now the Hokies have to close.
more

Hokies Surge To Lead For 4-Star Forward
February 28, 2011
4-star junior Montrezl Harrell was certainly impressed with Virginia Tech's big win over the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday night, but the 6-7, 230-pound forward enjoyed more than just the victory on the weekend visit. In fact, Tech has made a strong move for the talented prospect.
more
   TSLMail is a trademark of TechSideline.com - Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved
   To unsubscribe from this email, reply with the word "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject.