ESPN's Bubble Watch

[WindsorHawk]

No, I get RPI. I just don't agree with it...never have so it's not just because of Iowa's situation this year before you start barking up that tree. I don't think a team should be rewarded for beating awful teams. I don't think a team should be rewarded for losing to "good" teams. I think every effort should be made to get the best teams in the tournament.

I don't think RPI is the absolute it used to be...which is a good thing IMO. If they want to use it as 1 variable that's fine. There should be and are many other variables which are considered. I've made this argument repeatedly in several threads.

Playing good teams and losing is better than playing awful teams and winning. Are you new to the RPI?

 

[WindsorHawk]

These 2 teams are equal IMO...nothing to compare. I could go play Duke and take that loss and you could go play Savannah State and get that win. We still haven't proven anything. We both can beat Savannah State and neither of us can beat Duke. Use other criteria to make the decision. This is the point I'm making...and I think the committee does this more and more every year which is a good thing.

Just so we are clear.

You play Duke

I play Savannah State

I should get more credit for winning?

 

[clicheusername3]

If they finish 10-8, theyre in. It doesnt matter what they do in the conference tournament. 10-8 in this year's Big 10 is a lock.

As I've been saying for weeks, not with an RPI above 70 it's not. Unfortunately the committee doesn't just see 10 B1G wins, they actually look at who those wins were against.

 

[volhawk50]

As I've been saying for weeks, not with an RPI above 70 it's not. Unfortunately the committee doesn't just see 10 B1G wins, they actually look at who those wins were against.

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, as well as ISU and UNI out of conference. Also, if we go 6-1 the rest of the way, our RPI won't be 70+. The committee doesn't only look at RPI, so we'll be boosted by our Pomeroy and Sagarin ratings in the 30's.

 

[ssckelley]

As I've been saying for weeks, not with an RPI above 70 it's not. Unfortunately the committee doesn't just see 10 B1G wins, they actually look at who those wins were against.

No way a 10-8 B1G team gets left out of the tournament, I don't care what the RPI is.

 

[eveningnewsteam]

As I've been saying for weeks, not with an RPI above 70 it's not. Unfortunately the committee doesn't just see 10 B1G wins, they actually look at who those wins were against.

No way. 10-8 in this conference is a lock

 

[IowaFan81]

The UNI win just became a little better since they just knocked off Creighton. Although they beat WSU, too. Don't know if that helps or hurts Iowa since WSU beat Iowa.

 

[hawkfan33]

The UNI win just became a little better since they just knocked off Creighton. Although they beat WSU, too. Don't know if that helps or hurts Iowa since WSU beat Iowa.

Helps. If UNI can stay in the top 100 that's a quality win for us.

 

[storminspank]

The lowest rated RPI at-large bid since they changed the formula in 2005 was USC at #67 in 2011.
They were 19-14 (10-8) that year before the tourney (they had a 53 Pomeroy rating).
BAD LOSSES: Rider, Bradley, TCU, Oregon State
QUALITY WINS: Texas, Washington, Arizona
The PAC10 was the 5th best conference in America.


The old formula, it was New Mexico at #74 back in 1999. That was the team Kenny Thomas was on.

 

[storminspank]

UNI win is big for Iowa.

 

[eveningnewsteam]

UNI win is big for Iowa.

Sure is

 

[ssckelley]

UNI win is big for Iowa.

UNI might win out.

 

[storminspank]

UNI might win out.

Two b2b winnable roadies.
Get those, it's 6 in a row. Then they have momentum.

 

[IowaFan81]

UNI might win out.

I was just looking at that. They play 4 teams below them in the standings and Denver. Although 3 of 4 conference games are on the road. They could enter the MVC Tournament on a 9 game winning streak and at 20-11. Could push them to the bubble, but I doubt they can keep it up.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Just so we are clear.

You play Duke

I play Savannah State

I should get more credit for winning?

Depends. Do I play Duke and lose by 1 point? Especially if it's in Cameron Indoor? Or do I lose by 20-30? Or on the other hand, do you skate by Savannah St. by 5 points or win by 40?

I prefer to think of it this way: Don't penalize someone for beating a cupcake, but rather reward someone for beating a good team. A win over a cupcake or a loss to a good team - I generally see that as a push. Unless, like I said, you play a Top 10 team to a 2 point loss, for example. That may be considered a "good loss". But just losing to a bunch of good teams in itself doesn't really prove a team tournament worthy, the way I see it.