Can someone explain to me how NW is even on the bubble?

[stevefrench]

Oh so those wins don't count now? So what does that make Iowa St's conference record 1-6?

I don't see what iowa state has to do with it.

The big ten is listed as the strongest conference by the computers, yes. But that doesn't mean that 7 wins in that league = 10 in any other conference. Thats just blatant homerism on your part. Would u say that 6 wins in football in the big XII = 8 in the big ten? I mean after all, the big XII was ranked way higher than the big ten in football?

 

[busabus114]

I don't see what iowa state has to do with it.

The big ten is listed as the strongest conference by the computers, yes. But that doesn't mean that 7 wins in that league = 10 in any other conference. Thats just blatant homerism on your part. Would u say that 6 wins in football in the big XII = 8 in the big ten? I mean after all, the big XII was ranked way higher than the big ten in football?

This, beating the lower half and losing to everyone else is not impressive

 

[hawkfan33]

I don't see what iowa state has to do with it.

The big ten is listed as the strongest conference by the computers, yes. But that doesn't mean that 7 wins in that league = 10 in any other conference. Thats just blatant homerism on your part. Would u say that 6 wins in football in the big XII = 8 in the big ten? I mean after all, the big XII was ranked way higher than the big ten in football?

Yes.

The bottom big 10 teams would be middle of the pack teams in any other conference.

 

[hawkfan33]

This, beating the lower half and losing to everyone else is not impressive

So Michigan St is in the lower half? LOL

 

[busabus114]

So Michigan St is in the lower half? LOL

They have ONE quality conference win - against Michigan State which i acknowledged in my original post. The rest of their wins are against teams with losing conference records. They played a tough schedule and lost all the tough games except one...good job

 

[busabus114]

Yes.

The bottom big 10 teams would be middle of the pack teams in any other conference.

So Iowa really has 12 conference wins? Sweet, they should be a five seed

Nebraska, Illinois, Penn State and Minnesota would suck no matter what conference they were in

 

[hawkfan33]

So Iowa really has 12 conference wins? Sweet, they should be a five seed

Nebraska, Illinois, Penn State and Minnesota would suck no matter what conference they were in

Illinois was rolling until the B10 just wore them down, same with Minnesota. Nebraska was a middle of the pack B12 team last year, they come to B10, boom last place.

 

[herbyhawk]

minnesota lost Mbwake after that they were toast, Illinois is loaded with talent with a bad coach, and i guess Iowa's record of 4-3 against the BT teams in the top 25 count for zip, but NW lone win against a top 25 team = great record,
the NCAA needs a feel good story book team in the big dance. NW gives them that. Iowa doesn't

 

[koolhandlick]

They haven't had a "terrible" loss this year. Also the pity factor of never making the dance comes into play. After Iowa wins today they will be officialy off the bubble. I don't even understand why they are a popular pick for making the NIT over Iowa.

Could it be because they beat us twice ?

 

[WhitUp]

minnesota lost Mbwake after that they were toast, Illinois is loaded with talent with a bad coach, and i guess Iowa's record of 4-3 against the BT teams in the top 25 count for zip, but NW lone win against a top 25 team = great record,
the NCAA needs a feel good story book team in the big dance. NW gives them that. Iowa doesn't

Iowa's win mean alot but losses to cambell, nebraska, clemson, @PSU is the reason were not in Northwesterns discussion. All of their losses are against top 100 teams. If we would of won 3 of 4 of those games, we'd be a lock in the ncaa tournament.

 

[sportstalent]

NW has a strength of schedule of 10 for what reason?

They have two quality wins: MSU and Seton Hall, not so sure about Seton Hall, but whatever.

All a stregth of schedule being that high means is that they lose to quality teams...I could give a rat's you know what about their margin of loss as well how people harp of that too is rediculous.

The 28 pt loss against Baylor is looking worse and worse...it is simply amazing how Baylor has remained in the top 10 when they have as many blowout losses as really bad teams...not sure what the fascination is with that team. Athleticism is everything I guess because that is really all Baylor is, nothing more, nothing less.

The fact that the P12 sucks, B12 is very down from recent years, SEC is still not so good outside of Kentucky, Butler is MIA this season, the WCC has not been helped with BYU, the Big East has some traditional teams that are down and really hurting them...yeah Northwestern may benefit from this, I hope they lose in the opening round of the BTT and misses out as they have no business being in the tournament they are just not good.

This is a season that the mid-majors should benefit, but they won't because they went and scheduled tougher this year and will get left out for losing to teams in power six conferences. VCU, Colorado State, Long Beach State and others will be left out and it simply sucks.

So to answer the orginal question...I can't, but they are and they should not be at all.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

So all you have to do is schedule some good opponents, and you automatically get the nod from the selection committee? You don't have to actually WIN some of those games? Ok, got it. Didn't know it was that easy to get on the bubble.

 

[H8IAST8]

So all you have to do is schedule some good opponents, and you automatically get the nod from the selection committee? You don't have to actually WIN some of those games? Ok, got it. Didn't know it was that easy to get on the bubble.

This is why the RPI is joke. Ever since the NCAA applied factors to home, road and neutral site games in 2004.

Northwestern defeated 2 teams with winning records in BCS conferences on a neutral court (LSU, Seton Hall) They also beat Tulsa who has a good record in a upper tier mid-major conference. These 3 wins would be like winning 5 games vs. the same caliber teams at home.

A few other factors:
-No bad losses
-They played OSU twice and avoided playing Nebraska twice.
-DO not play the RPI 200+. They played 2 team with an RPI 200+ but only one over 250. Iowa played 6 teams over 250 and obviously they lost to a 200+ RPI team Campbell (double wammy since it was at home). This is why we can't even have RPI 200+ teams on our schedule.
-Non-Conference contains a mid-majors that won their conference regular season, whether by chance or planned (Stony Brook RPI 156). If Northwestern scheduled the preseason favorite Boston U. (RPI 191), their SOS and RPI would be worse.

 

[WhitUp]

I don't get all the Northwestern hate, I don't think they are a great but if you study the bubble you will find their resume deserves to be there. CBSsports does excellent job ranks every teams wins and loses by RPI, which makes comparing resumes much easier then just staring at teams schedule. If Northwestern isn't a tourney team, why is Texas? Why is Miami? Their resumes are basically identical.

I think the main reason NW is getting so much crap is that the bubble is really weak, and people aren't actually comparing their resume against teams outside the bubble line, but just judging on what they think historically a tourney team should be.

Look at these 6 resumes, theirs 3 spots for these teams. I'd take NW over most of them, I'm not going to say your a moron if you disagree, but can you say with a straight face they shouldn't even be in the discussion of being in the top 3, no way. You can't just say they don't deserve it, tell me who deserves it more. They are all basically very similiar and none of them are very impressive.

Inside bubble Line NW/Tex/Miami
Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats RPI Breakdown | NCAA Basketball RPI Breakdown at CBSSports.com

Texas
Texas Longhorns RPI Breakdown | NCAA Basketball RPI Breakdown at CBSSports.com

Miami
Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes RPI Breakdown | NCAA Basketball RPI Breakdown at CBSSports.com

Outside Bubble Line
Washington
Washington Huskies RPI Breakdown | NCAA Basketball RPI Breakdown at CBSSports.com

Arizona
Arizona Wildcats RPI Breakdown | NCAA Basketball RPI Breakdown at CBSSports.com

Mississippi
Mississippi Rebels RPI Breakdown | NCAA Basketball RPI Breakdown at CBSSports.com

 

[MiniMoeHawk]

Could it be because they beat us twice ?

I said this before the game but nice try...Regardless NW still doesn't deserve to make the NCAA tourney

 

[H8IAST8]

the one problem with northwestern is their record vs. rpi top 50.

 

[hawkIhoops]

LSU, Tulsa, Georgia Tech, Creighton, Seton Hall and Baylor is a pretty solid non conference schedule and they went 4-2 against these teams. They handled their business against PSU and NE (something we couldn't do) and swept us. Does their body of work make a solid case for making the tourney? Debateable I suppose, but when the national media embraces a story like NW making the tourney for the first time ever, the powers that be take notice. NW vs. some SEC team in the first round makes for a compelling matchup.

 

[ssckelley]

You know before the game on Saturday I was with most of you about Northwestern but after watching them come into our house and take it to Iowa I think they belong in the NCAA tournament. Their record and the way they have lost games to the top 50 reflect that they can play with anybody. If they take care of business against Minnesota I think they are a lock for their first ever NCAA bid. Quite frankly I am tired of hearing about it.

 

[storminspank]

I can't explain it.

The only reason is their SOS and playing in the B10.
But they are not an NCAA caliber team.

And, yes, it sucks Iowa lost to them twice.

They are soft and will get run out of the building if they make their first ever Dance.

 

[H8IAST8]

I can't explain it.The only reason is their SOS and playing in the B10.But they are not an NCAA caliber team.And, yes, it sucks Iowa lost to them twice.They are soft and will get run out of the building if they make their first ever Dance.

I disagree. in fact I think they win. especially if the opposing team only has 3 days to prepare.