Iowa & Northwestern Postseason Chances

D

DeereHD

Active Member
Let me start by saying I am not by any means a fan of Northwestern, but after looking at their respective numbers compared to "bubble teams" I find it interested they are not still in consideration for a bubble spot. Below are the current RPI and SOS numbers based on ESPN (which I don't care for, but it was the easiest to locate RPI & SOS). I use these only because the selection committee uses these numbers. I think the eye test is better.

Considered Strongest to get in (Drexel vs. Miss. State for last spot):
Overall Record Conf. Record RPI SOS
Drexel 27-6 16-2 64 248
Mississippi State 21-11 8-8 73 87
South Florida 20-13 12-6 51 35
Seton Hall 20-12 8-10 61 57
NC State 22-12 9-7 46 22

Considered Out:
Washington 21-10 14-4 70 94
Iona 25-7 15-3 42 163
Miami (FL) 19-12 9-7 60 55
Ole Miss 20-13 8-8 57 52
Arizona 23-11 12-6 75 124

EDIT-LIKELY ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
Northwestern 18-13 8-10 53 15

Look at the numbers and tell me that Northwestern doesn't rank with the best among this admittedly average group of teams. Does the 7th place team from the strongest conference in the nation deserve a stronger look than this? Look at these losses: Ohio State 75-73, Michigan in OT 67-55, @Indiana 71-66, @Purdue 87-77, Purdue 58-56, @Michigan in OT 66-64, @Creighton 87-79. They did have some larger losses, but those losses are "quality" if there is such a thing. The only marginal losses are 2 against Minnesota who was 19-14 this year and Illinois who finished 17-15 and the loss against Illinois was when Illinois was playing better early in the year.

I think the Big Ten getting in 6 of 12 teams into the NCAA tourney in a year when they are the strongest conference in the country is ridiculous. Yes, Northwestern had a chance against Minnesota, but Minnesota is better than the many of the teams listed on the bubble above. Seton Hall is probably the best team to compare to...they are 5-10 down the stretch and have an 8-10 conference record and have a worse RPI and SOS.

The reason I even bring this up is that it also has implications for Iowa. Iowa was the #8 team in the strongest conference with a 9-11 (including tourney) record and seems to be at best a marginal NIT team.

I am very excited about the future of the Iowa program as most of use are, but I am really hoping for an NIT bid because it will serve as great experience for the returning players, but I have my concerns about Iowa even getting a bid based on where things seem to be based on what I read above. Northwestern getting an NCAA bid I believe would help Iowa get an NIT bid as I feel the NIT would want a Big Ten representative.
 
Last edited:
NW does not deserve a bid now, they had numerous chances to solidify their bid and they struck out every time.
 
And so did every bubble team above them...I just find that if the Big Ten is supposedly the strongest conference in the country which by most people it is...how can they not even be a consideration when teams from weaker (and in some cases much weaker) conferences with no better or marginally better records be stronger considerations. Northwesterns SOS is much better than most of those schools. Give Northwestern a schedule of most those other schools and they are sitting at 23 wins right now.
 
IMO the only way NW gets a bid is if the committee feels sorry for them not having ever played in a NCAA tournament, which could happen. But almost every "expert" bracket has Northwestern out and most do not even have them on the bubble anymore.
 
our conference was called the Big East northwestern would already be in. when that conference is considered the best everyone gets it. No respect for the BIG.
 
Cydkar said:
Who said NW isn't being considered? And by "who" I don't mean media or bracketologists.
Click to expand...

I would like to think they are being considered...just using what I am seeing and hearing everywhere. Just bringing it up as a topic of discussion. I edited my heading for them to say outside looking in...probably a better way of putting it.
 
Ok if the NIT takes illinois AND minnesota over us that will be complete crap. I dont really think we should be in the NIT but if 3 Big Ten teams get in we should be one of the them. But I know there's going to be somebody who's going to say if you beat Campbell blah blah blah... That was the beginning of the season when we were still figuring out how to play together.
 
Northwestern is out because they haven't beaten ANYBODY. 1-10 vs. the RPI top 50. That pretty much seals it.

Iowa will be in the NIT as a 5-seed and travel back to the McLeod Center to take revenge against UNI. Book it.
 
Jerry Palm has NW in. They have a better profile and a head to head win over Seton Hall and many think Seton Hall is in or right on the cut line. I think NW will get in because of their SOS and 0 bad losses
 
dmShortSaledude said:
How much do you think GB would have to pay to bribe someone to get us in the NIT? ;) I'd say the over/under is $250,000.
Click to expand...

Maybe, just maybe, the NIT will reward the conferences that don't participate in their rival tournament. I wonder what the geniuses who have their panties in a twist over the CBI will have to say then.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top