Miscellaneous Mid-Major Tournaments

[Plebe]

Portland came into the game with a RPI of 128.

@Plebe,
Any impact to Gonzaga's projected seeding? The Zags should still host, but might they fall to a #4 seed with that loss? If so, a brutal impact and a very likely exit in the third round as a #4 in this year's tourney. Lots of incentive this year to remain at least a #3 seed given the quality of the #1 seeds.

Let's wait and see how the DePaul-Marquette game shakes out first.

 

[WestCoast]

Maybe. My impression of San Diego is heavily flavored by watching Washington beat them on their home floor by about 20, and it wasn't really that close. They were up by that much in the 2nd quarter and cruised the rest of the way. If the 9th place team in the Pac 12 is better than the 2nd place team from the WCC...

edit--the first San Diego-Portland game was a 19 point margin, 2nd game was only 4. Also Portland lost both regular season games to Gonzaga as well.

That is the same Washington team that upset UCLA and nearly beat the Bruins both times, correct? Put Washington in a midmajor conference this year and it would be at least be a WNIT team. Lots of competitive losses for that squad this season.

 

[triaddukefan]

In the AAC, UConn defeats Cincinnati 87-53

 

[Plebe]

In the AAC, UConn defeats Cincinnati 87-53

The AAC isn't a mid-major

 

[triaddukefan]

The AAC isn't a mid-major

High Major? Where does the Mid Major start... with the MAC and below?

 

[Plebe]

High Major? Where does the Mid Major start... with the MAC and below?

And what about the "low majors"? Is everybody middle class?

It's all just arbitrary labeling by the media. I don't really know.

Most media outlets, like ESPN, say the mid-majors are the 25 conferences that are not the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, Big East or AAC.

 

[triaddukefan]

And what about the "low majors"? Is everybody middle class?

It's all just arbitrary labeling by the media. I don't really know.

Most media outlets, like ESPN, say the mid-majors are the 25 conferences that are not the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, Big East or AAC.

Ive seen the rest of the AAC minus UCONN......... looks like a mid major conference to me

I know the low mid majors are the Big South, MEAC, SWAC, Big Sky, Mountain West..... i know in Men's basketball... a conference like the Southern isnt a low mid major... but it possibly is in the WCBB. Not sure where the Colonial is on the totem pole.

 

[Plebe]

Ive seen the rest of the AAC minus UCONN......... looks like a mid major conference to me

I know the low mid majors are the Big South, MEAC, SWAC, Big Sky, Mountain West..... i know in Men's basketball... a conference like the Southern isnt a low mid major... but it possibly is in the WCBB. Not sure where the Colonial is on the totem pole.

If the AAC is a mid major this year then so is the ACC. I mean seriously, there was almost a bid steal by a team that had no hope of an NCAA bid coming into the tournament.

 

[triaddukefan]

If the AAC is a mid major this year then so is the ACC. I mean seriously, there was almost a bid steal by a team that had no hope of an NCAA bid coming into the tournament.

we will have to agree to disagree brother Plebe

Take away Louisville and Uconn from the top... there is no comparison between the two. Even a bottom feeder like Pitt can knock off a National Power like Notre Dame

 

[Plebe]

View attachment 51787 View attachment 51787 View attachment 51787 View attachment 51787 View attachment 51787 we will have to agree to disagree brother Plebe

Take away Louisville and Uconn from the top... there is no comparison between the two. Even a bottom feeder like Pitt can knock off a National Power like Notre Dame

The AAC actually had a winning record over the Big 12 this year, and that's including UConn's loss to Baylor

 

[triaddukefan]

The AAC actually had a winning record over the Big 12 this year, and that's including UConn's loss to Baylor

 

[nwhoopfan]

That is the same Washington team that upset UCLA and nearly beat the Bruins both times, correct? Put Washington in a midmajor conference this year and it would be at least be a WNIT team. Lots of competitive losses for that squad this season.

Yeah, that team.

 

[Plebe]

Portland came into the game with a RPI of 128.

@Plebe,
Any impact to Gonzaga's projected seeding? The Zags should still host, but might they fall to a #4 seed with that loss? If so, a brutal impact and a very likely exit in the third round as a #4 in this year's tourney. Lots of incentive this year to remain at least a #3 seed given the quality of the #1 seeds.

I waited to see whether DePaul won before answering, as they were on the hosting bubble. Since DePaul won (and did so convincingly), I'd say Gonzaga's status as a host team is a definite maybe.

Gonzaga's #12 position in the latest reveal was generous in the extreme after a very bad loss to a team outside the RPI top 200. Their resume of wins was already light for a #3 seed. I frankly don't see the rationale that supported having them ahead of Iowa, Arizona and Indiana at that time, and even less so now. And I say this as someone who loves seeing mid-majors be competitive with the big dogs.

If we line up each team's significant wins alongside their losses, there's no rational way to avoid the conclusion that Gonzaga's resume is the weakest of this bunch:

Team (RPI)	Significant wins (RPI)	Losses (RPI)
Arizona (28)	Stanford (6) UCLA (13) at Oregon St (21) Arizona St (42) at Arizona St (42) at Texas (43)	Cal (124) at Colorado (94) Oregon St (21) at UCLA (13) Oregon (2) at Oregon (2) (n) Oregon (2)
Iowa (15)	Maryland (3) Princeton (9) at N'western (11) Indiana (14) Ohio St (18) Drake (25) at Iowa St (40) at Purdue (46)	(n) Washington (141) at Nebraska (90) at N. Iowa (65) at Rutgers (47) at Michigan (34) (n) Ohio St (18) at Maryland (3)
Oregon St (21)	Missouri St (8) DePaul (17) at Arizona (28) Arizona St (42)	at USC (81) at Arizona St (42) Arizona (28) at UCLA (13) Stanford (6) at Stanford (6) (n) Stanford (6) Oregon (2) at Oregon (2)
Indiana (14)	(n) S. Carolina (1) at Michigan (34) Purdue (46) at Purdue (46) (n) Rutgers (47) at Rutgers (47)	Ohio St (18) at Iowa (15) UCLA (13) N'western (11) (n) Baylor (5) Maryland (3) at Maryland (3) (n) Maryland (3)
Gonzaga (12)	Missouri St (8) (n) Dayton (39) (n) MTSU (45) (n) Purdue (46) UT Martin (48)	at St. Mary's (202) (n) Portland (109) at Stanford (6)
DePaul (17)	at N'western (11) Marquette (24) (n) Marquette (24) Drexel (38) at Creighton (51) St. John's (58) at St. John's (58)	at Villanova (83) Creighton (51) at Marquette (24) at Oregon St (21) UConn (4)

If the committee starts afresh and seeds these teams on the basis of bodies of work, weighing significant wins against significant losses:

12. Arizona/Iowa (the resumes are very close)
13. Iowa/Arizona
14. Indiana
15. Oregon St
16. DePaul
(5 seed) Gonzaga

But if the committee maintains whatever mysterious logic led them to put Gonzaga at #12 one week ago, then Gonzaga will probably still be a 4 seed despite another bad loss, and Indiana will still be out in the cold.

 

[UCBaller2012]

Ivy League tournament gets cancelled to Princeton is automatically in.

 

[Plebe]

Summit League final going on right now on espnU. (Thanks @ochoopsfan for the heads up.)

Never count out those Jackrabbits. It's 54-53 USD at the 4Q media timeout.

 

[Plebe]

As of last night, 10 automatic bids had been awarded.

 

[Plebe]

Earlier today, in the Horizon League:

The Jaguars of IUPUI defeated Green Bay, 51-37, to reach their first NCAA tournament.

IUPUI held GB scoreless in the 4th quarter.

 

[Plebe]

SDSU has struggled to score down the stretch. USD looks like they'll pull it out, up 61-55 with 20 seconds left.

 

[triaddukefan]

Earlier today, in the Horizon League:

The Jaguars of IUPUI defeated Green Bay, 51-37, to reach their first NCAA tournament.

IUPUI held GB scoreless in the 4th quarter.

Was that on TV (streamed)? I love to watch the countdown to the final seconds and post game celebrations of teams that make the tournament for the first time.

 

[Plebe]

Was that on TV (streamed)? I love to watch the countdown to the final seconds and post game celebrations of teams that make the tournament for the first time.

Yes, it was on espnU, immediately preceding the Summit League game.

 

[Plebe]

In the WCC final, now showing on espnU, Portland and San Diego are slugging it out.

Several momentum swings and lead changes. San Diego currently leads 43-41 near the end of 3Q.

 

[Plebe]

Overtime in the WCC.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Portland wins!

 

[nwhoopfan]

Someone told me yesterday that USD was definitely gonna win this game. Congrats to the Pilots. Warm up the bus for that trip down I-5 to Eugene.

 

[triaddukefan]

some brutal play down the stretch.