ESPN's non-conference analysis of The MVC

[_kai_]

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/36367/nonconference-schedule-analysis-mvc

Thoughts?

[shock]

i think the toughness is related to how strong of a program the school is. some of that is pretty skewed

[1972Shocker]

Need to take advantage of whatever opportunities you have and win some of those games and then win all of the games you are supposed to win.

[WstateU]

Just in case you missed this link at the bottom of the article with the comments. Good stuff!

:good: :good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUVdqnW_K_Q

[AndShock]

i think the toughness is related to how strong of a program the school is. some of that is pretty skewed

That would make sense. Another thing is they obviously gave a huge boost for having BCS opponents on your schedule. Creighton got a 3 and they might have the best schedule in the Valley. Indiana State gets a 7 and theirs is one of the worst.

[RoyalShock]

I'm just speculating here, but perhaps a major factor in their strength rating is how the schedule will look come tournament selection time. Average RPI really doesn't say much. But if you get non-conference wins over NCAA tournament teams, which are going to be mostly BCS league members then your schedule is more likely to be strong enough that an NCAA bid is warranted. Creighton has some solid opponents but I don't see any I would say are likely NCAA teams since SDSU has a lot of question marks.

Bradley, on the other hand has two top-25 (or close) teams in Wisconsin and Michigan. Evansville has Butler, UNC and what may be an improved Indiana. Missouri St. gets WVU, OklaSt and NewMex.

If we had Alabama in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, we'd probably get at least a 7 rating.

[AndShock]

I'm just speculating here, but perhaps a major factor in their strength rating is how the schedule will look come tournament selection time. Average RPI really doesn't say much. But if you get non-conference wins over NCAA tournament teams, which are going to be mostly BCS league members then your schedule is more likely to be strong enough that an NCAA bid is warranted. Creighton has some solid opponents but I don't see any I would say are likely NCAA teams since SDSU has a lot of question marks.

Bradley, on the other hand has two top-25 (or close) teams in Wisconsin and Michigan. Evansville has Butler, UNC and what may be an improved Indiana. Missouri St. gets WVU, OklaSt and NewMex.

If we had Alabama in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, we'd probably get at least a 7 rating.

I think you have a point. You can probably look at the "toughest" section and get the ranking. I still don't understand Indiana State's ranking though.

[RoyalShock]

I'm just speculating here, but perhaps a major factor in their strength rating is how the schedule will look come tournament selection time. Average RPI really doesn't say much. But if you get non-conference wins over NCAA tournament teams, which are going to be mostly BCS league members then your schedule is more likely to be strong enough that an NCAA bid is warranted. Creighton has some solid opponents but I don't see any I would say are likely NCAA teams since SDSU has a lot of question marks.

Bradley, on the other hand has two top-25 (or close) teams in Wisconsin and Michigan. Evansville has Butler, UNC and what may be an improved Indiana. Missouri St. gets WVU, OklaSt and NewMex.

If we had Alabama in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, we'd probably get at least a 7 rating.

I think you have a point. You can probably look at the "toughest" section and get the ranking. I still don't understand Indiana State's ranking though.

Too much weight given to the Vandy game.

[WuDrWu]

i think the toughness is related to how strong of a program the school is. some of that is pretty skewed

That would make sense. Another thing is they obviously gave a huge boost for having BCS opponents on your schedule. Creighton got a 3 and they might have the best schedule in the Valley. Indiana State gets a 7 and theirs is one of the worst.

That's the ONLY thing that makes sense, especially when it comes to ISUc.

No human on the planet could say their non-conference schedule is more difficult than WSU's.

Just look at the "next toughest category": One team's is Ball State at home and @ bracketbusters. The others is UAB, @ Tulsa and @ bracketbusters.

Man, I am past ready to see this program properly dispose of the waste matter that hangs around us.