2016 Bracketology

[shock-it-to-me]

CBS sports Garry Parrish podcast talks about WSU at-large chances for 24 minutes. They all say they would like to see WSU get in just to see people like Got-lube meltdown over their inclusion. In the end they asked two questions.

1. Is WSU good enough to be in the tournament?
2. Is WSU resume good enough to be in the tournament?

They all said WSU is probably a top 20 quality program, just things didn't work out resume wise. They love that the story of Lunardi vs Palm and will love to see how the story plays out over the week because they have taken polar opposites.

Answer to 2 is there resume is not good enough.

In the end it was 2-1 that WSU was going to get in, main reason is because of KenPom. The one thing they did say - WSU will be one of the most polarizing bubble teams ever and if they do get in the haters will be all over them.

This is fascinating. Its sort of funny, when we first starting hearing the term 'eye test', we all deplored it. Now, its our only ticket in.

[Shock Top]

The lowest KenPom to be left out on Selection Sunday every year.

2002: South Carolina, 22nd
2003: Texas Tech, 35th
2004: Florida State, 25th
2005: Ohio State, 30th
2006: Missouri State, 28th
2007: Syracuse, 29th
2008: New Mexico, 31st
2009: San Diego State, 32nd
2010: Virginia Tech, 36th
2011: New Mexico, 38th
2012: Drexel, 39th
2013: Iowa, 33rd
2014: SMU, 32nd
2015: Florida, 45th

By this measure, it would be insane not to let WSU in

[Heinro]

We need to watch the AAC Tourney and hope for multiple upsets in the first round. Lots of bubble teams. One problem is that a lot of the bubble teams are playing each other in the first round. So I don't know how that will shake out. One team will be guaranteed a loss ... will that hurt them .. or just be a quality loss

I don't think those hurt us. Typically, no analysis to back this up, those are sort of playin/playout games. Like how I look at the SEC. Vandy loses to Tenn/Auburn they are out, they beat LSU they are in, but LSU is done. Even though I don't understand how LSU isn't done anyway. Outside of being 4th in the SEC, their resume is closer to Evansville/UNI quality than it is bubbly.

[OregonShocker]

The lowest KenPom to be left out on Selection Sunday every year.

2002: South Carolina, 22nd
2003: Texas Tech, 35th
2004: Florida State, 25th
2005: Ohio State, 30th
2006: Missouri State, 28th
2007: Syracuse, 29th
2008: New Mexico, 31st
2009: San Diego State, 32nd
2010: Virginia Tech, 36th
2011: New Mexico, 38th
2012: Drexel, 39th
2013: Iowa, 33rd
2014: SMU, 32nd
2015: Florida, 45th

By this measure, it would be insane not to let WSU in

Problem is, I don't rule out insanity when it comes to the selection committee.

[Shock Top]

Another reason for the committee to consider letting WSU in; talking points.

It's already being said that WSU is the "most polarizing bubble team in history". You put them in, it gets people talking. It creates a buzz; "can they prove they belong"?

I remember when everybody was going crazy that VCU got in but Va Tech was left out in 2011. Funny enough, VCU went to the Final Four that year and WSU won @ VT on their way to the NIT crown.

[Shock Top]

Problem is, I don't rule out insanity when it comes to the selection committee.

True.

If you take an average of the lowest team out since 2010, it around 37th. Taking Louisville and SMU out of the equation, WSU has about a 28 spot cushion on that at the moment.

[AZ Shocker]

CBS sports Garry Parrish podcast talks about WSU at-large chances for 24 minutes. They all say they would like to see WSU get in just to see people like Got-lube meltdown over their inclusion. In the end they asked two questions.

1. Is WSU good enough to be in the tournament?
2. Is WSU resume good enough to be in the tournament?

They all said WSU is probably a top 20 quality program, just things didn't work out resume wise. They love that the story of Lunardi vs Palm and will love to see how the story plays out over the week because they have taken polar opposites.

Answer to 2 is there resume is not good enough.

In the end it was 2-1 that WSU was going to get in, main reason is because of KenPom. The one thing they did say - WSU will be one of the most polarizing bubble teams ever and if they do get in the haters will be all over them.

If everything remains the same on Wichita St's resume....what would the "experts"be saying about our chances of NCAA Tourney worthiness should we be in the AAC conference or any P-5 conference?

[WuShock16]

If everything remains the same on Wichita St's resume....what would the "experts"be saying about our chances of NCAA Tourney worthiness should we be in the AAC conference or any P-5 conference?

The reason that is hard to fairly judge is because if WSU was in one of those conferences, it would have built-in opportunities to get more the quality wins which we are currently criticized for not having. As it sits, WSU had six quality games, three on a neutral site (without our starting point guard), two on the road (one of those ending in OT), and one home game, which was the lone win of that group.

I would like to point out that WSU OBLITERATED Utah here in Wichita. Put 3-4 more of those Top 50 games in Wichita and try to tell me that WSU doesn't win a couple of them. What's the difference between that scenario and the current reality? One word: opportunity.

And this is why the ****heads up north annoy me. Beaker fans will snort out of one side of their mouths that WSU doesn't deserve the privilege of playing them...especially not in a true home game in Wichita. Then, with the other side of their mouth, they'll say that WSU hasn't played anyone.

Speaking of theoretically playing in those conferences, let's just call up the Big 12 commish and ask for inclusion into that conference next year...because apparently "playing good teams" is as simple as a snap of the finger.

[OregonShocker]

True.

If you take an average of the lowest team out since 2010, it around 37th. Taking Louisville and SMU out of the equation, WSU has about a 28 spot cushion on that at the moment.

That's what I'm relying on!

[AZ Shocker]

The reason that is hard to fairly judge is because if WSU was in one of those conferences, it would have built-in opportunities to get more the quality wins which we are currently criticized for not having. As it sits, WSU had six quality games, three on a neutral site (without our starting point guard), two on the road (one of those ending in OT), and one home game, which was the lone win of that group.

I would like to point out that WSU OBLITERATED Utah here in Wichita. Put 3-4 more of those Top 50 games in Wichita and try to tell me that WSU doesn't win a couple of them. What's the difference between that scenario and the current reality? One word: opportunity.

And this is why the ****heads up north annoy me. Beaker fans will snort out of one side of their mouths that WSU doesn't deserve the privilege of playing them...especially not in a true home game in Wichita. Then, with the other side of their mouth, they'll say that WSU hasn't played anyone.

Speaking of theoretically playing in those conferences, let's just call up the Big 12 commish and ask for inclusion into that conference next year...because apparently "playing good teams" is as simple as a snap of the finger.

Good stuff! Yeah...guess my question doesn't really quantify. I wonder though if there is a similar P-5 team with numbers close to ours that isn't a current "bubble" team and being talked about as a "lock"???

[OregonShocker]

Good stuff! Yeah...guess my question doesn't really quantify. I wonder though if there is a similar P-5 team with numbers close to ours that isn't a current "bubble" team and being talked about as a "lock"???

I interpret your question as really asking, "If we weren't in the MVC and were in a P5 or AAC, would we be worrying?" I think that's the magic question; I'm willing to leave the MVC to find out!

[AZ Shocker]

I interpret your question as really asking, "If we weren't in the MVC and were in a P5 or AAC, would we be worrying?" I think that's the magic question; I'm willing to leave the MVC to find out!

Me too. For the love of God...me too.

[WuShock16]

Good stuff! Yeah...guess my question doesn't really quantify. I wonder though if there is a similar P-5 team with numbers close to ours that isn't a current "bubble" team and being talked about as a "lock"???

As I mentioned a few days ago, I think we have as good of a resume as, if not better than, South Carolina. If they can be in with that resume (3 losses way worse than our worst), then we should be in too. Granted, there are some who think they'll be out...but they shouldn't be less controversial than we are. You won't hear about the Great 2016 Debate of South Carolina.

[XManCometh]

This is fascinating. Its sort of funny, when we first starting hearing the term 'eye test', we all deplored it. Now, its our only ticket in.

I hope they're not going to use the "eye test" by watching our MVC Tournament games. If they do that, there's no chance we get in.


Right now I think our best bet is a play-in game in Dayton. Some of you have some ridiculous, through the roof confidence about our chances.

[wushock27]

I hope they're not going to use the "eye test" by watching our MVC Tournament games. If they do that, there's no chance we get in.


Right now I think our best bet is a play-in game in Dayton. Some of you have some ridiculous, through the roof confidence about our chances.

By the same token I could say you have a ridiculous, through the basement non-confidence about our chances...
At the end of the day, it's their OPINION, and they are entitled to it... quit saying they can't have one or be optimistic about the chance of it happening!!