The Rule of 1

[asiseeit]

If we can't go the rest of the regular season without more than
one loss or win the tourney we don't deserve to dance and better
off in the NIT. We could compete strongly for another NIT title
where we will probably be one and done at the dance. NIT
would give our young team some good post season experience,
another home game or two, and incentive to excel next year. I'd
still rather go dancing but, like I said, if we don't go 16-2 and at
least make the finals we don't deserve to dance this year.

[molly jabali]

If we can't go the rest of the regular season without more than
one loss or win the tourney we don't deserve to dance and better
off in the NIT. We could compete strongly for another NIT title
where we will probably be one and done at the dance. NIT
would give our young team some good post season experience,
another home game or two, and incentive to excel next year. I'd
still rather go dancing but, like I said, if we don't go 16-2 and at
least make the finals we don't deserve to dance this year.

solid post!

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Somewhat relevant to this: is a bad loss worse than a good win is good?

My instinct is that we would've been better off having beat ISUr or Louisville but lost to Drake or someone instead. Do the numbers back that up?

That's a good question. It seems the committee has an answer for this each year. It also seems that answer varies from year to year. I have very little idea what this year's committee would say, if asked. I'd lean toward agreement, that a bad loss and a quality win would be better for WSU this year, but I just don't really know for sure.

[ShockCrazy]

Somewhat relevant to this: is a bad loss worse than a good win is good?

My instinct is that we would've been better off having beat ISUr or Louisville but lost to Drake or someone instead. Do the numbers back that up?

As far as RPI goes, a loss on the road is equal to any other road loss, same for home/neutral(assuming the same schedule). The only difference is perception, and how they break down wins into categories(top 50/100 etc.) For instance if we had won at Illinois State but lost at Indiana State at this point, our actual RPI ranking would be the same, we would just have a borderline top 50 win and a loss outside the top 100. Perception-wise this may be better, but I'm not convinced.

[pinstripers]

From last year:


Sorry folks, but I once again have to invoke the rule of 1. Not excited to be doing so in mid-January. Last year, I was right that WSU could afford 1 loss starting Feb 14th. They ultimately saved that 1 loss for the semi-finals in St. Louis and got their at-large bid. Did some nice damage in the tourney too.

This year, WSU has 4 losses to date. 5 losses on selection Sunday and they get in. 6 and they don't. Gotta string together the next 12 W's or win 3 in St. Louis. Simple as that.

(I'd add one small caveat. 16-2 in the MVC, either a shared or outright conference championship, and then a Finals loss to ISUr in St. Louis would give WSU hope on Selection Sunday. I don't think it would be enough, but it would be interesting. Anything less and it is NIT all the way.)

This sounds right

[im4wsu]

solid post!

And he didn't refer to Conner once.

[SB Shock]

Last week Elgin was talking about that only 2 teams in the MVC has ever been in the NCAA tournament 6 years in a row (Cincy and SIU). If WSU gets in this year, I would expect next year they would only be better and would become THE DYNASTY TEAM in MVC lore. History possibly in the making is on the line.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Shox with 9 tournament wins in 5 years. SIU only had 5 wins in their 6 year stretch.

With that said, yes, hoping for a 6th straight appearance this year.

[ShockerPrez]

Hopefully, we set the record at 7 and bolt.

[shoxilla]

LOL, "that blank inglorious concavity"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFiLIsMieiQ