At-Large

[WuDrWu]

Texas has more talent in any 3 players than the Valley has combined.

And right now, they'd be lucky to beat Evansville.

That is a team in horrid dissaray.

[ShockTalk]

With Pitt and UNC losing, we just lost two spots to ND and GA Tech.

Georgia Tech and Notre Dame we're probably already in.

Yes they were, but a loss early in their tourney's could have put them on the bubble or worse.

[Ixiah]

Former opponent Texas Southern is up 19 on Prarie View with about 5 minutes left. Every little bit helps :) .

[PlaneShocker]

We will not get into the NCAA tournament, gonna have to settle for the NIT.

[SB Shock]

I went ahead and plotted RPI ranking versus RPI (Blue Line). I also superimposed the SOS (Green Line).

Red Squares is MVC Teams RPI
Black Circles is MVC Teams SOS

The RED poly line is a best fit curve for the SOS.

This allows you to see break-points in talent and quickly where WSU rates among the rest of the field.

[PlaneShocker]

Arizona State just kissed there NCAA chances with a loss to Stanford.

[DPruett2333]

From WarrenNolan.com:

"Last 4 in" as of yesterday: Memphis, Louisville, Washington, Illinois
"First 4 out" as of yesterday: Dayton, Arizona State, Ole Miss, Wichita State

Well...

Louisville lost to Cincinnati.
Memphis lost to Houston.
Illinois plays Wisconsin tomorrow and if they lose, they are probably out.
Ole Miss plays Tennessee and if they lose, maybe they're out.
Dayton plays Xavier and if they lose, maybe they're out.
Arizona State just got hosed by Stanford, so they're done.
Washington plays Oregon State here in a bit.

We're moving closer and closer!! As long as none of the teams that beat the bubble teams, goes off and wins their tournament...

[ShockTalk]

SB Shock -- It's been almost 40 years since my last stat class. Could you tell me what this graph means and points out specifically for WSU. Thanks.

[JaminShock]

From WarrenNolan.com:

"Last 4 in" as of yesterday: Memphis, Louisville, Washington, Illinois
"First 4 out" as of yesterday: Dayton, Arizona State, Ole Miss, Wichita State

Well...

Louisville lost to Cincinnati.
Memphis lost to Houston.
Illinois plays Wisconsin tomorrow and if they lose, they are probably out.
Ole Miss plays Tennessee and if they lose, maybe they're out.
Dayton plays Xavier and if they lose, maybe they're out.
Arizona State just got hosed by Stanford, so they're done.
Washington plays Oregon State here in a bit.

We're moving closer and closer!! As long as none of the teams that beat the bubble teams, goes off and wins their tournament...

Of those 8 teams, we have the 2nd best RPI behind Louisville...

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

Louisville will be in the tournament.

[Ixiah]

I have a hard time understanding the love for Illinois - if they lose they are just a few games over .500.

[SB Shock]

SB Shock -- It's been almost 40 years since my last stat class. Could you tell me what this graph means and points out specifically for WSU. Thanks.

There are really two break points near WSU in RPI. Between 35-39 teams there is not much difference. The second will be between 40 to 48.

WSU SOS is a little below average (per trend line), but 12 teams ahead of them, 5 have worse SOS. 8 teams after them, 3 have either comparable SOS, 1 very weak.

[GoShockers89]

I'd say our chances have been upgraded from less than a 1% chance at a bid to somewhere around a 5-10% chance as things currently stand. Still an outrageous longshot, but my goodness, bubble teams are shooting themselves in the foot worse this season than any in recent memory. For once in my life, I agree with Jay Bilas...this is the worst batch of at-large candidates ever.

If Oregon State beats Washington tonight, I will begin to let the slightest glimmer of hope enter my mind heading into the weekend.

Nice bank by WVU at the buzzer to keep Cincy out of the discussion 8)

[DPruett2333]

I have a hard time understanding the love for Illinois - if they lose they are just a few games over .500.

I know. I don't understand it either.

They are 4-8 against RPI 1-50.
They are 1-1 against the RPI 51-100.
They are 5-4 against the RPI 101-200.
They are 8-0 against the RPI 200+.

The have losses to Northwestern, Georgia, and Utah.
They beat Michigan State once, Wisconsin once, and Clemson.

Their RPI is at 68. Their SOS is 45. And they are 5-5 in their last 10.

[SpanglerFan316]

http://www.mobilerpi.com/?team=Illinois&order=rpi&rank=78

Note the team=Illinois&order=rpi&rank=78, as in Illinois' RPI is #78.
#78