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ke a season, especially if it's a loss. VA Tech is 19-13 with an RPI of 53, a SOS of 38 and a 1-7 record vs. the top 50. Let's compare that to another team that shall remain nameless for the next sentence. This other team was also 19-13 with a similar RPI of 55, a much better SOS of 9 and a better 3-8 record vs. the top 50. That's right, Syracuse. There are a few teams that I have left out of my field that if they do make it, I won't have such a huge problem with. But if Virginia Tech gets a bid today, it would be inexcusable.
Pac-10
Dancing with a Hottie: UCLA (1 seed), Stanford (3 seed), Washington State (4 seed), USC (7 seed)
Wallflowers: Arizona (11 seed), Oregon (3rd out), Arizona State (5th out)
Considering Arizona's tremendous record when it is at full strength with Jerryd Bayless and Nic Wise (who have both now returned from injury), I have the Wildcats as one of my last four teams in. Arizona has beaten NCAA Tourney teams George Mason, Temple, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Connecticut. The RPI is still solid at 38 and the Wildcats have the second best strength of schedule in the nation.
Arizona State lost to USC on a controversial over-the-back call, which may garner them some sympathy on Selection Sunday. However, if the Sun Devils don't get in, they can't blame just the refs.
ASU finished the season 5-10 and its RPI has dropped to 83. Since 1999, the lowest RPI to earn an at large was No. 70 Air Force in 2004.
No matter what people say about Arizona State's five top 50 wins (six teams missed the tournament with five top 50 wins last year), ASU is in trouble.
Oregon won its final three games of the regular season, but it had to considering the Ducks went 3-8 before that. That meant Oregon needed to beat Washington State in the Pac-10 quarters and the Ducks couldn't do it.
They won four games against the top 50 but they also lost nine of those top-flight contests. I think the main argument come Selection Sunday is going to be between supporters of the Pac 10 and those who back the A-10 and other mid majors.
Teams on the west coast had a ton of good wins, but they also had a great deal more opportunities to pick up those victories than teams in other conferences.
Which is better, Dayton's 4-4 record vs. the top 50 or Oregon's 4-9? I'd say Dayton's.
Big 12
Dancing with a Hottie: Texas (2 seed), Kansas (2 seed), Oklahoma (6 seed), Texas A&M (9 seed), Kansas State (10 seed)
Wallflowers: Baylor (12 seed)
Baylor is barely in after it became the first five seed in Big 12 Tournament history to lose a first round game to a 12 seed (Colorado in double OT). However, that was the Bears' first sub 100 loss of the year, which is far less than most bubbles.
Baylor has wins over Notre Dame, Winthrop, Mississippi Valley State, Texas A&M and Kansas State, all in the tournament.
SEC
Dancing with a Hottie: Tennessee (1 seed), Vanderbilt (5 seed), Arkansas (7 seed), Mississippi State (10 seed)
Wallflowers: Kentucky (11 seed), Mississippi (12 seed)
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