Syracuse the big snub, Arizona gets too much love…
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by user Bobman024
We all know that Syracuse was the big snub of the year…but what about a team that fell from the rankings, to fifth in the Pac-10 and was ousted in the conference tourney by a shear beat down? What about them? How come they made it in?
I started off this article, with one goal in mind - to prove that Arizona had as bad of a season as Syracuse…I thought that the Cats really were, as Denny Green would say, “Let off the hook!”. Should this team really have made the NCAA tourney at all?
Arizona had piss poor conference play and really only made it into the tournament, because of three of the biggest over-hyped reasons this year:
- Lute Olson - without him, this team would not get all the buzz and over-hype that it does.
- A stellar start to the season at 12-1, followed by an 8-9 record to close out the season.
- One of the toughest schedules in the nation, based on having hardcore non-conference matchups.
No doubt, the cats had an amazing start to the season; No one is going to say otherwise. I had the privilege to attend both the Illinois and the Memphis games. I can tell you flat out, that the team that won both of those games, is not the same team that will take the floor this Friday. Something happened during the course of the season, maybe it was just the shock of having multiple conference contenders all elevate to the next level at the same time….Then again, maybe it is just a team that doesn’t give a crap and a team that not even the “great” Lute could light a fire under.
So, I had started this column off with the intention of doing a team by team comparison, so here it is:
Team A:
- This team finished with an overall record of 20-10, while going 11-7 in their conference.
- This team went 6-4 in their last 10 games
- Quality wins are as follows: Over the current #5, #10, #16 and #19 teams in the current AP poll.
- That translates into the #8, #11, #23, and #42 teams RPI wise.
- This team is currently #12 in RPI based solely on their #1 Strength of Schedule.
- Team A is 9-9 in 2007.
Team B:
- This team finished with an overall record of 22-10, while going 10-6 in their conference.
- This team went 7-3 in their last 10 games
- Quality wins are as follows: Over the current #8 and #20 teams in the current AP poll.
- That translates into the #10, #14, and #20 teams RPI wise.
- This team is currently #53 in RPI with a #48 Strength of Schedule.
- Team B is 11-7 in 2007.
It should also be noted that Team A’s conference has an overall RPI of .5699 and Team B’s conference has an overall RPI of .5693.
Clearly Team B doesn’t have the same RPI or Strength of Schedule as Team A. Team B is at a significant disadvantage at this point, but still not bad on paper at all. However, Team A rather indecisively went 1-5 in home games against ranked opponents. In games decided by 5 points or less, Team A is 4-5. On the other hand, Team B, didn’t fare too well in close games either; they were 3-6.
The teams themselves seem to be pretty close. Other than one of them having significantly harder schedule and thus the intensely higher RPI, there really is no difference. Each have 3 quality wins over Top 25 RPI opponents. Yet, in the end, one of these teams did not make the tournament. That team was Team B(Syracuse)….
Meanwhile the Wildcats (Team A), are an 8 seed, and Lute was complaining that they should have been a 7! My team-by-team comparison, probably if anything just proves that Syracuse deserves to get in. On the other hand though, it also tells you there there is a serious problem with the way teams are measured. How does one team get in and another doesn’t? How does one team, which looked so horrible going .500 down the stretch make it in while the team that goes .611 gets snubbed? How does this happen when both teams play in very tough conferences with ALMOST exactly the same overall RPI?
In my opinion, seeing the Cats horrific play, they most assuredly do not deserve an 8 seed. I am sick and tired of the Lute Olson jock sniffing sessions. This team, that was once brilliant, now heartless, is not the same team. I wouldn’t count on them to win their Purdue match-up and I wouldn’t bet on this game if I were you. And for anyone who thinks they might pencil in the Cats for a Florida upset, I am giving you your warning now: DON’T DO IT! But then again, thats your bracket not mine.
Syracuse most assuredly got snubbed and I wholeheartedly believe that was it not for the disparity in RPI, Arizona would be the team playing in the NIT. Syracuse, my heart goes out to you. I am sorry we stole your spot in the tournament, I really am… Maybe next year, the Wildcats will actually finish what they started.
Matt Blake - http://azsportshub.com
Extras: A list of other teams that are in the big dance, that compare to Syracuse: Syracuse verse the “ins”
Also, let me know what you think… Do the Cats deserve their 8 seed?
