What to do with Villanova?
Posted on: March 13, 2008 3:55 pm
Edited on: March 13, 2008 4:04 pm
Villanova will be a tough call.
That's the best I can tell you right now.
I'll assess the situation at the end of the night, try to make sense of it then. But for now, here are the relevant numbers after Thursday's 82-63 loss to Georgetown ...
-- Villanova --
Record: 20-12
RPI: 51
Strength of schedule: 41
Record against Top 25: 2-6
Record against Top 50: 3-6
Record against Top 100: 7-9
Losses outside the Top 100: 3
Impressive victories: Connecticut, Pittsburgh, West Virginia
Embarrassing losses: at Cincinnati, at DePaul, at Rutgers
Record in last 12 games: 7-5
How does that stack up?
Honestly, it's difficult to say.
But is Villanova's body of work any worse than New Mexico's body of work?
I only ask because the Lobos are in everybody's field.
Here are their credentials ...
-- New Mexico --
Record: 24-7
RPI: 54
Strength of schedule: 151
Record against Top 25: 0-2
Record against Top 50: 1-4
Record against Top 100: 4-5
Losses outside the Top 100: 2
Impressive victories: UNLV
Embarrassing losses: at New Mexico State, at TCU
Record in last 12 games: 9-3
Like I said, Villanova will be a tough call.
Comments
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Posted on: March 13, 2008 4:08 pm
What to do with Villanova?All you need to know between these 2 teams is SOS...Nova 41 and New Mexico 151 151???? I would put both Nova and Syracuse (SOS of 7) in before New Mexico. |
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Posted on: March 13, 2008 4:11 pm
What about Dayton?Dayton is considered out of the running because they lost to Xavier by less than 10 points but Villanova somehow has a shot even though they lost to Georgetown by 19 points. Can you do a comparison of Villanova and Dayton based on the credentials above? |
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Reputation: 99
Level: Superstar Since: Oct 15, 2006
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Posted on: March 13, 2008 4:19 pm
What to do with Villanova?I agree. I like the smaller schools getting in from time to time, and if New Mexico could play every game of the tourney at home, then I would say put them in. But lets be honest, finishing third in the MWC isn't really worthy of getting in over quality Big East teams. New Mexico has a real nice squad, and the MWC is a good conference..... but it's not like playing in the gauntlet that is the Big East. Do I think NM could beat Villanova or Syaracuse?, maybe. But definately 'Nova should get in ahead of them, maybe even the 'Cuse. |
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Posted on: March 13, 2008 4:28 pm
What to do with Villanova?New Mexico looks to be the hotter team right now. Giddens is coming on strong and their loss to BYU was by 1.
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Reputation: 97
Level: Superstar Since: Dec 11, 2006
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Posted on: March 13, 2008 4:33 pm
What to do with Villanova?7-9 against top 100 with 3 losses outside of that is all you need to know. In a very crowded Big East, the Wildcats shouldn't go to the tournament. New Mexico is 4-5 against the top 100 and lost to NM State, but has been great in their last 12. I'd take them over the Wildcats, but neither deserves to be in when Florida a two-time national champ who's been surprisingly impressive isn't even on the right side of the bubble.
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Posted on: March 13, 2008 5:04 pm
What to do with Villanova?The problem with that Dayton comment is that Nova was competetive until the very end. Not saying that Xavier blew out Dayton, but just that the 19 point loss is misleading. |
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Level: Amateur Since: Feb 29, 2008
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Posted on: March 13, 2008 5:16 pm
What to do with Villanova?Agree with scooter's comment - the 19 point loss is misleading. If you look at the box score, Villanova's star guard was bloodied and missed large stretchs of the game. Much as Dayton is getting credit for injuries, Villanova had two starters that missed major time during the season. Villanova lost some games they should not have while those players were injured, but you only hear that Dayton had injuries, not Villanova. Every team has injuries -- including BOTH of the super teams Dayton beat early on. Villanova over Dayton - no question.
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Posted on: March 13, 2008 5:17 pm
What to do with Villanova?rer2622, Past tournament success has no weight on the selection committee's decisions. Otherwise, San Francisco, CCNY, and Loyola would demand serious consideration. Yes, Florida just won two championships, but the only people left from those teams are the coach and the mascot. I thought Nova should be in until I saw the 7-9 against the Top 100. I don't even think New Mexico should be in either, looking at their resume. Perhaps the bubble is much weaker than I expected, but neither resume jumps out at me. |
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Reputation: 99
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Posted on: March 13, 2008 5:26 pm
What to do with Villanova?I agree, 7-5 verses 9-3. See if New Mexico can win a game or two in their tournement, but my vote is the Lobos. |
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Reputation: 98
Level: Superstar Since: Mar 12, 2007
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Posted on: March 13, 2008 5:43 pm
What to do with Villanova?Wait now, how can you pick between Nova and NM based solely on "Record over past 12 games". Villanova played 5 ranked teams in their last 12 games, while New Mexico played none. Yes, "Record over past 12 games" can have some weight, particularly as a tiebreaker if everything else is fairly equal...but in this case, it's a very weak measuring device. |
