The NCAA Selection Committee Actually Got It Right (Sort Of)

I hate to say it, but I think the NCAA Selection Committee actually got it right this year, at least when it comes down to the final two teams selected. This year--as far as anybody can tell--those teams were Maryland (10 seed) and Arizona (12 seed). Even if you expand it to the "last four in," as coined by ESPN personality Joe Lunardi, those teams are probably: Maryland (10 seed); Arizona (12 seed); Wisconsin (12 seed); and either Michigan or Minnesota (10 seeds).

Of those last 4/5 teams in the Big Dance, Arizona made the Sweet 16 and 3 of the other 4 teams won their first round game: Wisconsin over Florida State; Maryland over California; and Michigan over Clemson. Minnesota, on the other hand, last to a very good Texas team who was close to knocking Duke out early. A very nice showing for the "worst" at large teams in the tournament.

On the other side of town, a dejected Penn State team begrudgingly began its NIT run by beating George Mason (in double overtime) and Rhode Island (payback game) at home, before knocking off Florida in Gainesville--sending the Nits to their first NIT Final Four in ten years.

But if you're reading this blog, you probably knew all of this... so what's my point?

My point is: Penn State was GOOD ENOUGH to make the NCAA Tournament, but probably does not have any room to complain about the Selection Committee. After teams like Arizona and Maryland perform like they did, it's hard to say the Committee made a "mistake" leaving out Penn State. The only such argument that the Nittany Lions could make is over fellow Big Ten member Minnesota... but let's leave that for another day and time. That's not my point.

It's time to move on and start thinking about being one of only two teams who can say that they won their last game of the year--in the month of April. Those two teams are the NCAA and NIT Champions. Would I rather play one or two games in the NCAA Tourney or win the NIT? At this point, it doesn't matter. Only one of those two is actually an option, and I'll take whatever I can get at this point.

On a tangent question, if Arizona, Maryland, Michigan, and Wisconsin were all among the top 32 teams, then who were the major and mid-major frauds this year?

• Any SEC team--The highest seed of the three teams in the Big Dance was LSU (8 seed).
• Any ACC team not named Duke or UNC--All other ACC teams went 1-4 in the first round.
• Any team from the state of Utah--BYU, Utah, and Utah St. were all severely over-matched in each of their first round games.
• Surprisingly, Butler--This perennial mid-major, giant-killer had an average year, lost their conference tournament, and then got bounced by LSU in the first round.

Which conferences have been the best after the first weekend?

• Clearly the Big East (11-2 record; Five Sweet 16 teams).
  
• Big 12 (9-3 record; Three Sweet 16 teams).
• Big 10 (6-5 record; Two Sweet 16 teams).
• ACC (5-5 record; Two Sweet 16 teams).
• Final Sweet 16 teams: Memphis, Gonzaga, Xavier, and Arizona.

Bottom line: Penn State has a chance to continue to prove they were the best team left out of the NCAA Tournament, even though the Selection Committee probably got it right... this year.

I HATE Being Right...

I said it twice (Nov. 21st and Nov. 29th) : Penn State's out of conference schedule was not going to be good enough to make the Big Dance.

Do I think we were better than Arizona and Maryland? Not necessarily.

But if Miss. St. and USC had not won their conference tournaments, we'd be dancing--no doubt about it. If we would have beaten Purdue or Iowa over the last three games? We're in. Had we beaten Rhode Island and at least played, if not beat, Villanova in November? We're in.

We were just one more game away from the Dance.

Now, hopefully we play with a chip on our shoulder in the NIT and win the thing. There is still much growth that this team has ahead of them--both this year and as a program. This set-back must be used as a motivating factor for all players not named Talor Battle and for the front office who schedules the out of conference games.

Bottom line: I'm VERY proud of this team and Coach DeChellis, but there is still work to be done.