Welcome to a new daily post here on First and Short where we'll take March Madness to a new level.
Say your team is Clemson. You're team is sitting right near the bubble and will need some wins (and some help) to make its way into the 68 team bracket. We'll show you the teams that you want to lose so that your beloved team can make its way into the field. If your team is listed, then you might doing something right.
Teams who are in great shape and unlikely to fall out of the tournament will not be on the list (RPI's in the 20s or better). We use the University of North Florida's NCAA Tournament "Dance Card" for RPI and bubble position. The "Dance Card" correctly predicted all 37 at-large tournament teams. The year before, it correctly predicted 36 of the 37 teams, so we'll say they've got a pretty reliable formula.
Without further ado, here is who you're rooting against today, February 20:
BYU - RPI: 49. The Cougars are currently on the right side of the bubble, and can really get an RPI boost with a win tonight when they host No. 25 Gonzaga. Gonzaga is not in any trouble to miss the tournament so bubble teams will root for them to continue their success tonight at 11pm. Game is on ESPN2.
Nebraska - RPI: 54. Nebraska has been a surprise team this year. With quality wins over Michigan State and Ohio State, The Cornhuskers host Penn. State tonight in a game they should win handily at 7pm. As is the case with many games down the stretch, a win won't solidify a spot in the dance, whereas a loss would cripple Nebraska's RPI. Game is on ESPNU.
Toledo - RPI: 45. Toledo is in good shape to jump in and steal an at-large bid from a school in a major conference if they don't win the MAC Tournament. Tonight they head to Bowling Green, a team they beat by seven at home earlier in the season. This is a game that won't boost their RPI with a win, but a loss would really hurt their at-large chances. Game is at 9pm on ESPNU.
Say your team is Clemson. You're team is sitting right near the bubble and will need some wins (and some help) to make its way into the 68 team bracket. We'll show you the teams that you want to lose so that your beloved team can make its way into the field. If your team is listed, then you might doing something right.
Teams who are in great shape and unlikely to fall out of the tournament will not be on the list (RPI's in the 20s or better). We use the University of North Florida's NCAA Tournament "Dance Card" for RPI and bubble position. The "Dance Card" correctly predicted all 37 at-large tournament teams. The year before, it correctly predicted 36 of the 37 teams, so we'll say they've got a pretty reliable formula.
Without further ado, here is who you're rooting against today, February 20:
BYU - RPI: 49. The Cougars are currently on the right side of the bubble, and can really get an RPI boost with a win tonight when they host No. 25 Gonzaga. Gonzaga is not in any trouble to miss the tournament so bubble teams will root for them to continue their success tonight at 11pm. Game is on ESPN2.
Nebraska - RPI: 54. Nebraska has been a surprise team this year. With quality wins over Michigan State and Ohio State, The Cornhuskers host Penn. State tonight in a game they should win handily at 7pm. As is the case with many games down the stretch, a win won't solidify a spot in the dance, whereas a loss would cripple Nebraska's RPI. Game is on ESPNU.
Toledo - RPI: 45. Toledo is in good shape to jump in and steal an at-large bid from a school in a major conference if they don't win the MAC Tournament. Tonight they head to Bowling Green, a team they beat by seven at home earlier in the season. This is a game that won't boost their RPI with a win, but a loss would really hurt their at-large chances. Game is at 9pm on ESPNU.
No comments:
Post a Comment