(01-02-2014 02:09 AM)pono Wrote: rpi wont go down unless we start losing. our rpi is 39 w a sos of 210. the avg rpi of our mac sched is 150. so if we go 12-1 in the mac our rpi should improve a little from 39. the rockets are positioned for an at large if they dominate the mac at like 17-1 or 16-2. the way we played Kansas doesn't hurt. the committee now puts weight on eye test games where they actually go watch probably tourney teams to see them for seeding and bubble decisions. this team is on the radar and will compete w anyone who isn't dominant inside. teams like Kansas, Kentucky, ohio st will be tough for us. but a lot of those teams in the 5 or 6 seed area who we would likely match up with have a weakness. this team has a real shot of making the tourney, playing competively and possibly winning a game, maybe 2 or 3 if the brackets line up perfectly. gotta keep improving and stay healthy.
Unfortunately for Toledo, and all of the MAC teams this year, I don't see an at-large bid being an option. Even if Toledo never lost a game again until the MACC that loss at the end would probably cost them. Remember two years ago when Murray State started out 23-0 and there was talk that if they lost one game tey might not earn an at large because of the perception of the their SOS? Luckily for them they won their tournament with only 1 loss on the season.
Look at Akron as an example, going into the MACC game last year there was zero talk of the Zips getting an at large bid and look at what they had accomplished up to that point-
- 25-6 overall record, 14-2 in conference.
- top 25 ranking.
- nation's longest winning streak for the year at 19 games.
- Ohio returned everyone from Sweet 16 team, went 14-2 in MAC play, both losses were to the Zips.
- Of 4 OOC losses, 2 were to ranked NCAA tournament teams. #16 Creighton and a 4pt OT loss to #15 Oklahoma State.
Even if Toledo was to finish the season with just 2 or 3 losses they will need at least one more MAC team to be nearly as dominant and then lose to that team in the MACC in a close game. And sadly, I still don't think that will be enough.
I would love nothing more that to see the MAC with multi bids but its going to take more than 1 or 2 teams being good, we need to get back to 5, 6, or 7 teams being really good at the same time. Toledo is an important piece of that puzzle- Toledo, Ball State, Miami, Kent State, Akron, and Ohio, and maybe Buffalo, those are the big dogs that need to all be strong at the same time.
but who knows, maybe Toledo and Ohio will go 17-1 and duke it out in Cleveland. good luck.