(03-12-2018 09:18 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  If one is to believe the NIT's top seeds are the First 4 Out, I'd say the system definitely isn't for the non-majors. The top 4 lines and their RPI's are:

1
Notre Dame (70)
USC (34)
St. Mary's (40)
Baylor (68)

2
Marquette (58)
Oklahoma State (88)
Louisville (ouch) (38)
Utah (59)

3
Oregon (72)
Stanford (86)
MTSU (33)
LSU (94)

4
Penn State (77)
Boise St. (50)
Western Kentucky (39)
Mississippi State (73)

So, for Vermont, Louisiana, BYU, and Rider...your RPI means nothing in even getting the gift of hosting a NIT game. Northeastern, Toledo, UCF and Old Dominion didn't get ****. Compare that to UGA and Colorado getting overlooked, but, there even, too, you're overlooking Belmont.

Texas A&M and Alabama got into the NCAAs with worse records than Mississippi State who finished 22-11. 'Bama was 8-10 in conference play. MS ST & A&M were both 9-9 in conference. Supposedly, the RPI defined the differences. Still, a 4th seed in the NIT looks low for the Bulldogs. MS ST wasn't considered a bubble team for the NCAAs either.

Penn State is another that seems NIT low, given their season wins over OSU who did comfortably squeeze into the NCAAs.