BOSTON, MA -- The field for the inaugural CollegeInsider.com postseason was announced on Sunday evening. The 16-team field includes, Austin Peay (19-13), Belmont (19-12), Bradley (18-14), The Citadel (20-12), Drake (17-15), Evansville (17-13), Idaho (16-15), James Madison (19-14), Kent State (19-14), Liberty (22-11), Mount St. Mary’s (19-13), Oakland (22-12), Old Dominion (21-10), Pacific (19-11), Portland (19-12) and Rider (19-12).

I wish I could say "april fools!" but I can't.

(03-15-2009 09:37 PM)Robert C Wrote:  I wish I could say "april fools!" but I can't.

We still have the CBI left ot go...

Everyone of those teams is a midmajor with a worse RPI than we had and less wins. How could we possibly not get in? Also if money was an issue, few of those teams are better off financially than we are.

(03-15-2009 09:54 PM)mjs Wrote:  Everyone of those teams is a midmajor with a worse RPI than we had and less wins. How could we possibly not get in? Also if money was an issue, few of those teams are better off financially than we are.

We would have maybe been the favorite to win the field that the College Insider put together! What the hell happened?

from realtime rpi:

ALL these teams have worse RPI than UALR.
Those with better Strength of Schedule are marked with a +

+Austin Peay (19-13) RPI 156, SOS 201
+Belmont (19-12) RPI 124, SOS 215
+Bradley (18-14) RPI 98, SOS 99
-The Citadel (20-12) RPI 175, SOS 271
+Drake (17-15) RPI 162, SOS 127
+Evansville (17-13) RPI 96, SOS 57
+Idaho (16-15) RPI 135, SOS 123
+James Madison (19-14) RPI 139, SOS 187
+Kent State (19-14) RPI 137, SOS 160
-Liberty (22-11) RPI 152, SOS 278
+Mount St. Mary’s (19-13) RPI, 118, SOS 199
-Oakland (22-12) RPI 122, SOS 258
+Old Dominion (21-10) RPI 103, SOS 191
-Pacific (19-11) RPI 146, SOS 233
+Portland (19-12) RPI 120, SOS 188
+Rider (19-12). RPI 125, SOS 183

UALR (23-8) RPI 91, SOS 218

Only 4 with easier schedule. The Citadel..??? How did they get an invite over us..?

(03-15-2009 10:42 PM)Scotto Wrote:  Only 4 with easier schedule. The Citadel..??? How did they get an invite over us..?

Something is totally screwed up. We are better (based on empirical data) than all the teams in the CIT and half in the CBI. How could this happen? There needs to be an explanation.

Our RPI is better, but not our SOS.

(03-15-2009 10:47 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(03-15-2009 10:42 PM)Scotto Wrote:  Only 4 with easier schedule. The Citadel..??? How did they get an invite over us..?

Something is totally screwed up. We are better (based on empirical data) than all the teams in the CIT and half in the CBI. How could this happen? There needs to be an explanation.

I would like to see them tap dance around this mountain of horseshit.

But honestly, I want to know what really kept us out. Straight from the people who perpetrated this travesty.

Could it be hmmmm... GRINDER BALLLLL????

(03-15-2009 10:51 PM)Scotto Wrote:  Our RPI is better, but not our SOS.

Again. There is no way we were left out because we weren't good enough. Something screwy is going on. Jeff knew at 8:18 pm that we weren't going anywhere and the NIT hadn't even finished announcing their selections. Maybe we had decided in advance it was NIT or nothing. But it seems like Jeff would have known that before today. Again, programs that hadn't played in postseason for 20 years don't turn down bids- unless there were a lot of financial issues we don't know about.

(03-15-2009 10:55 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(03-15-2009 10:51 PM)Scotto Wrote:  Our RPI is better, but not our SOS.

Again. There is no way we were left out because we weren't good enough. Something screwy is going on. Jeff knew at 8:18 pm that we weren't going anywhere and the NIT hadn't even finished announcing their selections. Maybe we had decided in advance it was NIT or nothing. But it seems like Jeff would have known that before today. Again, programs that hadn't played in postseason for 20 years don't turn down bids- unless there were a lot of financial issues we don't know about.

I'm not ready to go with the financial explanation just yet. Jeff may have known at 8:18 because CBI and CIT bids were being leaked before then. It was pretty obvious the NIT wasn't going to pick the Trojans. Add watching as Oregon State was being announced as a host team in the CBI (along with some others) and some leaks from CIT, and it had to make it painfully obvious that if word hadn't come yet that it was never going to come.