Weekend a final chance to better NCAA outlook
When the CAA sent three teams to the NCAA tournament for the first time last year, big-conference proponents such as Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale voiced their disapproval. In their defense, coaches Shaka Smart (Virginia Commonwealth), Jim Larranaga (George Mason) and Blaine Taylor (Old Dominion) pointed to the cold, hard, unbiased numbers of the Rating Percentage Index.
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But once its ally, the RPI has become the enemy of the CAA.
“I don’t know why everybody worships the RPI so much,” Taylor said Monday. “The old [eye] test used to be pretty important. How you were playing in January, February and March was important. This RPI thing seems to be like a new bible people are printing.”
| Up next |
| Northern Iowa at VCU |
| When » Friday, 7 p.m. |
| Where » Siegel Center, Richmond |
| TV » ESPN |
| Lamar at George Mason |
| When » Saturday, 4 p.m. |
| Where » Patriot Center |
On Thursday afternoon, VCU was the highest-rated team in the conference at No. 85. Last year on the same date, five CAA teams were rated 85th or better, led by George Mason at No. 22.
While VCU (22-6), George Mason (22-6) and Drexel (22-5) have records that normally warrant consideration for NCAA at-large berths, their RPI numbers — 85, 89 and 90 — don’t measure up. The low ratings are a result of CAA teams performing poorly in nonconference games in November and December. Beating teams in their own league has done little to elevate their RPIs.
But this weekend is an opportunity to shake up the ratings as all 12 CAA teams play in the ESPN BracketBusters, a made-for-TV extravaganza that matches comparable teams from mid-major conferences. In a series that began in 2003 with 18 teams, the BracketBusters has grown to 142 teams from 16 leagues.
A strong performance in the BracketBusters would support the CAA’s claim that the league has improved throughout the season and is deserving of at-large consideration.
There is much to be gained as evidenced from last year. When VCU won in an upset at Wichita State, its RPI went from 70 to 55. Without the victory, it’s doubtful the Rams would have made the NCAA tournament.
Drexel had a similar RPI bump, going from 83 to 74 with its win over Kent State. Even teams that lose in the BracketBusters can make RPI gains if the conference does well overall. Hofstra, blown out at Wright State, actually improved from 94 to 93 in the ratings.
In 2006, when George Mason went to the Final Four, the victory that keyed its much debated at-large bid was a BracketBusters win at Wichita State.
On Friday night, VCU kicks off BracketBusters weekend with a prime-time game against Northern Iowa (17-11) of the Missouri Valley. On Saturday, Drexel plays at Cleveland State (20-7) of the Horizon, George Mason plays host to Lamar (17-9) of the Southland and ODU (17-11) travels to Missouri State (16-12) of the Missouri Valley.
GMU, for example, is anxious to show it is a better team than in November, when it lost to Florida Atlantic and Florida International with senior guard Andre Cornelius (suspension) still sidelined.
“Since he’s been back, we’ve been a much better team,” Hewitt said. “I would argue that if he played those first 10 games, the conversation around us would be much, much different.”
Other coaches feel the same way about their teams and about other squads in the conference.
“If the CAA falls short in the BracketBusters, OK,” Taylor said. “But if the CAA steps up in the BracketBusters, I think that will revise the opinions of some people on a national basis.”
