Nonconference records are cause of poor RPIs Unlike last year, the RPI is not a friend of the CAA. At No. 84, Virginia Commonwealth is rated higher than any team in the league, making it unlikely the CAA will receive any at-large berths to the NCAA tournament.
Maybe a public relations push will do the trick.
Recommended Stories
On Monday, VCU coach Shaka Smart said the three power programs in the CAA — George Mason, Old Dominion and VCU — were the best in the state.
“If you go by the numbers, if you go by postseason, if you go by guys going to the NBA, the best programs in the state are in the CAA,” Smart said. “It’s really not even close.”
Smart’s timing was odd considering Virginia (17-3) of the ACC ranks 16th in the Associated Press poll, outperforming any team in the CAA. Virginia has gone 3-0 against CAA teams this year, including lopsided defeats of two of the league’s four best teams — George Mason and Drexel.
Smart has a point, however, when he discusses the recent past. Over the last decade, Virginia and Virginia Tech have just one appearance each in the NCAA tournament. Both made it in 2007, reaching the round of 32.
Over the last 10 years, the CAA’s Virginia power trio have combined for 11 NCAA appearances, with George Mason reaching the Final Four in 2006 and VCU in 2011.
Will the CAA’s illustrious past in the tournament carry any weight with the NCAA selection committee? Not likely. In recent years, the committee has paid little attention to pedigree, especially when it comes to selecting teams from mid-major conferences.
In 2009, George Mason went 22-10 but failed to get an at-large berth with an RPI of 51. The Patriots are 18-5 this year but have an RPI of 102. Coach Paul Hewitt has steered clear of the topic all season.
“Anybody who speculates right now, it’s just speculation,” Hewitt said. “At the end of February, first of March, we’ll know where we stand. I personally think this will be a multiple-bid league.”
The low RPI of the CAA is a result of its poor performance in nonconference games. CAA teams are 65-70. Their last chance to enhance their RPI comes Feb. 17-19 in the ESPN BracketBusters, which matches teams from mid-major conferences.
George Mason will host Lamar (13-8). VCU (18-5) will host Northern Iowa (14-9). And ODU (14-9) travels to Missouri State (13-10). UNI has the best RPI of the group at No. 57.
Virginia is one team unlikely to be sweating out an NCAA bid. Virginia coach Tony Bennett was asked about Smart’s comment Monday.
“That old adage: What’s the toughest league in America? The one you’re in,” Bennett said. “The physicality, the size, the talent level, there are certainly great challenges you face top to bottom in a league like the ACC.”
