BUBBLE WATCH 2017

One of the most controversial topics every year are the last few teams that the Tournament Committee allows into the tournament.  The Committee uses RPI, overall and non-conference strength of schedule (SOS), quality of wins and losses, record in road games, player and coach availability, and head-to-head results as criteria during the selection process. The last 9 years, every team with an RPI under 30 has made the tournament. Mid-majors that have an RPI between 31-40 received at-large bids only 14-29 times (48.3%). Here is what the bubble looks like in early March. If the tournament started right now, then the following teams are either on the bracket but with low 9, 10, or 11 seeds, or they are on the outside looking in. All of these teams have little room for error based on these statistical comparisons.

20-12 (9-9)  RPI: 39  BPI: 26  SOS: 16

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 3-10

 21-11 (10-8)  RPI: 45  BPI: 53  SOS: 46

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 4-7

20-12 (10-8)  RPI: 57  BPI: 54  SOS: 47

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 6-8

19-14 (10-8)  RPI: 33  BPI: 40  SOS: 1

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 6-7

 21-13 (9-9)  RPI: 34  BPI: 36  SOS: 13

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 4-9

24-9 (10-8)   RPI: 43  BPI: 59  SOS: 74

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 2-6

19-12 (10-8)  RPI: 59  BPI: 29  SOS: 55

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 7-7

    20-13 (8-10)  RPI: 58  BPI: 35  SOS: 40

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 4-9

27-6 (17-1)  RPI: 32  BPI: 61  SOS: 127

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 1-2

19-13 (9-9)  RPI: 39  BPI: 32  SOS: 19

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 3-10

18-14 (10-8)  RPI: 82  BPI: 31  SOS: 54

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 6-8

 21-12 (10-8)  RPI: 55  BPI: 55  SOS: 36

Record vs. RPI Top 50: 1-8