>For those who are developing ranking systems that did not rank Niagara in
>the top eight prior to the tournament, note that you now have empirical
>data that indicates that your system still needs adjustment.
 
Sorry, but that's a load of bull.  Even the most flawed ranking
system (e.g., RPI) didn't show Niagara as a top eight team PRIOR to
the tournament, and with every good reason.  Certainly any ranking
systems worth their salt would reflect Niagara's standing as being
higher AFTER such a win over New Hampshire, but not necessarily
HIGHER THAN New Hampshire.
 
By your logic, Cornell should have been ranked as tied with Maine,
because we tied them in our only meeting this season.  Further, by
your logic, Cornell should have been ranked as tied with Maine BEFORE
that game was played, because - well, because any ranking system that
doesn't still need adjustment should be able to predict any game's
outcome perfectly.
 
The simple fact is that EVERY ranking system is cumulative.  Given
the other mathematical data from this season, I believe the only way
Niagara would have been ranked higher than New Hampshire is if they'd
beaten them in the regular season, and beaten teams that also beat
New Hampshire - and it couldn't have hurt if the win over UNH had
been very early.
 
I happen to think that many of the people who are arguing in
Niagara's favor in this discussion think we believe the current
system is flawed because Niagara got in.  The fact is that the system
is flawed because the system is flawed, and it has nothing to do with
Niagara - Niagara got in because the current system AND subjective
opinion on the committee showed that they deserved to.  That doesn't
mean we shouldn't still be trying to find a system that reflects
schedule strength much more accurately, which the RPI doesn't.
 
--
Jeffrey "Beeeej" Anbinder '94                     [log in to unmask]
Reunion Campaign Officer                          (work) 607-254-6106
Cornell University                                (fax) 607-254-7168
http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/jta1/
 
"When I was young, people called me a gambler.  As the scale of my
operations increased I became known as a speculator.  Now I am called
a banker.  But I have been doing the same thing all the time."
        - Sir Ernest Cassell, treasurer to King Edward VII
 
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