> Except for Cornell getting in over New Hampshire (at least according to
> the rankings), I would have to say that TCHCR came pretty close to
> predicting who would end up in the NCAA's . . .
For the most part, I agree, but let's take a closer look -- at
what the selection committee did:
West Seedings:
[TCHCR] Division I Schedule Schedule
> Rank NCAA Team Record Rating Strength Rank
> 1 2W Northern Michigan 33 5 4 100.00 60.99 14
> 2 1W Lake Superior 35 3 4 96.60 53.43 24
> 3 4W Minnesota 27 7 5 88.56 61.40 11
> 5 3W Michigan 32 7 3 86.88 55.11 22
> 8 5W Wisconsin 26 13 3 77.73 62.17 8
> 11 -- North Dakota 24 17 2 72.43 63.68 5
> 13 -- Western Michigan 22 17 3 62.61 57.65 20
> 14 -- Ferris State 23 14 5 62.06 51.42 26
> 27 6W Alaska-Anchorage 15 15 4 46.00 43.62 38
The NCAA reversed the rankings of 1/2 and 3/4 as compared to the
computer, and otherwise picked the top 5 teams from the west.
More about Alaska-Anchorage later.
East Seedings:
[TCHCR] Division I Schedule Schedule
> Rank NCAA Team Record Rating Strength Rank
> 4 1E Maine 30 8 2 88.20 58.32 19
> 6 2E Boston University 25 10 2 86.06 61.16 12
> 7 3E Boston College 27 10 0 84.17 59.33 17
> 9 5E Providence 20 10 2 76.23 58.64 18
> 10 4E Clarkson 24 7 2 74.43 45.88 33
> 12 -- New Hampshire 22 11 2 69.50 52.84 25
> 15 6E Cornell 17 9 3 61.46 45.57 34
Here the committee reversed 4/5, and otherwise choose the top 5
teams from the east. Why didn't New Hampshire get the 6th East
spot?
Faults:
fault number one: Why didn't North Dakota get a bid? They compare
favorably with Cornell, and with everyone else ranked above Cornell but
not picked:
> 11 -- North Dakota 24 17 2 72.43 63.68 5
> 15 6E Cornell 17 9 3 61.46 45.57 34
Cornell had a better winning percentage, but a weaker schedule. That,
plus politics, must have been the deciding factor. Given the
requirement to include an Independent, Alaska-Anchorage should have
been #6 in the east, and North Dakota #6 in the west.
fault number two: Why didn't New Hampshire get the 6th East spot?
They have both a better record and a tougher schedule than Cornell.
fault number three: As mentioned by numerous people several weeks ago,
the Independents did not have a good year, and numerous teams
have a better record and stronger schedule than Alaska-Anchorage.
Having said all that...
> THANKS, Keith . . .
Yes, thanks! I like TCHCR -- and not just because of how Wisconsin is
ranked.
As for quibling with the NCAA Selection Committee's choices, well,
it wouldn't be an NCAA tournament without *some* controversy,
would it?
--david
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