This message is primarily for Div II and III fans but I am echoing it to the
Div I list because I think there is a cross interest.
 
If you haven't been following it, there is a lot of confusion over why Bemidji
State was invited to the big dance in preference to Alabama-Huntsville.  In
Division I, as we are all aware from last year, there is a formula for
choosing the 12 apostles.  I guess that doesn't apply to Div II or III.
Consider the YAM2 and RPI indices (with my understanding that the RPI index is
very similar to the one the NCAA uses):
 
 YAM2   RPI                        W-L%     Norm.      YAM2
 Rank  Rank                                Sched.    Metric
 
  1     1   Mercyhurst            0.913     0.920     0.840
  2     3   Fredonia              0.821     0.912     0.748
  3     4   Middlebury            0.864     0.861     0.744
  4     2   Ala-Huntsville        0.722     0.979     0.707
  5     6   UW-Superior           0.741     0.912     0.676
  6     9   Bemidji               0.767     0.877     0.673
  7T    7   Salem State           0.738     0.901     0.665
  7T    12  Bowdoin               0.771     0.862     0.665
 
Notice that Alabama Huntsville is well ahead of Bemidji State by both ranking
mechanisms.  The *only* thing that BS has going for it is winning the NCHA
title.  Furthermore, what polls I have seen have consistently ranked AH ahead
of BS.
 
Don't get me wrong - I think BS will prove a worthy opponent to Mercyhurst
(although I think Mercyhurst will win), but I cannot see the logic of the
selection committee's decision.  But what bothers me more is that it is done
behind closed doors.
 
Question 1:  WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?  I believe the committee should be listed
by name and affiliation.  There is no room for anonymity.  As Harry Truman
would have said, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
 
Question 2:  What criteria did they use in making the invitation.  Both the
schools and fans deserve an explanation.  Was there some wierd formula?  If
so, why not make that formula public?  If its all opinion ("Well, I think BS
is ..."), then we deserve to know that, too.
 
A less egregious situation occured in Div III in terms of ranking of Western
teams.  The logic is hard to follow.  Why do we allow these decisions to be
made behind closed doors in star chambers without holding the decision makers
accountable in some fashion?  When odd or seemingly random decisions are made
not giving such an account merely leads to suspicion that something
underhanded was going on.
 
As for Division I, we went through all this with CC last year.  Some changes
were made (closing the barn door ...), but I still haven't seen a list of the
names of the selection committee nor the exact formula used to make the
selections of teams that don't get an automatic bid.  Its time for
accountability.  I have absolutely zero power to influence the decision
makers, but maybe there are some people on the list with an ear of somebody
who eventually can have some influence.
 
Ah, venting!  Its so much fun.
 
Tom Rowe                                 Internet:  [log in to unmask]
 
Department of Psychology                 ***********************************
U. of Wisconsin - Stevens Point          Home of Division III National
     Go Point!                           Champions '89, '90, '91, & '93