Pool C

[bopol]

Trying to catch up and I think one thing that is being overlooked is the fact that the national committee isn't looking a just two teams side-by-side (i.e. NYU vs. WPI). They are looking at eight!

So, with a team from each region on the board there committee is looking at each team with the primary criteria and I wouldn't be surprised if that meant going in circles when you get down to the last five or so... they might not be able to pick one that cut-and-dry. So to make sure they get the last teams right they also look at the secondary criteria, so be it. I rather them make those difficult decisions with more information then less... plus the fact, I can't imagine when getting to that point that one team is cut-and-dry above all the rest.

It doesn't change the fact that someone said NYU and no one said, "Wait, Wesleyan is better based on our criteria." 

And sometimes more information confuses the issue.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Since we weren't in the room or on the call... we don't know what decisions were made when or what teams were picked when... we also don't know the discussions... there may have been something else keeping teams out.

[bopol]

Since we weren't in the room or on the call... we don't know what decisions were made when or what teams were picked when... we also don't know the discussions... there may have been something else keeping teams out.

No, we weren't.  But, if I were a journalist, there are certainly some interesting questions that have come out of these selections that would be worth pursuing for a better understanding of the process.

[Knightstalker]

Since we weren't in the room or on the call... we don't know what decisions were made when or what teams were picked when... we also don't know the discussions... there may have been something else keeping teams out.

No, we weren't.  But, if I were a journalist, there are certainly some interesting questions that have come out of these selections that would be worth pursuing for a better understanding of the process.

I'll bet it was rock paper scissors.

[pjunito]

Did the national committee release the final regional rankings last year? I still don't understand why they wouldn't release it. People are going to have their own opinions regardless if they see it or not. The committee has made their decision and its final. What is the harm in showing the public how they came to this decision?

How long is the tenure for a chairperson? Is the Men's committee chair new this year?

[KnightSlappy]

Potentially interesting. Here's each region, their average SOS, and the standard deviation of SOS

RG   aSOS     STDEV
NE   0.501    0.052
WE   0.504    0.044
EA   0.499    0.040
SO   0.495    0.035
MA   0.501    0.034
AT   0.501    0.031
MW   0.502    0.031
GL   0.504    0.028

[Ralph Turner]

Potentially interesting. Here's each region, their average SOS, and the standard deviation of SOS

RG   aSOS     STDEV
NE   0.501    0.052
WE   0.504    0.044
EA   0.499    0.040
SO   0.495    0.035
MA   0.501    0.034
AT   0.501    0.031
MW   0.502    0.031
GL   0.504    0.028

Great!  Thanks for doing that!  One of the best posts of the season!

That is valuable information when we are looking at various regions.  I will bet that varies little over the course of several seasons.

+1! 

[kiltedbryan]

Potentially interesting. Here's each region, their average SOS, and the standard deviation of SOS

RG   aSOS     STDEV
NE   0.501    0.052
WE   0.504    0.044
EA   0.499    0.040
SO   0.495    0.035
MA   0.501    0.034
AT   0.501    0.031
MW   0.502    0.031
GL   0.504    0.028

Can we assume that SOS's would be normally distributed?

If so, and if I remember my basic statistics correctly, this would indicate that if we were looking at a GL region team, a .532 SOS would indicate a 68th percentile SOS and a .560 SOS would be in the 95th percentile?

Similarly, if we had an East Region team, we'd see a .539 SOS as a 68th percentile in that region, and a .589 as a 95th percentile?

Totally possible I'm forgetting my stats though--I'm sure you'll correct me if I'm wrong! 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Since we weren't in the room or on the call... we don't know what decisions were made when or what teams were picked when... we also don't know the discussions... there may have been something else keeping teams out.

No, we weren't.  But, if I were a journalist, there are certainly some interesting questions that have come out of these selections that would be worth pursuing for a better understanding of the process.

I'll bet it was rock paper scissors.

Nah, that's too easy to figure out - had to be the new and improved rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iapcKVn7DdY

[sac]

I see  Wesleyan being presented with a record of 20-5 in a lot of discussions here.  Wesleyan was 20-6 on the season.  http://www.nescac.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/stats/WES.HTM

[Hugenerd]

I see  Wesleyan being presented with a record of 20-5 in a lot of discussions here.  Wesleyan was 20-6 on the season.  http://www.nescac.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/stats/WES.HTM

They may be just using their regional record.  Their loss to Buffalo State is considered out-of-region.

[smedindy]

That may have been the secondary criteria that was part of the discussion on why they were left out.

[sac]

I have to believe the loss to Buffalo State is what kept them out.

Even TitanQ has stated in the last 5 rounds pretty much everything is on the table.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Did the national committee release the final regional rankings last year? I still don't understand why they wouldn't release it. People are going to have their own opinions regardless if they see it or not. The committee has made their decision and its final. What is the harm in showing the public how they came to this decision?

How long is the tenure for a chairperson? Is the Men's committee chair new this year?

They did not release the final regional rankings despite it being published they would in their Pre-Championship Handbook... and telling us on Hoopsville back in January (I will be locating that interview and make it available some time today).

Tenure of a chairperson varies. Last year Dave Martin was the chair for just one year... there have been chairs for multiple years. This year's chair is new this year, but has been on the national committee for a few years.

[pjunito]

Thanks D-Mac, he sounded like a politican on your show yesterday. My personal feeling is that the committee makes the decision; we should all respect it even if we don't agree. But tell us (fans, coaches, players) how the decisions were made. He responded as if he needed clearance to discuss the last four in and releasing the final regional rankings.

I think he did a poor job representing his committee yesterday. If I were a national or regional committee member, I would urge him to give the people what they want to know.