Basketball Scheduling in Megaconferences

[saluno22]

I know this has been discussed a few times, but we're seeing something similar to what happened to Wisconsin in football last fall happen with Nebraska basketball: Conference schedule strength imbalance dictating postseason opportunities.

Both Nebraska basketball teams ended with 5 regular season losses and double-byes in the conference tournament (#4 men, #3 women). The bracketology from about 9pm last night had the following Big Ten qualifiers...

< B1G seed Team (NCAA projection) >

MEN
#1 Michigan State (2-seed)
#2 Ohio State (4-seed)
#3 Purdue (2-seed)
#4 Nebraska - not in tourney
#5 Michigan (5-seed)

WOMEN
#1 Ohio State (3-seed)
#2 Maryland (5-seed)
#3 Nebraska - not in tourney
#4 Minnesota (9-seed)
#5 Iowa (6-seed)
#6 Michigan (8-seed)
...
#9 Rutgers (10-seed)

This is likely a produce of having a huge conference where you only play a few teams twice. On the men's side, Nebraska's omission from the NCAA field isn't that egregious as NU and Michigan were tied in the standings. On the women's side, Nebraska won the three-way tiebreaker with Minnesota and Iowa for the #3 seed, but at least took care of business to make it to the semifinals.

 

[huskerfan1414]

I know this has been discussed a few times, but we're seeing something similar to what happened to Wisconsin in football last fall happen with Nebraska basketball: Conference schedule strength imbalance dictating postseason opportunities.

Both Nebraska basketball teams ended with 5 regular season losses and double-byes in the conference tournament (#4 men, #3 women). The bracketology from about 9pm last night had the following Big Ten qualifiers...

< B1G seed Team (NCAA projection) >

MEN
#1 Michigan State (2-seed)
#2 Ohio State (4-seed)
#3 Purdue (2-seed)
#4 Nebraska - not in tourney
#5 Michigan (5-seed)

WOMEN
#1 Ohio State (3-seed)
#2 Maryland (5-seed)
#3 Nebraska - not in tourney
#4 Minnesota (9-seed)
#5 Iowa (6-seed)
#6 Michigan (8-seed)
...
#9 Rutgers (10-seed)

This is likely a produce of having a huge conference where you only play a few teams twice. On the men's side, Nebraska's omission from the NCAA field isn't that egregious as NU and Michigan were tied in the standings. On the women's side, Nebraska won the three-way tiebreaker with Minnesota and Iowa for the #3 seed, but at least took care of business to make it to the semifinals.

Wow had no idea the girls were projected as out.
Crazy.

 

[redfanusa]

Playing the top teams only once hurt Nebraska. The higher seed in the tournament also hurt, in a way. Nebraska ideally would have gotten 1-2 wins in the tournament to boost their resume before the selection committee. By having byes in the first two rounds their chances of getting those wins actually went down.

I don't see how Nebraska gets in, which is too bad. It stinks to have one of your better seasons in program history and not even make the tournament.

 

[Ewooc]

I don't see how Nebraska gets in, which is too bad. It stinks to have one of your better seasons in program history and not even make the tournament.

That shows how bad Nebraska basketball really is.

 

[schuele]

Playing, say, Ohio State and Michigan State home-and-home certainly could have helped the men's team, but that's assuming they would have won one or both of the games in Lincoln. Remember, those games would have replaced two conference games that the Huskers did win. So I get that the schedule might have worked to the Huskers' disadvantage, but I'm not certain it's the difference between getting into the field of 68 and not getting in.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Playing, say, Ohio State and Michigan State home-and-home certainly could have helped the men's team, but that's assuming they would have won one or both of the games in Lincoln. Remember, those games would have replaced two conference games that the Huskers did win. So I get that the schedule might have worked to the Huskers' disadvantage, but I'm not certain it's the difference between getting into the field of 68 and not getting in.

A loss to teams like Ohio St and Michigan St is worth more in terms of RPI than a win over Illinois and Wisconsin. If those 2 opponents are swapped 20-12 Nebraska has a higher RPI than 22-10.

I agree it may not have been enough to get them in the tourney but the RPI would be better

 

[Spartanhusker]

That's a shaft for the women.....this is a really STUPID system where you finish AND BEAT 6 teams below you that get in.

 

[schuele]

A loss to teams like Ohio St and Michigan St is worth more in terms of RPI than a win over Illinois and Wisconsin. If those 2 opponents are swapped 20-12 Nebraska has a higher RPI than 22-10.

I agree it may not have been enough to get them in the tourney but the RPI would be better

Yes I get that the RPI could have improved even with home losses, but that wouldn't have gotten NU out of the "lack of quality wins" quagmire. That seems to be their biggest obstacle right now.

 

[mwulf]

Just dont play Delaware St

 

[regoratsginrom]

I hate the unbalanced schedule and is one of the things the B12 currently has going for it. You have to play every team as a home and away.

 

[Redscarlet]

I hate the unbalanced schedule and is one of the things the B12 currently has going for it. You have to play every team as a home and away.

And that is hard to do with 14 teams in the conference instead of 10.

At least next year the B1G is going to 20 games but I also prefer to play Iowa as home and away every year instead of playing Rutgers, PSU or Maryland twice.