NCAA Nitty Gritty Tournament Game (#1)

[SvrWxCy]

This poll has completed, answers to the teams available here: http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/...61#post2678961

Check out the second installment of the Nitty Gritty Game here: http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/...-game-2-a.html (NCAA Nitty Gritty Tournament Game (#2))


I think we can have some fun with this, so here's what we are going to do. I will post two teams in this original post with their tournament profile (nitty gritty report) and you fanatics will vote on which team you think is more deserving of being in the tournament. I'll hopefully go every 24 hours or so, but could end sooner/later depending upon feedback. This Game is scheduled to end ~12am Sunday; I will post the next one directly after.

Here you go, match-up #1 taken from the CBS Bracketology thread:


Team 1:

Record: 16-7
RPI: 46

SOS: 29
Avg Opp RPI: 111 (Ranks 16th)

Road: 2-3
Nuetral: 2-1
Non-Conf Record: 11-2
Non-Conf RPI: 93
vs 1-50: 5-5
vs 1-100: 7-6


Team 2:

Record: 17-6
RPI: 35

SOS: 60
Avg Opp RPI: 128 (Ranks 52nd)

Road: 3-4
Nuetral: 2-0
Non-Conf Record: 10-3
Non-Conf RPI: 79
vs 1-50: 2-3
vs 1-100: 4-5


Please do not try and guess or give away either team's name. I will provide this when enough votes have been given and before beginning another.

[cyclones500]

I think we can have some fun with this, so here's what we are going to do. I will post two teams in this original post with their tournament profile (nitty gritty report) and you fanatics will vote on which team you think is more deserving of being in the tournament. I'll hopefully go every 24 hours or so, but could end sooner/later depending upon feedback.

Here you go, match-up #1 taken from the CBS Bracketology thread:


Team 1:

Record: 16-7
RPI: 46

SOS: 29
Avg Opp RPI: 111 (Ranks 16th)

Road: 2-3
Nuetral: 2-1
Non-Conf Record: 11-2
Non-Conf RPI: 93
vs 1-50: 5-5
vs 1-100: 7-6


Team 2:

Record: 17-6
RPI: 35

SOS: 60
Avg Opp RPI: 128 (Ranks 52nd)

Road: 3-4
Nuetral: 2-0
Non-Conf Record: 10-3
Non-Conf RPI: 79
vs 1-50: 2-3
vs 1-100: 4-5

Woah --- that one is pretty tough to call!

I choose team 1 ... advantage in 6 of the 10 categories -- team records are similar so I dropped that entirely, so, 1 gets two-thirds of categories.

Team 2's road/neutral helps, but any of the RPI stats favor 1 ... Team 1 has played more "quality" teams — more chances than Team 2, but also at about the same winning pct. in those games.

[IHavNoCyCash]

Woah --- that one is pretty tough to call!

I choose team 1 ... advantage in 6 of the 10 categories -- team records are similar so I dropped that entirely, so, 1 gets two-thirds of categories.

Team 2's road/neutral helps, but any of the RPI stats favor 1 ... Team 1 has played more "quality" teams — more chances than Team 2, but also at about the same winning pct. in those games.

the records aren't current..but team 1 gets the edge...tougher schedule and better wins...I had this as a matchup in my bracketology so it makes sense as team 1 was the higher seed.

[CycloneWarrior]

Both teams will make it to the tourney. Since I looked up the records and found out both teams, I would say option #1 is highly overrated and SOS is inflated

[IHavNoCyCash]

I got a pretty dang good one of these I think if Svr wants to try to guess the teams.

[CyFan61]

I don't think it's really that close, Team 1 gets the nod for me.

[cyclones500]

I like this game

I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post if it catches on. But I'll try.

[SvrWxCy]

Both teams will make it to the tourney. Since I looked up the records and found out both teams, I would say option #1 is highly overrated and SOS is inflated

That's cheating and not the point of this exercise, to get rid of human biases when looking at team names. At least you kept the names to yourself... I say vote first, then if you want to, go look for the teams.

[CloneFan65]

#1 by a hair. One less win, but against a tougher schedule.

[cyclones500]

That's cheating and not the point of this exercise, to get rid of human biases when looking at team names. At least you kept the names to yourself... I say vote first, then if you want to, go look for the teams.

Not to derail too much: This exercise brings up a question or three about selection process, and I've never been certain of the answer.

I know the committee first figures out which teams get the at-large bids, then does seeding & bracketing.

My questions:
1. Is the selection process completely "blind"? Relevant numbers are presented with no team names or conference affiliation? It seems like it should be that way, but I know any member with connection to a school "under discussion" or during the voting process can't be in the room, so they've gotta know something. (You can't do the seeding/brackets without knowing conference and regional info, of course — but that doesn't affect who gets in)

1b. If (1) is true, and W-L is included, could that create a bias? Because if I were comparing two teams near the bubble, one is 28-5, the other is 18-14, well, I'm pretty sure I can tell Team 1 is mid-major and second is from BCS conference.

2. Do they look at numbers of all at-large contenders, including teams that are obviously in? Kentucky has almost no danger of NOT making it this season — but where would you draw the line on that. Seems as if it's necessary for all teams.

I'm sure I could search to find complete selection procedures, but that might require a lot of reading.

[SvrWxCy]

I do not believe the data is given blind, the selection committee knows the name of each team that it is presented with as they can often give credence to a team that had struggles early or mid-season due to an injury, etc. In some ways it would be interesting to see how a blind selection would change the outcome, but so much detail goes into it that it just isn't plausible.

I'm sure there is some sort of cut-off to stop looking for teams at-large. I'd guess this changes every year based upon how many automatic qualifiers there are and more...


Anyway... Votes are racking up and it is coming up with some neat results. I'll post the the final results along with the names' of each team late Saturday evening. Keep voting!

[CycloneRulzzz]

If you are committe member which is more important RPI or SOS? in this case team number at the higher SOS and I think that should hold some importance. Also biggest factor team 1 5 wins vs top 50 team 2 only has 2 top 50 wins.

[cyclones12321]

Team #2 sounds alot like the cyclones so ill vote them

[Wesley]

Team 1.

[Doc]

If you're going to look up the teams, please do not vote. Or at least vote prior to looking up the teams. That screws up the whole idea of the post.