Blind Resume (Part 6): Pick 2 of 4

[SelectionSunday]

Last one for the day, then we'll take a break until Friday or next week. This one I'm throwing a different wrinkle at you. In this scenario I'm giving you 4 teams, but there are 2 spots available. Which 2 would you select?

For newcomers to this bubble exercise, I provide resumes of selected bubble teams, and in this scenario you're the Selection Committee and you can only choose 2 of the 4 for inclusion in the NCAA Tournament. (trust me that the teams are not considered "mortal" locks for the NCAA Tournament) I don't list the teams' RPI but instead provide some of the basic things I look at when selecting the 37 at-large teams. I will disclose the teams as well as my selections at approximately 3 p.m.

Team A
Record: 21-6
Overall Strength of Schedule (SOS): 107
Nonconference SOS: 78
Road/Neutral Record: 11-3
Record vs. RPI Top 50: 1-4
Record vs. RPI Top 100: 6-5
Bad Losses (RPI 101+): 1
Best 3 Wins by RPI: #21, vs. #53, vs. #57 (total = 131)
Last 10 Games: 8-2

Team B
Record: 23-5
Overall Strength of Schedule (SOS): 242
Nonconference SOS: 227
Road/Neutral Record: 11-5
Record vs. RPI Top 50: 0-2
Record vs. RPI Top 100: 4-2
Bad Losses (RPI 101+): 3
Best 3 Wins by RPI: #70, #82, @ #88 (total = 240)
Last 10 Games: 10-0

Team C
Record: 19-9
Overall Strength of Schedule (SOS): 64
Nonconference SOS: 185
Road/Neutral Record: 5-6
Record vs. RPI Top 50: 3-3
Record vs. RPI Top 100: 6-7
Bad Losses (RPI 101+): 2
Best 3 Wins by RPI: #26, #36, #43 (total = 105)
Last 10 Games: 4-6

Team D
Record: 21-5
Overall Strength of Schedule (SOS): 109
Nonconference SOS: 113
Road/Neutral Record: 7-4
Record vs. RPI Top 50: 3-3
Record vs. RPI Top 100: 7-5
Bad Losses (RPI 101+): 0
Best 3 Wins by RPI: #21, @ #46, #46 (total = 113)
Last 10 Games: 7-3

If you think you've figured out who any of these teams are, please do not post the team(s) name, as that could influence people's selection.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I'll take C and D. I like their schedule strengths and Team D having one less loss than Team A.

 

[MotherNight]

I like A and D.

 

[CrocShots]

B + D 10-0 in their last 10 means they're getting hot, or a crappy conference, we'll see.

 

[scher215]

C and D.

 

[dpodoll68]

D is obvious, and B is eliminated because, although they're on a hot stretch, they have a terrible SOS, no quality wins, and 3 bad losses. So for the second slot, it is down to A and C. Their resumes are very close, though I will select A because they have been playing better lately, played a much stronger noncon schedule, have a better record against the Top 100, and a much better record on the road. Thus, D and A is the correct answer.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

I'm going with A and D.

 

[SelectionSunday]

dpodoll summed it up well, as I also selected A and D. D was the obvious choice (we all selected D), and B was never in the equation for me.

I haggled on whether to select A or C, but A's road record, top-100 record and C's struggles down the stretch (4-6 in last 10) were enough to tilt me toward A, despite fact I liked C's 3 top-50 wins. Interestingly, A and D play in the same conference, and D has already swept A.

The final tally. ...

D = St. Mary's (7 votes)
A = BYU (4 votes)
C = Mississippi State (2 votes)
B = Drexel (1 vote)