Records vs. Nonconference NCAA Qualifiers (BCS only)

[SelectionSunday]

As some of you have noticed, I tend to talk a lot (too much) about nonconference scheduling. So that got me to thinking, which major-conference schools are doing a good job crafting a nonconference schedule and which ones aren't? One (but certainly not the only) way to determine becomes evident once a season is completed, so I took a look at all the nonconference schedules of the 73 BCS (ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10 & SEC) programs for the 2010-11 season.

Not surprisingly, Duke was near the top with 8 nonconference games played vs. eventual NCAA qualifiers. However, currently unemployed Bruce Pearl's Tennessee Vols topped the list. His Tennessee squad played 9 nonconference games vs. NCAA qualifiers, winning 6.

As a comparison, the Gophers were in the middle of the pack with 4 nonconference games vs. NCAA qualifiers. What's unusual about the Gophers is that despite failing to make the NCAA Tournament, among schools with at least 4 nonconference games vs. NCAA qualifiers they were one of only four with a perfect record. The others were #1 seed Kansas (5-0), #1 overall seed Ohio State (5-0) & national champion UConn (4-0). Ouch!

Anyhow, here's a look at how individual teams performed against NCAA qualifiers outside of their league, from most games played to least.

9
*Tennessee (6-3)

8
*Duke (7-1)

7
*Georgetown (6-1)

6
*Illinois (4-2), *Kentucky (4-2), *Texas (3-3), *Michigan State (2-4)

5
*Kansas (5-0), *Ohio State (5-0), *Florida (4-1), *Notre Dame (4-1), *Villanova (4-1), *Vandy (3-2), *North Carolina (2-3), *UCLA (2-3), *Marquette (1-4), Maryland (1-4), NC State (1-4), Seton Hall (1-4), Wake Forest (1-4)

4
Minnesota (4-0), *UConn (4-0), *Mizzou (3-1), *Michigan (2-2), *Purdue (2-2), South Carolina (2-2), Cal (1-3), *Georgia (1-3), *K-State (1-3), %Virginia Tech (1-3)

3
*West Virginia (3-0), %Boston College (2-1), *Louisville (2-1), Miami (2-1), *USC (2-1), *Arizona (1-2), Arizona State (1-2), *Clemson (1-2), Georgia Tech (1-2), Oregon (1-2), Rutgers (1-2), Wazzu (1-2), *Wisconsin (1-2), Arkansas (0-3), *Florida State (0-3), Oklahoma (0-3), *Washington (0-3)

2
Ole Miss (2-0), *Syracuse (2-0), *Texas A&M (2-0), Auburn (1-1), Nebraska (1-1), Northwestern (1-1), Oklahoma State (1-1), *Pitt (1-1), *St. John's (1-1), USF (1-1), %Alabama (0-2), Baylor (0-2)

1
*Cincinnati (1-0), Iowa State (1-0), Mississippi State (1-0), %Colorado (0-1), DePaul (0-1), Indiana (0-1), Iowa (0-1), LSU (0-1), Stanford (0-1), Texas Tech (0-1), Virginia (0-1)

0
Oregon State, *Penn State, Providence

* denotes NCAA qualifier
% denotes one of first few bubble teams to miss the cut

BCS vs. Nonconference NCAA Qualifiers
1. Big East -- 32-18, (64%)
2. Big 10 -- 21-15 (58.3%)
3. SEC -- 24-20 (54.5%)
4. Big 12 -- 17-16 (51.5%)
5. ACC -- 19-29 (39.6%)
6. Pac 10 -- 9-19 (32.1%)

The Big 12 gets my "Wussy Conference" award for 2010-11. Despite the opportunity to play two more nonconference games than the Big East, Big 10 and Pac 10, the Big 12 averaged a low of 2.75 nonconference games per team vs. NCAA qualifiers. Looking at some of their non-Big 12 schedules, it sure doesn't appear to have been an accident. Seven Big 12 schools played two or less, including bubbler Colorado (0-1).

A disclaimer. Yes, I realize sometimes nonconference schedules pan out worse than they looked prior to the start of the season, and vice versa.