zips line with Tom Wistrcil

[TennZip]

what he wrote about his conversation with NCAA selection committee

If you attended our Official NCAA Selection Show Party at Johnny J’s in the Valley, then you heard Coach Porter express our surprise at earning the No. 5 seed, but that this will not impact our team. I spoke for 30 minutes on Tuesday to the chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Selection Committee and to the NCAA staff liaison to ask why the math doesn’t add up. I wanted to understand how the No. 1- ranked team in all of the national polls – and ranked second in the RPI – equated to the fifth seed in the NCAA Tournament. Basically, it was explained to me that our number of Top 25 wins (one, over Indiana) was the difference maker, since Georgetown and Connecticut each have four.

Unlike those other two schools, we don’t have any bad losses, but it was helpful to understand better the committee’s decision-making criteria, and I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with them. We will continue to schedule as tough a non-conference slate as we can (this year we had the toughest non-conference strength of schedule in the nation) to position ourselves for a top-4 seed, which guarantees home matches until the College Cup.

[Dave in Green]

The obvious question is why they don't put more of a priority on pure RPI, since RPI includes SOS, and Top 25 wins are already calculated in SOS and, therefore, RPI? What they're basically saying is that RPI is flawed. If so, why not correct RPI? Then they'd lose the ability to allow committees with agendas to twist the results to suit themselves. Bottom line is, the excuse stinks. #1 in all the polls + #2 in RPI = a #5 seed only if the system is deliberately set up with a gray area that they can always use as an excuse.

[ZachTheZip]

It's something we've seen in basketball selection for a while. Having a several big wins is more important than your record or overall schedule quality.

[Dave in Green]

If "big wins" are so important, they should simply be given more weight in the RPI/SOS formula, not merely "considered" by a committee that can adjust the results to suit their agendas. If you get the math right up front, you remove a gray area that can be manipulated to favor special interests.

[ZachTheZip]

If "big wins" are so important, they should simply be given more weight in the RPI/SOS formula, not merely "considered" by a committee that can adjust the results to suit their agendas. If you get the math right up front, you remove a gray area that can be manipulated to favor special interests.

"Big wins" are accounted for in the RPI formula, just like wins over lesser teams and losses and ties.

Why do you think they have a selection committee instead of just using the RPI to seed the tournament? Because it gives people like John Bluem and Ray Reid an opportunity to apply their own biases to the tournament.

[fknbuflobo]

"Big wins" are accounted for in the RPI formula, just like wins over lesser teams and losses and ties.

Why do you think they have a selection committee instead of just using the RPI to seed the tournament? Because it gives people like John Bluem and Ray Reid an opportunity to apply their own biases to the tournament.

Spot On, Zach!

[UAZipster0305]

This is a great discussion, but it's also very unfortunate that it has become necessary yet again.

As I pointed out in a related thread, the RPI takes into account opponents' strength and W-L-T record. We were #2 in the RPI. End of story. Any argument based on these same factors that puts UConn and Georgetown ahead of us is illogical propaganda.

If we had a 2, 3, or 4 seed, I wouldn't care. We'd still have home field up until the Final Four, and there is so much parity at the top with quality of opponents, I see little difference/advantage to the teams in one regional versus another. BUT WE GOT THE #5. Unacceptable!

[skip-zip]

"Big wins" are accounted for in the RPI formula, just like wins over lesser teams and losses and ties.

Why do you think they have a selection committee instead of just using the RPI to seed the tournament? Because it gives people like John Bluem and Ray Reid an opportunity to apply their own biases to the tournament.

Amen. There can't be any other reason why this happened, other than selection committee members ignoring any data that did not fit their goal.

[Dave in Green]

If in fact "big wins" are already properly accounted for in the RPI formula, then Mr. Wistrcill was BSed by the chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Selection Committee and the NCAA staff liaison. In that case, the committee elected to give added weight to a factor that was already determined by RPI in order to move some schools ahead of others. As long as the committee can manipulate the numbers to suit their purposes, those with the most clout will continue to get most favored treatment.

[fknbuflobo]

As I have said before, we need the Soccer equivalent to the BCS. Time has come.

[Wally B]

"Big wins" are accounted for in the RPI formula, just like wins over lesser teams and losses and ties.

Why do you think they have a selection committee instead of just using the RPI to seed the tournament? Because it gives people like John Bluem and Ray Reid an opportunity to apply their own biases to the tournament.

Of course it does. Saying that is just a convenient way for the UConn rep to cover his !

In soccer, every team is ranked, not just the top #25

Are they suggesting that playing the #26th best means nothing, and playing the #25th does??

I have never commented on anything regarding TW on ZN.org. But I truly hope he calls this out for what it is

Aw C'mon, that's a bunch of........

We came here to win the , now we've gotta a new reason, kicking UConn's

[Dave in Green]

Of course, at this point, the focus has to remain on playing the hand your dealt to the best of your ability. But there's a long off-season where this can be dealt with, and it needs to be addressed with pitbull tenacity. It can't be addressed in a brief conversation between UA's AD and the chair of the selection committee. It needs to be addressed by all the "lesser" schools that typically get screwed and the NCAA as an organization.

Mr. Wistrcill would make a good leader in this effort, because UA probably has more credibility as a soccer power than any other school outside the BCS elite. He could personally contact several other smaller school soccer powers and see if there's common agreement that something is not right. They could do a thorough study and approach the NCAA as a group demanding specific answers, not gray area generalities.

At the very least, they should demand a detailed explanation about why RPI and the coaches and other polls do not accurately predict seeding. It should be transparent that RPI and the polls should come really close to accurately predicting seeding. There should be no major seeding surprises that defy credibility.

And, finally, the ultimate power in this discussion would be fueled by the Zips overcoming the seeding insult to win the national championship. If nothing else in this post, I think we can all agree on that.

[fknbuflobo]

Of course, at this point, the focus has to remain on playing the hand your dealt to the best of your ability. But there's a long off-season where this can be dealt with, and it needs to be addressed with pitbull tenacity. It can't be addressed in a brief conversation between UA's AD and the chair of the selection committee. It needs to be addressed by all the "lesser" schools that typically get screwed and the NCAA as an organization.

Mr. Wistrcill would make a good leader in this effort, because UA probably has more credibility as a soccer power than any other school outside the BCS elite. He could personally contact several other smaller school soccer powers and see if there's common agreement that something is not right. They could do a thorough study and approach the NCAA as a group demanding specific answers, not gray area generalities.

At the very least, they should demand a detailed explanation about why RPI and the coaches and other polls do not accurately predict seeding. It should be transparent that RPI and the polls should come really close to accurately predicting seeding. There should be no major seeding surprises that defy credibility.

And, finally, the ultimate power in this discussion would be fueled by the Zips overcoming the seeding insult to win the national championship. If nothing else in this post, I think we can all agree on that.

Well said!

[TennZip]

I think the Zips will take care of business....and we will have plenty of ammunition after the tourney

The reasons given to TW.....are weak...

they gave him top 25 wins...

isn't the top 25 convenient....as Akron had wins over #26 (S. FLA), #27 (Mich) and #30 Michigan state...

change it to top 30 and argument falls apart....

and lets address Connecticut's weak results

they lost to #74 Providence...

Providence ended the year at 4-10-2....

so Providence was only able to beat Connecticut and 3 other teams

Connecticut tied #78 Boston U.

Boston U. finished the year 6-8-4

so 8 teams defeated BU and CT could not get it done

[Dave in Green]

Yep, start laying out the case points here, and if someone from UA isn't monitoring this thread, shame on them.

[Valpo Zip]

It may also be useful to remind the committee that the Zips have a quality win at #8 Creighton that was stolen away by a 100% imaginary offside.

[a-zip]

It may also be useful to remind the committee that the Zips have a quality win at #8 Creighton that was stolen away by a 100% imaginary offside.

How about.......UCONN did not even make it to the final of their own Conference championship. So theoretically they are the 3rd or 4th best team in their own conference which I guess the NCAA deems to equate to the 4th best team in the entire country. Hell, why do the rest of us play if the Big East is so good.

[Reggie22:)]

How about.......UCONN did not even make it to the final of their own Conference championship. So theoretically they are the 3rd or 4th best team in their own conference which I guess the NCAA deems to equate to the 4th best team in the entire country. Hell, why do the rest of us play if the Big East is so good.

Here's the biggest issue as it affects our Zips. BronimYou have Ray Reid on the selection committee. They ask him to step out of the room while top four seeded teams are being decided on. However, prior to this he's making a huge push for Georretown and Notre Dame to be top four seeds, which is a move that indirectly favors UConn and pushes Akron down to a # 5. Bottom line. There should be NO coaches on the selection committee from ANY of the "power conferences" because they can pull this move time and time again. Funny how karma works. I see New Mexico heading to Stores and B-slapping Huskies thus giving Zips ultimate home field advantage That said, time to move on and take it out on Michigan.

[Reggie22:)]

How about.......UCONN did not even make it to the final of their own Conference championship. So theoretically they are the 3rd or 4th best team in their own conference which I guess the NCAA deems to equate to the 4th best team in the entire country. Hell, why do the rest of us play if the Big East is so good.

NCAA needs to disallow ANY power conference coaches from being on selection committee panel. Although Ray Reid " leaves the room" when committee's voting on top four seeds, he's already made a huge push for Georgetown and Notre Dame (both Big East). This ultimately raises UConns stature and drops Akron to #5. Kara is a funny thing, though. My money is on New Mexico going into Stores and handing Huskies their walking papers. Akron then resumes top four seed and plays quarterfinals at home, while Ray Reid sits at home watching the cooking channel.