Comments on: Sad Hatters http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/2007/05/sad-hatters/ Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:39:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Aaron Fitt http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/2007/05/sad-hatters/comment-page-1/#comment-2128 Aaron Fitt Sat, 26 May 2007 16:59:16 +0000 http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=129#comment-2128 You know, I actually agree with you J.P. -- I don't believe the SEC deserves more than five or maybe six bids. But I think it will get six or seven. I think Tennessee will be in, deserving or not, and I think Alabama might be as well. I'm not saying it's right, but I'm saying it's likely. Right or wrong, the SEC has a lot of sway on the committee. You know, I actually agree with you J.P. — I don’t believe the SEC deserves more than five or maybe six bids. But I think it will get six or seven. I think Tennessee will be in, deserving or not, and I think Alabama might be as well. I’m not saying it’s right, but I’m saying it’s likely. Right or wrong, the SEC has a lot of sway on the committee.

]]> By: JP http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/2007/05/sad-hatters/comment-page-1/#comment-2126 JP Sat, 26 May 2007 13:15:45 +0000 http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=129#comment-2126 The SEC is far more likely to get 5 teams than 6 now that Florida is eliminated. I'm not sure even sure which team you are thinking would be #6. Tennessee with their 14-17 SEC record, 6-16 record vs. the RPI top 50, terrible non-conference resume, and #54 RPI? You really have to torture the numbers to get them even close to being an at-large worthy team. Or, are you talking of Alabama and their #60 RPI, losing conference record, and equally middling non-conference performance? Has any team from a major conference EVER made the NCAA tournament as an at-large with that kind of RPI? If the SEC gets 6 teams, it's pretty clear proof that the committee has been lying through their teeth all these years when they claimed to pick individual teams based on individual merit, and not conferences. You can only stretch the notion of 'I think [insert hugely under-performing SEC team of your choice] is one of the best 64' so far before the phrase loses all meaning and you're effectively resorting to picking the tournament field by preseason ranking and the number of pro prospects their lineup features. The SEC is far more likely to get 5 teams than 6 now that Florida is eliminated. I’m not sure even sure which team you are thinking would be #6. Tennessee with their 14-17 SEC record, 6-16 record vs. the RPI top 50, terrible non-conference resume, and #54 RPI? You really have to torture the numbers to get them even close to being an at-large worthy team. Or, are you talking of Alabama and their #60 RPI, losing conference record, and equally middling non-conference performance? Has any team from a major conference EVER made the NCAA tournament as an at-large with that kind of RPI?

If the SEC gets 6 teams, it’s pretty clear proof that the committee has been lying through their teeth all these years when they claimed to pick individual teams based on individual merit, and not conferences. You can only stretch the notion of ‘I think [insert hugely under-performing SEC team of your choice] is one of the best 64′ so far before the phrase loses all meaning and you’re effectively resorting to picking the tournament field by preseason ranking and the number of pro prospects their lineup features.

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