Around this time of year, it gets called into question which teams will be "bracketbusters" and which teams won't, which teams will make a miraculous run into the field of 65 and which teams will go home to the disappointment of the NIT.While taking in some College Gameday this morning on ESPN, I noticed in the preview of the game between #22 Butler and Davidson, the analysts on the panel were debating whether the Southern Conference leading Wildcats were still a tournament team if they don't win their conference (and would have to earn one of the 34 at-large selections).
Thankfully, my father doesn't have a vote on this because his belief is that no team from a conference outside of the power six should ever be ranked, and should never make the tournament unless they win their conference. So while he likely hasn't watched Davidson play more than 30 seconds this season that's where his vote goes.
I on the other hand have only seen a handful of Davidson's contests. But here's where they rank in terms of resume:
Entering today's game against the Horizon League's finest, the 22nd-ranked Butler Bulldogs, Davidson has a 22-5 record and a 15-2 record in the So-Con. There are no ranked teams in the So-Con, and there are just two other teams in the conference with more than 15 wins this season.
Davidson's RPI rating is currently 50th in the country (through Sunday, February 15th) and their strength of schedule ranking is a mere 150th in Division I. Their key wins have come at West Virginia (won 68-65 December 9th), and at home against NC State (72-67 December 6th).
Of their five losses, three of them have come against top 15 teams, and all of them came on the road. They lost November 18th at then-#12 Oklahoma by four (82-78), at then-#13 Purdue in Indianapolis by 18 (76-58) and at then-#2 Duke 79-67 at Cameron. Their other two losses came to the College of Charleston and to The Citadel, both at home. But it should be pointed out that the loss to The Citadel came without the services of superstar guard Stephen Curry, who missed the game with a high ankle sprain.
Having digested all that, if they beat Butler, they'd have a win against a ranked team, which certainly would help their cause. But to me, win or lose against the Bulldogs, they're a borderline team. If they win the So-Con, we're not even having this discussion. If they don't, they'll still get in for one reason.
Steph Curry.
Come on, you think if the NCAA tournament committee has the choice of a midly compelling Big East team vs Steph Curry in the tournament again they'd choose against the nation's leading scorer?
I don't think so!
If Curry's in the tournament people are watching. Is it fair? Not really. But it's the fact. I'm definitely watching any game he's in over watching two teams who ranked 7th or 8th in a power conference play against each other.
Curry is a great player, and because he's been hurt for a few games it has hurt Davidson's resume. And while the Wildcats are a bit different this year, we know how good they were last year when given a chance to show it against the big bad "power" conference teams. The tournament doesn't necessarily need Curry in it, but he sure would help ratings.
What do you think? Are they a tournament team? Should they get in just because of Curry? Let us know.
I think strength of schedule precludes including almost any team from a non-power conference from getting in unless they win their tournament. Davidson lost to Citadel. If a power school like Syracuse had lost to Citadel it would be a glaring weakness cited by the committee. Power schools are also penalized for playing weak schedules in the preconference games. However, teams in weaker conferences play weaker teams all the time. Its not their fault but it is a reality that some of these conferences have mostly weak teams. However, they do have an opportunity to still get into the tournament - WIN THEIR CONFERENCE TOURNY. PERIOD. Dont build up your resume beating north dakota state or william and mary.
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