Joe says we need to wait and make sure the model’s proxies did a good enough job estimating Michigan State’s NET/SOR/KPI movement after yesterday’s triumph over Michigan.
I say we live in the moment.
Today, Michigan State’s still in our NIT Bracketology. Keep the faith (and pray for some bid thievery).
The rest of the NITuation:
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song): [blank]
Kill the music, Bill. We’re in the conference tournament lull, and no one moved in or out.
Moving In: [blank]
We also didn’t create a new spot.
Teams Too Likely to Win Their Conference Tournament
This is also empty, because Winthrop won the Big South so they’ve left our arms for good. Go fly, young Eagles. Go fly (I always think Winthrop’s the Screamin’ Eagles or the Golden Eagles but nope, they’re just the Eagles—weird).
Next in Line:
Below the field, from closest to close:
Toledo
Providence
Minnesota
North Carolina State
Kentucky
Richmond
Marshall
Dayton
Marquette
Belmont
Georgia
UNC-Greensboro
Next out of Line:
Above the field, from closest to close:
Drake
Syracuse
SMU
Colorado State
Boise State
Maryland
Wichita State
Virginia Tech
UCLA
Louisville
Rutgers
Oklahoma
***
And that’s the NITuation.
Today’s other notes:
- Penn State made the decision even tougher on the selection committee, beating Maryland in College Park. Penn State gets Nebraska next, and a win shouldn’t change their outlook too much. Median simulation is they beat Nebraska, lose to Wisconsin, and give the NIT committee a big headache by being entirely deserving but having a funky W-L record thanks to 1) the Big Ten being good, 2) the Big Ten scheduling a lot of games, and 3) the coronavirus chopping off part of the nonconference schedule.
- Drake lost to Loyola. Might be enough. Might not be. Hard to fault the Bulldogs for what they’ve done, though. They got themselves close to the field, and in a conference in which being a big favorite a lot means you can’t be as nuanced in terms of picking the right losses.
- Memphis almost did something real bad. Bailed out bigtime by that Houston three.
- I miswrote yesterday and said Saint Mary’s plays BYU tonight. I’m sorry for doing that. It was a mistake, and one I take seriously. Saint Mary’s doesn’t play BYU tonight. They play Gonzaga. Lose that, and the Gaels should be set. Win that, and I feel like we’re gonna get another pandemic along with the sky falling. Be cool, Saint Mary’s. Be cool.
Six days ‘til we get the real bracket. What a world.
