In our latest NCAA Tournament bracket projection, we have Northwestern as a #12 seed, one of the last four teams in. Of course, this isn't a place you want to stay right now as Selection Sunday approaches. Even though this is a supposedly "weak bubble," bracket projections don't and can't factor in the "bid-stealing" that will occur next week when small conference favorites … [Read more...] about Northwestern still needs three wins to make NCAA Tournament
RPI
Northwestern’s Surprisingly Good RPI, Tournament Profile
RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) is an algorithm based on opponents' winning percentage, opponents' opponents' winning percentage, and opponents' opponents' opponents' winning percentage. This is the truth, I'm not trying to sound like Dr. Seuss here. So RPI is like the BCS, a very controversial number that certains groups of people ascribe meaning to; other groups of people … [Read more...] about Northwestern’s Surprisingly Good RPI, Tournament Profile
Wildcats Approach School Record for Wins.
By Paul M. Banks f you saw the highlights of Northwestern’s shocking upset at #20 Purdue on the Big Ten Network last night, you might have seen the line reading “17 wins by Northwestern ties school record.” That’s incorrect. Their next victory, which could come Sunday at Ohio St., would be their 18th. That would tie the school record set by the 1982-83 squad led by Jim … [Read more...] about Wildcats Approach School Record for Wins.
The Real Bracket Busters
By: David K. Last weekend, ESPN featured their “Bracket Buster” day in which some of the best mid-major teams went head-to-head as to make a statement to the committee come Selection Sunday. This got me thinking (which is always dangerous when it involves college basketball.) What if there was a true Bracket Buster day featuring the major conferences? This would give the … [Read more...] about The Real Bracket Busters
Illini Lose Ludicrously Ugly Game
By Paul M. Banks When you saw the box score of #16 Illinois’ (21-6, 9-5) 38-33 home loss to unranked Penn St. (19-8, 8-6) on Wednesday night, you might have thought you were glancing at a Girls’ high school basketball result. In football, the two schools combined to score 62 points last fall, in roundball just nine more. If you ever wondered why the Big Ten, the 2nd … [Read more...] about Illini Lose Ludicrously Ugly Game
