WINNER: NCAA College Hoops 2011-12 — Nate the Great

[flexmaster33]

yes...working on it...we'll see how it shakes out.

[flexmaster33]

All right at long last, the schedule is complete.

Check the red link at the top of this tourney thread, I'll be updating this link throughout the tournament with updated results.

It's an excel sheet, so check the tabs across the bottom...teams are sorted by league across the bottom tabs. Click on the league and you'll see the full-season schedules for each team in that league.

I'll be working the rest of this week on getting the standings up to date and setting the RPI rankings (those are not accurate in this first upload).

[Gold Knight]

All right at long last, the schedule is complete.

Check the red link at the top of this tourney thread, I'll be updating this link throughout the tournament with updated results.

It's an excel sheet, so check the tabs across the bottom...teams are sorted by league across the bottom tabs. Click on the league and you'll see the full-season schedules for each team in that league.

I'll be working the rest of this week on getting the standings up to date and setting the RPI rankings (those are not accurate in this first upload).

Very cool. I applaud you once more for the work you put into this tourney every year. I just wish I could go back to the first year of this tournament when there weren't so many damn complicated maps, maybe I'd start doing good again.

[flexmaster33]

Yes Gold...it would be interesting to count up the number of new maps that have come in since year one...it's got to be near-double I would guess.

[RobbieDub]

The Mississippi State Bulldogs remain undefeated at home with victories against Fairfield & Northern Illinois. The Bulldogs are now resting up for their next two games which are on the road at Brown & Baylor.
Many thanks to Flex for all the hard work put into this tourney!

[Culs De Sac]

In a thriller for an opening Conference game.. Columbia Lions defeat the Cornell Big Red 75-74.. In a game that was plagued with sloppy play, the Lions were able to use their home crowd to get a turnover in the final minute of the game. They set their play and with the best execution possible, scored at the end of regulation.

Columbia looks forward to going to Ithaca for the rematch and to prove that this win was not a fluke.

[callmecommander]

Thanks for all the hard work flex. Very cool!!

[flexmaster33]

Working on rankings and catching up on some of the results, then I'll get the Game 9s out...hopefully before the weekend.

[agentcom]

Very cool flex. Insane amount of work went into that. When I have some more free time, I'm definitely gonna dig down into the excel code a little bit to see what you're doing.

[flexmaster33]

We'll just have one batch of games this week (Game 9s), as I catch up on the rankings and past results. the Game 4 link is now up. Looking to get Game 9s out Friday and Saturday.

[flexmaster33]

A major update has been posted with scores updated through the Game 6 set.

Washington State (uckuki) comes out on top in the initial top-40 RPI poll, while Marquette is the only other unbeaten team.

Standings are updated and I've posted a fresh google link for the team schedules. This will have updated results as the season goes along, too.

Also a few games changed, as I caught duplicated matchups when going through the RPI work.

[flexmaster33]

The holiday tournaments (Cable Car Classic and Diamond Head Classic) have been sent out in the Game 10 set...I'll be working on sending the rest of the Game 10 matchups Tuesday.

[flexmaster33]

Okay, it's late and I'm tired...those holiday tournament games that got sent out tonight are actually part of the GAme 11 set, so consider it a head start.

I'll try sending all of the Game 10 set out throughout the day Tuesday.

[musicalmaven]

this is to inform you that iona (me) finally prevailed over so. ill. (dantheman1991) in game # 10223842. it only took 21 rounds - that's a lot of overtime.

[Graceless_]

The streaking Georgetown Hoyas blew past the Alabama Crimson Tide 93-53 in improve to 5-1. Coming off impressive home wins against Stanford and Oregon State, Georgetown dominated in it's first road game of the season. The Hoyas will look to continue their good home with out of conference clashes against Missouri and Memphis next on the schedule. Georgetown currently sits at #37 in the RPI.

Previous Results:

(Maui Invitational) Kansas 81-65 (1-0)
(Maui Invational) Charlotte 59 -88 (1-1)
@Central Florida 84-64 (2-1)
Stanford 77-72 (3-1)
Oregon State 79-70 (4-1)
@Alabama 93-53 (5-1)

[agentcom]

After 6 rounds of play, the Toledo Rockets have shocked the nation and risen to #5 in the polls. With dominating wins against Temple (81 to 66), Alabama (93-54) and DePaul (94-52), Toledo looks set to hold on to its spot. The Rockets are now 9-1 and head to Miami this week looking to continue a run of 7 straight periods outscoring their opponents (their second such run of the season). Outscoring opponents by 200 points over ten games, the question on everybody's mind is who can stop the Rockets powerhouse offense, which has averaged 84.5 points per game.

[agentcom]

Flex, got a question for you:

Now that we've have 3 rounds of rankings out (I know of preseason, the 12/14 update and the 12/19 update), I was wondering how the rankings and RPI work. The specific question I have arises from the following: I faced California in round 4. In the game title, California is listed as #26, which must have been their preseason rank. However, on 12/14, you released updated rankings that were based on the results of rounds 1 through 3. In those rankings, Cal is at #4. So, going in to my Round 4 game against them, I was really playing the #4 team based on all the teams' play in rounds 1 through 3. Do I "get credit" for beating a #4 team or a #26 team.

The same goes for teams facing me: After Round 3, I (Toledo) was ranked #7, but the game titles wouldn't reflect this. Did the teams that lose to me lose to the #7 team (based on performance to that point) or an unranked team (based on preseason rankings)?

Or are the rankings dynamic and this doesn't matter? That is, I suppose that my RPI could be linked to California (and all the other teams I've played) for the rest of the season. As California improves (or not) my RPI would go up (or not).

[plash.ricrem]

Flex, got a question for you:

Now that we've have 3 rounds of rankings out (I know of preseason, the 12/14 update and the 12/19 update), I was wondering how the rankings and RPI work. The specific question I have arises from the following: I faced California in round 4. In the game title, California is listed as #26, which must have been their preseason rank. However, on 12/14, you released updated rankings that were based on the results of rounds 1 through 3. In those rankings, Cal is at #4. So, going in to my Round 4 game against them, I was really playing the #4 team based on all the teams' play in rounds 1 through 3. Do I "get credit" for beating a #4 team or a #26 team.

The same goes for teams facing me: After Round 3, I (Toledo) was ranked #7, but the game titles wouldn't reflect this. Did the teams that lose to me lose to the #7 team (based on performance to that point) or an unranked team (based on preseason rankings)?

Or are the rankings dynamic and this doesn't matter? That is, I suppose that my RPI could be linked to California (and all the other teams I've played) for the rest of the season. As California improves (or not) my RPI would go up (or not).

Well if it's anything like the real RPI used by the selection committee and other prognosticators, as in real life it'll be linked to the final outcomes of the teams you played, so as you noted it'll be dyanmic in nature. So if for example you beat Team X, who's having a terrible season when you play them, but they have a mid season turnaround and finish with a decent record, you'll end up getting a boost in your RPI. Of course the opposite would apply if a team were to tank. This is all speculation of course, until Flex chimes in.

As far as my coaching duties go, Vermont has finally notched a road win this year, and it's a big one, knocking off 11th ranked Yale by a score of 78-69. Coach Ricrem noted after the game that, "Our team did an excellent job controlling the tempo. It was a hostile environment (never played that map before) so I told the guys to focus on avoiding turnovers (empty turns/ stupid attacks) and that hopefully the shots would fall. After a back and forth first 32 minutes of the game (we both won a match in 8 rounds) UVM took control down the stretch to eek out the W.

When it was brought to his attention that his team's only 2 wins on the year have came against ranked opponents, Coach Ricrem noted that perhaps his team rises to the opportunity and that his team will be in great position to make the Final 4. When it was noted that his 2-7 squad probably wouldn't get the chance to play in the Big Dance if they don't win their conference tourney, Ricrem's response was "Wait.... You're telling me I actually have to win more games then I lose in this thing? Crap. I thought this was like that whole Bowl thing and that I could cruse into a postseason birth with a .500 record. College athletics are complicated!"

[MrGlassB]

After starting out hot (5-1) and rising to #2 in the RPI Rankings, Northwestern came back down to earth slightly over the next two games - both of them losses. Even though it looked like the same powerful offense we've seen from the Wildcats this season, jumping out to a 30-19 lead, they were not able to maintain that intensity against #22 Baylor. The Bears trounced Northwestern 82-66. The offense continued to struggle against Colorado. Though the score was tighter, they were unable to make it all the way back in spite of a late-game surge, falling to the Buffaloes 78-70.

MGB

[agentcom]

Flex, got a question for you:

Now that we've have 3 rounds of rankings out (I know of preseason, the 12/14 update and the 12/19 update), I was wondering how the rankings and RPI work. The specific question I have arises from the following: I faced California in round 4. In the game title, California is listed as #26, which must have been their preseason rank. However, on 12/14, you released updated rankings that were based on the results of rounds 1 through 3. In those rankings, Cal is at #4. So, going in to my Round 4 game against them, I was really playing the #4 team based on all the teams' play in rounds 1 through 3. Do I "get credit" for beating a #4 team or a #26 team.

The same goes for teams facing me: After Round 3, I (Toledo) was ranked #7, but the game titles wouldn't reflect this. Did the teams that lose to me lose to the #7 team (based on performance to that point) or an unranked team (based on preseason rankings)?

Or are the rankings dynamic and this doesn't matter? That is, I suppose that my RPI could be linked to California (and all the other teams I've played) for the rest of the season. As California improves (or not) my RPI would go up (or not).

Well if it's anything like the real RPI used by the selection committee and other prognosticators, as in real life it'll be linked to the final outcomes of the teams you played, so as you noted it'll be dyanmic in nature. So if for example you beat Team X, who's having a terrible season when you play them, but they have a mid season turnaround and finish with a decent record, you'll end up getting a boost in your RPI. Of course the opposite would apply if a team were to tank. This is all speculation of course, until Flex chimes in.

I looked at the excel code a little more carefully and it looks like the rankings are, too a great extent, dynamic. However, there is a column for record against top 40 opponents. Not sure how this factors in. Now in the situation I mentioned versus California, it wouldn't matter because either way I would win or lose to a Top 40 opponent. But what about the following situation: This week I play #81 Miami (according to the current rankings), but when I got the invite before the new rankings came out they were #2. (The game title does not indicate them being #2). Am I playing a Top 40 team or not? Of course, flex may have made even THESE numbers (the W/L against Top 40) dynamic, but it would seem weird to have your W/L against Top 40 go up and down during the season based on whether those teams maintain their ranking. Alternatively, flex may not consider W/L against Top 40 in RPI, but then why's it there?

My example (w/ Miami) is not the best one, but you can imagine playing a Team in Round 11 who is Top 40 according to the current rankings, but then new rankings come out based on results through Round 9 that drop them from the Top 40. Is your Round 11 game considered to be against a Top 40 team or not? Or does it not matter?

[agentcom]

Rockets Soar Over Hurricanes
Miami, FL - (AP)

The Miami Hurricanes are the latest victim of the Toledo's rising basketball program. Under rookie coach Agentcom, #5 Toledo is now 10-1, with its only loss to now #3 Wisconsin in an NIT semi-final game early this season. Toledo's offense has been so powerful, and its defense so stingy, that the 81-66 victory was actually tied for the smallest margin of victory for the Rockets this year.

The Rockets got off to a slow start, trailing 30-18 at one point. But gradually, they ate away at Miami's early lead tying the game with around 16 minutes left to play. From there it was all Toledo with a 33-17 final push to the buzzer. After the game, Agentcom addressed the slow start: "We just can't fall behind that much, that early and expect to win against tough opponents. It's what cost us the game against Wisconsin." Toledo fell behind by 10 points early in that game. Referring to the Rockets three-game road trip, Agentcom said, "Maybe it was going from Tuscaloosa to Chicago and back south to Miami. You could see they were tired. But I'm really proud of these guys for responding the way that they did. They found some new energy somewhere after that first timeout and really turned this game around."

The Rockets will return home to take on the 4-4 Georgia Bulldogs before the Christmas break. Miami, which was ranked #2 in Week 4, is now 5-4 and will try to regain some momentum before the break when they head to Charlotte on December 18.

[flexmaster33]

Most of the RPI (Strength of Schedule) factor is based on how your opponents fare overall...Wins over top-40 teams are just another criteria the selection committee looks at when deciding which teams deserve a spot in the postseason....ie, an 18-12 team that is 5-1 against Top-40 or a 21-9 team that is 3-4 against the top-40. Let the debates rage on.

New RPIs ranks will go out every two sets from here out...so heading into the Game 11 set (Thursday), I'll release a fresh RPI. Beat a team in the top-40 for that given week and you get credit for a "Quality win"

[HighlanderAttack]

Just put Villanova at the bottom--this is one of the most mind boggling seasons I have ever come across--How many teams do the big east put into the conf final now? That will be my only chance at post season--what am I now 0/11?

[flexmaster33]

Updating standings tonight HA...and yes, a surprising start for you
Still a long season though, and the Big East tourney takes everyone, so there's always that hope

[musicalmaven]

this is to inform you that i won game # 10270154 (iona vs. marshall), but the other 2 games will probably go to my opponent.