Badgers NCAA Seeding Officially a Joke
This was posted in March of 2017. While it isn't really historical, I will include it here anyway.
Since I have been on a Twitter rant tonight, I thought I would put all of data in one place, just so we can see how badly Wisconsin was hosed over by the selection committee by receiving an 8 seed in the NCAA tourney.
Let's take the other Big Ten teams and compare resumes.
Michigan (#7 seed)
SCREW FACTOR: MODERATE
Northwestern (#8 seed)
SCREW FACTOR: HIGH
Maryland (#6 seed)
SCREW FACTOR: LOW
Minnesota (#5 seed)
SCREW FACTOR: ASTRONOMICAL
When we look at all of these resumes, there is nothing that makes sense. If RPI is your thing (even though everyone knows it is a crappy stat), then fine, but they seem to have ignored it when comparing Northwestern and Maryland to the Badgers. head to head? Fine, if you want to give Michigan the edge over Wisconsin, but why don't Badgers get credit for beating Gophers twice? Winning games on road? Badgers don't beat Maryland, but they beat everyone else? Top 100 wins? Well, Badgers are also behind Maryland, but again, beat everyone else.
We know the Badgers have received some odd seeds over the years, but nothing compares to what happened this year. Throw in the fact that as an 8, they were put opposite the top #1 seed, and you get the final cherry on top.
ADDENDUM: To add insult, here is how all the major reputable computer power rankings rank the teams in question (MSU thrown in since they received a seed only 1 lower than Wisconsin).
Let's take the other Big Ten teams and compare resumes.
Michigan (#7 seed)
- Neither team has bad losses.
- Michigan gets credit for beating UW 2 out of 3.
- Road record: Badgers 5-5. Michigan 3-8. Including neutral games, the Badgers come in at 10-6. Wolverines are at 8-8.
- Record vs. top 50: Badgers were 5-5. Michigan was 5-7.
- Record vs. top 100: Badgers were 13-8. Michigan was 12-11.
- RPI: Wisconsin 36. Michigan 25.
SCREW FACTOR: MODERATE
Northwestern (#8 seed)
- Neither team has bad losses.
- Teams split head to head match-ups, with the Badgers blowing out NW in BTT.
- Road record: Badgers 5-5. Northwestern also 5-5. Including neutral games, the Badgers come in at 10-6. Wildcats are at 9-7.
- Record vs. top 50: Badgers were 5-5. Northwestern was 5-7.
- Record vs. top 100: Badgers were 13-8. Northwestern was 8-11.
- RPI: Wisconsin 36. Northwestern 51.
SCREW FACTOR: HIGH
Maryland (#6 seed)
- Maryland had 2 bad losses.
- Badgers beat Terrapins in only matchup.
- Road record: Badgers 5-5. Maryland 8-2. Including neutral games, the Badgers come in at 10-6. Terrapins are at 11-3.
- Record vs. top 50: Badgers were 5-5. Maryland was 4-4.
- Record vs. top 100: Badgers were 13-8. Maryland was 14-6.
- RPI: Wisconsin 36. Maryland 34.
SCREW FACTOR: LOW
Minnesota (#5 seed)
- Gophers with 1 bad loss. Badgers none.
- Badgers beat Gophers twice, including once on road.
- Road record: Badgers 5-5. Minnesota 5-5. Including neutral games, the Badgers come in at 10-6. Minnesota is 7-6.
- Record vs. top 50: Badgers were 5-5. Minnesota was 7-5.
- Record vs. top 100: Badgers were 13-8. Minnesota 12-8.
- RPI: Wisconsin 36. Minnesota 20.
SCREW FACTOR: ASTRONOMICAL
When we look at all of these resumes, there is nothing that makes sense. If RPI is your thing (even though everyone knows it is a crappy stat), then fine, but they seem to have ignored it when comparing Northwestern and Maryland to the Badgers. head to head? Fine, if you want to give Michigan the edge over Wisconsin, but why don't Badgers get credit for beating Gophers twice? Winning games on road? Badgers don't beat Maryland, but they beat everyone else? Top 100 wins? Well, Badgers are also behind Maryland, but again, beat everyone else.
We know the Badgers have received some odd seeds over the years, but nothing compares to what happened this year. Throw in the fact that as an 8, they were put opposite the top #1 seed, and you get the final cherry on top.
ADDENDUM: To add insult, here is how all the major reputable computer power rankings rank the teams in question (MSU thrown in since they received a seed only 1 lower than Wisconsin).