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Key to making NCAA field is...

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The N.C.A.A. unveiled its field for the 2008 men's basketball tournament Sunday, with a few familiar faces missing and teams from outside college basketball's six power conferences still struggling for representation. The clearest lesson from this field, a difficult one for the selection committee to pick because of the glut of mediocre teams on the cusp of making the tournament, is that playing a strong schedule early in the season may be the key to getting an N.C.A.A. tournament bid. For the second consecutive season, only 6 of the 34 at-large teams selected came from outside college basketball's power conferences.

New York Times

NCAA Division I chairman Tom O'Connor, AP NCAA Division I chairman Tom O'Connor, AP
March 17, 2008  07:59 AM ET

The secret to getting in ... win more freakin' games!

March 17, 2008  08:25 AM ET

I thought that was they key too..win games.

March 17, 2008  08:45 AM ET

or in arizon's case.......lose a lot of games to good teams.....i never understood how losing to good teams really even matters........they lost 14 games this season, finished 8-11 in conference.....i'm sorry but the committee should write a logical explanation of how you can get in the field with this.......

it's not that easy for smaller teams or even mediocre teams in big conferences to schedule all tournament teams, people will pay to see arizona, so they can get a good schedule based on name and TV ratings, people are afraid to play teams like FSU or VCU, because if they win they don't gain much, but if they lose it really hurts them, whereas playing Arizona can only help a team in the long run......it's unfair and something needs to addressed for it

March 17, 2008  08:55 AM ET

I'm not gonna lie, Ariozna making it over Arizone State at least, is confusing to me. I'll give the Wildcats credit for going to Memphis and Kansas to play, but they still lost in the end. Is it better to schedule tough opponets and lose, then to win games?

March 17, 2008  09:43 AM ET

Arizona was a borderline NIT team. Talk about getting in because of your name.

March 17, 2008  11:00 AM ET

You should have to have twenty wins to even be considered for an at large bid for the NCAA Tournament in my opinion.

March 17, 2008  11:36 AM ET

I disagree that Arizona should have been in over ASU, specifically. Arizona State had a pathetic NonConf SOS in the 300's and if your argument holds true, its wins against Arizona are somewhat meaningless if Arizona doesn't deserve to get into the tourment any more than ASU does. That leaves ASU with 3 solid wins and plenty of bad losses, not to mention a 5-10 record to finish the season. Arizona lost two more games, but played much tougher competition with an injury depleted squad. The 15-6 recond when Nic Wise/Jared Bayless play is pretty telling that they are a tournament team in disguise.

Arizona State is an NIT team in disguise and got what they deserved. As for Arizona getting in at all, I think the committee could have flipped a coin between them and Virginia Tech. It most likely came down to SOS, road win/loss and other stats such as this. At full strength, don't be surprised if Arizona makes some noise. WVU is a one-man team with Joe Alexander and Xavier, though balanced, might not be athletic enough to deal with Wise/Budinger/Bayless.

March 17, 2008  11:50 AM ET

Kentucky should NOT be in, talk about making it on name and a winning record in the the overrated SEC. They will lose in the 1st round BIG.

March 17, 2008  11:57 AM ET

Arizona should not be in . they lost a lot of games over time to beat illinois should not have even been close 7th in there conference this is wrong . this is pay back tme to please there missing coach .

March 17, 2008  12:38 PM ET

What about Dayton???

March 17, 2008  12:40 PM ET

The secret to getting in ... win more freakin' games!
Cheesy Texan | 03/17/08, 07:59 AM

Dammit! Cheesy Texan gave away the secret formula!

March 17, 2008  02:35 PM ET

isn't that why we refer to it as "The Big Dance"...dance well and you don't have to worry about getting asked...dance poorly and leave the decision up to a bunch of fat guys on a panel...solution:dance better all year long, especially when it counts.

March 17, 2008  02:53 PM ET

I really don't appreciate the sports media's attempt to turn the NCAA tournament into some sort of BCS debacle story. They are nowhere close to eachother. Want to get in the tournament? Win more games. If you seriously think you should get in at 19-13 without winning the ACC (Virginia Tech) then you absolutely deserve to be in the NIT.

March 18, 2008  12:41 AM ET

Arizona is by far the most dangerous 10 in the tournament. I have watched pac10 ball all season. They have great athlete's and their style of play matches up well both with WVU and Duke. I predict they will be an elite 8 team.

Overall the pac10 should of got two more teams into the tournament. Best conference in the nation this year by far.

March 18, 2008  04:09 PM ET

Arizona got in by getting close losses to good teams.. something that shouldnt happen. VT lost to #1 ranked in the nation by a last second buzzer beater and they aren't even in the tournament.
A CLOSE LOSS IS STILL A LOSS

 
March 18, 2008  06:16 PM ET

I think it is some combination of a Ouija board and spin the bottle game.

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