Overall strength of schedule and "best 3 wins"

Are two of the 6 criteria I emphasize when evaluating potential at-larges. ... the others are record vs. top 50, record vs. top 100, road/neutral record and the number of bad losses.

Less important but helpful in creating separation is: (1) an at-large candidate's record vs. teams in or being considered for the field; (2) record in last 12 games (even though the Selection Committee has deemphasized it); (3) a downgrade for a horrific nonconference schedule (see Penn State last season); (4) conference finish; and (5) conference record.

In an attempt to boost the morale of Gopher fans, I offer where the Gophers currently stand in SOS and "best 3 wins" relative to the other 17 bubble teams. The "best 3 wins" total is a combination of your best 3 RPI wins. The Gophers are sitting pretty good in these two areas.

Please note, this is all moot for the Gophers if they don't at minimum reach the semifinals in Indy.

SOS
1. Georgia Tech (19)
2. Florida (31)
3. Seton Hall (32)
4. Dayton (35)
5. Illinois (41)
6. GOPHERS (55)
7. Washington (60)
8. South Florida (64)
9. San Diego State (69)
10. Arizona State (70)
11. Ole Miss (72)
12. Memphis (79)
13. Rhode Island (89)
14. UAB (93)
15. Wichita State (101)
16. William & Mary (105)
17. Mississippi State (106)
18. Saint Louis (110)

"Best 3 Wins"
1. GOPHERS (60): vs. Butler (14), Wisconsin (17), Ohio State (29)
2. Georgia Tech (62): Duke (2), Clemson (27), Wake Forest (33)
3. Illinois (63): @ Wisconsin (17), Vanderbilt (22), Michigan State (24)
4. South Florida (69): Pitt (10), @ Georgetown (16), Kent State (43)
5. Florida (72): Tennessee (13), vs. Michigan State (24), Florida State (35)
6. William & Mary (77): @ Maryland (19), Richmond (25), @ Wake Forest (33)
7. Washington (85): Texas A&M (11), Cal (20), Arizona State (54)
8. Seton Hall (89): Pitt (10), Louisville (32), @ Cornell (47)
9. Dayton (95): Xavier (21), Old Dominion (30), vs. Georgia Tech (44)
10. Saint Louis (116): Richmond (25), Rhode Island (42), @ Dayton (49)
11. Ole Miss (131): vs. Kansas State (6), vs. UTEP (41), South Carolina (84)
12. Memphis (132): @ UAB (40), UAB (40), Oakland (52)
13. UAB (139): Butler (14), @ Marshall (62), Cincinnati (63)
14. San Diego State (142): New Mexico (7), UNLV (48), Arizona (87)
15. Mississippi State (142): vs. Old Dominion (30), @ Ole Miss (56), Ole Miss (56)
16. Rhode Island (149): vs. Oklahoma State (28), @ Dayton (49), Northeastern (72)
17. Wichita State (163): Northern Iowa (18), Texas Tech (71), vs. Illinois State (74)
18. Arizona State (174): San Diego State (36), Washington (51), @ Arizona (87)

SS, one thing I don't put as much emphasis on is your top 50 and top 100 record. To me, its the specific team you beat. We could have scheduled teams such as Indiana State, Harvard, Buffalo, Fairfield, and Wright State and our top 100 record would presumably be 5-0 better. But do any of those wins matter? I don't think so. Does our Morgan State win matter? They might end up top 100 RPI if they win their conference tourney. I look at who you beat specifically, and where you beat them. Give me our win at #73 Illinois over let's say a win over #43 Kent State or a #45 Wichita State

Solid analysis. Losses to Portland, Miami, Indiana, NU, Michigan (2X) will most likely cost the gophers a tournament bid. They gophers have more bad losses than Illinois, Florida and Georgia Tech. I agree that the gophers must beat Penn State and Michigan State to have a legitimate chance for selection.

Butler's win is diminished by the fact that nobody really puts them as high as their ranking when they are bracketed....Lunardi has them as a 6 seed....nobody really believes they are the 14th best team in the nation....more like 28th....

Moses87 said:

Butler's win is diminished by the fact that nobody really puts them as high as their ranking when they are bracketed....Lunardi has them as a 6 seed....nobody really believes they are the 14th best team in the nation....more like 28th....

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Diminished by whom? You?

The whole "nobody really believes" argument can be applied to any team outside of a major conference with a #5 seed or better every year depending on who you ask. I personally don't think New Mexico is very good, but my opinion doesn't matter. There are formulas and criteria to establish how to rank teams, wins, conferences, strength of schedule, etc so teams can't be discounted just because "nobody thinks they are good."

I would have traded a win over Butler for a win over Purdue or MSU....Butler will not be higher than a 5 seed...Purdue and MSU will be 2 or 3's.

Moses87 said:

I would have traded a win over Butler for a win over Purdue or MSU....Butler will not be higher than a 5 seed...Purdue and MSU will be 2 or 3's.

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I would have preferred to beat Kansas or Syracuse.

I would have traded a win over Butler for a win over Purdue or MSU....Butler will not be higher than a 5 seed...Purdue and MSU will be 2 or 3's

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Well, we have a chance to get a win over Butler AND MSU. Win thursday and friday and our top win list continues to grow...