Live from G-Tech vs. V-Tech: It’s NOT an elimination game
Here's what it's all about, folks. Eight days until the invitations are extended. (Bracket courtesy of ESPN.com)
There are those who’ll disagree, but I don’t believe Georgia Tech would be in dire straits, Dance-wise, if it loses today. As I’ve mentioned a time or two, I’m fairly certain the Yellow Jackets can finish 7-9 in regular-season ACC play and still make the field of 65 on the strength of their schedule and RPI. And this will sound strange, but here goes:
G-Tech, which will finish behind Virginia Tech in the ACC, is in better shape than the Hokies. If V-Tech loses here today, it’s in real trouble. If G-Tech loses, it’s in less.
At this moment, Joe Lunardi of ESPN.com lists G-Tech as a No. 10 seed in his updated Bracketology and V-Tech as a No. 11. Yes, the Hokies are 9-6 in the conference to the Jackets’ 7-8, but the NCAA committee cares less about standings than it does about SOS and RPI. And there’s your difference: V-Tech has an RPI of 55 and a SOS of 155; G-Tech has an RPI of 35 and an SOS of 18.
Put simply, V-Tech needs to beat somebody with a good RPI these next eight days to make the field. G-Tech needs only to win another game — and that victory can come either today or in Greensboro next Thursday — to make sure. And even if it loses both, G-Tech could still be invited to the only tournament that matters.
Maybe you shrugged when G-Tech beat Siena on Dec. 2, but the Saints have an RPI of 40. V-Tech, by way of contrast, played a non-conference schedule that included Brown, UNC Greensboro, Campbell, Delaware, Iowa (RPI of 195), Georgia (RPI of 95), VMI, Penn State, Charleston Southern, Maryland-Baltimore County, Longwood, Seton Hall (RPI of 56) and North Carolina Central. The Hokies did play Temple (RPI of 15) but lost.
And it isn’t as if Virginia Tech hasn’t been warned. It was snubbed 2008 after going 9-7 in the ACC because it played a weak non-conference slate. That came after coach Seth Greenberg contended, after a last-second loss to North Carolina in the ACC semis, that anyone who didn’t consider his Hokies an NCAA tournament team was “certifiably insane.”
But on every Selection Sunday, the chairman of that year’s committee tells Jim Nantz and Billy Packer the same thing: The committee’s advice is to go out and play someone good. G-Tech scheduled better than V-Tech. That’s why, eight days from Selection Sunday, GT is better situated than VPI.
With that, I’d be happy — nay, thrilled — to accept any and all questions, comments and predictions on tomorrow night’s Academy Awards. I’ll be here until we’re done with Tech-versus-Tech, and I’d be happy — nay, thrilled — if you’d join me. And yet again I thank you in advance.
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489 comments Add your comment
DCJacket
March 6th, 2010
5:56 pm
Amazing stat on VT radio broadcast today: we are 18-1 when leading at the half, 1 and 9 when down at the half.
Can’t inbound the ball, can’t make free throws, can’t come back from a deficit.
Mark Bradley
March 6th, 2010
5:56 pm
Favors steals the ball from Delaney but misses a layup. Has free throws.
Tom
March 6th, 2010
5:56 pm
16 more shots than VT and still losing by 8! Unreal.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 6th, 2010
5:57 pm
Another example of Hewitt’s bad coaching:
Favors is better in all aspects than Lawal, but he has not allowed Favors to be the NUMBER 1 option for the whole game, ever!!
Tech Forever
March 6th, 2010
5:57 pm
AlabamaRamblinwreck, Nice. Unfortunately the whole system in this country is based on our government taking money from the people.
Tom
March 6th, 2010
5:57 pm
Hey Mark. Both teams have made about the same amount of shots. Did you notice the difference? Free throws!!
Turnt_Up
March 6th, 2010
5:58 pm
To lay an egg, on senior day, with Tourney on the line. I don’t know what to say. If they fire CPH, I couldn’t argue with that, been disappointed for some time now. But just changing coach doesn’t mean we will be competitive in ACC. Unless we get lucky and get a coach Paul Johnson type hire. I feel sad about the future of GT bball either way…
RaleighJacket
March 6th, 2010
5:58 pm
I don’t know statistically how we can be the third best shooting team in the ACC. We have guys that can’t throw it into the ocean.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 6th, 2010
5:58 pm
UDOFIA 3 pointer…the best we could do…with Favors in the game!!!!!
Mark Bradley
March 6th, 2010
5:58 pm
Shumpert trey. Down to six.
carrolltondawg
March 6th, 2010
5:58 pm
well mark you were right wow didnt see that coming
carrolltondawg
March 6th, 2010
5:59 pm
talking about you being right
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 6th, 2010
5:59 pm
Can’t believe these long shots are the best option. Does anyone know we have Favors in the game?
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:00 pm
Like I said mark a 10-0 run still has them down by 6. And I called a close nail biter. 84-82
Tech Forever
March 6th, 2010
6:00 pm
Turnt_Up,
Scott Drew at Baylor!!!!!
RaleighJacket
March 6th, 2010
6:00 pm
Yet somehow here we are down 6.
Ashley
March 6th, 2010
6:00 pm
In better news, the Softbees rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat #23 Kentucky 6-3. Jen Yee went 3-for-3 with 2 homeruns, including a 3-run blast in the fifth to give Tech a 4-3 lead. Maybe Sharon Perkins wants to coach men’s basketball in her spare time?
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 6th, 2010
6:00 pm
Why do we have to come back in miracle fashion to beat VPI&SU?
THWG
March 6th, 2010
6:00 pm
For a team that needs to hurry, they’re playing like they’ve got all the time in the world.
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:01 pm
GT is shooting better at 3’s than 2’s. Haha
Mark Bradley
March 6th, 2010
6:01 pm
Bell free throws. Four-point game.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 6th, 2010
6:01 pm
Thanks, Ashley…for some good news..
Jo Bling
March 6th, 2010
6:01 pm
Mark Bradley will keep insisting Tech’s RPI and SOS will get them in the tournament, right up to the moment they accept their NIT invitation.
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:02 pm
Smart. Foul a team shooting 85% at the free throw line!
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 6th, 2010
6:02 pm
Great foul, Chump!!
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:03 pm
You don;t want this to be a free throw shooting contest. Hello
GT/Falcons fan
March 6th, 2010
6:03 pm
Lol @ Hewitt supporters…comon u UNk boh maanganheees state ur case!!!!!!
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:04 pm
Stop FOULING you idiot. They are shooting 86%!!!!
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:04 pm
How come seth can teach his players to shoot free throws and hewitt can’t? Oh that’s right hewitt is a horrible coach
Mark Bradley
March 6th, 2010
6:05 pm
Three-point game.
Resign or Resign?
March 6th, 2010
6:05 pm
GT/Falcon…. WHAT?
Keep it up GT
March 6th, 2010
6:05 pm
why are you fouling them VT?
Mark Bradley
March 6th, 2010
6:05 pm
They have to foul, Tom.
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:06 pm
Tech 65 shots VT 48. Wow. And they are losing. That is EMBARASSING
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 6th, 2010
6:06 pm
HEWITT – word derived during the early 21st century meaning “waste of great resources and talent”
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:06 pm
They didn;t on that last possession
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:07 pm
Nice clutch shooting.
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:08 pm
I will give you the comeback mark. But I did call 84-82 and it was close. And they are shooting 52%.
Mark Bradley
March 6th, 2010
6:08 pm
Over.
ND
March 6th, 2010
6:10 pm
10 ACC seasons. ONE season over .500. This team will not get an invite and if they do the NCAA is a joke.
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:10 pm
Way to play to win on senior day LOSERS. The only home team that is ncca in or bubble to lose to a lesser team at home. Typical Hewitt. Worst coach in the NCAA’s.
carrolltondawg
March 6th, 2010
6:10 pm
give it up
Mark Bradley
March 6th, 2010
6:10 pm
Strange game. Massive comeback but not enough.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 6th, 2010
6:10 pm
When we were still down with 3 minutes to go, that is when it was over, Mark…or maybe at halftime. Hewitt will not be able to win one down the stretch unless the other team implodes. You know that!!
RaleighJacket
March 6th, 2010
6:10 pm
This is a microcosm of our season. We are down 4, have a rebound in our hands next to the goal, and two of our guys fumble it out of bounds.fighting for it.
Tom
March 6th, 2010
6:11 pm
Mark do you still feel tech is in? Even with Louisville and ND winning. I say gt HAS to win at least 2 acc tourney games. And that isn’t gonna happen. In fact, UNC wants revenge big time and will get it.
GT/Falcons fan
March 6th, 2010
6:11 pm
nah nah nah anh anh nah nah nah hey hey hey GOODBYE
Ree Roe
March 6th, 2010
6:11 pm
lol. Go Dawgs
-REEliably Roe!!
DCJacket
March 6th, 2010
6:11 pm
Bring back Bobby
Keep it up GT
March 6th, 2010
6:12 pm
Paul does read the AJC, he saw that MB said they didn’t need this game to get into the tournament … so he played conservative