Committee ranks teams 1-68, lists those left out

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA’S attempt to be more transparent about its tournament selection process proved one thing Sunday: It’s still subjective.

Some schools, such as Iona, apparently met the eye test this season. Others, such as Washington and Seton Hall, did not.

“In general they were a very, very good team during the course of the year,” committee vice chairman Mike Bobinski said of Iona. “I saw them play a number of times myself, and I think they’re going to hold up very well in the tourney.”

Iona’s RPI ranking (47) was better than Washington (70), Drexel (66) or the other five teams on the committee’s list of those left out.

The Ratings Percentage Index is a scale used by the NCAA Selection Committee to rank Division I basketball teams by their performance in light of strength of schedule. Low RPI ranking numbers denote strong teams; and high numbers, weaker ones.

For the first time, the committee released the seeding, from 1 to 68. It also listed the first six left out: Drexel, Miami, Mississippi State, Nevada, Oral Roberts and Seton Hall.

Committee chairman Jeff Hathaway said one key factor the committee uses is how teams schedule.

“You have to be aggressive in the [nonconference] scheduling. People are doing that,” Hathaway said. “You look at Michigan State and they are No. 1 in strength of schedule. A lot of people are reaching out and doing that. Keep in mind, coaches have to do what’s best for their program given the talent they have.”

Hathaway said Missouri was not in serious contention for a No. 1 seed because of its nonconference schedule. Kansas, the regular-season league champ, was because it played teams like Duke, Kentucky and Ohio State before starting league play.

Missouri played a less glamorous nonconference schedule, with victories over California, Notre Dame, Illinois, Villanova and Old Dominion.