Resume comparison: Jan. 25

Because a full bracket rundown isn't nearly enough, here's a random sampling of two teams that would be in the crosshairs of the NCAA tournament selection committee if they had to make a decision based on results to date (data courtesy collegerpi.com):

Team A	Category	Team B
15-3	W-L	22-11
70	RPI	70
0-1	T25	4-3
0-2	T50	6-9
4-3	T100	7-10
9-0	200+	11-0
3-2	Road	5-6
5-3	Road+Neutral	7-8
227	SOS	90
323	NC SOS	307
2-2	Conference	10-8

Yes, loyal readers, this is a trick comparison. Clearly, two teams can't have the same RPI, and no one has played 33 games this season.

But just ignore that for a moment and play along.

The similarities don't end with the RPI. Both teams rolled up impressive nonconference records against soft competition. Both were more than respectable on the road, and were solid enough in league play. Team A's overall strength of schedule is going to improve drastically now that it's into the heart of league play --- and in a league where few, if any, games will be played against complete chumps.

Team A doesn't have any sort of resume against top 50 opponents, while Team B was reputable enough in those games.

The biggest similarity is the nonconference strength of schedule. Landing in the 300s in that category is never a good thing.

So who are the mystery teams? Scroll down to find out.

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Team A is

(VIRGINIA TECH, 2009-10)

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And Team B is

(PENN STATE, 2008-09)

Clearly, the Hokies aren't going to be measured against teams from past years. So that's not the point of the comparison

However, the only thing that forced Penn State into putting the "NIT" into Nittany Lions was a dreadful nonconference strength of schedule.

Virginia Tech lives (and eventually dies) on the bubble as much as any team in the country. The Hokies have a capable coach in Seth Greenberg, an underrated star in Malcolm Delaney and usually find a way to spring a victory or two that looks impressive come Selection Sunday.

They also find a way to have more near-misses per season than just about anyone.

If they're nervous on Selection Sunday, it will be because of an ugly nonconference schedule. The Hokies lost to Temple, beat worse-than-expected Iowa and (coincidentally) Penn State on the road, took out Georgia at home and Seton Hall on a neutral floor. They also played two of the three worst teams in the RPI (North Carolina Central and UMBC)

In short, the Hokies have a lot of work to do --- not just to prove they belong but to get folks to look past the shaky schedule they feasted on early in the season, lest they simply emerge as NIT favorites like Penn State did a year ago.

Comments

[Eddie T]

I give myself credit -- I figured out who Team A was. I thought you might be going for a comparison of the same school from last year.

Clearly a valid comparison, meaning the Hokies need to win some of those games against the top-50's remaining on their schedule. I have to hope, however, that my ACC team of choice is not one of them. tee hee