SVP’s One Huge Thing: CBB’s out-of-conference scheduling game

Scott Van Pelt,

Host, SportsCenter with SVPFeb 28, 2024, 10:14 AM ET Close Scott Van Pelt signed up with ESPN in Spring 2001 as the network’s lead professional golf press reporter. He has actually considering that become a SportsCenter anchor, mostly hosting the 11 p.m. ET edition while remaining the lead press reporter and host of the network’s coverage of golf’s grand slam occasions. In April 2008 he was called co-host of ESPN Radio’s Tirico & Van Pelt weekday program (2-4 p.m. ET on weekdays). A native of Brookville, Md., Van Pelt finished from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in radio/television and film.We reside in a time in media where something is either the very best or it sucks. Absolutes just. Well, many times more than something can be true at once.Case in point: the Big 12 is the very best basketball conference.

That’s my opinion, I believe it to be a fact. They currently have 10 teams in the leading 45 in the NET rankings. About that … the remarks from Clemson Tigers coach Brad Brownell point out another reality. The Big 12 has successfully manipulated those NET rankings in a way that benefits them significantly.Editor’s Picks 1 Related On WCCP radio, Brownell pointed out how the out-of-conference scheduling of the Huge 12 helps ensure greater web rankings so that once they play in-conference games, everybody advantages due to the fact that you’re only head-to-head with highly ranked teams.Regarding that out-of-conference, Brownell stated,”They’re playing 300-level teams and winning by 40 and 50 indicate increase their offensive and defensive effectiveness numbers, which

is a huge part of the NET tool.” I would interject to say that’s not entirely proper– the quality of the challenger is taken into account. Brownell included,” Our league has zero teams in the top 50 of the internet that have a nonconference strength of schedule 250 or higher. The Huge 12 has six teams.”I value a coach being willing to name names– which Brownell did. Particularly mentioning the Cincinnati Bearcats and Iowa State Cyclones as examples of out-of-conference schedules that were– to use his word

— awful. Now, that is a viewpoint … so I looked. Hard to argue it’s not a fact.Here’s where fans get mad– so Cyclone fans, please listen to me. I understand you’re excellent due to the fact that you are. But look at your out-of-conference and you see precisely what Brownell is speaking about. Beyond a big win over in-state competing Iowa, it’s mainly 40-point blowouts versus hopelessly overmatched teams. It likewise consists of losses to the Texas A&M Aggies and the ACC’s own Virginia Tech Hokies. Which, no shock, Brownell pointed out in keeping in mind the ACC is 9-3 against the Big 12 this season.That consists of Clemson’s win over the TCU Horned Frogs. Again quoting Brownell,”We played TCU, beat TCU, TCU’s succeeding in the Huge 12. And I remember getting ready for the TCU game and informing my personnel, ‘Look who they have actually played.’They have not played anyone. Every game is Abilene Christian and Houston

Baptist. We’re getting ready to play them and we’ve currently played an actually tough schedule. But take a look at their internet. Their NET rankings get up and after that when they beat each other up, they do not have bad losses. “Which, as I discussed earlier, is the way you game this one particular data point the committee uses. You have a cheat code if you can synthetically bump your internet ranking out of conference, you’re effectively depositing money you draw down against in conference play.If this sounds like preemptive sour grapes from the Tigers coach, it’s not. Clemson is 23 in the web

and 24 in KenPom– they’re a competition group this year. But he does think it played a role in keeping Clemson out last year.As I stated at the start, more than something can be real at the same time. As I always state, there are truths and opinions. My opinion is that the Big 12 is the very best conference. The nonconference schedule numbers are realities. But you can utilize the bug in the system to your benefit, which they have.I ‘d add one more fact to this: The ACC can do the exact same thing next season. Nobody is stopping you. Schedule appropriately.