Spring Break
One last attempt to help Drexel get a bid
James Mason
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
To Whom It May Concern:
On Monday night, the VCU Rams won the Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball championship, defeating George Mason and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA championship. However, the Colonial deserves at least one at-large bid, if not two.
The team most deserving of this bid is Drexel University. Drexel's credentials include a non-conference RPI and Strength of Schedule of 5, a non-conference record of 9-2, a tie for the most road wins with 14, and wins over teams like Vermont, St. Joseph's, Villanova, Syracuse, Hofstra and Creighton, all on the road.
There aren't too many teams that can boast of that kind of profile, especially as a "mid-major." Perhaps its conference affiliation is what's holding Drexel up. Other bubble teams from major conferences don't come close to Drexel's profile.
From the ACC, Georgia Tech has only won three games away from home and has a non-conference SOS of 157.
From the Big East, Drexel already beat 'Nova and Syracuse on the road, and another Big East bubble team, West Virginia, has a non-conference SOS of 274. In the Big Ten, Michigan State's only true road win came at Penn State. Illinois is 6-10 vs. the RPI Top 100; Drexel is 7-6. Perdue's true road wins came at Penn State and Northwestern. The Big 12's Kansas State has a non-conference RPI and SOS of 80 and 229, respectively.
In addition, the Dragons defeated Missouri Valley Conference champion Creighton on the road in front of the largest crowd to view a college basketball game in the history of the state of Nebraska.
It goes without saying that if you ignore the conference, Drexel deserves an invite to the dance. Yes, Drexel did lose six games within the conference. However, familiarity breeds contempt. Additionally, Drexel lost one game to VCU without its best player, and the conference semifinal game was essentially a home game for the Rams. The loss to William & Mary can be explained as a mental lapse before the Creighton game. Old Dominion is a solid team also deserving of an NCAA bid, and they've had Drexel's number the past few seasons. Hofstra has had Drexel's number, too, but the Dragons avenged their early loss to them later in the season and snapped the Pride's 28-game home winning streak.
In closing, I am simply asking you to consider this letter and all of the facts in it, do your own research, and form your own opinion. If, after reading this, you still don't think Drexel should go dancing, so be it. If this letter has been convincing in any manner, please spread the word.
James Mason is a junior majoring in communications. He can be reached through sports@thetriangle.org.
On Monday night, the VCU Rams won the Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball championship, defeating George Mason and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA championship. However, the Colonial deserves at least one at-large bid, if not two.
The team most deserving of this bid is Drexel University. Drexel's credentials include a non-conference RPI and Strength of Schedule of 5, a non-conference record of 9-2, a tie for the most road wins with 14, and wins over teams like Vermont, St. Joseph's, Villanova, Syracuse, Hofstra and Creighton, all on the road.
There aren't too many teams that can boast of that kind of profile, especially as a "mid-major." Perhaps its conference affiliation is what's holding Drexel up. Other bubble teams from major conferences don't come close to Drexel's profile.
From the ACC, Georgia Tech has only won three games away from home and has a non-conference SOS of 157.
From the Big East, Drexel already beat 'Nova and Syracuse on the road, and another Big East bubble team, West Virginia, has a non-conference SOS of 274. In the Big Ten, Michigan State's only true road win came at Penn State. Illinois is 6-10 vs. the RPI Top 100; Drexel is 7-6. Perdue's true road wins came at Penn State and Northwestern. The Big 12's Kansas State has a non-conference RPI and SOS of 80 and 229, respectively.
In addition, the Dragons defeated Missouri Valley Conference champion Creighton on the road in front of the largest crowd to view a college basketball game in the history of the state of Nebraska.
It goes without saying that if you ignore the conference, Drexel deserves an invite to the dance. Yes, Drexel did lose six games within the conference. However, familiarity breeds contempt. Additionally, Drexel lost one game to VCU without its best player, and the conference semifinal game was essentially a home game for the Rams. The loss to William & Mary can be explained as a mental lapse before the Creighton game. Old Dominion is a solid team also deserving of an NCAA bid, and they've had Drexel's number the past few seasons. Hofstra has had Drexel's number, too, but the Dragons avenged their early loss to them later in the season and snapped the Pride's 28-game home winning streak.
In closing, I am simply asking you to consider this letter and all of the facts in it, do your own research, and form your own opinion. If, after reading this, you still don't think Drexel should go dancing, so be it. If this letter has been convincing in any manner, please spread the word.
James Mason is a junior majoring in communications. He can be reached through sports@thetriangle.org.
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