2011 Division 1 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament: the Big Dance with the Huge Ball
NCAA Interactive Tournament Bracket
One-and-Done for the Below-64 RPI Tournament Teams (One Exception – Conspiracy Theorists Pay Attention!)
To start with, Penn State downed Liberty last night 3-0. But the question that interests us most today is how much have the NCAA’s tournament selections/brackets affected the tournament so far?
A little history (for the sane among you who don’t know all of this already). When the seedings and brackets were announced for the 2011 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, the Blogisphere (and much of the volleyball community) went absolutely crazy — we mean, ALL CAPS WE ARE OUTRAGED THE FIX IS IN crazy. Mechelle Voepel captured the mood (or arguments in favor of the outrage) quite well in her article “5 burning questions for NCAA tourney“:
Take a look at this year’s NCAA tournament bracket for women’s volleyball, and you might just wonder if somebody hacked into the organization and inserted a gag bracket as a prank.
Your first clue? USC’s seed. Here’s a program that is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, took the regular-season title in what’s historically the toughest volleyball conference in the country, and has lost just two matches since Labor Day. And those losses were at three-time NCAA champion UCLA and at six-time champion Stanford.
You see No. 7 next to USC — which went to the Final Four last year and has won three NCAA titles — and think, “Oh, very funny. Now where’s the real bracket?”
. . . But that’s not the only injustice: Take a look at the Honolulu Regional, which has six of the top 18 ranked teams according to last week’s coaches’ poll — including those ranked first (USC), second (Nebraska) and third (Hawaii).
Yes, that region has not just Pac-12 champion USC, but also Western Athletic Conference champ Hawaii, which at 29-1 is the No. 10 seed. And Big Ten champ Nebraska, the No. 2 seed. And West Coast Conference champ Pepperdine, the No. 15 seed. And last year’s national runner-up Cal, whose six losses were all to other Pac-12 teams.
By the way, the Bears are unseeded, despite the fact that they spent time ranked No. 1 this season. Cal isn’t one of the 16 best teams in the country? Really? It’s incomprehensible.
So, that’s a fair sample of the criticism of the seedings (and we’re not disagreeing). But how did it play out overall? Clearly, Penn State got a big break in its bracket. As shown in the table below, its 1st round opponent (Liberty) had the fourth-lowest RPI of any team in the tournament – 145. But to the 16 seeded teams (12 of which had 1st round opponents with RPIs under 64) the RPIs of their 1st round opponents didn’t seem to matter one bit. Every one of them won their 1st round match — including the four that didn’t have 1st round opponents with RPIs of 64 or lower: #4 seed Iowa State, which beat Milwaukee (RPI 50) 3-0; #13 seed Minnesota, which beat North Dakota State (RPI 42) 3-0; #14 seed Tennessee, which beat Duke (RPI 43) 3-1; and #15 seed Pepperdine, which beat Missouri State (RPI 44) 3-0.
Oh, and unseeded California (RPI 29)? It lost in the 1st round to North Carolina (RPI 31), which in turn lost in the 2nd round to #15 seed Pepperdine (RPI 16). And Nebraska? It defeated Jackson State (RPI 217 – the lowest in the tournament) 3-0, but followed that with a 3-2 loss in Lincoln to Kansas State (RPI 26) in the 2nd round.
We aren’t saying the brackets are all equal. They aren’t. Obviously, Penn State’s 2nd round opponent — Delaware (RPI 79) isn’t anywhere near as tough as Kansas State. And we aren’t saying the Selection Committee made ideal choices, or even good choices — they probably didn’t — or should rely so heavily on RPI — they probably shouldn’t.
But if the Nittany Lions beat Delaware, their Sweet 16 opponent is likely to be #9 seed UCLA (RPI 15). If they don’t beat UCLA, it won’t matter who preliminary round opponents were. And if they beat UCLA, then it still won’t matter. They’ll likely be facing Texas, and the challenge of defeating two elite opponents on the road in consecutive matches for the first time this season. If they can’t do that, there season is over. If they can, they’ll have earned their trip to the Final Four.
The following two tables show the results so far for the 14 lowest RPI teams in the tournament, and for the entire 64 team field (including, where available, their RPI, Pablo Ranking, and AVCA ranking). The tables are sortable, so you can arrange as you please by clicking the arrows at the top of a given column:
2011 NCAA Teams Teams with RPI Below 64
| Team | Regional | RPI | 1st Rnd | 1st Rnd Opponent's Seed | 1st Rnd Opponent's RPI | 2nd Rnd | 2nd Rnd Opponent's RPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas State | Lexington | 72 | L (0-3 vs. Texas) | 1 | 2 | out | out |
| Central Michigan | Gainesville | 74 | L (0-3 vs. Illinois) | 3 | 1 | out | out |
| Delaware | Lexington | 79 | W (3-1 vs. American) | not seeded | 94 | 11 | |
| Sacred Heart | Gainesville | 80 | L (1-3 vs. Stanford) | 11 | 18 | out | out |
| Albany | Minneapolis | 85 | L (0-3 vs. Florida State) | 12 | 10 | out | out |
| Moorehead State | Minneapolis | 86 | L (0-3 vs. Purdue) | 5 | 6 | out | out |
| Lipscomb | Lexington | 89 | L (1-3 vs. Texas A&M) | 16 | 17 | out | out |
| Yale | Honolulu | 91 | L (0-3 vs. USC) | 7 | 8 | out | out |
| American | Lexington | 94 | L (1-3 vs. Delaware) | not seeded | 79 | out | out |
| Northern Colorado | Honolulu | 108 | L (0-3 vs. Hawaii) | 10 | 7 | out | out |
| Liberty | Lexington | 145 | L (0-3 vs. Penn State) | 8 | 11 | out | out |
| Niagara | Gainesville | 148 | L (0-3 vs. Northern Iowa) | 6 | 5 | out | out |
| Md.- Eastern Shore | Lexington | 195 | L (0-3 vs. UCLA) | 9 | 15 | out | out |
| Jackson State | Honolulu | 217 | L (0-3 vs. Nebraska) | 2 | 4 | out | out |
2011 NCAA Tournament: Field of 64
| Team | Pre-Tournament W-L | NCAA Tournament Seed | RPI | Pablo Ranking | AVCA Poll | Conference | Regional | 1st Rnd | 2nd Rnd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 22-4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Big 12 | Lexington | W (3-0 vs. Texas State) | W (3-0 vs. Michigan State) |
| Nebraska | 24-4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | B1G | Honolulu | W (3-0 vs. Jackson State) | L (2-3 vs. Kansas State) |
| Illinois | 27-4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 | B1G | Gainesville | W (3-0 vs. Central Michigan) | W (3-0 vs. Marquette) |
| Iowa State | 22-5 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 14 | Big 12 | Minneapolis | W (3-0 vs. Milwaukee) | W (3-0 vs. Miami (Fla)) |
| Purdue | 27-4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 8 | B1G | Minneapolis | W (3-0 vs. Morehead State) | W (3-1 vs. Louisville) |
| Northern Iowa | 32-1 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 12 | Missouri Valley | Gainesville | W (3-0 vs. Niagara) | L (1-3 vs. Florida) |
| USC | 25-4 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 1 | Pac-12 | Honolulu | W (3-0 vs. Yale) | W (3-0 vs. Tulsa) |
| Penn State | 23-7 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 9 | B1G | Lexington | W (3-0 vs. Liberty) | W (3-0 vs. Delaware) |
| UCLA | 24-8 | 9 | 15 | 13 | 4 | Pac-12 | Lexington | W (3-0 vs. MdES) | W (3-1 vs. San Diego) |
| Hawaii | 29-1 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 3 | WAC | Honolulu | W (3-0 vs. Northern Colorado) | W (3-1 vs. Colorado State) |
| Stanford | 21-7 | 11 | 18 | 25 | 6 | Pac-12 | Gainesville | W (3-1 vs. Sacred Heart) | L (1-3 vs. Michigan) |
| Florida State | 24-6 | 12 | 10 | 23 | 21 | ACC | Minneapolis | W (3-0 vs. Albany) | W (3-2 vs. Cincinnati) |
| Minnesota | 18-11 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 19 | B1G | Minneapolis | W (3-0 vs. North Dakota State) | W (3-2 vs. Washington) |
| Tennessee | 27-3 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 15 | SEC | Gainesville | W (3-1 vs. Duke) | L (2-3 vs. Ohio State) |
| Pepperdine | 22-6 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 18 | West Coast | Honolulu | W (3-0 vs. Missouri State) | W (3-0 vs. North Carolina) |
| Texas A&M | 22-7 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 27 | Big 12 | Lexington | W (3-1 vs. Lipscomb) | L (0-3 vs. Kentucky) |
| Kentucky | 26-5 | unseeded | 13 | 21 | 16 | SEC | Lexington | W (3-2 vs. Dayton) | W (3-0 vs. Texas A&M) |
| Northern Illinois | 28-6 | unseeded | 14 | na | nr | Mid-American | Minneapolis | L (1-3 vs. Miami (Fla.) | out |
| Cincinnati | 26-9 | unseeded | 19 | na | nr | Big East | Minneapolis | W (3-2 vs. Samford) | L (2-3 vs. Florida State) |
| Florida | 24-5 | unseeded | 20 | 7 | 17 | SEC | Gainesville | W (3-1 vs. Missouri) | W (3-1 vs. Northern Iowa) |
| Western Kentucky | 31-3 | unseeded | 21 | 26 | 24 | SunBelt | Gainesville | L (1-3 vs. Marquette) | out |
| Miami (Fla.) | 25-4 | unseeded | 22 | 20 | 25 | ACC | Minneapolis | W (3-1 vs. Northern Illinois) | L (0-3 vs. Iowa State) |
| Michigan | 20-12 | unseeded | 23 | 28 | 22 | B1G | Gainesville | W (3-1 vs. Baylor) | W (3-1 vs. Stanford) |
| Tulsa | 27-6 | unseeded | 24 | 31 | 31 | Conference USA | Honolulu | W (3-1 vs. Oklahoma) | L (0-3 vs. USC) |
| San Diego | 27-4 | unseeded | 25 | 24 | 20 | West Coast | Lexington | W (3-1 vs. LBSU) | L (1-3 vs. UCLA) |
| Kansas State | 20-10 | unseeded | 26 | 34 | 36 | Big 12 | Honolulu | W (3-0 vs. Wichita State) | W (3-2 vs. Nebraska) |
| Oklahoma | 21-11 | unseeded | 27 | 39 | nr | Big 12 | Honolulu | L (1-3 vs. Tulsa) | out |
| Colorado State | 23-5 | unseeded | 28 | 16 | 26 | Mountain West | Honolulu | W (3-2 vs. Oregon) | L (1-3 vs. Hawaii) |
| California | 26-6 | unseeded | 29 | 19 | 10 | Pac-12 | Honolulu | L (2-3 vs. North Carolina) | out |
| Oregon | 21-9 | unseeded | 30 | 14 | 13 | Pac-12 | Honolulu | L (2-3 vs. Colorado State) | out |
| North Carolina | 23-8 | unseeded | 31 | na | nr | ACC | Honolulu | W (3-2 vs. California) | L (0-3 vs. Pepperdine) |
| Western Michigan | 24-8 | unseeded | 32 | na | nr | Mid-American | Minneapolis | L (1-3 vs. Washington) | out |
| Missouri | 21-12 | unseeded | 33 | na | nr | Big 12 | Gainesville | L (1-3 vs. Florida) | out |
| Ball State | 25-7 | unseeded | 34 | na | nr | Mid-American | Minneapolis | L (0-3 vs. Louisville) | out |
| Washington | 23-7 | unseeded | 35 | 21 | 11 | Pac-12 | Minneapolis | W (3-1 vs. Western Michigan) | L (2-3 vs. Minnesota) |
| Dayton | 25-6 | unseeded | 36 | na | nr | Atlantic 10 | Lexington | L (2-3 vs. Kentucky) | out |
| Michigan State | 21-11 | unseeded | 37 | 26 | 30 | B1G | Lexington | W (3-1 vs. Arizona) | L (0-3 vs. Texas) |
| Louisville | 23-8 | unseeded | 38 | na | nr | Big East | Minneapolis | W (3-0 vs. Ball State) | L (1-3 vs. Purdue) |
| Wichita State | 21-10 | unseeded | 39 | na | nr | Missouri Valley | Honolulu | L (0-3 vs. Kansas State) | out |
| Marquette | 23-10 | unseeded | 40 | na | nr | Big East | Gainesville | W (3-1 vs. Western Kentucky) | L (0-3 vs. Illinois) |
| Long Beach State | 23-6 | unseeded | 41 | 18 | 23 | Big West | Lexington | L (1-3 vs. USD) | out |
| North Dakota State | 26-8 | unseeded | 42 | na | nr | Summit | Minneapolis | L (0-3 vs. Minnesota) | out |
| Duke | 21-8 | unseeded | 43 | na | nr | ACC | Gainesville | L (1-3 vs. Tennessee) | out |
| Missouri State | 22-8 | unseeded | 44 | na | nr | Missouri Valley | Honolulu | L (0-3 vs. Pepperdine) | out |
| Middle Tennessee | 21-11 | unseeded | 45 | na | nr | Sun Belt | Gaineville | L (1-3 vs. Ohio State) | out |
| Baylor | 18-14 | unseeded | 46 | na | nr | Big 12 | Gainesville | L (1-3 vs. Michigan) | out |
| Ohio State | 19-14 | unseeded | 48 | 32 | 28 | B1G | Gainesville | W (3-1 vs. Middle Tennessee) | W (3-2 vs. Tennessee) |
| Arizona | 19-12 | unseeded | 49 | 40 | 32 | Pac-12 | Lexington | L (1-3 vs. Michigan State) | out |
| Milwaukee | 25-4 | unseeded | 50 | na | nr | Horizon | Minneapolis | L (0-3 vs. Iowa State) | out |
| Samford | 29-4 | unseeded | 62 | na | nr | Southern | Minneapolis | L (2-3 vs. Cincinnati) | out |
| Texas State | 27-7 | unseeded | 72 | na | nr | Southland | Lexington | L (0-3 vs. Texas) | out |
| Central Michigan | 19-13 | unseeded | 74 | na | nr | Mid-American | Gainesville | L (0-3 vs. Illinois) | out |
| Delaware | 20-12 | unseeded | 79 | na | nr | Colonial | Lexington | W (3-1 vs. American) | L (0-3 vs. Penn State) |
| Sacred Heart | 27-7 | unseeded | 80 | na | nr | Northeast | Gainesville | L (1-3 vs. Stanford) | out |
| Albany | 21-8 | unseeded | 85 | na | nr | Amercia East | Minneapolis | L (0-3 vs. Florida State) | out |
| Moorehead State | 26-7 | unseeded | 86 | na | nr | OVC | Minneapolis | L (0-3 vs. Purdue) | out |
| Lipscomb | 20-10 | unseeded | 89 | na | nr | Atlantic Sun | Lexington | L (1-3 vs. Texas A&M) | out |
| Yale | 18-6 | unseeded | 91 | na | nr | Ivy | Honolulu | L (0-3 vs. USC) | out |
| American | 23-10 | unseeded | 94 | na | nr | Patriot | Lexington | L (1-3 vs. Delaware) | out |
| Northern Colorado | 22-8 | unseeded | 108 | na | nr | Big Sky | Honolulu | L (0-3 vs. Hawaii) | out |
| Liberty | 20-12 | unseeded | 145 | na | nr | Big South | Lexington | L (0-3 vs. Penn State) | out |
| Niagara | 25-8 | unseeded | 148 | na | nr | Metro Atlantic | Gainesville | L (0-3 vs. Northern Iowa) | out |
| Md.-Eastern Shore | 24-6 | unseeded | 195 | na | nr | Mid-Eastern | Lexington | L (0-3 vs. UCLA) | out |
| Jackson State | 29-9 | unseeded | 217 | na | nr | Southwestern | Honolulu | L (0-3 vs. Nebraska) | out |