The postseason is drawing closer and the bracketology picture is starting to come into focus.
Off the Block crunched the numbers using the same criteria as the selection committee to show how the top teams in the nation fare against each other in the race for the two at-large bids and NCAA Tournament positioning.
Below are all of the criteria categories the selection committee uses to determine the NCAA Tournament field.
— RPI ranking
— Strength of schedule
— Won-lost results
— Head-to-head competition
— Results versus non-conference opponents
— Home and away results
— Results against common opponents
— Results against teams already qualified and other teams under consideration
— Eligibility and availability of student-athletes for NCAA championships.
There is no requirement for the committee to give additional weight to a certain category.
Here’s how the at-large bids and tournament seeding races look right now using the selection committee criteria.
[Editor’s note: Teams projected to qualify or be under consideration are Ball State, Hawai’i, Long Beach State, North Greenville, Penn State, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA and USC]
Long Beach State vs. UCLA
RPI ranking: Edge: Long Beach State No. 1; UCLA No. 5. Edge: Long Beach State
Strength of schedule: Long Beach State No. 3; UCLA No. 16. Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 16-3; UCLA 17-3. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: Season series tied at 1-1. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 11-2; UCLA 10-2. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: Long Beach State 13-1; UCLA 10-1. Edge: Long Beach State
Road record: Long Beach State 3-2; UCLA 7-2. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 6-2; UCLA 9-2. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 6-2; UCLA 4-1. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
Long Beach State vs. Penn State
RPI ranking: Long Beach State No. 1; Penn State No. 2. Edge: Long Beach State
Strength of schedule: Long Beach State No. 3; Penn State No. 18. Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 16-3; Penn State 20-3. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: Penn State won season series 1-0.
Edge: Penn State
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 11-2; Penn State 7-3. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: Long Beach State 13-1; Penn State 11-0. Edge: Penn State
Road record: Long Beach State 3-2; Penn State 9-2. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 7-1; Penn State 5-3. Edge: Push
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 6-2; Penn State 1-3. Edge: Long Beach State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
Long Beach State vs. UC Santa Barbara
RPI ranking: Long Beach State No. 1; UC Santa Barbara No. 6. Edge: Long Beach State
Strength of schedule: Long Beach State No. 3; UC Santa Barbara No. 11. Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 16-3; UC Santa Barbara 14-6. Edge: Long Beach State
Head-to-head competition: Long Beach State leads season series 2-0.
Edge: Long Beach State
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 11-2; UC Santa Barbara 9-4. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: Long Beach State 13-1; UC Santa Barbara 9-4. Edge: Long Beach State
Road record: Long Beach State 3-2; UC Santa Barbara 5-2. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 7-3; UC Santa Barbara 8-3. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 6-2; UC Santa Barbara 1-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
Long Beach State vs. USC
RPI ranking: Long Beach State No. 1; USC No. 4. Edge: Long Beach State
Strength of schedule: Long Beach State No. 3; USC No. 10. Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 16-3; USC 15-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Head-to-head competition: Long Beach State won the season series 1-0. Edge: Long Beach State
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 11-2; USC 11-2. Edge: Push
Home record: Long Beach State 13-1; USC 10-1. Edge: Long Beach State
Road record: Long Beach State 3-2; USC 4-4. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 8-3; USC 10-4. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 6-2; USC 4-3. Edge: Long Beach State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
Long Beach State vs. Hawai’i
RPI ranking: Long Beach State No. 1; Hawai’i No. 8. Edge: Long Beach State
Strength of schedule: Long Beach State No. 3; Hawai’i No. 9. Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 16-3; Hawai’i 18-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Head-to-head competition: Long Beach State leads season series 2-0. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 11-2; Hawai’i 15-2. Edge: Hawai’i
Home record: Long Beach State 13-1; Hawai’i 14-0. Edge: Hawai’i
Road record: Long Beach State 3-2; Hawai’i 1-5. Edge: Long Beach State State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 7-1; Hawai’i 10-1. Edge: Hawai’i
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 6-2; Hawai’i 0-4. Edge: Long Beach State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
Long Beach State vs. Ball State
RPI ranking: Long Beach State No. 1; Ball State No. 3. Edge: Long Beach State
Strength of schedule: Long Beach State No. 3; Ball State No. 26. Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 16-3; Ball State 19-2. Edge: Ball State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Long Beach State 11-2; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Home record: Long Beach State 13-1; Ball State 11-1. Edge: Long Beach State
Road record: Long Beach State 3-1; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 6-0; Ball State 7-1. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 4-2; Ball State 2-0. Edge: Ball State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
UCLA vs. Penn State
RPI ranking: UCLA No. 5; Penn State No. 2. Edge: Penn State
Strength of schedule: UCLA No. 16; Penn State No. 18. Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: UCLA 17-3; Penn State 20-3. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: UCLA won the season series 1-0. Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: UCLA 10-2; Penn State 7-3. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 10-1; Penn State 11-0. Edge: Penn State
Road record: UCLA 7-2; Penn State 9-2. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 7-1; Penn State 8-1. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-1; Penn State 1-3. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
UCLA vs. UC Santa Barbara
RPI ranking: UCLA No. 5; UC Santa Barbara No. 6. Edge: UCLA
Strength of schedule: UCLA No. 16; UC Santa Barbara No. 11. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Won-lost results: UCLA 17-3; UC Santa Barbara 14-6. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UCLA 10-2; UC Santa Barbara 9-4. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 10-1; UC Santa Barbara 9-4. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 5-2; UC Santa Barbara 5-2. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 12-1; UC Santa Barbara 13-6. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-1; UC Santa Barbara 1-5. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
UCLA vs. USC
RPI ranking: UCLA No. 5; USC No. 4. Edge: USC
Strength of schedule: UCLA No. 16; USC No. 10. Edge: USC
Won-lost results: UCLA 17-3; USC 15-6. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: UCLA leads season series 2-0. Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: UCLA 8-2; USC 11-2. Edge: USC
Home record: UCLA 10-1; USC 10-1. Edge: Push
Road record: UCLA 7-2; USC 4-4. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 13-2; USC 10-4. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-1; USC 4-3. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
UCLA vs. Hawai’i
RPI ranking: UCLA No. 5; Hawai’i No. 8. Edge: UCLA
Strength of schedule: UCLA No. 16; Hawai’i No. 9. Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: UCLA 17-3; Hawai’i 18-5. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UCLA 10-2; Hawai’i 15-2. Edge: Hawai’i
Home record: UCLA 10-1; Hawai’i 14-0. Edge: Hawai’i
Road record: UCLA 7-2; Hawai’i 1-5. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 6-3; Hawai’i 5-3. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-1; Hawai’i 0-4. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
UCLA vs. Ball State
RPI ranking: UCLA No. 5; Ball State No. 3. Edge: Ball State
Strength of schedule: UCLA No. 16; Ball State No. 26. Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: UCLA 17-3; Ball State 19-2. Edge: Ball State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UCLA 8-2; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Home record: UCLA 10-1; Ball State 11-1. Edge: Ball State
Road record: UCLA 7-2; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 3-1; Ball State 6-1. Edge: Ball State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 4-1; Ball State 2-0. Edge: Ball State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
Penn State vs. UC Santa Barbara
RPI ranking: Penn State No. 2; UC Santa Barbara No. 6. Edge: Penn State
Strength of schedule: Penn State No. 18; UC Santa Barbara No. 11. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Won-lost results: Penn State 20-3; UC Santa Barbara 14-6. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: UC Santa Barbara won the season series 1-0. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Non-conference record: Penn State 7-3; UC Santa Barbara 9-4. Edge: Penn State
Home record: Penn State 11-0; UC Santa Barbara 9-4. Edge: Penn State
Road record: Penn State 9-2; UC Santa Barbara 5-2. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. common opponents: Penn State 9-1; UC Santa Barbara 5-4. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Penn State 1-3; UC Santa Barbara 1-5. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
Penn State vs. USC
RPI ranking: Penn State No. 2; USC No. 4. Edge: Penn State
Strength of schedule: Penn State No. 18; USC No. 10. Edge: USC
Won-lost results: Penn State 20-3; USC 15-6. Edge: Penn State
Head-to-head competition: USC won the season series 1-0. Edge: USC
Non-conference record: Penn State 7-3; USC 11-2. Edge: USC
Home record: Penn State 11-0; USC 10-1. Edge: Push
Road record: Penn State 9-2; USC 4-4. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. common opponents: Penn State 11-2; USC 7-4. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Penn State 1-3; USC 4-3. Edge: USC
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
Penn State vs. Hawai’i
RPI ranking: Penn State No. 2; Hawai’i No. 8. Edge: Penn State
Strength of schedule: Penn State No. 18; Hawai’i No. 9. Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: Penn State 20-3; Hawai’i 18-5. Edge: Hawai’i
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Penn State 7-3; Hawai’i 15-2. Edge: Hawai’i
Home record: Penn State 11-0; Hawai’i 14-0. Edge: Push
Road record: Penn State 9-2; Hawai’i 1-5. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. common opponents: Penn State 1-1; Hawai’i 0-2. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Penn State 1-3; Hawai’i 0-4. Edge: Penn State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
Penn State vs. Ball State
RPI ranking: Penn State No. 2; Ball State No. 3. Edge: Penn State
Strength of schedule: Penn State No. 18; Ball State No. 26. Edge: Penn State
Won-lost results: Penn State 20-3; Ball State 19-2. Edge: Ball State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Penn State 6-3; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Home record: Penn State 11-0; Ball State 11-1. Edge: Penn State
Road record: Penn State 9-2; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Record vs. common opponents: Penn State 9-0; Ball State 6-1. Edge: Penn State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Penn State 1-3; Ball State 2-0. Edge: Ball State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
UC Santa Barbara vs. USC
RPI ranking: UC Santa Barbara No. 6; USC No. 4. Edge: USC
Strength of schedule: UC Santa Barbara No. 11; USC No. 10. Edge: USC
Won-lost results: UC Santa Barbara 14-6; USC 15-6. Edge: USC
Head-to-head competition: USC won the season series 3-0. Edge: USC
Non-conference record: UC Santa Barbara 9-4; USC 11-2. Edge: USC
Home record: UC Santa Barbara 8-4; USC 10-0. Edge: USC
Road record: UC Santa Barbara 5-2; USC 4-3. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Record vs. common opponents: UC Santa Barbara 13-3; USC 8-3. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Santa Barbara 1-5; USC 4-3. Edge: USC
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
UC Santa Barbara vs. Hawai’i
RPI ranking: UC Santa Barbara No. 6; Hawai’i No. 8. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Strength of schedule: UC Santa Barbara No. 11; Hawai’i No. 9. Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: UC Santa Barbara 14-6; Hawai’i 18-5. Edge: Hawai’i
Head-to-head competition: Have yet to play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UC Santa Barbara 9-4; Hawai’i 15-2. Edge: Hawai’i
Home record: UC Santa Barbara 9-4; Hawai’i 14-0. Edge: Hawai’i
Road record: UC Santa Barbara 5-2; Hawai’i 1-5. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Record vs. common opponents: UC Santa Barbara 6-2; Hawai’i 6-3. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Santa Barbara 1-5; Hawai’i 0-4. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
UC Santa Barbara vs. Ball State
RPI ranking: UC Santa Barbara No. 6; Ball State No. 3. Edge: Ball State
Strength of schedule: UC Santa Barbara No. 11; Ball State No. 26. Edge: UC Santa Barbara
Won-lost results: UC Santa Barbara 14-6; Ball State 19-2. Edge: Ball State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UC Santa Barbara 9-4; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Home record: UC Santa Barbara 8-4; Ball State 11-1. Edge: Ball State
Road record: UC Santa Barbara 6-2; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Record vs. common opponents: UC Santa Barbara 3-1; Ball State 6-1. Edge: Ball State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Santa Barbara 1-5; Ball State 2-0. Edge: Ball State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
USC vs. Hawai’i
RPI ranking: USC No. 4; Hawai’i No. 8. Edge: USC
Strength of schedule: USC No. 10; Hawai’i No. 9. Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: USC 15-6; Hawai’i 18-5. Edge: Hawai’i
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: USC 11-2; Hawai’i 15-2. Edge: Hawai’i
Home record: USC 10-1; Hawai’i 14-0. Edge: Push
Road record: USC 4-4; Hawai’i 1-5. Edge: USC
Record vs. common opponents: USC 8-2; Hawai’i 4-1. Edge: Push
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: USC 4-1; Hawai’i 0-4. Edge: USC
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
USC vs. Ball State
RPI ranking: USC No. 4; Ball State No. 3. Edge: Ball State
Strength of schedule: USC No. 10; Ball State No. 26. Edge: USC
Won-lost results: USC 15-6; Ball State 19-2. Edge: Ball State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: USC 11-2; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Home record: USC 10-1; Ball State 11-1. Edge: Ball State
Road record: USC 4-3; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Record vs. common opponents: USC 4-1; Ball State 5-1. Edge: Ball State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: USC 4-1; Ball State 2-0. Edge: Ball State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push
Hawai’i vs. Ball State
RPI ranking: Hawai’i No. 8; Ball State No. 3. Edge: Ball State
Strength of schedule: Hawai’i No. 9; Ball State No. 26. Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: Hawai’i 18-5; Ball State 19-2. Edge: Ball State
Head-to-head competition: Ball State won the season series 2-0. Edge: Ball State
Non-conference record: Hawai’i 15-2; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Home record: Hawai’i 14-0; Ball State 11-1. Edge: Hawai’i
Road record: Hawai’i 1-5; Ball State 8-1. Edge: Ball State
Record vs. common opponents: Hawai’i 4-0; Ball State 2-1. Edge: Hawai’i
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Hawai’i 0-4; Ball State 2-0. Edge: Ball State
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Edge: Push