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 a possible at-large bid and NCAA Tournament positioning.
Below are all of the criteria categories the selection committee uses to determine the NCAA Tournament field.
— KPI rankings
— 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.
The NCAA Tournament expanded this season from nine to 12 teams with the field consisting of seven conference automatic berths and five at-large berths. The new tournament format also will feature teams being placed into four groups for the opening two rounds, and the top four teams being seeded and placed into separate groups.
Here’s how the at-large bid races look right now using the selection committee criteria.
[Editor’s note: Teams projected to qualify or be under consideration are Ball State, Belmont Abbey, Fort Valley State, Hawai’i, Lindenwood, Long Beach State, Loyola, McKendree, Penn State, Pepperdine, Saint Francis, UC Irvine, UCLA and USC.]
Race for the top-four seeds
[Editor’s note: Ball State, Hawai’i, Long Beach State, Pepperdine and UCLA based on their data are all projected to make the NCAA Tournament regardless of the conference tournament results. These five teams based on their data compared to the rest of the teams are projected to be the only teams under consideration for a top-four seed.]
UCLA vs. Hawai’i
KPI ranking: UCLA No. 1; Hawai’i No. 2. Edge: UCLA
RPI ranking: UCLA No. 2; Hawai’i No. 1. Edge: Hawai’i
Strength of schedule: UCLA No. 9; Hawai’i No. 1. Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: UCLA 28-1; Hawai’i 26-4. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: UCLA won the season series 1-0. Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record:UCLA 13-0; Hawai’i 17-3. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 11-0; Hawai’i 14-3. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 13-1; Hawai’i 10-1. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 14-1; Hawai’i 16-3. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 11-1; Hawai’i 9-3. Edge: UCLA
UCLA vs. Long Beach State
KPI ranking: UCLA No. 1; Long Beach State No. 3. Edge: UCLA
RPI ranking: UCLA No. 2; Long Beach State No. 3. Edge: UCLA
Strength of schedule: UCLA No. 9; Long Beach State No. 5. Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: UCLA 28-1; Long Beach State 22-4. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: UCLA won the season series 2-0. Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record:UCLA 13-0; Long Beach State 14-2. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 11-0; Long Beach State 13-3. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 13-1; Long Beach State 8-1. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 13-1; Long Beach State 15-2. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 11-1; Long Beach State 7-4. Edge: UCLA
UCLA vs. Pepperdine
KPI ranking: UCLA No. 1; Pepperdine No. 5. Edge: UCLA
RPI ranking: UCLA No. 2; Pepperdine No. 5. Edge: UCLA
Strength of schedule: UCLA No. 9; Pepperdine No. 8. Edge: Pepperdine
Won-lost results: UCLA 28-1; Pepperdine 23-6. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: Season series tied at 1-1. Edge: Push
Non-conference record:UCLA 13-0; Pepperdine 9-4. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 11-0; Pepperdine 12-2. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 13-1; Pepperdine 10-3. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 21-0; Pepperdine 14-5. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 11-1; Pepperdine 6-5. Edge: UCLA
UCLA vs. Ball State
KPI ranking: UCLA No. 1; Ball State No. 4. Edge: UCLA
RPI ranking: UCLA No. 2; Ball State No. 4. Edge: UCLA
Strength of schedule: UCLA No. 9; Ball State No. 10. Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: UCLA 28-1; Ball State 23-4. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: UCLA won the season series 1-0. Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record:UCLA 13-0; Ball State 9-1. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 11-0; Ball State 15-1. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 13-1; Ball State 6-2. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 5-0; Ball State 7-3. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 11-1; Ball State 6-2. Edge: UCLA
Hawai’i vs. Long Beach State
KPI ranking: Hawai’i No. 2; Long Beach State No. 3. Edge: Hawai’i
RPI ranking: Hawai’i No. 1; Long Beach State No. 3. Edge: Hawai’i
Strength of schedule: Hawai’i No. 1; Long Beach State No. 5. Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: Hawai’i 26-4; Long Beach State 22-4. Edge: Hawai’i
Head-to-head competition: Hawai’i leads season series 2-0. Edge: Hawai’i
Non-conference record:Hawai’i 17-3; Long Beach State 14-2. Edge: Hawai’i
Home record: Hawai’i 16-3; Long Beach State 13-3. Edge: Hawai’i
Road record: Hawai’i 9-1; Long Beach State 8-1. Edge: Hawai’i
Record vs. common opponents: Hawai’i 10-3; Long Beach State 10-2. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Hawai’i 9-3; Long Beach State 7-4. Edge: Hawai’i
Hawai’i vs. Pepperdine
KPI ranking: Hawai’i No. 2; Pepperdine No. 5. Edge: Hawai’i
RPI ranking: Hawai’i No. 1; Pepperdine No. 5. Edge: Hawai’i
Strength of schedule: Hawai’i No. 1; Pepperdine No. 8. Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: Hawai’i 26-4; Pepperdine 23-6. Edge: Hawai’i
Head-to-head competition: Season series tied at 1-1. Edge: Push
Non-conference record:Hawai’i 17-3; Pepperdine 9-4. Edge: Hawai’i
Home record: Hawai’i 16-3; Pepperdine 12-2. Edge: Pepperdine
Road record: Hawai’i 10-1; Pepperdine 10-3. Edge: Hawai’i
Record vs. common opponents: Hawai’i 17-1; Pepperdine 10-4. Edge: Hawai’i
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Hawai’i 9-3; Pepperdine 6-5. Edge: Hawai’i
Hawai’i vs. Ball State
KPI ranking: Hawai’i No. 2; Ball State No. 4. Edge: Hawai’i
RPI ranking: Hawai’i No. 1; Ball State No. 4. Edge: Hawai’i
Strength of schedule: Hawai’i No. 1; Ball State No. 10. Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: Hawai’i 26-4; Ball State 23-4. Edge: Hawai’i
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record:Hawai’i 17-3; Ball State 9-1. Edge: Ball State
Home record: Hawai’i 16-3; Ball State 15-1. Edge: Ball State
Road record: Hawai’i 10-1; Ball State 6-2. Edge: Hawai’i
Record vs. common opponents: Hawai’i 6-2; Ball State 4-3. Edge: Hawai’i
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Hawai’i 9-3; Ball State 6-2. Edge: Push
Long Beach State vs. Pepperdine
KPI ranking: Long Beach State No. 3; Pepperdine No. 5. Edge: Long Beach State
RPI ranking: Long Beach State No. 3; Pepperdine No. 5. Edge: Long Beach State
Strength of schedule: Long Beach State No. 5; Pepperdine No. 8. Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 22-4; Pepperdine 23-6. Edge: Long Beach State
Head-to-head competition: Long Beach State won the series season 1-0. Edge: Long Beach State
Non-conference record:Long Beach State 14-2; Pepperdine 9-4. Edge: Long Beach State
Home record: Long Beach State 13-3; Pepperdine 12-2. Edge: Pepperdine
Road record: Long Beach State 8-1; Pepperdine 10-3. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 10-4; Pepperdine 8-3. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 7-4; Pepperdine 6-5. Edge: Long Beach State
Long Beach State vs. Ball StateKPI ranking: Long Beach State No. 3; Ball State No. 4. Edge: Long Beach State
RPI ranking: Long Beach State No. 3; Ball State No. 4. Edge: Long Beach State
Strength of schedule: Long Beach State No. 5; Ball State No. 10. Edge: Long Beach State
Won-lost results: Long Beach State 22-4; Ball State 23-4. Edge: Ball State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record:Long Beach State 14-2; Ball State 9-1. Edge: Ball State
Home record: Long Beach State 13-3; Ball State 15-1. Edge: Ball State
Road record: Long Beach State 8-1; Ball State 6-2. Edge: Long Beach State
Record vs. common opponents: Long Beach State 4-2; Ball State 7-2. Edge: Ball State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Long Beach State 7-4; Ball State 6-2. Edge: Ball State
Pepperdine vs. Ball State
KPI ranking: Pepperdine No. 5; Ball State No. 4. Edge: Ball State
RPI ranking: Pepperdine No. 5; Ball State No. 4. Edge: Ball State
Strength of schedule: Pepperdine No. 8; Ball State No. 10. Edge: Pepperdine
Won-lost results: Pepperdine 23-6; Ball State 23-4. Edge: Ball State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Pepperdine 9-4; Ball State 9-1. Edge: Ball State
Home record: Pepperdine 12-2; Ball State 15-1. Edge: Ball State
Road record: Pepperdine 10-3; Ball State 6-2. Edge: Pepperdine
Record vs. common opponents: Pepperdine 5-1; Ball State 3-3. Edge: Pepperdine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Pepperdine 6-5; Ball State 6-2. Edge: Ball State
Race for an at-large bid
USC vs. Lindenwood
KPI ranking: USC No. 9; Lindenwood No. 8. Edge: Lindenwood
RPI ranking: USC No. 10; Lindenwood No. 9. Edge: Lindenwood
Strength of schedule: USC No. 19; Lindenwood No. 16. Edge: Lindenwood
Won-lost results: USC 19-6; Lindenwood 20-7. Edge: Lindenwood
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record:USC 8-1; Lindenwood 9-1. Edge: Lindenwood
Home record: USC 13-3; Lindenwood 12-2. Edge: Lindenwood
Road record: USC 4-3; Lindenwood 8-5. Edge: Lindenwood
Record vs. common opponents: USC 7-0; Lindenwood 6-1. Edge: USC
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: USC 4-5; Lindenwood 5-5. Edge: Lindenwood
Additional datapoints of note:
Record vs. RPI top 5: USC 1-4; Lindenwood 0-3. Edge: USC
Record vs. RPI top 10: USC 3-5; Lindenwood 1-4. Edge: USC
Record vs. RPI top 15: USC 6-6; Lindenwood 5-7. Edge: USC
UC Irvine vs. Lindenwood
KPI ranking: UC Irvine No. 7; Lindenwood No. 8. Edge: UC Irvine
RPI ranking: UC Irvine No. 8; Lindenwood No. 9. Edge: UC Irvine
Strength of schedule: UC Irvine No. 12; Lindenwood No. 16. Edge: UC Irvine
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 18-7; Lindenwood 20-7. Edge: UC Irvine
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record:UC Irvine 12-2; Lindenwood 9-1. Edge: Lindenwood
Home record: UC Irvine 7-5; Lindenwood 12-2. Edge: Lindenwood
Road record: UC Irvine 8-2; Lindenwood 8-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 4-2; Lindenwood 2-1. Edge: Push
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 2-6; Lindenwood 5-5. Edge: Lindenwood
Additional datapoints of note:
Record vs. RPI top 5: UC Irvine 1-5; Lindenwood 0-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. RPI top 10: UC Irvine 2-6; Lindenwood 1-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. RPI top 15: UC Irvine 5-7; Lindenwood 5-7. Edge: Push
UC Irvine vs. USC
KPI ranking: UC Irvine No. 7; USC No. 9. Edge: UC Irvine
RPI ranking: UC Irvine No. 8; USC No. 10. Edge: UC Irvine
Strength of schedule: UC Irvine No. 12; USC No. 19. Edge: UC Irvine
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 18-7; USC 19-6. Edge: USC
Head-to-head competition: Season series tied at 1-1. Edge: Push
Non-conference record:UC Irvine 12-2; USC 8-1. Edge: USC
Home record: UC Irvine 7-5; USC 13-3. Edge: USC
Road record: UC Irvine 8-2; USC 4-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 12-2; USC 10-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 2-6; USC 4-5. Edge: USC
UC Irvine vs. Loyola
KPI ranking: UC Irvine No. 7; Loyola No. 6. Edge: Loyola
RPI ranking: UC Irvine No. 8; Loyola No. 6. Edge: Loyola
Strength of schedule: UC Irvine No. 12; Loyola No. 6. Edge: Loyola
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 18-7; Loyola 20-7. Edge: Loyola
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record:UC Irvine 12-2; Loyola 6-3. Edge: Loyola
Home record: UC Irvine 7-5; Loyola 14-2. Edge: Loyola
Road record: UC Irvine 8-2; Loyola 5-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 5-3; Loyola 3-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 2-6; Loyola 5-5. Edge: Loyola
USC vs. Loyola
KPI ranking: USC No. 9; Loyola No. 6. Edge: Loyola
RPI ranking: USC No. 10; Loyola No. 6. Edge: Loyola
Strength of schedule: USC No. 19; Loyola No. 6. Edge: Loyola
Won-lost results: USC 19-6; Loyola 20-7. Edge: USC
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record:USC 8-1; Loyola 6-3. Edge: USC
Home record: USC 13-3; Loyola 14-2. Edge: Loyola
Road record: USC 4-3; Loyola 5-4. Edge: USC
Record vs. common opponents: USC 4-4; Loyola 2-3. Edge: USC
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: USC 3-5; Loyola 5-5. Edge: Loyola
Lindenwood vs. Loyola
KPI ranking: Lindenwood No. 8; Loyola No. 6. Edge: Loyola
RPI ranking: Lindenwood No. 9; Loyola No. 6. Edge: Loyola
Strength of schedule: Lindenwood No. 16; Loyola No. 6. Edge: Loyola
Won-lost results: Lindenwood 20-7; Loyola 20-7. Edge: Push
Head-to-head competition: Season series tied 1-1. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Lindenwood 9-1; Loyola 6-3. Edge: Lindenwood
Home record: Lindenwood 12-2; Loyola 14-2. Edge: Loyola
Road record: Lindenwood 8-5; Loyola 5-4. Edge: Lindenwood
Record vs. common opponents: Lindenwood 12-5; Loyola 15-3. Edge: Loyola
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Lindenwood 5-5; Loyola 5-5. Edge: Push