We know they both lost a bunch from last year’s squads, but, come on OSU and Florida: Surely you can do better than this. If you don’t, well, you’re gonna be famous for the wrong reasons.
Based on our research, if OSU and Florida both miss the dance (a definite possibility) it’ll be the first time both of the previous year’s finalists missed the next year’s tournament since the field expanded to at least 64 teams (1985). In fact, the only other time it’s happened the last four decades was in 1980, when champ Michigan State and Indiana State didn’t make the field (and that year’s tournament only fit 48 teams, unlike this year’s 65).
Two finalists have miss the next year’s tournament 11 times, but ten of them were between 1940 and 1964, when the field ranged from eight to 25 teams, and some squads played in the NCAA tournament one year and the NIT the next.
As of right now, both are struggling: Ohio State is 17-9, but its RPI is 47, is 6-6 in its last 12, has a 5-7 road/neutral court record, and is only 3-7 vs. the top 100. It’s signature win? Syracuse and, ironically, Florida …
The Gators are in a tougher position. Their RPI is 58, a non-conference RPI of 292, 5-5 road/non conference record and 4-6 against the top 100. Of course they can both rush to the tournament, but the next few weeks will be crucial if they don’t want to make history.
Considering the quantity and, more importantly, quality of players both teams lost, it would be more surprising if they both made the tournament than if they both missed it.
You really don’t have anything to write about, do you?
No Gator, we have nothing to write about. You’ve nailed us right there.
We were going to write poetry about the relationship between Dick Cheney and Barack Obama, but an episode of Sponge Bob came on and distracted us.
Cheetos anyone?
Neither the Big 10 nor the SEC is particularly strong this year. There’s no reason for either of these teams to be struggling the way that they have.
Plus, Gator, did you not notice that this is potentially the first time the two finalists will miss the tourney since 1981? In what world is that not newsworthy?