brand bias

[dr. rick]

watching the temple/tulane game. the announcers have spent a lot of time discussing how the AAC has gotten the short stick due to brand bias. For instance, why is Oklahoma in many brackets given their last few games? one of the announcers argues that SMU and UCF were better choices due to injuries to key players. thoughts?

[mustangxc]

UCF does not have the key non-conference wins to be in the discussion. SMU is still not healthy so we do not have a case to support our inclusion. If Shake had come back and we had gone on a winning streak to finish the season with wins over Houston, Wichita State, USF, and win a couple in the AAC tournament then we would probably get the benefit of the doubt. The test case is actually Temple if they can manage to win a couple games in the American tournament. Temple compares well to the Big XII and SEC bubble teams.

[Charleston Pony]

SMU is a non-factor in this argument given the current state of our program but there is no doubt brand bias exists in favor of the P5 schools. Why is Syracuse even being discussed as a possible tourney team? Because they are a brand name playing in a brand conference and have a hall of fame coach, but their resume is really weak. I've said for years that no team should be allowed in if they could not go .500 in their conference. Not just OU...there are 4 Big XII teams that finished 8-10 that are all still in the discussion. Stinks for programs like Middle Tennessee, St Bonaventure, St Mary's, NMSU, etc...who have to win their conference tourneys or risk getting bounced by a very mediocre P5 name brand school.

[SMU Section F]

While I agree there is brand bias, they are just pandering by saying UCF or SMU should be considered. But then again, Oklahoma should definitely be out, too...

[Terry Webster]

If ou had the same record without Young they wouldn't be considered at all. It is the star name that is getting them in, if they do.

[ponyboy]

The very use of the word “brand” is bias. If it’s about brand, we should give every large P5 school an auto bid every year.

[The Falcon]

I assume from this discussion that Brandeis University is lock for the Dance.

[BleedingRed+Blue]

For instance, why is Oklahoma in many brackets given their last few games?

Because the networks can sell Trae Young as "the next Steph Curry" — which is untrue, but people have called him that since early in the season.

[Charleston Pony]

I heard one commentator talking about the prospect of OU and Syracuse possibly getting in because of "star power" and he argued it wouldn't happen because Curry's team had not gotten in his JR year when they appeared deserving. Problem with that commentary is that Curry played for Davidson and nobody knew who he was until his team finally got in the tourney his senior season (because they won their auto bid) and he almost single handedly carried his team into the sweet 16. I wanted to call that show and remind the commentator that nobody knew Curry until that tourney and his subsequently proving his worth at the NBA level.

[Pony ^]

The Big 12 will flame out like always in the tournament

[Blunt Pony]

Look across town at TCU. They are STILL a 6 seed according to Lunardi. I think Nevada and West Virginia are their 2 biggest wins? There is a huge bias towards the Big 12 this year and it has really helped our rivals.

[Pony ^]

Texas and OU wouldn't even sniff the tournament if they had SMU on their chest. Fact.