VB NCAA bid picture…

Posted on: November 19, 2024 at 11:33:01 CT

Bracketology out today on VolleyTalk. Has us at a 6 seed, we were a 5 seed a week ago. So we are in the conversation to host, barely, but only if we win out and beat Kentucky in the process. And we get some help. Even if we do that it wouldn’t be a guarantee.

Primary at large bid selection criteria are:

RPI rank
KPI rank
Head to head
Common opponents
Significant wins and losses

Our current metrics:

Ranked #25 in the AVCA poll this week
#22 in RPI
#18 in KPI
1-5 against RPI 1-25
6-0 against RPI 26-50

One more match against 1-25 teams, #10 Kentucky at home. Must win in order to host.

2 more matches against 26-50 teams, #35 Ole Miss and #45 Auburn. So we can enhance our resume to a decent degree.

Here are the projected seeds in our general range:

3: Texas, Purdue, Kansas, ASU
4: Kentucky, TCU, Utah, GT
5: Florida, Baylor, USC, Oregon
6: Missouri, TAMU, Minnesota, BYU

Playing the what if game, if we had won the 5 set matches against Florida and TAMU, we would likely be a 4 seed.

The more realistic outcome is we get a 5 or 6 seed, and go on the road against a 3 or 4 seed like Purdue, Kansas, TCU, Utah, GT. At our best, we could beat any of those teams.

FWIW, 8 SEC teams are projected to get bids:

3 Texas
4 Kentucky
5 Florida
6 Missouri
6 TAMU
8 Oklahoma
SC
Tennessee

Tennessee is projected in the last 5 teams in. Ole Miss and Auburn are in the first 4 teams out group. Arkansas is projected in the next 5 teams out group.