Strength of schedule key factor in NCAA selection

INDIANAPOLIS — New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay believes winning more than 20 games should be enough for an NCAA tournament bid. Indiana coach Mike Davis argues the Hoosiers should be rewarded for playing one of the nation's toughest schedules.

The perennial debate about whether wins or a strong schedule matter more could be an even hotter topic Sunday when the 65-team field is announced.

"We've sent a consistent message during the time I've been around," NCAA selection committee chairman Bob Bowlsby said this week during a teleconference. "You need to play a representative schedule."

Failing to do so can get you a ticket to the NIT.

A year ago, Utah State was 25-3, 17-1 in the Big West and ranked No. 25. Yet it became the first ranked team to miss the tournament since probation-saddled UNLV in 1993 because of what Bowlsby called a weak nonconference schedule.

In 2001, the committee took Georgia at 16-14 instead of Alabama at 21-10, also based on schedule.

That's not good news for teams such Davidson.

Davidson, which went 16-0 in the Southern Conference and lost in the conference final, may not get in because its schedule strength is 107.

Bowlsby wants to see schools improve their nonconference schedules, which they can control.

Teams that Bowlsby cites as upgrading their schedules, such as Alabama and Gonzaga, don't appear to be in trouble this year.

"Alabama has significantly upgraded that schedule and I think Gonzaga played a terrific preseason schedule," he said. "They heard the message."

But even the best-laid plans can go awry.

One problem for mid-majors is that many top programs back away from playing successful teams with smaller reputations and are reluctant to make trips to places such as Pacific University in Stockton, Calif.

And mid-majors are much less likely to meet Top 25 opponents during conference play.

Bowlsby said the committee can tell whether a school has tried to improve its schedule.

"We know who has played well and who hasn't. We also can tell when an attempt has been made and when it hasn't been made," he said.

Indiana, which entered the Big Ten tournament 15-12, lost six straight during a brutal nonconference stretch that pitted the Hoosiers against North Carolina, Connecticut, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Missouri and Charlotte. The Hoosiers also lost to No. 1 Illinois, giving them the distinction of losing to conference champs in the ACC, Big East, Big Ten and SEC.

An easier schedule might have produced 17 or 18 wins — enough, possibly, to guarantee a spot in the field. Instead, the Hoosiers are still lobbying for a bid.