indianapolis

Bracketology Trip: NCAA Mock Selection Committee: Part Two

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:56:53 -0500

I've been to Indianapolis almost a dozen times, and each time it perplexes me. Outside of the government employees working downtown during the day, the rest of downtown is one giant convention/conference center. Except it is not contained to the actual convention center, but spread out across 8 blocks.

In town for the NCAA's Mock Selection Committee, I guess I am no different from the other conference-goers filling up chain restaurants (I've counted about 120 so far) and crowding my chain-hotel elevator (the Parts Unlimited crew is pretty rowdy).

At 1 o'clock I'll gather with other members of the media for about 24 hours of non-stop basketball discussion. I don't entirely know how we're going to fill the time. Or at least, I don't know how we're going to fill the time productively. I have projected the field every week for the last 6 seasons, and have very strong opinions about how the field should look. If part of the time is to be spent researching the teams, I consider myself researched-out already.

It will be interesting to see how much of the time is spent over nuanced debates over deserving bubble teams, and how much is spent shooting down ridiculous suggestions: Really, you think Texas-Arlington should be a 7 seed?

In their quest to educate about the selection process, the NCAA held a conference call yesterday, led by selection committee chair Jeff Hathaway. Hathaway will be sitting in on the conference this week, but offered some interesting insight on the call.

For example, when discussing how teams take into account injuries, illnesses, and suspensions, he suggested that performance is what really matters and that those issues are not as relevant. One fan question I was asked on Twitter was whether the committee takes into account injuries, but ignores suspensions. This is something I intend to find out later today.

Hathaway also stressed that the committee does not take into account timing in terms of judging wins. "It's the total body of work," he said. To me, this sounds like the right approach, but I question whether the committee members really act on this.

One comment Hathaway mentioned about the "eye-ball test" irked me. My personal take is that all that should matter in judging a team's NCAA resume is results. How a team "looks" on TV or in person, or their style of play, etc, etc should have no bearing. Hathway said, "I watch how good teams are." Washington "looked" pretty good in nationally televised TV games against Marquette and Duke earlier in the year.. but does this matter? They lost those games and lost many more games. How a team "looks" should have no bearing on the selection committee.

I'll be reporting back throughout the day with more thoughts and insight from the NCAA Mock Selection Committee.

Bracketology Trip: NCAA Mock Selection Committee: Part One

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:42:49 -0500

In a few minutes I'll be heading out towards the airport to catch a flight to Indianapolis (via a changeover in Philadelphia unfortunately). There, I'll be meeting with members of the media (paper, tv, internet) for the NCAA's yearly Mock Selection Committee. The NCAA started this conference in 2007 to give members of the media a closer look at the selection process, so that they'd have a better understanding of how it works (and thus erase what ever misconceptions existed.)

As someone who spends a lot of time projecting the NCAA Tournament field (in my weekly Bracketology projections), I have a ton of questions. I've also received interesting reader questions on Twitter (@collegehoopsnet) that I'm going to try and answer. These include questions about individual teams (what would the committee do if Murray St lost the OVC tournament, how will the committee treat struggling Big East teams like UCONN and Seton Hall) and questions about the process (can 2 teams from the same conference play in the play-in game, does the committee really not pay attention to the last 10-12 games).

For whatever reason, I've had a knack at nailing the tournament fields better than the major media players (Joe Lunardi, etc.) I wonder if being part of the Mock process might actually make my projections worse. My normal seeding process is quite simple really: rank the teams in the order that seems right based on the RPI, human polls, and intuition.. and then adjust for the committee's historical biases. My guess is that part of the process will aim to show that the committee is not biased towards power-conference teams over mid-majors. I hope this doesn't fool me into changing my picks come March.

Over the last 6 years, the 5 highest RPI teams not to make the NCAA Tournament were from mid-majors. I wrote an article on this last year (called A Brief History of Mid-Major Bias) and tend to update it in a few weeks. This is more than a statistical coincidence. There is something about the selection process that (either wittingly or unwittingly) is predisposed towards favoring power conference teams. I hope to learn more about why this is.

I'll be checking back throughout the next few days with more thoughts on the trip and answers to reader questions. If you have a question about the NCAA Selection Process, drop a note @collegehoopsnet.

2010 Final Four Tickets

CHN — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:26:12 -0500

Tickets can still be had for the 2010 Final Four in Indianapolis, you just need to know where to look. Here are some places to get individual game tickets, all-session passes, and complete travel packages.

RazorGator.com

All-Session, Semifinals, Finals tickets. The "official" provider of hospitality packages.

+ also, you can sell tickets to the games as part of the "Fan2Fan Experience"

PrimeSport.com

VIP Final Four Packages (including hotel)

StubHub.com

Individual tickets & packages. Some good low-end seats/prices.

TicketSolutions.com

Hard to get tickets up close, though pricey, and more.

Others

Ebay.com - search for "Final Four"

Lucas Oil Stadium

Lucas Oil Stadium Seating Chart & Parking Info

Directions to Lucas Oil Stadium

More Information

2010 Final Four Indianapolis

Other NCAA Venue Info

Indianapolis Final Four: Other Sites & Attractions

CHN — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:03:30 -0500

There's much more to do in Indianapolis besides watching the games. Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana, and the 14th largest city in the U.S, so there is plenty to see. Some of our favorites:

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
4790 West 16th Street • Indianapolis, IN • 317.481.8500 • 800.822.4639
Built in 1909, this is one of the most celebrated auto raceways in the world. Each May, more than 400,000 spectators throng to the 2.5-mile oval course to watch the Indianapolis 500, the largest single-day sporting event in the world, boasting the largest purse in motor racing. The Speedway also hosts the NASCAR Brickyard 400 in August and the Senior PGA Brickyard Crossing Tournament in September.

Indianapolis Museum of Art
4000 Michigan Road • Indianapolis, IN 46208 • 317.920.2660
This world-class museum has notable paintings by El Greco, Rubens, American Impressionists, and European neo-Impressionists. Other strengths include African art, Japanese Edo-period paintings, American furniture, textiles, costumes, and a superb collection of Turner works on paper. The sculpture garden includes Robert Indiana's famed LOVE. In summer, the museum hosts Summer on the Terrace, which is actually a swinging scene for singles. Outdoor movies are shown on the lawn during the summer; you can see one of your favorite camp classics while enjoying a picnic with friends.

Indianapolis Zoo
1200 West Washington • Indianapolis, IN 46222 • 317.630.2001
The Indianapolis Zoo is the only major new zoo in recent decades anywhere in the nation. This $64-million, 64-acre facility houses 2,000 animals roaming through simulated environments. Don't miss the world's largest enclosed Whale and Dolphin Pavilion

Indianapolis Raceway Park
10267 East U.S. 136 • Indianapolis, IN • 317.291.4090
Owned and operated by the National Hot Rod Association, the IRP's three courses host more than 60 events a year. Highlights include drag racing, car shows, and the NHRA U.S. Nationals

Other Sites

Indiana Reparatory Theatre

White River State Park

NCAA Hall of Champions

Education

Indianapolis is the home of Butler University (Hinkle Fieldhouse is a famous college basketball arena.), IUPUI, University of Indianapolis, and other colleges & institutes.

Sports

The Pacers are home twice during the Final Four, on Friday the 2nd (vs Miami) and Sunday the 4th (vs Houston)

Links

Indianapolis - Wikipedia

VisitIndy.com

Indianapolis Map

More Information

2010 Final Four Indianapolis

Final Four 2010 Event Schedule: Bracket Town, Practices, All-Star games, Etc.

2010 Final Four Indianapolis: Schedule of Events

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:45:37 -0500

There's more to the Final Four than just the games.. check out these other exciting events the NCAA has to offer. Info culled from NCAA.com and other sources:

Thursday, April 1 - Monday, April 5

Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero

^{Formerly
called Hoop City}

Location: Indiana Convention Center
Admission: $10 (ages 12 and over)
$6 (ages 3-11, college students*, senior citizens (55 and older), and military*)
Free (ages 2 and under)
*Appropriate ID required.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at participating area Meijer stores or on the day of the event at Indiana Convention Center.
Hours: 5 - 10:30 p.m.
Description: Come play with the best at Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero - the ultimate fan experience. Fans of all ages can test their skills and enjoy championship action with basketball competitions, clinics, performances, autograph sessions and photo ops, the latest in interactive games and demonstrations, prizez and more. Everyone's a champion at Bracket Town.

Friday, April 2

USBWA Awards Breakfast
Location: Marriott Downtown
Admission: $75
Hours: 8 a.m.
Description: The basketball writers will hand out the organizations' National Coach and National Player of the Year awards.

Final Four Team Practices
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
Admission: Free
Hours: Noon - 4 p.m. (Gates open at 11 a.m.)
Description: Come watch the student-athletes from the 2010 NCAA Final Four teams in their final practice before the national semifinal games. Enjoy the opportunity to hear from each head coach of the participating Final Four teams after the practice session is completed. Fans in attendance will be randomly selected to win national semifinal and championship game tickets throughout the day! Practice times are based on team seeding:
Noon - 12:50 p.m.: Game No. 1 Lower Seed
1 - 1:50 p.m.: Game No. 2 Lower Seed
2:10 - 3 p.m.: Game No. 1 Higher Seed
3:10 - 4 p.m.: Game No. 2 Higher Seed

Reese's College All-Star Game
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
Admission: Free
Hours: 4:35 p.m.
Description: The Reese's College All-Star Game features two teams comprised of the top collegiate senior student-athletes in the country. For the third year, the game will be played in the Final Four venue and will provide Indiana residents and other NCAA basketball fans the chance to see many of the best college basketball players perform in action for free!

Saturday, April 3

NCAA Youth Clinics (sponsored by vitaminwater
Locations: Butler University (Hinkle Fieldhouse), University of Indianapolis (Nicoson Hall), Warren Central High School
Admission: Free (Participants must be between 8-16 years of age [boys and girls] and pre-registered).
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
NCAA Youth Clinics Registration
Description: The NCAA Youth Clinics are a community outreach program that connects kids ages 8 - 16 with the basketball championship and provides them with resources designed to have a lasting impact. Participants receive sport instruction from NCAA coaches and student-athletes and get valuable information on fitness, healthy lifestyles and sportsmanship. The clinics also feature a session for parents and guardians with information on recruiting, academic and eligibility issues.

Sunday, April 4

NCAA Final Four Dribble
Start: NCAA national office (located in White River State Park)
Finish: Indiana Convention Center (corner of West and Maryland)
Admission: Free
Hours: 3 - 4 p.m.
Description: Basketball fans, under the age of 18, will have the opportunity to dribble from White River State Park to the entrance of Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero® at the Indiana Convention Center. Participants will receive a free basketball and t-shirt courtesy of the NCAA. Participants wearing the Final Four Dribble t-shirt will also receive free admission to Bracket Town on event day.

Monday, April 5

NCAA Sports Career & College Expo
Location: Butler University - Hinkle Fieldhouse
Admission: Free
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Description: The NCAA Men's Final Four Sports Career & College Expo will enlist professionals from all aspects of the sports industry to inform, educate and enlighten high school and college students on athletics and non-athletics sports career options in addition to giving them an opportunity to meet with local and national college representatives.

NABC Championship Trophy Presentation Celebration
Location: National Champion Downtown Hotel
Admission: Free
Hours: Postgame
Description: Winning coach and student-athletes will be presented with the NABC championship trophy in a pep rally setting for all fans to enjoy.

Games: Televised on CBS HD

Lucas Oil Stadium. Seating is approximately 70,000.

Semifinals:
Saturday, April 3th
Game #1: 6:07 PM ET
Game #2: 40 minutes after the conclusion of game #1

National Championship Game
Monday, April 5th
9:21 PM ET

For other smaller events, check the NCAA website for the latest Indy Final Four events. Please email shawn@collegehoops.net if you'd like to add an event to the list.

More Information

2010 Final Four Indianapolis

Things to do in Indianapolis: Sites & Attractions