Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Manhattan Awaits NCAA Seeding, Likely No. 14 or 15

We know the Manhattan men have secured their spot in the NCAA tournament field for the first time since the 2004 season and, now, the wait begins to learn where the Jaspers will be seeded when the national-championship's event's participants and placements are announced Sunday night.

The better bracketologists, as of early Tuesday afternoon, had not yet reflected their predictions to reflect Monday night's Manhattan victory over top-seeded Iona in the MAAC tournament's championship game.

Prior to that game, though, Iona was being touted as a likely No. 13 seed in a 16-team bracket.

Iona, though, was rated higher in the Ratings Percentage Index prior to the game than Manhattan.

The Jaspers, after Monday's outcome, are now No. 63 in the RPI indicating the Jaspers are more likely a No. 14 seed, possibly a No. 15 in the upcoming event.

Manhattan has a gaudy 25-7 record, but only two victories over opponents rated in the top 100 in the RPI: No. 99 Buffalo (which has an 18-9 record) and No. 90 La Salle (15-15).

Its has just one other non-league victory over an opponent with a better-than-.500 record, that coming against 18-12 Columbia of the Ivy League.

Its other non-league victories came against Illinois State (15-15), Hofstra (10-23), NC Wilmington (7-23) and South Carolina (12-19). The Jaspers have non-league losses against 23-7 George Washington and 9-20 Fordham.

The Jaspers also failed to beat Iona in both regular-season games, but its victory over the Gaels (currently rated 61st nationally) on Monday night should help boost Manhattan's hopes of a seeding position north of a 15 a little.

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