March 12, 2011
LAS VEGAS - With its 78-76 win over Louisiana Tech Saturday afternoon at the Orleans Arena, Fresno State earned the automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
However, the Western Athletic Conference should be a two-bid league this season after the body of work of the regular season champion Lady Techsters.
The Lady Techsters played one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country as it was ranked in the Top 25 in strength of schedule with 11 of its 13 games coming against NCAA Tournament or WNIT teams from last year.
Ten of its 13 non-conference games came against opponents that registered a winning record with 8 of them winning 20 or more games this season. The Lady Techsters played a total of 14 games against teams that have won 20 or more games.
Entering Saturday's championship game, LA Tech's RPI was 25th and it was ranked 27th in both the AP and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls.
It has impressive wins over Georgia, Fresno State (twice) and Tulane. Out of the 270 teams in the "non-power" conferences, LA Tech ranks second only to Xavier with eight non-conference games played against BCS teams and/or teams that are currently in the Top 75 of the RPI. Tech was 2-1 against the SEC.
"If you take a look at what we have done, how can you leave us out," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "I think our kids have done a tremendous job all year long. They fought, scratched and clawed. If you watched this game (today), how could you leave us out?
"Did we walk away (today) with the championship? We didn't. We always tell our kids not to leave your destiny in someone else's hands. But I tell you what; they have done a great job through the course of the season. Just take a look at what they have done. They are so deserving (of a bid)."
Even when taking a look at the seven losses, LA Tech doesn't have a "bad" loss on the resume. Tech's seven losses have come against teams with a combined record of 160-59 with six of the seven teams recording 20 or more wins (the lone team that didn't was LSU with 19 victories).
Five of the seven teams will be ranked in the Top 50 when the updated RPI comes out Sunday morning. The other two (Tulane and Nevada) are both ranked in the top 100 with Tulane playing in the championship game of the CUSA Tournament tonight.
In the seven losses, Tech led, was tied or trailed by 5 points or fewer with six minutes to play in every one of them.
And when you compare the Lady Techsters resume against Fresno State's resume last year when the Bulldogs received an at-large berth following a WAC regular season title and a 2-point loss to the Lady Techsters in the WAC Tournament title game, LA Tech's is more impressive.
Last season Fresno State's RPI following the WAC Tournament was mid-30s and the Bulldogs did not register a Top 50 RPI win the entire season. In fact the Bulldogs best wins last season came against St. Mary's (RPI of 71) and twice against LA Tech (RPI of 76).
LA Tech's RPI was 25th heading into today's game and will fall only a few spots while the Lady Techsters registered three Top 50 RPI wins, including a 15-point victory over Georgia during a stretch where UGA won 10 of 11 games.
Fresno State was 3-6 against Top 100 RPI teams while LA Tech is 6-7 this year. The Bulldogs strength of schedule was 97th while LA Tech's will be in the Top 70 when the latest standings come out tomorrow.
The NCAA Selection Show will be Monday at 6 p.m. CT.
