Bracketology: Team comparisons using selection committee criteria

All the matches are done, and now it’s up left to the NCAA men’s volleyball committee to determine the NCAA Tournament field.

Off the Block has crunched the numbers using the same criteria as the selection committee to show how the top teams in the nation fare against each other in the race for the two at-large bids and NCAA Tournament seeding.

Below are all of the criteria categories the selection committee uses to determine the NCAA Tournament field.
— RPI ranking
— Strength of schedule
— Won-lost results
— Head-to-head competition
— Results versus non-conference opponents
— Home and away results
— Results against common opponents
— Results against teams already qualified and other teams under consideration
— Eligibility and availability of student-athletes for NCAA championships.

Committee chairperson Janine Oman said in an interview with Off the Block earlier this week that the committee is not placing an additional emphasis on any certain piece of criteria.

The seven-team NCAA Tournament will be comprised of conference automatic bids from the Big West, ConfCarolinas, EIVA, MIVA, and MPSF along with two at-large bids.

Here’s how the at-large bids and tournament seeding races look right now using the selection committee criteria and giving equal weight to each criteria category.

[Editor’s note: Teams projected to qualify or be under consideration are BYU, Harvard, Hawai’i, King Long Beach State, Loyola, Ohio State, Pepperdine and UC Irvine and UCLA. Long Beach State was omitted from these comparisons because it is projected to overwhelmingly secure the No. 1 overall seed.]

NCAA Tournament at-large bid battles

[Editor’s note: The overall edge for these comparisons treats every criteria category equally. In addition, the RPI and strength of schedule are projected rankings because the most recent rankings were released Monday and do not include results from this week.]

Hawai’i vs. UCLA
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: UCLA
Projected strength of schedule: Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: Hawai’i 19-8; UCLA 24-7. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: Teams split season series 1-1. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Hawai’i 12-3; UCLA 13-3. Edge: Push
Home record: Hawai’i 13-4; UCLA 17-1. Edge: UCLA
Road record: Hawai’i 2-4; UCLA 6-6. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. common opponents: Hawai’i 12-7; UCLA 15-6. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Hawai’i 4-6; UCLA 7-6. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA

Hawai’i vs. UC Irvine
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: Hawai’i
Projected strength of schedule: Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: Hawai’i 19-8; UC Irvine 21-9. Edge: Hawai’i
Head-to-head competition: Hawai’i won season series 2-1. Edge: Hawai’i
Non-conference record: Hawai’i 12-3; UC Irvine 14-4. Edge: Hawai’i
Home record: Hawai’i 13-4; UC Irvine 9-4. Edge: Hawai’i
Road record: Hawai’i 2-4; UC Irvine 8-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: Hawai’i 11-7; UC Irvine 14-6. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Hawai’i 4-6; UC Irvine 5-7. Edge: UC Irvine
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Hawai’i

Hawai’i vs. Loyola
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: Hawai’i
Projected strength of schedule: Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: Hawai’i 19-8; Loyola 22-7. Edge: Loyola
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Hawai’i 12-3; Loyola 9-3. Edge: Hawai’i
Home record: Hawai’i 13-4; Loyola 16-1. Edge: Loyola
Road record: Hawai’i 2-4; Loyola 6-5. Edge: Loyola
Record vs. common opponents: Hawai’i 9-7; Loyola 8-3. Edge: Loyola
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Hawai’i 4-6; Loyola 4-4. Edge: Loyola
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Loyola

UC Irvine vs. Loyola
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: UC Irvine
Projected strength of schedule: Edge: UC Irvine
Won-lost results: UC Irvine 21-9; Loyola 22-7. Edge: Loyola
Head-to-head competition: UC Irvine won season series 1-0. Edge: UC Irvine
Non-conference record: UC Irvine 14-4; Loyola 9-3. Edge: UC Irvine
Home record: UC Irvine 9-4; Loyola 16-1. Edge: Loyola
Road record: UC Irvine 8-4; Loyola 6-5. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UC Irvine 10-6; Loyola 12-4. Edge: Loyola
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UC Irvine 5-7; Loyola 4-4. Edge: Loyola
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UC Irvine

UCLA vs. UC Irvine
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: UCLA
Projected strength of schedule: Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: UCLA 24-7; UC Irvine 21-9. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: UCLA won season series 2-0. Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: UCLA 13-3; UC Irvine 15-4. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 17-1; UC Irvine 9-4. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 6-6; UC Irvine 8-4. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 17-7; UC Irvine 18-6. Edge: UC Irvine
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 7-6; UC Irvine 5-7. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA

UCLA vs. Loyola
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: UCLA
Projected strength of schedule: Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: UCLA 24-7; Loyola 22-7. Edge: UCLA
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: UCLA 13-3; Loyola 9-3. Edge: UCLA
Home record: UCLA 17-1; Loyola 16-1. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 6-6; Loyola 6-5. Edge: Loyola
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 13-6; Loyola 9-5. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 7-6; Loyola 4-4. Edge: Loyola
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA

NCAA Tournament seeding battles

BYU vs. Hawai’i
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: BYU
Projected Strength of schedule: Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: BYU 22-6; Hawai’i 19-8. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: BYU won season series 1-0. Edge: BYU
Non-conference record: BYU 10-4; Hawai’i 12-3. Edge: Hawai’i
Home record: BYU 11-3; Hawai’i 13-4. Edge: Hawai’i
Road record: BYU 9-3; Hawai’i 2-4. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 17-5; Hawai’i 14-3. Edge: Hawai’i
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 7-4; Hawai’i 4-6. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU

BYU vs. UCLA
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: BYU
Projected strength of schedule: Edge: BYU
Won-lost results: BYU 22-6; UCLA 24-7. Edge: BYU
Head-to-head competition: BYU won season series 2-1. Edge: BYU
Non-conference record: BYU 10-4; UCLA 13-3. Edge: UCLA
Home record: BYU 11-3; UCLA 17-1. Edge: UCLA
Road record: BYU 9-3; UCLA 6-6. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 15-4; UCLA 18-3. Edge: UCLA
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 7-4; UCLA 7-6. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU

BYU vs. Ohio State
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: BYU
Projected strength of schedule: Edge: BYU
Won-lost results: BYU 22-6; Ohio State 23-5. Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-head competition: BYU won season series 1-0. Edge: BYU
Non-conference record: BYU 10-4; Ohio State 9-2. Edge: Ohio State
Home record: BYU 11-3; Ohio State 13-1. Edge: Ohio State
Road record: BYU 9-3; Ohio State 9-4. Edge: BYU
Record vs. common opponents: BYU 11-2; Ohio State 10-4. Edge: BYU
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: BYU 7-4; Ohio State 2-3. Edge: BYU
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: BYU

Hawai’i vs. Ohio State
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: Ohio State
Projected strength of schedule: Edge: Hawai’i
Won-lost results: Hawai’i 19-8; Ohio State 23-5. Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Hawai’i 12-3; Ohio State 9-2. Edge: Ohio State
Home record: Hawai’i 13-4; Ohio State 13-1. Edge: Ohio State
Road record: Hawai’i 2-4; Ohio State 9-4. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. common opponents: Hawai’i 4-2; Ohio State 6-2. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Hawai’i 4-6; Ohio State 2-3. Edge: Push
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: Ohio State

UCLA vs. Ohio State
Projected RPI ranking: Edge: UCLA
Projected strength of schedule: Edge: UCLA
Won-lost results: UCLA 24-7; Ohio State 23-5. Edge: Ohio State
Head-to-head competition: UCLA won series series 1-0. Edge: UCLA
Non-conference record: UCLA 13-3; Ohio State 9-2. Edge: Ohio State
Home record: UCLA 17-1; Ohio State 13-1. Edge: UCLA
Road record: UCLA 6-6; Ohio State 9-4. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. common opponents: UCLA 8-3; Ohio State 7-1. Edge: Ohio State
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: UCLA 7-6; Ohio State 2-3. Edge: UCLA
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: UCLA

Seeding battle for NCAA Tournament play-in match

[Editor’s note: The RPI and strength of schedule rankings are as of Monday. The updated RPI and strength of schedule that includes this week’s results will be released on Selection Sunday.]

Harvard vs. King
RPI ranking: Harvard No. 22; King No. 13. Edge: King
Strength of schedule: Harvard No. 25; King No. 30. Edge: Harvard
Won-lost results: Harvard 13-13; King 22-5. Edge: King
Head-to-head competition: Did not play each other this season. Edge: Push
Non-conference record: Harvard 1-9; King 4-4. Edge: King
Home record: Harvard 8-2; King 13-0. Edge: King
Road record: Harvard 3-9; King 8-4. Edge: King
Record vs. common opponents: Harvard 1-0; King 1-0. Edge: Push
Record vs. teams qualified or under consideration: Harvard 0-1; King 0-2. Edge: Push
Eligibility and availability of athletes: Neither teams with serious injuries. Edge: Push
OVERALL EDGE: King

Conference RPI
One of the pieces of data provided to the selection committee is conference RPI. Below is how the EIVA and ConfCarolinas compare to each other.
Ranking: ConfCarolinas No. 5; EIVA No. 4. Edge: EIVA (Harvard)
RPI score: ConfCarolinas .4379; EIVA .4805. Edge: EIVA (Harvard)