January 25, 2010

Cornell Faces Tough Road to NCAA Tourney

The following article appeared in the January 25 issue of the Cornell Daily Sun.

 

By Mitchell Alva and Elie Bilmes

As Cornell students spent the last part of Winter Break trying to secure a bid to their fraternity or sorority of choice, the Cornell hockey team was making its case for a bid to the NCAA tournament. However, the NCAA selection process is not determined by likeability, social skills or Pi Phi’s dress code, but rather by the pairwise rankings (PWR).

To determine who makes the NCAA tournament, the selection committee first isolates the top 25 teams according to ratings percentage index (RPI). The RPI formula for hockey is similar to that used for basketball, and it considers factors like strength of schedule and wins against good teams. These 25 teams are known collectively as teams under consideration (TUCs).

Next, the computer calculates the winner of hypothetical, head-to-head matchups between every TUC by awarding points based on several criteria. One point is given to the team with the higher RPI. One point is given to the team with the higher record against the other TUCs (but not until both teams have played 10 games against TUCs). One point is given to the team with the better record against their common opponents. Finally, one point is awarded to the winner of each game the two teams have played against each other.

Complete article can be accessed via the Daily Sun Web site by clicking here.