SCOTT ALLEN Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 12:00 am
Tick, tick, tick.
The 2007 women's basketball selection show is nearing. Shortly after 6 p.m. today, Hanna Zavecz, Jodi Bolerjack and the rest of the Wyoming Cowgirls will know whether their body of work during a second consecutive 20-win season was enough to garner an at-large selection to the NCAA tournament.
In addition to its 20 wins against Division I foes, Wyoming's resume also includes a win against a team with an RPI in the top 50 after New Mexico shot up to 44 following its Mountain West Conference tournament title, six road wins and a 6-4 record to close the season.
The Cowgirls also had 11 wins in the MWC, which has the seventh-best league RPI in the nation, according to collegerpi.com.
By Sunday afternoon, ESPN.com's Charlie Creme, who projects the tournament field, had moved the Cowgirls from his list of the "Next Four Out" to among his "Last Four Out." While that's somewhat promising, Creme isn't on the NCAA selection committee, his projection is only one man's opinion and bracketology remains an inexact science.
Just ask Joe Lundardi, who projects the men's basketball bracket throughout the season for ESPN. Three of the four teams on Lunardi's list of "Last Four In" made the men's tournament announced Sunday, but three of the four teams on his "Last Four Out" also made the field.
If Wyoming does not receive its first-ever bid to the NCAA tournament, the Cowgirls will most likely receive a berth in the WNIT for a second consecutive season. The WNIT field will be revealed today following the NCAA tournament selection show.
Contact sports reporter Scott Allen at (307) 266-0528 scott.allen@casperstartribune.net
COWGIRLS TRACKER
TODAY: NCAA women's basketball tournament selection show, 6 p.m., ESPN. The WNIT field will be revealed at www.womensnit.com tonight.
TUESDAY: Look for a reaction from the Cowgirls on their postseason fate.
MWC TEAMS TO WATCH
n New Mexico receives an automatic bid by virtue of winning the MWC tournament, while regular-season champion BYU will most likely receive an at-large bid. Pay attention to what seeds both teams earn. The better the seed the Lobos and Cougars receive, the better the chance that Wyoming sneaks in. Last season, it was pretty clear Wyoming would be left out of the field after TCU was given only an 11-seed - an indication the selection committee did not hold the MWC in particularly high regard.
THE BUBBLE
Wyoming doesn't want to hear any of the names on this list - except its own - called during today's selection show. Note: Records only includes wins against Division I schools.
TEAM RECORD RPI Last 10
Auburn 19-12 45 4-6
Depaul 19-12 63 5-5
Hofstra 24-7 48 8-2
Louisiana-Lafayette 25-8 60 8-2
Oklahoma State 20-10 5-5 61
South Carolina 17-15 65 5-5
South Florida 20-11 33 4-6
TCU 21-10 59 6-4
Texas 18-14 30 3-7
Washington 18-12 46 5-5
Western Kentucky 20-8 34 7-3
Wyoming 20-9 73 6-4
Source: collegerpi.com