Welcome

If you’ve been following my college football rankings this fall, you already know the drill of how these rankings work. Basically, I have wanted a way to combine subjective views towards teams with an objective component. It is essentially a ranking of the resumes of teams, plus a sprinkle of subjectivity (not my personal opinion, but the general consensus opinion of the media/other rankings, etc.). If I were to come up with a snazzy name for this system, it would be the BOW+ rankings - or the Bodies Of Work (+ subjectivity) rankings.

Within the context of college football, I have tinkered with my formula over the seasons and have what I think is a pretty decent way to compare bodies of work of different teams. For the first time ever, I am attempting to apply this approach to college basketball teams. It may provide valuable insight into which teams are favored by the tournament selection committee, or it could crash and burn. Who knows! Consider this season a test run for applying my rankings approach to college basketball. This is NOT a sophisticated algorithm, and should not be treated the same way as Sagarin, KenPom, or other computer rankings found in places like the Massey Ranking Composite. The rankings should also not be used to predict future games; my rankings should be considered a snapshot of how a team’s body of work has been up to this point. Even though it is not the most complicated ranking system ever created, I think its simplicity can be a positive thing.


Basic Idea

The approach is identical to what I do for football. Speaking of which, you can find all of my football rankings and previous basketball rankings here: (http://rpubs.com/ditrapani4)

I will not go into detail here about how these rankings are calculated, but I will describe the basic concept. Like I mentioned above, these rankings combine subjective and objective features. The subjective component drives the whole process. Every team is placed by me into a bin. There are seven general bins, ranging from -3 to 3. A basic idea of what each bin represents is:


If a team seems to be somewhere in between two of these categories, they can be binned as a “0.5”, “1.5”, etc.

This is the subjective part of the process. I make the final call which bin a team falls into, but I try to inform myself as much as possible of the consensus of a given team. For example, for a team to be “borderline ranked” (bin 1), they need to at least appear in the “Other Receiving Votes” area of the AP and Coaches polls. I try to make the bins representative of the nationwide media consensus of a given team. Still, there is definitely subjectivity involved.

The objective element of the rankings gives and takes away points from a team depending on the bins of that team’s opponents. For example, beating a team from bin 0 at home by a “non-blowout score” (less than 21 points) rewards that team 0.5 points, and so on. This is the part of the process that I have tinkered with over the years. A team of course loses points for losing a game, depending on the opponent, where the game was played, and whether it was a blowout or not.

So the basic idea of the system is that we have an idea as fans which “bin” a team falls into. Once we determine that, we can get an obective idea of how a team’s resume is depending on the bins of that team’s wins and losses. The final “Score” of the ranking is simply a sum of the bin you are in and the amount of points you have gained/lost from wins and losses.


2/14: Turmoil at the Top

Heading into last week, there was a clear “top 3” in the college basketball world: Villanova, Virginia, and Purdue. Right as we all thought they were separating themselves from the pack, they promptly combined to lose 4 games, including a loss for each of them at home. This had some ramifications in the AP Poll: Villanova slipped to #3 from #1, UVA actually backed into #1 (they did beat a decent FSU team on the road earlier in the week), and Purdue fell to #6 after losing twice. Voters unsurprisingly reacted strongly to the recent events. Despite all of this unrest at the top, my rankings stayed relatively the same. Virginia and Villanova were #1 and #2 heading into the week, and still are now. Purdue only falls to #4 despite losing twice (the beneficiary is Xavier, who is now #3). This indicates just how far ahead these three teams were before they took their losses; their rough weeks merely closed the gap between them and everyone else.

Michigan State notably comes out as #5 this week. Given their pretty soft resume, their #2 ranking in the AP Poll (and #1 in the Coaches) is probably too high. However, my rankings don’t go as far as the committee’s “mock bracket” released over the weekend, which has MSU as a 3-seed. I think #5 feels about right for them. The fact that 5-loss Duke (who has 2, maybe 3 losses to non-tourney teams) came out as a 2 seed and MSU (and Texas Tech) were 3-seeds is pretty absurd.

This includes all games through Tuesday, February 13th:

Rank Team Score Record Conf Prev Rank
1 Virginia 12.25 24-2 (13-1) 1
2 Villanova 10.5 23-2 (10-2) 2
3 Xavier 10.25 23-3 (11-2) 4
4 Purdue 9 23-4 (12-2) 3
5 Michigan State 7.5 25-3 (13-2) 6
6 Texas Tech 6.75 22-4 (10-3) 5
7 Clemson 5 20-4 (9-3) 10
8 Cincinnati 4.25 23-2 (12-0) 11
9 Gonzaga 4.25 23-4 (13-1) 13
10 Ohio State 3.75 22-5 (13-1) 18
11 North Carolina 3.25 20-7 (9-5) 19
12 Kansas 3 20-6 (9-4) 8
13 Auburn 2.5 22-3 (10-2) 7
14 Duke 1.5 20-5 (8-4) 14
15 Tennessee 1.25 19-6 (9-4) 9
16 Rhode Island 1 21-3 (13-0) 16
17 West Virginia 0.75 19-7 (8-5) 12
18 Creighton -0.25 19-7 (8-5) 25
19 St Marys -0.75 24-3 (13-1) 15
20 Michigan -0.75 20-7 (9-5) 20
21 Oklahoma -2 16-9 (6-7) 17
22 Arizona -2.5 20-6 (10-3) 22
23 Arizona St -2.5 19-6 (7-6) 34
24 Florida -3.25 17-8 (8-4) 39
T25 Kansas State -3.25 17-8 (6-6) 28
T25 Seton Hall -3.25 17-8 (6-6) 21
27 Kentucky -3.5 17-8 (6-6) 24
28 Texas AM -3.75 17-9 (6-7) 38
29 New Mexico St -4 22-3 (9-0) 32
30 Butler -4 17-10 (7-7) 27
31 Houston -4.5 19-5 (9-3) 36
32 Miami -4.5 18-7 (7-6) 23
33 TCU -4.5 17-9 (5-8) 33
34 NC State -4.5 16-9 (6-6) 26
35 Wichita St -4.75 19-5 (9-3) 35
36 Missouri -5.25 18-8 (8-5) T47
37 Alabama -5.25 17-9 (8-5) 54
38 Nevada -5.5 21-5 (10-2) 31
39 Florida State -5.75 17-8 (6-7) 30
40 Virginia Tech -6 18-7 (7-5) T52
41 Baylor -6 16-10 (6-7) 58
42 Mississippi St -6.5 18-7 (6-6) 37
43 Nebraska -6.5 20-8 (11-4) 51
44 Arkansas -7 18-8 (7-6) T47
45 UCLA -7 17-8 (8-5) T52
46 Mid Tennessee -7.25 20-5 (12-1) 45
47 OK State -7.25 15-10 (5-7) 56
48 Boise St -7.5 20-5 (10-3) 42
49 UL Lafayette -7.5 21-4 (11-1) 41
50 Marquette -7.75 14-11 (5-8) 50
51 Providence -8 16-9 (7-5) 46
52 St Bonaventure -8.25 19-6 (9-4) 57
53 Louisville -8.25 18-8 (8-5) 43
54 Texas -8.25 15-11 (5-8) 29
55 Syracuse -8.5 17-8 (6-6) 55
56 ETSU -8.75 22-5 (13-1) 44
57 Maryland -9.25 17-11 (6-9) 49
58 Loy Chic -9.75 21-5 (11-3) 66
59 Washington -9.75 17-8 (7-5) 40
60 Vermont -9.75 21-5 (11-0) 59
61 Boston College -9.75 16-10 (6-7) 68
62 Utah -10.25 15-9 (7-6) 69
63 Old Dominion -11 19-5 (10-2) 67
64 W Kentucky -11.25 18-7 (10-2) 64
65 USC -11.25 17-9 (8-5) 62
66 Oregon -11.5 17-8 (7-5) 73
67 BYU -11.5 20-7 (9-5) 65
68 Notre Dame -11.5 15-11 (5-8) 72
69 Penn State -12 18-9 (8-6) 77
70 UCF -12 15-9 (6-6) 76
71 SMU -12.25 15-10 (5-7) 60
72 UNLV -12.25 18-7 (7-5) 78
73 Georgetown -12.5 15-10 (5-9) 82
74 Temple -12.75 15-10 (7-6) 75
75 Iowa State -12.75 13-12 (4-9) 74
76 Buffalo -12.75 19-7 (11-2) 70
77 St Johns -13 13-13 (2-11) 90
78 Colorado -13.5 15-10 (7-6) 79
79 Northwestern -14 15-12 (6-8) 61
80 LSU -14.25 14-11 (5-8) 71
81 Georgia -14.5 13-11 (4-8) 63
82 Indiana -15.25 14-12 (7-7) 81
83 Davidson -16 13-10 (8-4) 85
84 Fresno St -16.25 17-8 (7-5) 83
85 South Carolina -16.5 13-13 (4-9) 80
86 Uconn -17.75 12-13 (5-7) 87
87 VCU -18.25 15-10 (7-5) 84
88 Tulsa -18.75 14-10 (7-5) 92
89 Stanford -19 13-13 (7-6) 86
90 San Diego St -19.5 13-10 (5-7) 89
91 Memphis -20 14-11 (5-7) 91
92 Oregon State -20.25 13-11 (5-7) 100
93 DePaul -21 10-14 (3-9) 101
94 Wisconsin -21 11-16 (4-10) 97
95 Minnesota -21.25 14-14 (3-12) 88
96 Vanderbilt -21.25 9-16 (3-9) 95
97 Georgia Tech -22.25 11-14 (4-8) 94
98 Ole Miss -22.5 11-15 (4-9) 96
99 Wake Forest -22.5 9-16 (2-11) 99
100 Iowa -23.5 12-15 (3-11) 102
101 Tulane -24.25 13-11 (4-8) 93
102 Illinois -24.5 12-14 (2-11) 98
103 Rutgers -25 13-15 (3-12) 104
104 Dayton -25.5 11-13 (5-7) 105
105 Saint Louis -27 14-12 (7-6) 108
106 Duquense -28.5 15-11 (6-7) 103
107 Washington St -29.5 9-15 (1-11) 106
108 St Josephs -30.5 10-14 (5-7) 113
109 Umass -30.75 11-14 (4-8) 111
110 G Mason -31.25 11-14 (5-7) 109
111 G Washington -32 10-15 (3-9) 112
112 La Salle -32.5 10-16 (4-9) 107
113 Richmond -35.5 9-16 (7-6) 116
114 E Carolina -35.5 9-14 (3-9) 115
115 Pittsburgh -36 8-19 (0-14) 110
116 California -36.5 8-18 (2-11) 114
117 Fordham -36.5 9-15 (4-8) 117
118 S Florida -46.5 8-18 (1-12) 118



Conference Ranks


Rank Conf Avg
1 Big 12 -3.35
2 Big East -4.9
3 ACC -7.8333
4 SEC -8.5536
5 Other -8.8824
6 Big 10 -10.9107
7 Pac 12 -14.4583
8 Amer -17.0625
9 A10 -25.1071



Next are the rankings within every conference, as well as each team’s national ranking:

ACC

Rank Team Score Record Conf NatlRank
1 Virginia 12.25 24-2 (13-1) 1
2 Clemson 5 20-4 (9-3) 7
3 North Carolina 3.25 20-7 (9-5) 11
4 Duke 1.5 20-5 (8-4) 14
T5 Miami -4.5 18-7 (7-6) 32
T5 NC State -4.5 16-9 (6-6) 34
7 Florida State -5.75 17-8 (6-7) 39
8 Virginia Tech -6 18-7 (7-5) 40
9 Louisville -8.25 18-8 (8-5) 53
10 Syracuse -8.5 17-8 (6-6) 55
11 Boston College -9.75 16-10 (6-7) 61
12 Notre Dame -11.5 15-11 (5-8) 68
13 Georgia Tech -22.25 11-14 (4-8) 97
14 Wake Forest -22.5 9-16 (2-11) 99
15 Pittsburgh -36 8-19 (0-14) 115


Big 10

Rank Team Score Record Conf NatlRank
1 Purdue 9 23-4 (12-2) 4
2 Michigan State 7.5 25-3 (13-2) 5
3 Ohio State 3.75 22-5 (13-1) 10
4 Michigan -0.75 20-7 (9-5) 20
5 Nebraska -6.5 20-8 (11-4) 43
6 Maryland -9.25 17-11 (6-9) 57
7 Penn State -12 18-9 (8-6) 69
8 Northwestern -14 15-12 (6-8) 79
9 Indiana -15.25 14-12 (7-7) 82
10 Wisconsin -21 11-16 (4-10) 94
11 Minnesota -21.25 14-14 (3-12) 95
12 Iowa -23.5 12-15 (3-11) 100
13 Illinois -24.5 12-14 (2-11) 102
14 Rutgers -25 13-15 (3-12) 103


SEC

Rank Team Score Record Conf NatlRank
1 Auburn 2.5 22-3 (10-2) 13
2 Tennessee 1.25 19-6 (9-4) 15
3 Florida -3.25 17-8 (8-4) 24
4 Kentucky -3.5 17-8 (6-6) 27
5 Texas AM -3.75 17-9 (6-7) 28
T6 Missouri -5.25 18-8 (8-5) 36
T6 Alabama -5.25 17-9 (8-5) 37
8 Mississippi St -6.5 18-7 (6-6) 42
9 Arkansas -7 18-8 (7-6) 44
10 LSU -14.25 14-11 (5-8) 80
11 Georgia -14.5 13-11 (4-8) 81
12 South Carolina -16.5 13-13 (4-9) 85
13 Vanderbilt -21.25 9-16 (3-9) 96
14 Ole Miss -22.5 11-15 (4-9) 98


Big 12

Rank Team Score Record Conf NatlRank
1 Texas Tech 6.75 22-4 (10-3) 6
2 Kansas 3 20-6 (9-4) 12
3 West Virginia 0.75 19-7 (8-5) 17
4 Oklahoma -2 16-9 (6-7) 21
5 Kansas State -3.25 17-8 (6-6) T25
6 TCU -4.5 17-9 (5-8) 33
7 Baylor -6 16-10 (6-7) 41
8 OK State -7.25 15-10 (5-7) 47
9 Texas -8.25 15-11 (5-8) 54
10 Iowa State -12.75 13-12 (4-9) 75


Pac 12

Rank Team Score Record Conf NatlRank
1 Arizona -2.5 20-6 (10-3) 22
2 Arizona St -2.5 19-6 (7-6) 23
3 UCLA -7 17-8 (8-5) 45
4 Washington -9.75 17-8 (7-5) 59
5 Utah -10.25 15-9 (7-6) 62
6 USC -11.25 17-9 (8-5) 65
7 Oregon -11.5 17-8 (7-5) 66
8 Colorado -13.5 15-10 (7-6) 78
9 Stanford -19 13-13 (7-6) 89
10 Oregon State -20.25 13-11 (5-7) 92
11 Washington St -29.5 9-15 (1-11) 107
12 California -36.5 8-18 (2-11) 116


American

Rank Team Score Record Conf NatlRank
1 Cincinnati 4.25 23-2 (12-0) 8
2 Houston -4.5 19-5 (9-3) 31
3 Wichita St -4.75 19-5 (9-3) 35
4 UCF -12 15-9 (6-6) 70
5 SMU -12.25 15-10 (5-7) 71
6 Temple -12.75 15-10 (7-6) 74
7 Uconn -17.75 12-13 (5-7) 86
8 Tulsa -18.75 14-10 (7-5) 88
9 Memphis -20 14-11 (5-7) 91
10 Tulane -24.25 13-11 (4-8) 101
11 E Carolina -35.5 9-14 (3-9) 114
12 S Florida -46.5 8-18 (1-12) 118


Big East

Rank Team Score Record Conf NatlRank
1 Villanova 10.5 23-2 (10-2) 2
2 Xavier 10.25 23-3 (11-2) 3
3 Creighton -0.25 19-7 (8-5) 18
4 Seton Hall -3.25 17-8 (6-6) T25
5 Butler -4 17-10 (7-7) 30
6 Marquette -7.75 14-11 (5-8) 50
7 Providence -8 16-9 (7-5) 51
8 Georgetown -12.5 15-10 (5-9) 73
9 St Johns -13 13-13 (2-11) 77
10 DePaul -21 10-14 (3-9) 93


A10

Rank Team Score Record Conf NatlRank
1 Rhode Island 1 21-3 (13-0) 16
2 St Bonaventure -8.25 19-6 (9-4) 52
3 Davidson -16 13-10 (8-4) 83
4 VCU -18.25 15-10 (7-5) 87
5 Dayton -25.5 11-13 (5-7) 104
6 Saint Louis -27 14-12 (7-6) 105
7 Duquense -28.5 15-11 (6-7) 106
8 St Josephs -30.5 10-14 (5-7) 108
9 Umass -30.75 11-14 (4-8) 109
10 G Mason -31.25 11-14 (5-7) 110
11 G Washington -32 10-15 (3-9) 111
12 La Salle -32.5 10-16 (4-9) 112
13 Richmond -35.5 9-16 (7-6) 113
14 Fordham -36.5 9-15 (4-8) 117


Other

Rank Team Score Record Conf NatlRank
1 Gonzaga 4.25 23-4 (13-1) 9
2 St Marys -0.75 24-3 (13-1) 19
3 New Mexico St -4 22-3 (9-0) 29
4 Nevada -5.5 21-5 (10-2) 38
5 Mid Tennessee -7.25 20-5 (12-1) 46
6 Boise St -7.5 20-5 (10-3) 48
7 UL Lafayette -7.5 21-4 (11-1) 49
8 ETSU -8.75 22-5 (13-1) 56
9 Loy Chic -9.75 21-5 (11-3) 58
10 Vermont -9.75 21-5 (11-0) 60
11 Old Dominion -11 19-5 (10-2) 63
12 W Kentucky -11.25 18-7 (10-2) 64
13 BYU -11.5 20-7 (9-5) 67
14 UNLV -12.25 18-7 (7-5) 72
15 Buffalo -12.75 19-7 (11-2) 76
16 Fresno St -16.25 17-8 (7-5) 84
17 San Diego St -19.5 13-10 (5-7) 90