ESPN analyst Jay Bilas isn’t backing down from his position that VCU doesn’t deserve to be in the NCAA basketball tournament, despite the Rams advancing to the Final Four.
Bilas spoke to Michael Hiestand of USA Today and said that the Rams five wins over USC, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State and Kansas is irrelevant.
Bilas was highly critical of the selection committee extending an invitation to VCU, and along with fellow ESPN analysts Dick Vitale and Hubert Davis, argued that other teams such as Virginia Tech and Colorado should have been in before VCU and UAB.
“Based on what they and other teams had accomplished, those other teams should have gotten in first. Tournament performance is totally different.”
I doubt the teams that have lost to Virginia Commonwealth in the tournament consider the Rams irrelevant. The only thing that’s irrelevant at this point is what Bilas and others think about the Rams being invited to the big dance.
If tournament performance is different as Bilas suggests, then an argument can be made that some of teams that got in who are nothing more than a warm up game for the top seeds don’t deserve to be in the field of 68.
Bilas does make a good case for reforming the system used for determining tournament invitations, saying that the RPI metrics are poor and should be done away with in favor of the Sagarin ratings.
But all of that aside, Bilas really has no choice but to stand by his words because backing down now would make him look foolish.
And if VCU happens to win the championship he’ll continue to stand by his words, but he’ll take a beating in the court of public opinion.
I’m willing to bet the Rams would love nothing more.
He’s an idiot. Its called March Madness because crazy shit happens and thats exactly what this year has brought. Now that VCU is at the Final 4 Im hoping they win it all!
I wish VCU and Butler didn’t have to play each other. Wouldn’t that make a lot of the pundits crazy if they were able to play for the title? I agree with you, I hope VCU wins the whole thing. Can’t wait to hear what Bilas would have to say then.
Lol jay Billy-ass is an arrogant man…Damn someone please show him the ball we play at CAA before he gets more arrogant!
@Rai – Arrogance is the downfall of many men.
Moon Dog
Jay Bilas has never been the smartest of individuals ! He makes Charlie Sheen seem like a Harvard grad with the idiocy of his statement about the VCU Rams !
tophatal ……………..