RIP RPI.
The NCAA announced on Wednesday that they have eliminated the RPI as the primary sorting tool to be used during the NCAA tournament selection process.
This system was approved in late July and included input from not only the NABC and the Division I menās basketball committee but ātop basketball analytics expertsā as well as Google Cloud Professional Services.
āWhat has been developed is a contemporary method of looking at teams analytically, using results-based and predictive metrics that will assist the Menās Basketball Committee as it reviews games throughout the season,ā said Dan Gavitt, senior vice president of basketball for the NCAA.
āWhile no perfect rankings exist, using the results of past tournaments will help ensure that the rankings are built on an objective source of truth.ā
The new metric, which is called the NCAA Evaluation Tool (or NET), will rely on āgame results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency, and the quality of wins and losses.ā
There is a lot to take in here, and to avoid getting to into the weeds when it comes to the nerdy part of the analytics, this is what you need to know: This metric will be impacted both by the predictive nature of metrics like KenPom as well as purely results-based metrics like the RPI. The difference is subtle but important. Predictive metrics are generally based on things like efficiency and are not as impacted by something like a buzzer-beater going in and changing the outcome. Results-based metrics are, obviously, as they change the result of the game even if it shouldnāt impact how good you think either team is.
NCAA eliminates RPI, develops new metric for tournament selection
The NCAA announced on Wednesday that they have eliminated the RPI as the primary sorting tool to be used during the NCAA tournament selection process.
This system was approved in late July and included input from not only the NABC and the Division I menās basketball committee but ātop basketball analytics expertsā as well as Google Cloud Professional Services.
āWhat has been developed is a contemporary method of looking at teams analytically, using results-based and predictive metrics that will assist the Menās Basketball Committee as it reviews games throughout the season,ā said Dan Gavitt, senior vice president of basketball for the NCAA.
āWhile no perfect rankings exist, using the results of past tournaments will help ensure that the rankings are built on an objective source of truth.ā
The new metric, which is called the NCAA Evaluation Tool (or NET), will rely on āgame results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency, and the quality of wins and losses.ā
There is a lot to take in here, and to avoid getting to into the weeds when it comes to the nerdy part of the analytics, this is what you need to know: This metric will be impacted both by the predictive nature of metrics like KenPom as well as purely results-based metrics like the RPI. The difference is subtle but important. Predictive metrics are generally based on things like efficiency and are not as impacted by something like a buzzer-beater going in and changing the outcome. Results-based metrics are, obviously, as they change the result of the game even if it shouldnāt impact how good you think either team is.
NCAA eliminates RPI, develops new metric for tournament selection
