Steve Masiello found it hard to not express his disappointment on being labeled a 16 seed as soon as Selection Sunday hit, even before he learned of a trip to Dayton.
The NCAA tournament selection committee labeled the Jaspers as the 67th best team in a 68 team field. The Jaspers’ RPI ranked 168th in the country according to the NCAA, and their non-conference strength of schedule, according to ESPN’s RPI data, ranked as 340th.
However, the fourth-year head coach of the Jaspers actively over scheduled this past season, he would even admit that, playing eight of his team’s nine non-conference games either on the road or at neutral site was an extreme measure after winning their first MAAC championship.
“I feel we were punished for not only trying to better our program, but I also think your at the end of the day, we’re a mid-major, we’re the MAAC, we’re a school of 3,000,” Masiello said. “I think when you start expecting Manhattan’s to beat Florida State’s or Pittsburgh’s or when they lose and that’s a bad year; something’s wrong with that.”
His team went 2-7 over that span and that mark from November and December was largely to blame for their Selection Sunday problem. While the Jaspers came together, going 12-4 in their final 16 regular season games, following up with a MAAC tournament repeat championship, when it came to evaluating the Jaspers’ season, the early losses dragged down their seeding with a heavy weight.
“I think the thing that frustrates me the most is, if I were to bring anyone in say hey make me a schedule, and I were to say come up here and make me a schedule that’s going to get me a 14 seed or a 13 seed next year, I don’t know anyone that could do it,” Masiello said. “I think that’s the frustrating part is there’s no formula.”
Manhattan won 19 games this past season and, considering the way they closed the season, the team that played in February and March would have stood a better chance in non-conference games against the likes of Pittsburgh, UMass and Florida State – all teams who missed the field of 68.
“It is so subjective and that’s where I just get frustrated because I think you have to look at the intent,” Masiello said. “Could we go schedule a schedule and get 20 wins? Yeah, I’m pretty sure we can do that, but does that really mean we’re a 20-win team, everything can be manipulated and that’s where it’s frustrating for me.”
Masiello said he would take this season’s results into consideration when creating a schedule for the 2015-16 season. The Jaspers coach said that he would open his doors to the media to see how they could help him build a schedule and show the complications the program faces in scheduling games.
“You can’t punish us because of what we’re handicapped to,” Masiello said. “That’s what just drives me bonkers, but I’m going to do that next week.”
Ryan Restivo wrote the America East conference preview for the 2014-15 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. He covers the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the America East conference and Hofstra for Big Apple Buckets. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanarestivo or contact Ryan at rrestivo[at]nycbuckets.com.
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for a mid major almost more exciting to play in a tounament where you can actually advance, see njit. to play for a 16th seed to get slaughtered does not seem exciting. maybe should a 2 or 3 fields of 32 and winners of each tournament going to a touanment of champions sort of like in new jersey. great to get to dance of 64 but it is over quickly better off with a few filds of 32 and winners move onto bigger tournament.
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His logic makes no sense here. He “overscheduled” but had a non-conference SOS of 340? He can’t be expected to beat the Pitts and FSUs, but somehow expects to get a higher seed? If he wants a blueprint on how to schedule to potentially earn a 13 or 14 seed, all he needs to do is give Tim Cluess a call. He does it every year.
You are what you are. You go 2-7 non-league in the MAAC and don’t beat anyone and you’re going to Dayton. If you think you’re going to be good, challenge yourself and roll the dice. He makes it sound like he’s the only mid-major coach with these scheduling problems.
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Everyone knows that the court is tilted for the big guys and the mid-majors are given little consideration – scheduling or otherwise. The attitude seems to be that any mid-major that makes the Big Dance should be grateful that they’re even allowed in it. When all is said and done, regardless of what major program you’re eventually matched up against, you win, you advance. You lose, you go home.
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