Goo critical of WAC, NCAA

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine basketball coach Vince Goo suggests that some teams may have benefitted by having members on the NCAA Women's Selection Committee. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

The head basketball coach of the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine, whose team was slighted for the fourth consecutive year by the NCAA, is trying to figure out why this continues to happen.

"There's something wrong here and that needs to be cleared up," Goo said.

Goo criticized the Western Athletic Conference and the NCAA Selection Committee yesterday. He pointed out that teams with lower power ratings than Hawai'i in the tournament, such as Clemson and Mississippi State, had representatives on the selection committee.

Clemson (17-11) lost to North Carolina State in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship; Mississippi State (18-11) had an RPI of 67 and still managed to get an at-large berth. (Hawai'i's RPI is 45.)

"It's funny," Goo said, "the NCAA preaches to kids about sportsmanship, honesty and fair play. Those are good things for coaches to be teaching their players. Perhaps they should set some examples."

Despite a 23-7 record and a second-place finish in the WAC Tournament, Hawai'i was not invited as one of 34 at-large teams to the 64-team NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Instead, the Rainbow Wahine will compete in the Women's National Invitation Tournament starting Thursday.

"I believe we should have been one of those 34 at-large teams because we're one of the 34 best teams in the country," Goo said.

According to Women's Basketball Magazine, there are several evaluation tools used by the selection committee in choosing at-large bids. Committee members do independent research to determine their choices, talking with coaches and athletic directors and reviewing statistics. Thus, the selection process is subjective.

Goo openly criticized that subjectivity, saying that the only fair way to determine which teams get at-large bids is to be objective and not base decisions on affiliations with certain programs.

"There's a need for the selection process to be proper," said Goo, who noted that this year's snub was the most disappointing of all.

One reason the NCAA may have rejected Hawai'i was because of its strength of schedule — or lack thereof.

In December, UH's strength of schedule was rated in the top 20s. By the end of the season, that number tumbled to 109, despite UH having played three Top 20 teams.

But the NCAA argues that teams have to do more than just play top programs. They have to beat them.

In an online chat on ESPN.com, NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee chair Maryalyce Jeremiah admitted that Hawai'i was "very close to getting in. But they didn't have a strong record against Top 25 (RPI) teams. No wins. That reflects their strength of schedule. They only had two wins against Top 100 teams. That explains it right there."

Another measure in selecting at-large bids is the team's performance in its last 10 games. Hawai'i won eight of its last 10. Wisconsin won just three of its last 13, but made the tournament. Goo noted the Badgers have a representative on the selection committee.

But Wisconsin (19-11) was once ranked as high as fifth in the nation with a 16-1 record. Though not among the current Top 25 teams, the Badgers received nine points in the last Associated Press poll.

"The (WAC) has got to take a stand," Goo said. "Don't say they feel bad for Vince, or they feel bad for the Rainbow Wahine. Do something about it."

Speculation surrounding Hawai'i's invitation to join the Mountain West Conference as early as the 2003-04 season could be good news for Goo.

"If it were today, it would've definitely helped us," he said.

The eight-team Mountain West Conference is sending four teams. Colorado State (24-6, 28th RPI), Brigham Young (22-8, 34th), New Mexico (22-8, 36th) and UNLV (23-7, 43rd) — all have better RPIs than Hawai'i, according to CollegeRPI.com.

Just one team — Louisiana Tech — out of 10 will represent the WAC in the tournament.

"I don't understand why the men are not ranked higher and why the women are not included (in the NCAA Tournament)," said UH President Evan Dobelle yesterday. "They deserve to be."

When asked if UH should stay in the WAC, Dobelle said, "What are they doing to keep us in?"

Goo said the conference should mandate teams to toughen their schedules, thereby making the WAC a more respected league. As it is now, the WAC is considered a weak conference by comparison.

The Rainbow Wahine nearly pulled off a major upset in the WAC Tournament final against Louisiana Tech. They led by seven points deep into the second half before losing the game, 53-50, and the automatic NCAA berth.

Of all his teams that were overlooked, Goo said this was the one most deserving of an at-large berth.

"They've done everything we've asked them to do all year long," he said. "I leave it up to them (in the WNIT). I'm not going to push them very hard."

Women's NIT

Hawai'i times

First Round

Tomorrow

• Delaware (23-6) at George Washington (20-8), 2 p.m.
• Louisville (17-12) at Ball State (23-6), 2 p.m.
• Miami (18-11) at Georgia Tech (15-13), 2 p.m.
• UNC-Greensboro (21-9) at Virginia Tech (18-10), 2 p.m.
• Valparaiso (24-6) at Michigan (17-12), 2 p.m.
• Alabama (17-11) at Missouri (14-14), 3 p.m.
• Eastern Kentucky (22-7) at Southwest Missouri State (16-12), 3 p.m.
• Rice (21-8) at Houston (22-7), 3 p.m.
• St. Mary's, Calif. (16-12) at Oregon (17-13), 5 p.m.
• Southern California (15-13) at San Francisco (18-11), 5 p.m.

Thursday

• DePaul (15-13) at Michigan State (16-12), 2 p.m.
• Holy Cross (23-7) at Vermont (21-8), 2 p.m.
• Western Kentucky (16-13) at Illinois (14-13), 3 p.m.
• Hawai'i (23-7) at Oregon State (16-14), 5 p.m.
• North Texas (21-8) at Washington (17-11), 5 p.m.
• Siena (23-6) at Saint Joseph's (23-7), TBA

Second Round

Dates and Times TBA

• Southern California-San Francisco winner vs. North Texas-Washington winner
• St. Mary's, Calif.-Oregon winner vs. Hawai'i-Oregon State winner
• Alabama-Missouri winner vs. Eastern Kentucky-Southwest Missouri State winner
• DePaul-Michigan State winner vs. Western Kentucky-Illinois winner
• Holy Cross-Vermont winner vs. Siena-Saint Joseph's winner
• Delaware-George Washington winner vs. UNC-Greensboro-Virginia Tech winner
• Valparaiso-Michigan winner vs. Louisville-Ball State winner
• Miami-Georgia Tech winner vs. Rice-Houston winner

Third Round

Dates and Times TBA

• Southern California-San Francisco-North Texas-Washington winner vs. St. Mary's, Calif.-Oregon-Hawai'i-Oregon State winner
• Alabama-Missouri-Eastern Kentucky-Southwest Missouri State winner vs. DePaul-Michigan State-Western Kentucky-Illinois winner
• Holy Cross-Vermont-Siena-Saint Joseph's winner vs. Delaware-George Washington-UNC Greensboro-Virginia Tech winner
• Valparaiso-Michigan-Louisville-Ball State winner vs. Miami-Georgia Tech-Rice-Houston winner

Semifinals

Dates and Times TBA

Championship

Date and Time TBA