Will garbage time ever be the same?
Men’s college basketball coaches are adjusting this winter to the NET rankings, which will help the NCAA tournament selection committee stock its 68-team field in March. The NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) has replaced the RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) standings, which were established in 1981, and it includes offensive and defensive efficiency metrics throughout an entire game.
“You’ve got to be somewhat aware of it, because it does become a factor, especially if a game has been decided,” Florida’s Mike White said on a recent conference call of Southeastern Conference coaches. “Whether you’re about to take a ‘W’ or an ‘L,’ with your last few possessions both offensively and defensively, you’ve got to finish as strong as possible because every possession counts.
“The rules are what they are, and they’re going to evaluate what they evaluate.”
Overall winning percentage, strength of schedule and the location of wins and losses are factored into the NET formula as well, as is scoring margin up to 10 points. Yet with offensive and defensive efficiencies being tracked for the full 40 minutes, the handling of the game’s waning moments has taken on added interest.