[Lorcan]

My sense is that the post-season blows everything out of proportion and that a lot of fans tend to overlook the regular season -- the only thing they see are W's and L's.  Hence it's ok to schedule a few cupcakes to boost the W total for optics' sake.  I wonder if there have been teams who won at least 20 games and did NOT make the tournament?  (I'm sure there have been, but maybe someone with a better memory can elaborate.)

Is this question about Stanford teams with 20 wins or more specifically? 

There's plenty of teams that win more than 20 games and don't make NCAA's. Portland was 29-4 going into the Stanford game last year. 

It might be a different comparison for a Power 4 Team versus a WCC. Even then, 20 wins doesn't guarantee an NCAA berth. Minnesota and Colorado both had 20 win seasons last year but didn't get to dance. So, if you're on the bubble, you really need that marquee win or two to get you over the hump - and in a down year for the ACC - the chances of a quality win are rapidly dwindling. 

The ACC has struggled somewhat so far - which bodes well for our chances to move up in the standings, but if we're a borderline team again, it may hurt us on the bubble. Duke has flummoxed people by losing to the Greenbriar Five, getting trounced by South Florida, and not living up to preseason expectations. NC State lost to Rhode Island and a very young USC, and Olivia Miles' TCU. Notre Dame did edge out USC after getting trounced by Michigan. Louisville had chances against Kentucky before falling. Virginia lost to UMBC. Adia Barnes and SMU have lost to North Texas and Grand Canyon. Florida State missed chances against Florida, Indiana, and Illinois. Boston College lost to UMass and Providence. Georgia Tech has lost badly to Georgia and got upset by Jacksonville. Pitt lost to mighty Scranton.

In any case - you get the gist. It's going to be hard to pick up quality wins in conference, and the risk of a bad loss with the conference being as down becomes slightly higher.

[Lorcan]

My sense is that the post-season blows everything out of proportion and that a lot of fans tend to overlook the regular season -- the only thing they see are W's and L's.  Hence it's ok to schedule a few cupcakes to boost the W total for optics' sake.  I wonder if there have been teams who won at least 20 games and did NOT make the tournament?  (I'm sure there have been, but maybe someone with a better memory can elaborate.)

Is this question about Stanford teams with 20 wins or more specifically? 

There's plenty of teams that win more than 20 games and don't make NCAA's. Portland was 29-4 going into the Stanford game last year. 

It might be a different comparison for a Power 4 Team versus a WCC. Even then, 20 wins doesn't guarantee an NCAA berth. Minnesota and Colorado both had 20 win seasons last year but didn't get to dance. So, if you're on the bubble, you really need that marquee win or two to get you over the hump - and in a down year for the ACC - the chances of a quality win are rapidly dwindling. 

The ACC has struggled somewhat so far - which bodes well for our chances to move up in the standings, but if we're a borderline team again, it may hurt us on the bubble. Duke has flummoxed people by losing to the Greenbriar Five, getting trounced by South Florida, and not living up to preseason expectations. NC State lost to Rhode Island and a very young USC, and Olivia Miles' TCU. Notre Dame did edge out USC after getting trounced by Michigan. Louisville had chances against Kentucky before falling. Virginia lost to UMBC. Adia Barnes and SMU have lost to North Texas and Grand Canyon. Florida State missed chances against Florida, Indiana, and Illinois. Boston College lost to UMass and Providence. Georgia Tech has lost badly to Georgia and got upset by Jacksonville. Pitt lost to mighty Scranton.

In any case - you get the gist. It's going to be hard to pick up quality wins in conference, and the risk of a bad loss with the conference being as down becomes slightly higher.