By Ed Morrone
RICHMOND, Va.-For the Pride, it was simple: beat UNC-Wilmington and advance to the NCAA Tournament, no questions asked.
However, with Wilmington's 78-67 win in Monday night's CAA title game, the Pride chose to take the hard route, beginning an agonizing wait that the team hopes will end with a tournament at-large bid come Sunday night.
With the loss, the Pride handed over its destiny to the 10 men also known as the NCAA selection committee. Over the course of the week, the committee will consider several options in making its choices such as: overall record, rating percentage index (RPI), strength of schedule, record vs. other teams under consideration, road record and record in the last 10 games, to name a few.
Breaking down those particular qualifications, the Pride has to feel more confident than discouraged. It built an overall record of 24-6, has an RPI in the low 30s (the lower your RPI is, the better your chances of getting in) and had the best road record in its conference.
The two things that should really help are the team's record against other considered teams and its record in the last 10 games.
The CAA is figured to be a two-bid (maybe three) conference in the tournament, with Wilmington being the only shoo-in so far. However, when the committee is considering that second team, it should be most enticed by the Pride. George Mason's RPI and strength of schedule are stronger, but the Pride has beaten the Patriots twice in the last two weeks and is the only team to beat them twice all season. In its last 10 games, the Blue & Gold is 8-2, with its only two losses coming against Wilmington.
"We'll see what the experts say all week, and we'll hope for teams not to get upset in their tournaments," Pride head coach Tom Pecora said regarding conference favorites needing to win to keep the number of at-large bids sizable. "But I really think when you look at our body of work, we belong in this tournament."
The committee may not be so sure, especially considering the Pride's biggest out of conference win was against Big East cellar dweller St. John's. But in a year where the CAA distinguished itself as one of the top conferences in the nation, the Pride's conference wins certainly speak for themselves.
Conference commissioner Tom Yeager said he was confident the CAA would get three bids, but wasn't sure the committee would agree.
"The problem is these aren't household names," Yeager said. "People can't find Hofstra and don't know where it is. But look at where the computer says they're ranked."
The loss to Wilmington hurt the Pride's chances, but the spirited comeback the team made may also enter the mind of the committee.
"If this ends as a 25-point game, I think they're looking at us saying, 'How good is Hofstra really?'" Pecora said.
Pecora and Pride fans know the team belongs, but does the committee?
We'll find out on Sunday.
