PULLMAN _ Somewhere in a smoke-free hotel room in Kansas City,the nine members of the NCAA Tournament selection committee arehuddled over a table trying to determine how to distribute thefinal four or five at-large berths for this year's men's basketballtourney.
Duke athletic director Tom Butters is the chairman of thecommittee.
He and his underlings are undoubtedly fair men. But it is hardto imagine that committee discussions are completely free ofregional bias.
One team trying to earn its way off the bubble and into the
NCAA's field of 64 for the first time in 10 years is WashingtonState.
The Cougars enhanced their chances by beating Stanford 77-71Thursday night to raise their overall record to 19-10 and theirPacific-10 Conference mark to 9-8.
But conventional wisdom suggests WSU must still upset No.16-ranked California this afternoon at 3 and maintain at least ashare of fourth place in the Pac-10 standings to secure an NCAAinvitation.
Following is a candid look into that Kansas City hotel room,where fictitious committee members Packy Tennison and Iggy Eastmanare trying _ albeit unsuccessfully _ to put their regional biasesaside and determine WSU's postseason tourna- ment future over asecond martini:
Tennison: "So, how about them Cougs?"
Eastman: "I say let 'em in. With all those Mormons watching,our tournament could make the Winter Olympics look like `The ChevyChase Show' as far as TV ratings are concerned.
"It's just too bad Shawn Bradley left school early."
Tennison: "No, I mean the other Cougs."
Eastman: "There are other Cougs?"
Tennison: "Yeah, the ones from Washington State, you know,Pullman, Pac-10 Conference, all of that. Nice little town, nice
little part of the country. Nice little team."
Eastman: "What team?"
Tennison: "The Washington State Cougars. These guys are 19-10and 9-8 in the Pac-10 Conference. They can play."
Eastman: "Oh, you mean those guys who beat Pittsburg State andAlaska-Anchorage and then lost to Oregon?"
Tennison: "No, I mean the guys who beat Coppin State, MichiganState, Marquette and Alabama and lost to UCLA on a couple of boguscalls in the final minutes."
Eastman: "Hey, they weren't the first team to get jobbedagainst UCLA. And all those `big wins' you mentioned came early inthe year, didn't they?
"Let's not forget this is strictly a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately decision on our part."
Tennison: "But they've won three of their last four and have achance to make it five of their last six if they can upset
California at home this afternoon."
Eastman: "Or you could say they've lost four of their lasteight, right? And if they lose to Cal, that'll make 'em 4-5 downthe stretch."
Tennison: "When, exactly, does `the stretch' start?"
Eastman: "Whenever we need it to. It's starting for George-town today when they meet Boston College in the Big EastTournament. Let's hope the old Hoyas finish strong."
Tennison: "Georgetown? C'mon, they've only got 14 Division Iwins."
Eastman: "Can you say Patrick Ewing? How about AlonzoMourning?"
Tennison: "Sure, but what has that got to do with anything?
Those guys are both in the NBA now. Georgetown is average.
The Big East is down this year. The Pac-10 is up."
Eastman: "Georgetown is an NCAA fixture and the Pac-10
hasn't been up since John Wooden retired."
Tennison: "Wait a minute. The Pac-10 had 32 former playerson opening-day NBA rosters this year. That's the same number asthe Big East Conference and eight more than the Big Eight.
Eastman: "And your point is?"
Tennison: "The Big Eight Conference is overrated, too. Vastlyoverrated. It's a bad league with one good team."
Eastman: "So how do you explain the fact that the Big Eighthad six teams in the tournament two years ago and five last
year?"
Tennison: "Guys like us picked 'em."
Eastman: "And with good reason. It was a great league back
then. Kansas is in it."
Tennison: "But five of those teams lost in the first round.Not counting Kansas, the league was 5-9 in the last two NCAATournaments, yet we're thinking about putting five Big Eight teamsin again this year? Who are we trying to kid?"
Eastman: "Why not? The Pac-10's recent track record at theBig Dance hasn't exactly been Fred Astaire-like."
Tennison: "The league has only had seven berths in the last twoyears. It's had five less chances to succeed than the Big Eight.It gets no respect."
Eastman: "Yeah, but look at what's happened to Arizona.
They don't deserve any more chances if their No. 1 team can'tstomach the 15th- and 16th-seeded cream puffs we've been servingthem."
Tennison: "Sure, but UCLA made it to the Great Eight two yearsago and lost to runner-up Michigan by only two points in overtimelast year.
"And don't forget, California made it to the Sweet Sixteen lastyear and beat LSU and Duke along the way."
Eastman: "Listen, pal, remember Santa Clara? Remember EastTennessee State? Arizona does, and believe me, they wish theydidn't."
Tennison: "But should you penalize the Pac-10 just becauseArizona takes gas every March?"
Eastman: "We have in the past. Look what we did to ArizonaState last year. They went 18-9 and tied UCLA for third place inthe Pac-10, and we shuffled 'em off to the NIT. In fact, we'venever put more than four Pac-10 teams in the tournament.
"Come to think of it, I think I remember sticking it to theseCougars you were talking about a couple of years back, when theywent 21-10 and knocked off USC, the sixth-ranked team in thecountry, in their final regular-season game."
Tennison: "That's right. So why didn't we consider them 1-0down the stretch like you're hoping we can consider George- town?Or even 5-2, like they actually finished?"
Eastman: "Because they play in the time zone from hell. Wedidn't get the results of the USC game that year until Sunday
morning, and we had to commit a spot to Iowa State. Remember,they went 20-12 and finished 5-9 in a tough league.
"And besides, in our `down-the-stretch' way of thinking, WSUlost six of its last 11 in 1992."
Tennison: "Even so, what if the Cougars beat California
tonight? Then we have to let them in, right?"
Eastman: "Not necessarily."
Tennison: "How so?"
Eastman: "We simply rationalize accordingly: Two of their 20wins were against non-Division I teams. They were still only 1-5against the three best teams in their league. They won't evenfinish alone in fourth place if Stanford beats Washington.
"And they went a very mediocre 5-4 down our version of `thestretch' _ with a loss to Oregon, yet."
Tennison: "So what, then? We ship them off the NIT again?
Eastman: "Bingo! And maybe they draw Gonzaga in the firstround. Isn't that school out there somewhere, too?"
Making an argument for the Cougs And what the other side has to sayPULLMAN _ Somewhere in a smoke-free hotel room in Kansas City,the nine members of the NCAA Tournament selection committee arehuddled over a table trying to determine how to distribute thefinal four or five at-large berths for this year's men's basketballtourney.
Duke athletic director Tom Butters is the chairman of thecommittee.
He and his underlings are undoubtedly fair men. But it is hardto imagine that committee discussions are completely free ofregional bias.
One team trying to earn its way off the bubble and into the
NCAA's field of 64 for the first time in 10 years is WashingtonState.
The Cougars enhanced their chances by beating Stanford 77-71Thursday night to raise their overall record to 19-10 and theirPacific-10 Conference mark to 9-8.
But conventional wisdom suggests WSU must still upset No.16-ranked California this afternoon at 3 and maintain at least ashare of fourth place in the Pac-10 standings to secure an NCAAinvitation.
Following is a candid look into that Kansas City hotel room,where fictitious committee members Packy Tennison and Iggy Eastmanare trying _ albeit unsuccessfully _ to put their regional biasesaside and determine WSU's postseason tourna- ment future over asecond martini:
Tennison: "So, how about them Cougs?"
Eastman: "I say let 'em in. With all those Mormons watching,our tournament could make the Winter Olympics look like `The ChevyChase Show' as far as TV ratings are concerned.
"It's just too bad Shawn Bradley left school early."
Tennison: "No, I mean the other Cougs."
Eastman: "There are other Cougs?"
Tennison: "Yeah, the ones from Washington State, you know,Pullman, Pac-10 Conference, all of that. Nice little town, nice
little part of the country. Nice little team."
Eastman: "What team?"
Tennison: "The Washington State Cougars. These guys are 19-10and 9-8 in the Pac-10 Conference. They can play."
Eastman: "Oh, you mean those guys who beat Pittsburg State andAlaska-Anchorage and then lost to Oregon?"
Tennison: "No, I mean the guys who beat Coppin State, MichiganState, Marquette and Alabama and lost to UCLA on a couple of boguscalls in the final minutes."
Eastman: "Hey, they weren't the first team to get jobbedagainst UCLA. And all those `big wins' you mentioned came early inthe year, didn't they?
"Let's not forget this is strictly a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately decision on our part."
Tennison: "But they've won three of their last four and have achance to make it five of their last six if they can upset
California at home this afternoon."
Eastman: "Or you could say they've lost four of their lasteight, right? And if they lose to Cal, that'll make 'em 4-5 downthe stretch."
Tennison: "When, exactly, does `the stretch' start?"
Eastman: "Whenever we need it to. It's starting for George-town today when they meet Boston College in the Big EastTournament. Let's hope the old Hoyas finish strong."
Tennison: "Georgetown? C'mon, they've only got 14 Division Iwins."
Eastman: "Can you say Patrick Ewing? How about AlonzoMourning?"
Tennison: "Sure, but what has that got to do with anything?
Those guys are both in the NBA now. Georgetown is average.
The Big East is down this year. The Pac-10 is up."
Eastman: "Georgetown is an NCAA fixture and the Pac-10
hasn't been up since John Wooden retired."
Tennison: "Wait a minute. The Pac-10 had 32 former playerson opening-day NBA rosters this year. That's the same number asthe Big East Conference and eight more than the Big Eight.
Eastman: "And your point is?"
Tennison: "The Big Eight Conference is overrated, too. Vastlyoverrated. It's a bad league with one good team."
Eastman: "So how do you explain the fact that the Big Eighthad six teams in the tournament two years ago and five last
year?"
Tennison: "Guys like us picked 'em."
Eastman: "And with good reason. It was a great league back
then. Kansas is in it."
Tennison: "But five of those teams lost in the first round.Not counting Kansas, the league was 5-9 in the last two NCAATournaments, yet we're thinking about putting five Big Eight teamsin again this year? Who are we trying to kid?"
Eastman: "Why not? The Pac-10's recent track record at theBig Dance hasn't exactly been Fred Astaire-like."
Tennison: "The league has only had seven berths in the last twoyears. It's had five less chances to succeed than the Big Eight.It gets no respect."
Eastman: "Yeah, but look at what's happened to Arizona.
They don't deserve any more chances if their No. 1 team can'tstomach the 15th- and 16th-seeded cream puffs we've been servingthem."
Tennison: "Sure, but UCLA made it to the Great Eight two yearsago and lost to runner-up Michigan by only two points in overtimelast year.
"And don't forget, California made it to the Sweet Sixteen lastyear and beat LSU and Duke along the way."
Eastman: "Listen, pal, remember Santa Clara? Remember EastTennessee State? Arizona does, and believe me, they wish theydidn't."
Tennison: "But should you penalize the Pac-10 just becauseArizona takes gas every March?"
Eastman: "We have in the past. Look what we did to ArizonaState last year. They went 18-9 and tied UCLA for third place inthe Pac-10, and we shuffled 'em off to the NIT. In fact, we'venever put more than four Pac-10 teams in the tournament.
"Come to think of it, I think I remember sticking it to theseCougars you were talking about a couple of years back, when theywent 21-10 and knocked off USC, the sixth-ranked team in thecountry, in their final regular-season game."
Tennison: "That's right. So why didn't we consider them 1-0down the stretch like you're hoping we can consider George- town?Or even 5-2, like they actually finished?"
Eastman: "Because they play in the time zone from hell. Wedidn't get the results of the USC game that year until Sunday
morning, and we had to commit a spot to Iowa State. Remember,they went 20-12 and finished 5-9 in a tough league.
"And besides, in our `down-the-stretch' way of thinking, WSUlost six of its last 11 in 1992."
Tennison: "Even so, what if the Cougars beat California
tonight? Then we have to let them in, right?"
Eastman: "Not necessarily."
Tennison: "How so?"
Eastman: "We simply rationalize accordingly: Two of their 20wins were against non-Division I teams. They were still only 1-5against the three best teams in their league. They won't evenfinish alone in fourth place if Stanford beats Washington.
"And they went a very mediocre 5-4 down our version of `thestretch' _ with a loss to Oregon, yet."
Tennison: "So what, then? We ship them off the NIT again?
Eastman: "Bingo! And maybe they draw Gonzaga in the firstround. Isn't that school out there somewhere, too?"
Making an argument for the Cougs And what the other side has to sayPULLMAN _ Somewhere in a smoke-free hotel room in Kansas City,the nine members of the NCAA Tournament selection committee arehuddled over a table trying to determine how to distribute thefinal four or five at-large berths for this year's men's basketballtourney.
Duke athletic director Tom Butters is the chairman of thecommittee.
He and his underlings are undoubtedly fair men. But it is hardto imagine that committee discussions are completely free ofregional bias.
One team trying to earn its way off the bubble and into the
NCAA's field of 64 for the first time in 10 years is WashingtonState.
The Cougars enhanced their chances by beating Stanford 77-71Thursday night to raise their overall record to 19-10 and theirPacific-10 Conference mark to 9-8.
But conventional wisdom suggests WSU must still upset No.16-ranked California this afternoon at 3 and maintain at least ashare of fourth place in the Pac-10 standings to secure an NCAAinvitation.
Following is a candid look into that Kansas City hotel room,where fictitious committee members Packy Tennison and Iggy Eastmanare trying _ albeit unsuccessfully _ to put their regional biasesaside and determine WSU's postseason tourna- ment future over asecond martini:
Tennison: "So, how about them Cougs?"
Eastman: "I say let 'em in. With all those Mormons watching,our tournament could make the Winter Olympics look like `The ChevyChase Show' as far as TV ratings are concerned.
"It's just too bad Shawn Bradley left school early."
Tennison: "No, I mean the other Cougs."
Eastman: "There are other Cougs?"
Tennison: "Yeah, the ones from Washington State, you know,Pullman, Pac-10 Conference, all of that. Nice little town, nice
little part of the country. Nice little team."
Eastman: "What team?"
Tennison: "The Washington State Cougars. These guys are 19-10and 9-8 in the Pac-10 Conference. They can play."
Eastman: "Oh, you mean those guys who beat Pittsburg State andAlaska-Anchorage and then lost to Oregon?"
Tennison: "No, I mean the guys who beat Coppin State, MichiganState, Marquette and Alabama and lost to UCLA on a couple of boguscalls in the final minutes."
Eastman: "Hey, they weren't the first team to get jobbedagainst UCLA. And all those `big wins' you mentioned came early inthe year, didn't they?
"Let's not forget this is strictly a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately decision on our part."
Tennison: "But they've won three of their last four and have achance to make it five of their last six if they can upset
California at home this afternoon."
Eastman: "Or you could say they've lost four of their lasteight, right? And if they lose to Cal, that'll make 'em 4-5 downthe stretch."
Tennison: "When, exactly, does `the stretch' start?"
Eastman: "Whenever we need it to. It's starting for George-town today when they meet Boston College in the Big EastTournament. Let's hope the old Hoyas finish strong."
Tennison: "Georgetown? C'mon, they've only got 14 Division Iwins."
Eastman: "Can you say Patrick Ewing? How about AlonzoMourning?"
Tennison: "Sure, but what has that got to do with anything?
Those guys are both in the NBA now. Georgetown is average.
The Big East is down this year. The Pac-10 is up."
Eastman: "Georgetown is an NCAA fixture and the Pac-10
hasn't been up since John Wooden retired."
Tennison: "Wait a minute. The Pac-10 had 32 former playerson opening-day NBA rosters this year. That's the same number asthe Big East Conference and eight more than the Big Eight.
Eastman: "And your point is?"
Tennison: "The Big Eight Conference is overrated, too. Vastlyoverrated. It's a bad league with one good team."
Eastman: "So how do you explain the fact that the Big Eighthad six teams in the tournament two years ago and five last
year?"
Tennison: "Guys like us picked 'em."
Eastman: "And with good reason. It was a great league back
then. Kansas is in it."
Tennison: "But five of those teams lost in the first round.Not counting Kansas, the league was 5-9 in the last two NCAATournaments, yet we're thinking about putting five Big Eight teamsin again this year? Who are we trying to kid?"
Eastman: "Why not? The Pac-10's recent track record at theBig Dance hasn't exactly been Fred Astaire-like."
Tennison: "The league has only had seven berths in the last twoyears. It's had five less chances to succeed than the Big Eight.It gets no respect."
Eastman: "Yeah, but look at what's happened to Arizona.
They don't deserve any more chances if their No. 1 team can'tstomach the 15th- and 16th-seeded cream puffs we've been servingthem."
Tennison: "Sure, but UCLA made it to the Great Eight two yearsago and lost to runner-up Michigan by only two points in overtimelast year.
"And don't forget, California made it to the Sweet Sixteen lastyear and beat LSU and Duke along the way."
Eastman: "Listen, pal, remember Santa Clara? Remember EastTennessee State? Arizona does, and believe me, they wish theydidn't."
Tennison: "But should you penalize the Pac-10 just becauseArizona takes gas every March?"
Eastman: "We have in the past. Look what we did to ArizonaState last year. They went 18-9 and tied UCLA for third place inthe Pac-10, and we shuffled 'em off to the NIT. In fact, we'venever put more than four Pac-10 teams in the tournament.
"Come to think of it, I think I remember sticking it to theseCougars you were talking about a couple of years back, when theywent 21-10 and knocked off USC, the sixth-ranked team in thecountry, in their final regular-season game."
Tennison: "That's right. So why didn't we consider them 1-0down the stretch like you're hoping we can consider George- town?Or even 5-2, like they actually finished?"
Eastman: "Because they play in the time zone from hell. Wedidn't get the results of the USC game that year until Sunday
morning, and we had to commit a spot to Iowa State. Remember,they went 20-12 and finished 5-9 in a tough league.
"And besides, in our `down-the-stretch' way of thinking, WSUlost six of its last 11 in 1992."
Tennison: "Even so, what if the Cougars beat California
tonight? Then we have to let them in, right?"
Eastman: "Not necessarily."
Tennison: "How so?"
Eastman: "We simply rationalize accordingly: Two of their 20wins were against non-Division I teams. They were still only 1-5against the three best teams in their league. They won't evenfinish alone in fourth place if Stanford beats Washington.
"And they went a very mediocre 5-4 down our version of `thestretch' _ with a loss to Oregon, yet."
Tennison: "So what, then? We ship them off the NIT again?
Eastman: "Bingo! And maybe they draw Gonzaga in the firstround. Isn't that school out there somewhere, too?"
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