Redhawks men's basketball holds out hope for a postseason tourney berth

The regular season may have finished for the Seattle University men's basketball team, but with postseason hopes of a tournament slot in either the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), CollegeInsider.com Basketball Tournament (CIT) or National Invitational Tournament, more games may be a reality.

The CBI features 16 teams in a knockout style competition similar to the NCAA tournament, the only exception being that the championship is decided in a best of three series. The tournament brackets regionally, and the higher seed plays at home. Oregon State University won the event last year. Seattle U blew out the OSU Beavers 99-48 in Corvallis, Ore. earlier this season.

The CIT operates just like the CBI but without the best of three final. In 2009 Old Dominion University won the championship, but it also featured two teams the Redhawks lost to this season: Oakland University and University of Portland.

Selection for the CBI and CIT happen Sunday night following the selections of the NCAA tournament and National Invitational Tournament (NIT). Seattle U is ineligible for the NCAA tournament because the school is still reclassifying to Division I. Though the NIT does not have similar restrictions, it is unlikely the Redhawks will be selected. The CBI and CIT are both more reasonable possibilities.

At some point, it all depends on the selection committees. Most reference the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). RPI is a statistical measure of a given team's skill. It is calculated with a formula that examines a team's winning percentage, their opponent's winning percentage and the winning percentage of the opponent's opponents.

Seattle U is currently ranked 193rd in the nation by RPI. Notable teams the Redhawks have faced this season include Oklahoma State University, 28th in RPI, and the University of Washington, 49th.

Another factor that may come into consideration is that Seattle U is the only independent school to post a winning record this season. Closing the season with a four-game winning streak, the Redhawks finished at 17-14. The next best independent team in the country, Savannah State University, finished at 11-15.

The Redhawks may be bolstered in their bid by strong attendance as well. Though by no means comparable to major D-I schools, for a first year the school did quite well in supporting the team. Seattle U averaged 3,548 for its home games, in comparison to 3,091 on the road. The season high at home was set on senior night against Portland State University, with 4,876 showing up to see the seniors off.

The higher home than away average is even more admirable considering that two of the Redhawks' away games were against Oklahoma State and Washington. In the OSU match, 11,432 packed the stadium, as well as 10,000 at UW.

Dillon may be reached at dgilbert@su-spectator.com