CAA teams responsible for one-bid situation

Not so long ago, the men's basketball teams in the Colonial Athletic Association were on the brink of fame, fortune and, even better, the undying affection of the NCAA tournament selection committee.

In 2006, George Mason received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and reached the Final Four.

In 2007, VCU won the conference tournament and Old Dominion received an at-large bid. VCU beat Duke -- Duke -- in the first round of the NCAA tournament and took Pittsburgh into overtime before losing in the second round.

The CAA had arrived. Its teams had shown they deserved more than one berth in the NCAA tournament.

Arriving and staying are different matters.

The CAA is a mid-major conference. Teams in mid-major conferences constantly must prove themselves, while membership in the Big East, SEC or ACC has its privileges.

SEC legend Kentucky is considered to be a 'bubble team" for the NCAA tournament this year. Kentucky's current spot in the all-important Ratings Percentage Index is 66. George Mason is 56th. VCU is 65.

Yet, no one mentions "bub ble", George Mason or VCU in the same sentence, unless it has to do with a bubble bursting.

The odds against a CAA team receiving an at-large bid this season are not as enormous as those against winning the lottery, but they are close.

This is a winner-take-all year for the CAA.

That's not the NCAA selection committee's fault. CAA teams have only themselves to blame.

The coaches have their reasons/rationalizations.

"If our teams got to play seven or eight nonconference home games, it would be interesting to see what our RPI would be," GMU coach Jim Larranaga said. "But we don't have the guarantee money. We have to go on the road."

Money is just one reason CAA teams travel to nonconference games against highly rated teams.

VCU, George Mason, Old Dominion (No. 105 in the RPI) and Northeastern (No. 80), the top four teams in the league this year, are capable of beating top-echelon opponents at home. Teams from power conferences will not take such risks.

However, if you want the NCAA selection committee to show you the love, you must upset someone somewhere.

The CAA has a dismal record against teams within the RPI top 55.

VCU lost at Oklahoma and Rhode Island. George Mason lost at Dayton and Creighton. Northeastern lost at Michigan and Rhode Island.

Old Dominion lost to Alabama-Birmingham at home.

And if you want to give the NCAA selection committee a reason to take the No. 6 team in the ACC over the No. 2 team in the CAA, lose at Bucknell (7-22, No. 241), as Old Dominion did.

The Monarchs had company in their infamy. George Mason lost at Hampton (265). Northeastern lost at Boston University (146). VCU lost at East Carolina (208).

Winning games against lower ranked teams is of little value to the CAA. Losing them is damaging.

"It's all about what happens on the court," said Delaware coach Monté Ross.

Yes, it is. And this season, CAA teams have not made enough good things happen on the court.