The short version: The NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) serves as the primary sorting tool for Division I men's basketball. It simplifies team evaluation into two core components—the Team Value Index and adjusted net efficiency—while organizing wins and losses into a four-tier quadrant system based on game location and opponent rank.
Key takeaways
- The NET replaced the RPI prior to the 2018-19 season as the primary sorting tool for Division I men's basketball.
- The simplified NET metric relies on two components: the Team Value Index (TVI) and adjusted net efficiency.
- Wins and losses are organized into four quadrants based on game location and the opponent's NET ranking.
- The NET ranking is not the sole factor in tournament selection; it is one of many tools used by the committees.
What is the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET)?
According to NCAA.com, the NCAA Evaluation Tool, widely known as the NET, serves as the primary sorting tool for Division I men's basketball. This ranking system plays an important role in establishing a team's resume throughout the competitive season. The NCAA reports that the NET rankings replaced the RPI prior to the 2018-19 season as the primary sorting tool for evaluating teams. College basketball's NET rankings, explained | NCAA.com
According to College basketball's NET rankings, explained on NCAA.com, the 2024-25 men's basketball season marks the seventh season of the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings. The NCAA publicizes daily NET rankings and team sheets on NCAA.com and NCAA.org starting in December.
What are the inputs used in the NET formula?
According to College basketball's NET rankings, explained on NCAA.com, the NCAA announced changes to the NCAA Evaluation Tool in May 2020 to increase accuracy and simplify it by reducing a five-component metric to just two. The remaining factors in the simplified NET metric include the Team Value Index (TVI) and an adjusted net efficiency rating. adjusted net efficiency rating
According to College basketball's NET rankings, explained on NCAA.com, the Team Value Index (TVI) is a result-based feature that rewards teams for beating quality opponents, particularly away from home.
How do game location and opponent quality affect the record?
According to College basketball's NET rankings, explained on NCAA.com, under the quadrant system, which was in its fourth season in 2020-21, the quality of wins and losses is organized based on game location and the opponent's NET ranking.
According to College basketball's NET rankings, explained on NCAA.com, Quadrant 1 is defined as home games against opponents ranked 1-30, neutral games against opponents ranked 1-50, and away games against opponents ranked 1-75. The NCAA defines Quadrant 2 as home games against opponents ranked 31-75, neutral games against opponents ranked 51-100, and away games against opponents ranked 76-135.
According to College basketball's NET rankings, explained on NCAA.com, Quadrant 3 is defined as home games against opponents ranked 76-160, neutral games against opponents ranked 101-200, and away games against opponents ranked 135-240. The NCAA defines Quadrant 4 as home games against opponents ranked 161-353, neutral games against opponents ranked 201-353, and away games against opponents ranked 241-353.
According to College basketball's NET rankings, explained on NCAA.com, the number of Quadrant 1 wins and Quadrant 3/4 losses is highly important for NCAA tournament selection and seeding. tournament selection and seeding
How does the selection committee use the NET?
The belief that the NET ranking is the only factor that matters in tournament selection is a misconception. According to the NCAA, the Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Committees oversee the selection, seeding, and bracketing process for each tournament, and they use a combination of metrics and evaluation tools to choose the 37 at-large teams. The NET is simply one of many resources available to the committees. March Madness Selections 101 - NCAA.org - The Official Website of the NCAA
According to the NCAA's March Madness Selections 101 guide, the Division I men's and women's committees are composed of conference commissioners, athletics directors, and experienced administrators from across Division I basketball. This official NCAA.org resource also states that each selection committee consists of 12 members serving five-year terms.
According to the NCAA, the selection committees evaluate teams starting with the first night of the season and all the way until Selection Sunday using data-driven metrics, game results, and expert observations. Two commonly referred-to computer metrics used in the men's and women's selection process are the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) and Wins Above Bubble (WAB). Committee members rely on resources including game evaluations, conference monitoring, coaches rankings, box scores, head-to-head results, common-opponent results, imbalanced conference schedules and results, nonconference strength of schedule, quality wins and losses, road performance, player/coach availability, and computer metrics.
What is the structure of the postseason tournaments?
According to the NCAA, the Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Committees are responsible for selecting the 37 at-large teams and ranking them into their respective brackets. The men's and women's tournaments feature a 68-team bracket, composed of 31 automatic qualifiers and 37 at-large teams. Teams that win their conference tournaments receive automatic bids. Each tournament features an opening-round First Four, followed by first and second rounds, regional semifinals and finals—affectionately known as the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, respectively—and the Men's and Women's Final Fours.
According to the NCAA, men's and women's teams that do not make the field of 68 are eligible for the National Invitation Tournament and the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament. The NIT and WBIT are both managed by the NCAA and have their own selection process. The National Invitation Tournament and Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament provide additional postseason championship opportunities for Division I men's and women's basketball teams.
According to the NCAA, the committees meet multiple times throughout the season to analyze team performance and adjust rankings accordingly. Selection begins with each committee member submitting an initial ballot on the first day of the selections meeting, followed by rounds of voting and discussion until the final bracket is set.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main components of the NET ranking?
Under the NCAA guidelines, the simplified NET metric consists of two main components: the Team Value Index (TVI) and an adjusted net efficiency rating. The Team Value Index is a result-based feature that rewards teams for beating quality opponents, particularly away from home.
Is the NET ranking the only factor used for tournament selection?
No. According to the NCAA, assuming that this single metric dictates the entire bracket is a common misconception. The Division I selection committees actually evaluate candidates by balancing multiple tools and metrics to determine the 37 at-large selections.
How is Quadrant 1 defined under the NET system?
Under the NCAA quadrant system, Quadrant 1 is defined as home games against opponents ranked 1-30, neutral games against opponents ranked 1-50, and away games against opponents ranked 1-75.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main components of the NET ranking?
Under the NCAA guidelines, the simplified NET metric consists of two main components: the Team Value Index (TVI) and an adjusted net efficiency rating. The Team Value Index is a result-based feature that rewards teams for beating quality opponents, particularly away from home.
Is the NET ranking the only factor used for tournament selection?
No. According to the NCAA, assuming that this single metric dictates the entire bracket is a common misconception. The Division I selection committees actually evaluate candidates by balancing multiple tools and metrics to determine the 37 at-large selections.
How is Quadrant 1 defined under the NET system?
Under the NCAA quadrant system, Quadrant 1 is defined as home games against opponents ranked 1-30, neutral games against opponents ranked 1-50, and away games against opponents ranked 1-75.
