I was thinking of Pepperdine a few years back 9 - 5 - 4 beat Santa Clara 2-1...Santa Clara went to the party.A team's raw record doesn't matter as long as it is .500 or better, although there is some disagreement about whether they use 3 points for a win when calculating the .500. Santa Clara's record qualifies either way. And the coach's reputation doesn't enter into it at all.
Pepperdine didn't get the invite...just sour grapes from me
I'd like to believe reputations/politics don't enter in to it at all...but call me Thomas.
Good luck to all in the NCAA's