Andrew Pace
Quads, or quadrants, in basketball refer to a ranking system used to determine the best teams in the NCAA Division I Men's basketball tournament. The quadrant system is a four-tiered ranking system that takes into account factors such as game results, strength of schedule, game location, and net efficiency. The quadrants are defined as follows: Quadrant 1 includes home games against top-ranked teams, neutral games against lower-ranked teams, and away games against highly-ranked teams. Quadrant 2 includes home games against lower-ranked teams, neutral site games, and away games. Quadrant 3 and 4 wins are less significant as they are against lower-quality teams, but losses in these quadrants can negatively impact a team's ranking. The quadrant system aims to provide a more nuanced evaluation of teams' performances and seeding potential in the NCAA Tournament.
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What You'll Learn
Quad 1 wins are important for tournament selection
In college basketball, the term "Quad 1 wins" is often mentioned in the lead-up to Selection Sunday, when teams are chosen to participate in the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA adopted a four-tiered quadrant system in 2017-18 to better evaluate game results. This system is used by the Division I Men's Basketball Committee to determine which teams are in or out of the tournament.
The quadrant system helps the selection committee evaluate teams beyond just their win-loss record. It considers the quality of the opponent and the location of the contest. This is especially beneficial for teams with a strong schedule, as it showcases their ability to compete against tougher opponents. For example, a team with a lower win percentage but several Quad 1 wins may be favoured over a team with a higher win percentage but fewer Quad 1 wins.
Additionally, Quad 1 wins can help boost a team's NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) ranking. The NET rankings are a key factor in the selection process, as they incorporate various factors such as game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, and net efficiency. A strong Quad 1 record can improve a team's standing in the NET rankings, increasing their chances of tournament selection.
While Quad 1 wins are crucial, it is also important to avoid losses in the lower quadrants, especially Quad 3 and Quad 4. These losses are considered "bad losses" as they are against teams unlikely to make the tournament. Therefore, a strong Quad 1 record coupled with minimal losses in the lower quadrants can significantly enhance a team's case for tournament selection.
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Quad 2, 3 and 4 losses are significant for NET rankings
The NCAA adopted a four-tiered quadrant system in 2017-18 to better evaluate game results. The system is used to sort games from Quadrant 1 at the top through to Quadrant 4, with games away from home carrying more weight. Quad 1 wins are considered important for bubble teams as they indicate a team's ability to compete in an NCAA Tournament game.
The NET rankings are not static and are updated daily after each night's results are calculated. This means that a win that is a Quad 2 on one day can become a Quad 1 victory the next if a team jumps tiers. For instance, a win against UCONN was considered a Quad 2 victory for Xavier, but if UCONN rose in the rankings, this would become a Quad 1 win for Xavier.
The quadrant system is used by the Division I Men's Basketball Committee to determine who is in or out of the tournament. The NET rankings are a sorting tool for team resumes, taking into account game results, strength of schedule, game location, net offensive and defensive efficiency, and the quality of wins and losses. The Quadrants are broken down as follows:
- Quad 1: Games against teams ranked 1-30 in the current NET at home, games at a neutral site against teams ranked 1-50 in the NET, games on the road against teams ranked 1-75 in the NET.
- Quad 2: Home games against teams 31-75, neutral site games against teams 51-100, away games against teams 76-135.
- Quad 3: Home games against teams 76-160, neutral site games against teams 101-200, away games against teams 136-240.
- Quad 4: Home games against teams 161-353, neutral site games against teams 201-353, away games against teams 241-353.
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Quad 1 losses don't matter much
The NCAA adopted a four-tiered quadrant system in 2017-18 to better evaluate game results. The system is used by the Division I Men's Basketball Committee to determine which teams are in or out of the NCAA Tournament. The quadrant system is broken down into four sections, with the top two quadrants being the most important.
Quad 1 wins are considered "good wins" and are important for teams to demonstrate their ability to compete against the best teams in the country. However, Quad 1 losses don't matter much compared to losses in the other quadrants. This is because Quad 1 losses are against high-ranking opponents, so they are not as detrimental to a team's record as losses against lower-ranked opponents in Quad 2, 3, or 4.
For example, a team with a strong schedule like Auburn, which has a 12-1 record in Quad 1 games, is likely to secure a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. On the other hand, a team like North Carolina with a 45 NET ranking and a 1-9 record in Quad 1 games may not be favoured by the selection committee despite their strong schedule.
While Quad 1 wins are important, losses in this quadrant are not as significant. This is because the quadrant system takes into account the quality of the opponent and the location of the game. Quad 1 losses are against highly-ranked opponents, and the ranking system is designed to give more weight to road wins and less weight to home losses.
The NET rankings, which are used in the quadrant system, are updated daily and are based on an analytical formula that incorporates factors such as game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, and net efficiency. The ranking system has been improved over time through consultation with experts and the use of machine learning techniques to increase accuracy and simplicity.
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Quad 3 and 4 wins are less meaningful
In basketball, the term "quads" refers to the four statistical categories that are used to evaluate a player's performance: points, rebounds, assists, and steals. A player is said to have recorded a "quad-double" when they reach double digits in all four of these categories in a single game. This is an extremely rare feat and is considered a significant accomplishment. Now, let's discuss why Quad 3 and 4 wins may be considered less meaningful:
Quad 3 and 4 wins refer to games where a team's performance falls within the third and fourth quads, which are determined by a combination of their offensive and defensive efficiency ratings. These efficiency ratings are calculated by measuring points scored and allowed per 100 possessions. Quad 3 and 4 wins occur when a team's performance is below average in terms of these efficiency ratings.
Quad 3 wins occur when a team has a below-average offensive performance while also limiting their opponents' offensive effectiveness. In simple terms, it's a win where both teams struggle to score efficiently. While such a win still contributes to a team's overall record and standings, it may not inspire as much confidence as a win in Quad 1 or 2, where offensive efficiency is higher.
Quad 4 wins are even less desirable. These occur when a team has both poor offensive and defensive performances. While any win is important in competitive sports, a Quad 4 win may raise concerns about a team's overall performance and strategy. It suggests that there are areas of improvement needed on both ends of the court.
The reason why Quad 3 and 4 wins are considered less meaningful is that they often indicate a lower level of overall performance. Basketball is a game that heavily emphasizes efficiency and optimization. Teams aim to maximize their scoring output while minimizing their opponents'. When a team wins in Quad 3 or 4, it often means they had to rely on other factors, such as superior talent, luck, or their opponents' even poorer performance.
That being said, it's important to note that different teams and coaches may have varying interpretations of Quad wins. Some may still view a Quad 3 or 4 win as a positive outcome, especially if it contributes to a winning streak or helps secure a playoff berth. Context is crucial, and sometimes, a Quad 3 or 4 win can be indicative of a team's resilience or ability to adapt to different styles of play.
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The quadrant system is used for seeding
The quadrant system divides game results into four sections, with the top two quadrants being the most important. The system takes into account the quality of the team faced and the location the contest was played in. Quad 1 wins are considered the most important and are home games against teams ranked 1-30 in the NET, neutral-site games against teams ranked 1-50, and away games against teams ranked 1-75. Quad 2 includes home games against teams 31-75, neutral site games against teams 51-100, and away games against teams 76-135. Quad 3 and Quad 4 wins are less important and are considered bad losses as they are against teams unlikely to make the tournament.
The quadrant system is used in conjunction with other metrics such as the ESPN strength of record and BPI rankings, the KPI, KenPom, and Sagarin rankings. It provides a more nuanced evaluation of a team's performance and helps to determine their seeding in the tournament.
The NET rankings, which are the basis for the quadrant system, are released in December and updated throughout the college basketball season. They reset each season and do not carry over old information or statistics. The rankings use two key factors: the Team Value Index and Adjusted Net Efficiency. The Team Value Index rewards teams for beating quality opponents, especially away from home. Adjusted Net Efficiency is the difference between a team's offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency, adjusted for opponent strength and game location.
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Frequently asked questions
Quads, or quadrants, are used to rank teams in NCAA Division 1 college basketball. The ranking system takes into account the quality of the team and the location the contest was played in.
The quadrant system is broken down into four sections, with the top two quadrants being the most important. A quadrant one win is a home win against a top-30 team, a neutral-site win against a top-50 team, or a road win against a top-75 team.
The quadrant system helps to determine the best teams in the nation and can be used for seeding in tournaments. It also takes into account the strength of a team's schedule, which is considered an advantage over previous ranking systems.
For the 2024-25 season, Auburn led all teams in quadrant one wins with 16. Purdue's NCAA tournament team in 2025 had a quadrant record of 10-4.
