What is the primary purpose of the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET)?

The primary purpose of the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) is to evaluate the overall strength of a basketball program. NET was introduced to provide a more comprehensive way to assess team performance beyond traditional metrics. It takes into account various factors such as game results, margin of victory, and the strength of opponents in order to reflect the effectiveness of a team throughout the season. This tool is especially significant during the selection process for the NCAA tournament, as it helps selectors gauge which teams are performing well and deserve post-season opportunities based on their overall contributions to the season, rather than just wins and losses alone.

In contrast, determining championship eligibility focuses on specific criteria like academic performance and compliance with NCAA rules, which is unrelated to the evaluation of a team's competitive strength. Ranking teams based on historical performance does not align with NET's current function, which emphasizes a team's performance within the same season. While predicting future player performance may be a goal for some analytical tools, it does not relate to NET, which centers on evaluating team performance in the current season.