2006 Ragin' Cajuns Baseball RPI

[USLJim]

I love this team and this University.

And no, I will not stop complaining, because if I did then that would mean apathy had set in. If you are happy with mediocrity then that is your problem, but I will not accept it.

And no, I don't want Coach Robe's head. What I do want is consistency from a program that should produce consistency.

All of the top teams in the country lose great players every year, but they don't have to go into rebuild mode like we seem to do. If you want to see the model of inconsistency, then look at our records starting with the 2000 season.

Apathy has far too long been the norm at this place. Everybody is always quick to make excuses (we're too young, we lost a lot of seniors, blah blah blah) As a graduate of this University, as a season ticket holder, and as a resident of this community, I think I am entitled to feel this way and to expect nothing but the best, and when that doesn't happen, you better believe I am going to voice my opinion.

CDeb, I don't know you, and this post is not directed specifically to you, so if I offend you, I am sorry.

Now, GEAUX CAJUNS and let's get those bats going.

Hello, I was not asking you to stop complaining, infact, I don't think you are complaining, I think you are concerned and you are right about" Consistency".
we all should voice our concerns. Let's face it, if we as "Alums or fans" who support this athletic program can't voice our concerns or displeasures, then we need to find a program that wants to listen to its fans. I am one who likes to voice his concerns and will also praise accomplishments. As Baseball fans, we are not use to seeing the kind of baseball that is happening right now. We have become somewhat spoiled and know that this is a sport that gets us nationally recognized and extends us into a prestigious event. I am going to wait and see. I know Coach RObe is not happy at this point. So, I will continue to go to the games and wonder when they will break out.

Continue your support and GEAUX CAJUNS

[Clutch0364]

We are currently 52 in warrennolan.com rpi poll and climbing. We were at 55 before yesterdays game.

Troy is at 14 in that same poll. That series will be huge but the only thing we need to look at right now is the other Trojans from UALR.

[CajunProud]

We are currently 52 in warrennolan.com rpi poll and climbing. We were at 55 before yesterdays game.

Troy is at 14 in that same poll. That series will be huge but the only thing we need to look at right now is the other Trojans from UALR.

You are right to an extent. Don't forget about the remainder of our non-conference schedule. That is where we could really hurt ourselves. We have games against Lamar, Southeaster and Northwestern left. Lamar's RPI is 69. A win Tuesday could really lift our RPI, but losses to Southeastern (RPI 141) and/or Northwestern (RPI 190) could be devastating. We just need to stay focused and take care of business.


In any event, I must say that I am more impressed with this team than just about any other Cajun team no matter what happens from here on out because of the youth that they have and the maturity with which they have played. I think that this is a direct reflection on our coaching staff. We have the two classiest coaches in the country and their leadership shines through the players.

GEAUX CAJUNS !!!!!!!!!!!!

[J-Town Cajun]

You are very right about winning our non-conference schelduled games. I know the conference is very important, if we win the regular season conference race we should get in, but it is not a lock. If we don't win at least 3/4 of the final non-conference games I don't think we have a chance to get an at large bid. It is almost best to lose to a conference member as it does not hurt our RPI as much as losing a non-conference game. It is also time to start watching what the Sun Belt is doing in their mid-week games.

We are currently 27-13 with 16 regular season games left. I am predicting we will need about 38 wins in the regular season to get an at-large bid. You add 2 more in the conference tourney and that will put us at 40. Then I would feel pretty safe.

Geaux Cajuns and Geaux Sun Belt!

[BirdofParadise]

You are very right about winning our non-conference schelduled games. I know the conference is very important, if we win the regular season conference race we should get in, but it is not a lock. If we don't win at least 3/4 of the final non-conference games I don't think we have a chance to get an at large bid. It is almost best to lose to a conference member as it does not hurt our RPI as much as losing a non-conference game. It is also time to start watching what the Sun Belt is doing in their mid-week games.

We are currently 27-13 with 16 regular season games left. I am predicting we will need about 38 wins in the regular season to get an at-large bid. You add 2 more in the conference tourney and that will put us at 40. Then I would feel pretty safe.

Geaux Cajuns and Geaux Sun Belt!

I have to disagree. This year the Sun Belt conference is rated 7th in the RPI. In Sun Belt history, the regular season champion has ALWAYS received a bid.....even when the league was ranked 13th.

If we win the league we will be in postseason play regardless of what we do in midweek games.

That having been said, let's win those too and leave no doubt!

[DeadRed]

I have to disagree. This year the Sun Belt conference is rated 7th in the RPI. In Sun Belt history, the regular season champion has ALWAYS received a bid.....even when the league was ranked 13th.

If we win the league we will be in postseason play regardless of what we do in midweek games.

That having been said, let's win those too and leave no doubt!

Today up to 49 in Warren Nolan.

[GoneGolfin]

In putting together my weekly NCAA Tournament worksheet and projections, I outlined several schools that will be competing with the Cajuns for an at-large bid (should one be needed). If you want to gauge the chances of an at-large bid provided the Cajuns do not win the automatic, it will help to follow these schools ...

The schools above the ---- line are schools that I have slotted ahead of the Cajuns. The schools below the ---- line are schools I have slotted below the Cajuns.

LSU
Southern Mississippi
South Alabama
Mississippi State
Hawaii
Vanderbilt
San Francisco
East Carolina
San Diego

----

North Carolina-Wilmington
St. John's
Kansas
Texas Tech
Southern California
Washington
Birmingham Southern

One thing to note about Southern California is that they are currently 25-25 overall and have a brutal finishing schedule. Unless they turn it around quickly, they are likely finished.

The following schools are currently first in their conference and primed for the automatic bid. But should they stumble, they could be competing with the Cajuns for an at-large.

Wichita State
Notre Dame
Old Dominion
Kent State
Troy
Jacksonville
Michigan

Brian

[Turner]

What is the Sunbelt statistic about never having had a 2nd place finisher left out of the tournament. I know I go it wrong, what is it?

[GoneGolfin]

What is the Sunbelt statistic about never having had a 2nd place finisher left out of the tournament. I know I go it wrong, what is it?

Second place finishers in the conference regular season have been left out of the tournament. So have first place finishers. But a regular season winner (#1 seed) has not been left out of the NCAA Tournament since 1994 (when South Alabama was left out due to their 32-25 record). It also happened in 1992 with Louisiana Tech. Of course, these were years when the Tournament field was only 48 teams.

Since the new tournament format commenced (1999), only one second place finisher (#2 seed) has missed the NCAA Tournament. This was South Alabama in 2004, which actually tied Middle Tennessee for the regular season title but was the #2 seed in the SBC Tournament. South Alabama missed on an at-large bid due to RPI (pRPI of 66).

Two other second place finishers during this seven year span (new tournament format) received automatic bids. There were two cases where second place finishers in the SBC received at-large bids with pRPIs of > 50. Louisiana received an at-large bid in 1999 with a pRPI of 57 (and was actually a #2 seed). New Mexico State received an at-large bid in 2003 with a pRPI of 51.

The Sun Belt conference has placed multiple teams in the NCAA Tournament each season since 1988.

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

Fortunately for the Cajuns, the WKU pRPI is probably just high enough to where simply playing the games (winning) does not result in a drop in the pRPI. UL's current rating is .555 with a rank of 57. I did not catch the rating before yesterday's game. But the ranking did move up two spots. The good news is that several teams are clustered tightly around the Cajuns.

50 0.557 37 17 37 17 North Carolina-Wilmington
51 0.557 39 18 40 18 Wichita State
52 0.557 37 19 37 19 San Francisco
53 0.556 26 30 26 30 Maryland
54 0.556 32 23 32 23 San Diego
55 0.555 25 27 25 27 Texas A&M
56 0.555 38 14 39 14 Notre Dame
57 0.555 35 18 35 18 Louisiana-Lafayette
58 0.554 28 14 31 14 Oral Roberts
59 0.553 22 32 22 32 Auburn
60 0.551 29 20 30 20 Birmingham-Southern

The Cajuns are technically tied for the #55 spot. Not much separates the Cajuns from UNC-Wilmington at #50. So, what games are interesting to the Cajuns w/respect to moving up in the pRPI today? Well, apart from the obvious win(s) required against Western Kentucky ...

Today's games

#50 North Carolina-Wilmington at #87 James Madison
#42 Southern California at #51 Wichita State
#55 Texas A&M at #46 Kansas
#56 Notre Dame at #176 Villanova
#59 Auburn at #13 Arkansas
#269 Radford at #60 Birmingham-Southern

Maryland, Texas A&M, and Auburn will not compete with Louisiana for a bid as their overall record is under .500. But these schools are grouped in around UL in the rankings and it would be nice to surpass them in the RPI. However, in the case of Texas A&M, a lift in their RPI would help us some and would hurt Kansas. Kansas is a fellow bubble team that will be competing with the Cajuns for an at-large bid.

Of course, having the non-conference opponents on the Cajuns' schedule win helps the Cajun pRPI. Some in the pRPI Top 100 include ...

For example,

#71 McNeese State at #96 Lamar
#208 Bradley at #73 Evansville
#76 Texas-San Antonio at #120 Texas State
#141 Northwestern at #99 Purdue

I won't get into opponents of Cajun opponents. :-)

Brian

[CajunAmos]

Thanks for the info.

[MiamiCajun32]

What are the Cajuns chances of getting at large bid with 2nd place sunbelt finish and semi finals or finals in tourney? The rpi would be no better than 50 or high 40s at that point.