Softball Score

[sportsfanatic21]

Actually, it is not nearly as helpful as you think it would be. For the Cajuns' RPI (and correspondingly their RPI rank), what is important is that Michigan (and other Cajun opponents) keeps winning. Whom they beat is not nearly as important.

Now, beating Auburn (actually just playing Auburn) *is* very good for Michigan's RPI (and correspondingly their RPI rank). But this does not translate into a similar benefit for UL. This is why in the aggregate, it is best for the Cajuns to have their opponents play weak schedules and rack up gaudy records. Because the expected number of losses by Cajun opponents against quality opponents will harm the Cajuns' RPI considerably more than the expected wins by Cajun opponents against weak opponents.

Brian

That being the case, it seems like every good team in the country would want to schedule us. Because of the Sun Belt schedule, we always have a huge number of wins, and the schedule we play (conference) pretty much guarantees that will continue to be the case. We need to find some smaller conference power houses to play, problem is there aren't any besides us. Oh, and for those big schools to take advantage of scheduling us, they'd have to win!

[GoneGolfin]

That being the case, it seems like every good team in the country would want to schedule us. Because of the Sun Belt schedule, we always have a huge number of wins, and the schedule we play (conference) pretty much guarantees that will continue to be the case.

There is certainly an "attractiveness" to scheduling Cajun softball strictly from an RPI standpoint, due to the consistent gaudy winning percentages that the Lady Cajuns post. However, some of this "attractiveness" is offset by the notion that you are going to lose plenty of games against the Lady Cajuns, unless you are the very elite of the elite.

So, while there is still some real value to scheduling a team like the Cajuns, there is even more value to be found by scheduling the teams with nice winning percentages that you know you will beat the majority time.

It is all about risk/reward on a sliding scale.

We need to find some smaller conference power houses to play, problem is there aren't any besides us. Oh, and for those big schools to take advantage of scheduling us, they'd have to win!

There are some hidden gems available ... as well as some good mid-tier opponents (where the record is decent, not gaudy ... and the chance of winning is nearly 100%). I collect and track this data going several years back and use it to project "high value" opponents. Again, it is all about the sliding scale of risk/reward.

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

I think what he's saying is that RPI is a screwed up measurement system (for softball, at least), and that we have to schedule wisely to take advantage of the strengths and --- especially --- the weaknesses of this system!

It is a deeply flawed system used for all sports, with the degree to which it is flawed differing slightly due to the formula differences. It is certainly a simple mathematical system that can be exploited with relatively simple math. So, yes ... we should be exploiting it and are attempting to do so beginning this season (in softball only thus far). Afterall, we are academic institutions first ... correct? :-)

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

Every time I think I have RPI figured out GoneGolfin makes a post that confuses me again!

One thing that often confuses folks ...

Do not confuse RPI with RPI rank. It is the actual elements of the composite RPI number of your opponents (specifically WP and OWP, not OOWP) that matters when determining impact on your own RPI.

Also remember that playing (regardless of win or loss) a lower RPI team (both actual RPI and RPI rank) can have a more positive impact on your own RPI than playing a team (regardless of win or loss) that has a considerably higher RPI.

Brian

[DieHard1280]

Every time I think I have RPI figured out GoneGolfin makes a post that confuses me again!

Yeah, but he has been making the same observation for a while now. I remember him explaining this last year for sure, specifically concerning baseball, and probably softball as well.