Softball RPI (5/7)

[J-Town Cajun]

According to several TV sources (ESPN based), the NCAA plans to allow all of its #1 seeds to host (provided they meet the hosting requirements). It is not a guarantee that an RPI Top 16 team will be a #1 seed. But I do not see the Cajuns being passed as a #1 seed should they finish in the RPI Top 16. Whom would you put in their place, especially with the Cajuns having a Non-Conference RPI rank of 2? If the Cajuns finish in the RPI Top 16, which I think they will, I think they will be hosting. In summary, I think they will be hosting.

I am right that Cal may not be able to host because they don't meet hosting requirements or am I thinking of someone else?

This would allow one other team outside the top 16 RPI to host correct?

How much did the lost to ULM hurt us in RPI ranking? Would we have still been #13 or would we have in the #11-12 range?

Who is your best guess the Cajuns get paired up against in a Super Regional? As our RPI stands at #13 and if we stay in this range and the top RPI 5 stay about the same we could easily we paired up against #3 Alabama, #4 Oklahoma, or #5 Texas. I am hoping and wishful thinking the Cajuns get an #8 seed and get to host 39 Texas A&M in a super regional.

[GoneGolfin]

According to several TV sources (ESPN based), the NCAA plans to allow all of its #1 seeds to host (provided they meet the hosting requirements). It is not a guarantee that an RPI Top 16 team will be a #1 seed. But I do not see the Cajuns being passed as a #1 seed should they finish in the RPI Top 16. Whom would you put in their place, especially with the Cajuns having a Non-Conference RPI rank of 2? If the Cajuns finish in the RPI Top 16, which I think they will, I think they will be hosting. In summary, I think they will be hosting.

I am right that Cal may not be able to host because they don't meet hosting requirements or am I thinking of someone else? This would allow one other team outside the top 16 RPI to host correct?

Cal and Oregon have been unable to host in the past due to facilities. But supposedly Cal is doing all they can to meet the minimum requirements, including fitting the park for temporary lighting and solving the press box issue. We shall see. I do not know about Oregon. But my hunch is that if Oregon cannot host due to facilities, that spot will go to someone in the northeast that is not a #1 seed.

How much did the lost to ULM hurt us in RPI ranking? Would we have still been #13 or would we have in the #11-12 range?

Exactly .0051 in the RPI, which would have just been good enough for a #10 ranking. However, the differential between #10 and #13 would have been small ... and at least two teams (Arizona and UCLA) and quite possibly a third (Louisville) would have passed the Cajuns by selection time ... due to schedule.

Brian

[leeman]

So, do we have a chance at hosting a regional?..

[LFTCajun]

So, do we have a chance at hosting a regional?..

Yes. Just win the tourney.

[J-Town Cajun]

I really like that #2 non-conference RPI and I would think that will carry alot of weight come selection time. I know they don't use polls but these guys look at the polls all year long and I believe there is a slim chance we can still get a top 8 national seed and host in a super regional. The loss to ULM last week didn't effect our RPI as much as it did in the eyes of the committee's, the selection committee could have much more easily bumped the Cajuns up to a top #8 seed from whatever our RPI would have ended up at and can still do so just not as likely.

[MelRock]

Of course not directly related to rpi, and not that it really matters at this point, but it'll be interesting to see how far the Cajuns drop in the polls after losing to ULM.

They dropped one spot to #6 in the NFCA just released.

[GoneGolfin]

Non-Conference RPI

#1 Alabama .6923
#2 Louisiana .6775
#3 Texas .6770

Alabama lost to Fordham last night 8-5. The Cajuns are now quite close to the #1 spot in non-conference RPI ... but looks like they will just fall short (but there are more games remaining). A win over any of Arizona, North Carolina, or McNeese State (cancelled games) would have pushed them into the #1 spot.

Alabama falls to 24-2 in non-conference play on the year.

Brian

[CajunRed]

Even as much as we have failed to get the benefit of the doubt in years past, I just can't see how the committee will be able to NOT award a regional site to Lamson Park. I'm feeling pretty good right now...assuming we take care of business in the tourney.

[GoneGolfin]

This situation is similar to that of Missouri above, except that they are an additional .0031 back. However, a run to the SEC finals could be enough, depending on whom they meet in the second round and finals. It is quite fortunate for the Cajuns that Georgia is paired with Kentucky in the opening round. While it is an RPI bonus opportunity for Georgia, every SEC Tournament game is a bonus opportunity for all teams. Having Georgia play the team with the worst winning percentage (Kentucky at 29-27), results in an OWP contribution that will bring down Georgia's OWP some. Since Kentucky won 2/3 from Georgia in Lexington this year, the OWP contribution for Georgia in this opening round game will be a mere .5094 (27-26).


Florida State opens the ACC Tournament against a 23-30 NC State squad (#96 RPI). This is a very good thing for the Cajuns. Like the SEC, the ACC is a single elimination tournament and the Seminoles have #61 Virginia (26-24) and #25 Georgia Tech (33-21) on their side of the bracket. Even if FSU were to sweep the tournament and beat #26 North Carolina (40-12) in the finals, I do not think they catch the Cajuns if the Cajuns take care of business.

Just a reminder that there are some key games being played today and through Saturday for the Cajuns. This afternoon, Georgia is scheduled to take on Kentucky at 4pm CST on ESPNU. At 1:30pm CST, Florida State takes on NC State (ESPN3, CSN, and various DirecTV channels). Georgia Tech and Virginia are currently playing on several DirecTV channels. GT leads Virginia 2-0 T2nd.

LSU is playing Florida now on ESPNU (all of the SEC Tournament games are televised on ESPNU). The game is 0-0 T3rd.

Brian

[CajunAmos]

LSU one & done in the SEC tournament, losing to Florida 1-0.

[CajunAmos]

GaTech holds on to beat VA 6-4, giving up four runs in the top of the 7th and ending the game with runners on second & third for the last two outs.

[GoneGolfin]

The Cajuns could catch Louisville if there is an upset in the Big East Tournament, but Louisville will definitely have a significant schedule advantage with very friendly RPI teams like South Florida, Syracuse, DePaul, and Notre Dame looming. Louisville gets started with Connecticut, whom is a much better RPI draw than Florida Atlantic.

Louisville mercy-rules Connecticut in 5 innings today, 8-0.

Florida State opens the ACC Tournament against a 23-30 NC State squad (#96 RPI). This is a very good thing for the Cajuns. Like the SEC, the ACC is a single elimination tournament and the Seminoles have #61 Virginia (26-24) and #25 Georgia Tech (33-21) on their side of the bracket. Even if FSU were to sweep the tournament and beat #26 North Carolina (40-12) in the finals, I do not think they catch the Cajuns if the Cajuns take care of business.

Florida defeating LSU (Base RPI rank of #26) helps ensure that Georgia Tech stays in the Base RPI Top 25 (.0026 bonus for the Cajuns). Georgia Tech led Virginia 6-0 entering the top of the 7th ... and proceeded to allow the tying run to get to second base with one out (runners on 2nd and 3rd) ... after UVA led off the inning with back-to-back pinch hit HRs. The final out was caught at the CF wall as Virginia just missed a three-run HR to take the lead). Georgia Tech wins 6-4.

These remaining teams are not a real threat to the Cajuns. Washington? No chance. Their regular season is finished. Stanford finishes with a mediocre #71 Utah team that hurts their OWP (.5000, 26-26). Stanford will not be a problem. If South Florida were to get hot and go undefeated in the Big East Tournament, it is possible they catch the Cajuns ... but only if the Cajuns drop at least one game in the SBC Tournament.

Thus, I feel confident that even a loss in the SBC Tournament will result in an RPI Top 16 finish for the Cajuns. I even feel good about two losses, unless South Florida gets hot. But we do not want any part of that.

The Cajuns need not worry about South Florida. They were shutout by DePaul today 6-0.

Brian