Season long look at UL's trek through the Baseball RPI rankings

[CajunProud]

_ lciitsh:
Just a thought from a former U L Head coach. Coach James Hatchell would be an outstanding Head Coach at the University of Louisiana. I'm going to tell you why and this is nothing against the other people who have applied.

1. Coach Hatchell is already there. 2. Coach Hatchell just received 3 verbal commitments from kids we had recruited all year (just in this last week). Now lets think this through, how hard do you people think it is to get an 18-19 year old kid to commit to a school where ther is no Head Coach in place. you think that's easy ? It's hard enough to get them when you recruited them the whole year. LET'S GIVE HIM THE CREDIT. Coach Hatchell has done the job of the Head Coach. Just so everybody knows, the hardest part of the job there was the recruiting of good players.

The current players already know him and the system would not change that much. A new coach comes in and changes everything. Not sure that is what's best for this group.

Coach Hatchell has 2 more big time recruits coming in there this weekend to visit. If you see them out in the community go up and make them feel welcomed. Could be a slam dunk as you like to say on this site.
I'll leave you with this too, let's say that Coach Hatchell signs two more players this weekend. Coach Hatchell would have now signed 5 out of the 6 that we targeted for the late signing period (with no help). DO YOU THINK THAT HE WOULD DESERVE THE JOB AT THAT POINT ? This is a man who has not been promised anything from anybody. This is a man who is doing his job for the University of Louisiana because he believes that good things happen to good people. The man should be rewarded for what he has done and what he will continue to do in the future for the Ragin Cajun Family. Hope you will support him if you get the chance, He is a man of integrity.
Last but not least, I know in my heart that David Walker will do the right thing for the program. Good Luck, I will be watching and the Cajuns will always hold a special place in Meredith's and my heart.
HEADBEARCAT1 _

Thanks for all that you did coach. We will never forget you and wish you and your family nothing but the best. Once a ragin cajun, always a ragin cajun.

[DaddyCajun]

_ lciitsh:
Just a thought from a former U L Head coach. Coach James Hatchell would be an outstanding Head Coach at the University of Louisiana. I'm going to tell you why and this is nothing against the other people who have applied.

1. Coach Hatchell is already there. 2. Coach Hatchell just received 3 verbal commitments from kids we had recruited all year (just in this last week). Now lets think this through, how hard do you people think it is to get an 18-19 year old kid to commit to a school where ther is no Head Coach in place. you think that's easy ? It's hard enough to get them when you recruited them the whole year. LET'S GIVE HIM THE CREDIT. Coach Hatchell has done the job of the Head Coach. Just so everybody knows, the hardest part of the job there was the recruiting of good players.

The current players already know him and the system would not change that much. A new coach comes in and changes everything. Not sure that is what's best for this group.

Coach Hatchell has 2 more big time recruits coming in there this weekend to visit. If you see them out in the community go up and make them feel welcomed. Could be a slam dunk as you like to say on this site.
I'll leave you with this too, let's say that Coach Hatchell signs two more players this weekend. Coach Hatchell would have now signed 5 out of the 6 that we targeted for the late signing period (with no help). DO YOU THINK THAT HE WOULD DESERVE THE JOB AT THAT POINT ? This is a man who has not been promised anything from anybody. This is a man who is doing his job for the University of Louisiana because he believes that good things happen to good people. The man should be rewarded for what he has done and what he will continue to do in the future for the Ragin Cajun Family. Hope you will support him if you get the chance, He is a man of integrity.
Last but not least, I know in my heart that David Walker will do the right thing for the program. Good Luck, I will be watching and the Cajuns will always hold a special place in Meredith's and my heart.
HEADBEARCAT1 _

Hey Coach Hall thanks for the info and for the vote of confidence in Coach Hatchell! I certainly hope you and Mrs Hall and the rest of the family are doing excepionally well. My question to you is when do we get the Home and Home with the Bear Cats?

DaddyCajun

[Clutch0364]

_ lciitsh:
Just a thought from a former U L Head coach. Coach James Hatchell would be an outstanding Head Coach at the University of Louisiana. I'm going to tell you why and this is nothing against the other people who have applied.

1. Coach Hatchell is already there. 2. Coach Hatchell just received 3 verbal commitments from kids we had recruited all year (just in this last week). Now lets think this through, how hard do you people think it is to get an 18-19 year old kid to commit to a school where ther is no Head Coach in place. you think that's easy ? It's hard enough to get them when you recruited them the whole year. LET'S GIVE HIM THE CREDIT. Coach Hatchell has done the job of the Head Coach. Just so everybody knows, the hardest part of the job there was the recruiting of good players.

The current players already know him and the system would not change that much. A new coach comes in and changes everything. Not sure that is what's best for this group.

Coach Hatchell has 2 more big time recruits coming in there this weekend to visit. If you see them out in the community go up and make them feel welcomed. Could be a slam dunk as you like to say on this site.
I'll leave you with this too, let's say that Coach Hatchell signs two more players this weekend. Coach Hatchell would have now signed 5 out of the 6 that we targeted for the late signing period (with no help). DO YOU THINK THAT HE WOULD DESERVE THE JOB AT THAT POINT ? This is a man who has not been promised anything from anybody. This is a man who is doing his job for the University of Louisiana because he believes that good things happen to good people. The man should be rewarded for what he has done and what he will continue to do in the future for the Ragin Cajun Family. Hope you will support him if you get the chance, He is a man of integrity.
Last but not least, I know in my heart that David Walker will do the right thing for the program. Good Luck, I will be watching and the Cajuns will always hold a special place in Meredith's and my heart.
HEADBEARCAT1 _

Great to hear from you coach!!! Good luck in Cincinnati and thank you for all you did for the basketball program!!!

[Zeebart21]

lciitsh:
Just a thought from a former U L Head coach. Coach James Hatchell would be an outstanding Head Coach at the University of Louisiana. I'm going to tell you why and this is nothing against the other people who have applied.

1. Coach Hatchell is already there. 2. Coach Hatchell just received 3 verbal commitments from kids we had recruited all year (just in this last week). Now lets think this through, how hard do you people think it is to get an 18-19 year old kid to commit to a school where ther is no Head Coach in place. you think that's easy ? It's hard enough to get them when you recruited them the whole year. LET'S GIVE HIM THE CREDIT. Coach Hatchell has done the job of the Head Coach. Just so everybody knows, the hardest part of the job there was the recruiting of good players.

The current players already know him and the system would not change that much. A new coach comes in and changes everything. Not sure that is what's best for this group.

Coach Hatchell has 2 more big time recruits coming in there this weekend to visit. If you see them out in the community go up and make them feel welcomed. Could be a slam dunk as you like to say on this site.
I'll leave you with this too, let's say that Coach Hatchell signs two more players this weekend. Coach Hatchell would have now signed 5 out of the 6 that we targeted for the late signing period (with no help). DO YOU THINK THAT HE WOULD DESERVE THE JOB AT THAT POINT ? This is a man who has not been promised anything from anybody. This is a man who is doing his job for the University of Louisiana because he believes that good things happen to good people. The man should be rewarded for what he has done and what he will continue to do in the future for the Ragin Cajun Family. Hope you will support him if you get the chance, He is a man of integrity.
Last but not least, I know in my heart that David Walker will do the right thing for the program. Good Luck, I will be watching and the Cajuns will always hold a special place in Meredith's and my heart.
HEADBEARCAT1

Good pts Coach! Thanks for stopping in. I know you are sincere when you say you'll remember us.

Please continue to stop in and visit from time to time.

Oh yeah, dont forget...if the Bearkats ever make down to Tuscaloosa, you owe me some ribs!

Z.

[headragincajun]

_ Good pts Coach! Thanks for stopping in. I know you are sincere when you say you'll remember us.

Please continue to stop in and visit from time to time.

Oh yeah, dont forget...if the Bearkats ever make down to Tuscaloosa, you owe me some ribs!

Z. _

ZEE:
I always pay my bills. Dreamland is on me when we come down and get BAMA.
Headbearcat1

[JamesCajun]

Hugh Keeton at KATC 3 confirmed tonight Michael Bari applied for the job, and David Walker will be interviewing five candidates which includes James Hatchell obviously.

[GoneGolfin]

As far as some of the teams with 7 -> 10 losses are concerned, the answer is that their caliber of schedule far exceeds that of the Cajuns. Let's take Long Beach State for example. The Dirtbags are a non-inspiring 13-9. But when you look at their schedule and the teams they have beaten, you tend to cringe.

LBSU ...
- took 2/3 vs. Southern California with two of the games on the road
- took 2/3 vs. Texas
- took 1/3 at Rice
- took 2/3 at Arizona State
- took 1/3 at Wichita State
- took 1/3 vs. Cal State-Fullerton
- 2-0 vs. UCLA
- 2-0 vs. California

That is their entire schedule thus far! Do you see any patsies in that schedule? It is downright brutal and the wins they have registered are impressive. LBSU is playing .500 ball against the Top 25 and is over .500 against the RPI Top 25. This means they squarely belong in the Top 25 and in my opinion, are actually underrated. Normally, a .500 record against the Top 25 (especially with most of the games on the road) would mean that you should be ranked well into the Top 25, assuming the games are normally distributed over the rankings.

Long Beach State being in the Top 25 with nine losses is a no-brainer. But only after you examine their schedule.

Brian

I just wanted to briefly revisit a previous post concerning Long Beach State and the high number of losses they had with a brutal schedule (and the debate over whether they should have been ranked). With the Cajuns being swept at Arizona State this past weekend, I am sure most can appreciate Long Beach State winning the series this season in Tempe. Now, the Sun Devils did not have John Jarvis for that series (which means Leake was the closer and not a starter), but this is still quite impressive.

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weekly...07MBArpi1.html

It is interesting to note (but not surprising) that among the Top 20 RPI teams, only Wichita State (+3), Louisiana (+5), and San Diego (+2) have played more road games than home games. And only Wichita State (+3) and Louisiana (+5) have played more road games than home and neutral games combined. In most situations, this is not factored into the calculation of the RPI (unless it is a bonus/penalty scenario).

This is something I have stated in the past, but I hope the NCAA takes a hard look at the number of road games the Cajuns have played this season. By the conclusion of the regular season, the Cajuns will have played 32 road games and only 24 road games. Not many Top 25 teams schedule that many road games. The elite teams rack up the home games and generally travel very little in non-conference action. Unfortunately, the current RPI system does very little to encourage the scheduling of road games. In most situations, the RPI does not distinguish between road and home games. Only wins and losses matter.

The Cajuns have a poor record against the Top 25 Base RPI (0-3) and Top 50 Base RPI (3-6) for a team being considered for a #2 seed, which will hurt them come seeding time. But all nine of these games are on the road and I hope this point is driven home to the selection committee. Also, the record against the Base RPI Top 75 is not inspiring (10-9), but amazingly only three of these nineteen games were home games (FAU).

Brian

[CajunRed]

In reading your comments and looking at the NCAA's current RPI system, its hard to know what the answer is as far as scheduling. Should the Cajuns conclude that since the RPI does not give extra weight to playing on the road (i.e. say 1.25 points for a road win... and maybe a minus .75 pt. for a road loss), we should play fewer road games? The possible problem with that would probably be that our SOS, and subsequently our RPI, will suffer because we would end up playing fewer strong programs.

Glad I'm not the one having to decide on a schedule for next year and beyond!

[GoneGolfin]

In reading your comments and looking at the NCAA's current RPI system, its hard to know what the answer is as far as scheduling. Should the Cajuns conclude that since the RPI does not give extra weight to playing on the road (i.e. say 1.25 points for a road win... and maybe a minus .75 pt. for a road loss), we should play fewer road games? The possible problem with that would probably be that our SOS, and subsequently our RPI, will suffer because we would end up playing fewer strong programs.

Glad I'm not the one having to decide on a schedule for next year and beyond!

I think the answer is clear. It is just implementing the answer that can be problematic, given other constraints.

The Cajuns need to schedule a certain number of road games against top non-conference competition. This will help them accumulate RPI bonus points. But you do not want to be overweight here. At the same time, you want some representation of top opponents on your home schedule. This allows you to improve your record against these top teams (part of the selection criteria). Next, you want to minimize road games against competition that is not among the Top 75. Here, there is no value win winning a game on the road versus at home (w/respect to the RPI). But it is certainly more difficult to do it on the road. Certainly, there are instances where you need to schedule a certain number of these road games to get the return home games. But I think the Cajuns get schedule markedly more home games with these principles in mind.

Maybe I can offer my services as a scheduling consultant and help identify high value teams to schedule w/respect to the RPI (home and away). :-)

Brian