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

[raoul]

Gee----It looks like the Advocate didn't pick up on the published RPI. Wonder why.

[GoneGolfin]

Just copying the below from a previous thread ...

The NCAA made some mistakes with the RPI published today. Particularly with the classification of "neutral" games. Texas played eight games earlier in the season at Round Rock's stadium because Disch-Falk was being refurbished. These eight games were classified as neutral site games. Next week's report will be corrected. However, as a result, San Diego will be awarded two games worth of Top 25 RPI bonus points since it defeated Texas twice in the three game series held in early February. Thus, if the report were correct this week, the Cajuns would be at #20 instead of #19.

Brian

The SEBaseball RPI Report from this morning has the Cajuns at #20, which is where I believe the NCAA RPI would have them after fixing the error. The Cajuns are just behind Oklahoma and San Diego.

Brian

[NewsCopy]

The city of Lafayette's most successful high school girls' coach, a former local coach now serving as an assistant at an SEC school, a recently-resigned Conference USA head coach and UL's current assistant have interviewed or will interview for the Ragin' Cajuns' vacant women's basketball position. UL interim athletic director David Walker interviewed Teurlings Cath-olic girls' coach Garry Brodhead, former Opelousas Catholic coach and current Mississippi State assistant Errol Rogers and current Cajun assistant James "Wooly" Hatchell this week, according to those candidates or sources close to them. Gail Striegler, who resigned on March 8 after eight years as head coach at Central Florida, is scheduled to be interviewed either today or Monday. Walker said he planned to conduct a total of six interviews, four of them in person and two by telephone. Walker would not divulge names of any interviewed candidates. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[RaginDave]

_ 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 _

Thank you Coach and we will do the same for you. I know I for one, will be following the Bearcats to see how you grow there program as you did ours. You and your family are Class A in my book. I hope the best for you and maybe just maybe one day, Coach Hall's Bearcats will come to Lafayette to play Coach Hatchell's Cajuns in Lafayette. Or better yet maybe we will meet you guys in the sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.

Good luck and keep in touch with us Cajuns. Just always remember where you got your first HC shot. Acadiana and Cajun people will never forget you.

[GoneGolfin]

The Cajun RPI rating ticked up just a bit, helped by several opponents last night. The Cajuns moved from .5976 to .5988 (not much at all). But Oklahoma dropped .0004, East Carolina lost to Southern Mississippi (one of our opponents), and Minnesota lost to Illinois (one of our opponents). Thus the Cajuns passes those three and moved from the #20 position to #17.

By itself, a win over Arkansas State (aRPI 154, .4960) would have been neutral at best with the Cajuns at #20 with a .5976. It probably would have dropped the Cajuns some. But because of what our opponents were able to do (and against teams rated just above the Cajuns), the Cajuns vaulted three positions.

Note that Troy has moved from 37 to 34.

From SEBaseball.com

Rank Rating Team RPI Rank RPI
1 0.6372 Vanderbilt 1 0.6372
2 0.6368 Rice 2 0.6350
3 0.6255 South Carolina 3 0.6231
4 0.6221 Texas 4 0.6197
5 0.6206 Texas A&M 5 0.6182
6 0.6189 Mississippi State 6 0.6171
7 0.6185 Long Beach State 12 0.6047
8 0.6173 Arkansas 8 0.6137
9 0.6132 North Carolina 7 0.6144
10 0.6113 Mississippi 9 0.6089
11 0.6104 Florida State 10 0.6086
12 0.6074 Arizona State 11 0.6056
13 0.6062 Coastal Carolina 14 0.6026
14 0.6056 Wichita State 15 0.6014
15 0.6029 Virginia 13 0.6029
16 0.5998 San Diego 21 0.5902
17 0.5988 Louisiana-Lafayette 18 0.5934
18 0.5984 Oklahoma 16 0.5984
19 0.5960 East Carolina 17 0.5972
20 0.5942 North Carolina State 22 0.5894
21 0.5933 Minnesota 19 0.5915
22 0.5927 UC Irvine 30 0.5849
23 0.5925 Nebraska 24 0.5883
24 0.5913 Kansas State 23 0.5889
25 0.5912 Clemson 20 0.5912
26 0.5887 Pepperdine 26 0.5863
27 0.5884 Cal State Fullerton 31 0.5848
28 0.5882 College of Charleston 27 0.5858
29 0.5882 Arizona 25 0.5864
30 0.5854 Stetson 28 0.5854
31 0.5853 Florida 36 0.5811
32 0.5852 Missouri 29 0.5852
33 0.5843 Michigan 33 0.5819
34 0.5826 Troy 35 0.5814
35 0.5825 Oregon State 32 0.5825
36 0.5822 Miami Florida 34 0.5816
37 0.5770 Wake Forest 39 0.5710
38 0.5764 Southern Mississippi 37 0.5746
39 0.5748 Louisiana State 38 0.5730
40 0.5729 Texas Christian 42 0.5687
41 0.5710 Western Carolina 43 0.5680
42 0.5708 Baylor 40 0.5708
43 0.5702 Auburn 41 0.5702
44 0.5696 Memphis 46 0.5672
45 0.5693 Louisville 45 0.5675
46 0.5677 South Florida 44 0.5677
47 0.5664 Georgia Tech 47 0.5664
48 0.5645 Creighton 50 0.5609
49 0.5644 Southern California 51 0.5608
50 0.5627 Houston 49 0.5627

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

In this morning's RPI calculations, the Cajuns increased their Adjusted RPI rating .0007, even less than after Friday's game. This is for all practical purposes a wash. The Cajuns remain ranked at #17 in the Adjusted RPI. The Base RPI increased from .0007 as well, but the Cajuns increased their ranking from 17 to 16 here. The Cajuns passed East Carolina in Base RPI after the Pirates lost again to USM. This is the first time since before the USM series that the Cajuns have had a Base RPI ranking higher than their Adjusted RPI ranking. However, their Adjusted RPI rating is still higher than their Base RPI Rating (.5995 vs. .5941). This is obvious since the Cajuns have not been assessed any penalties (losses against bottom tier teams/non Div. I losses, too many scheduled games against non Div. I teams, etc.).

South Alabama's win over Florida Atlantic moved the Jaguars back into the Base RPI Top 100 (#98). This is significant because the Cajuns' Base RPI Top 100 record is now 17-9 vs. 14-9. Western Kentucky is just on the edge at 101, Louisiana Tech at 112, and Florida International at 122.

[GoneGolfin]

The Cajuns Adjusted RPI dropped a full .004 due to Sunday's action (including the loss to ASU). This is a reasonably significant drop. For example, less than .004 separates seven teams ranked from 19 (East Carolina) to 25 (Kansas State) in the Adjusted RPI. Eleven teams ranked from 19 (East Carolina) to 29 (Miami) are separated by .0054.

However, due to the gap that existed between the Cajuns at #17 and the next team at #18, the Cajuns did not drop a spot in the rankings and still sit at #17 in the Adjusted RPI. The margin between UL and College of Charleston at #18 is now only .0008.

Louisiana (Adjusted RPI .5955, #17) (Base RPI .5901, #19)

The above calculations are from SEBaseball.com.

Brian

In this morning's RPI calculations, the Cajuns increased their Adjusted RPI rating .0007, even less than after Friday's game. This is for all practical purposes a wash. The Cajuns remain ranked at #17 in the Adjusted RPI. The Base RPI increased from .0007 as well, but the Cajuns increased their ranking from 17 to 16 here. The Cajuns passed East Carolina in Base RPI after the Pirates lost again to USM. This is the first time since before the USM series that the Cajuns have had a Base RPI ranking higher than their Adjusted RPI ranking. However, their Adjusted RPI rating is still higher than their Base RPI Rating (.5995 vs. .5941). This is obvious since the Cajuns have not been assessed any penalties (losses against bottom tier teams/non Div. I losses, too many scheduled games against non Div. I teams, etc.).

South Alabama's win over Florida Atlantic moved the Jaguars back into the Base RPI Top 100 (#98). This is significant because the Cajuns' Base RPI Top 100 record is now 17-9 vs. 14-9. Western Kentucky is just on the edge at 101, Louisiana Tech at 112, and Florida International at 122.

[CajunRed]

Brian... You are better at this RPI game than me, but I suspect that we can't afford but maybe 1 more loss to solify a "2" seed. I don't think we MUST win out (although it would sure as heck help), but if we lose more than 1 more, we might allow the selection committee to too easily argue that we are a "3" instead.

Agree?

[GoneGolfin]

Brian... You are better at this RPI game than me, but I suspect that we can't afford but maybe 1 more loss to solify a "2" seed. I don't think we MUST win out (although it would sure as heck help), but if we lose more than 1 more, we might allow the selection committee to too easily argue that we are a "3" instead.

Agree?

Seven of the eleven games remaining on the schedule are against Top 100 RPI games teams.

@Louisiana-Monroe (aRPI 88, bRPI 89) (3 games)
@Houston (aRPI 53, bRPI 52) (1 game)
Arkansas-Little Rock (aRPI 171, bRPI 171) (3 games)
@Nicholls State (aRPI 259, bRPI 256) (1 game)
@New Orleans (aRPI 100, bRPI 95) (3 games)

Additionally, a win over Houston would result in bonus RPI points. I have little doubt that finishing 8-3 would secure a #2 seed for the Cajuns, pending reasonable results in the conference tournament. I think an 8-3 finish would result in an RPI that is at least Top 25, quite possibly Top 20. I think a 7-4 finish makes it dicier (mid to late 20's RPI), but is still quite possible. I would lay slightly better than even odds that a 7-4 finish would warrant a #2 seed, especially if one those wins is vs. Houston. Of course, what our opponents do the remainder of the season plays a large part in all of this. All of this assumes a conference championship.

Incidentally, I think an undefeated finish would likely put the Cajuns in the Top 14 RPI. Still not a #1 seed (lacking the record against the Top25/50). But a high #2 seed.

Brian

[DaddyCajun]

Alright, someone out there other than J-Bird knows who the Louisiana Lady Cajun Basketball coach will be as of 3pm tomorrow!!!

Who will it be?
DaddyCajun

[gorcajun]

KLFY Channel 10 @ 6 pm said it was Errol Rogers.

[rhineaux]

_ KLFY Channel 10 @ 6 pm said it was Errol Rogers. _

Who is that? Anyone got a bio? Anyone got any first impressions?