UT-Arlington impact on the Cajuns' RPI

[wcd35]

Brian, one other question: In calculating OWP (and OOWP), you confirmed that the other teams' home/road wins/losses were treated the same... What about from our perspective? Is a team's contribution to our OWP weighted more or less because of where we played them? E.g.... EIU's WP contribution to our OWP - would it be EIU WP x 4 or x 2.8?

The home/road factor only applies to our WP. Since the games we play with those teams aren't included in our OWP (remove those games from opponents record), it doesn't affect OWP.

[cajundiehard]

Gotcha! Thanks!

[GoneGolfin]

With SEC & ACC teams playing mostly home OOC games and stacking up wins......they get a huge bump on their OWP & OOWP from conf games since all these home games wins by conference opponents against OOC count the same as road games. Deck is hugely stacked in their favor

Certainly an advantage … however, that advantage has always been there. It has been tempered somewhat by the WP formula change in 2013. But it still lives.

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

Hopefully another weekend like last where seemingly everyone around us lost multiple games.

That would be wonderful … or at least, the right teams lose. In the end, I am not as concerned about an elite conference school that finishes ahead of the Cajuns in the RPI rankings, but finishes fourth in their conference.

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

My assumption, and not being Brian, is that we are pulling for USM, since we played them 3 times and LSU only once. We would love to have USM's RPI and record continue to improve.

I would assume either way does not hurt us too much, but I am sure Brian will answer.

Spot on (both Dave and wcd).

The weighting of three games vs. USM makes it an easy choice. However, just as important is USM solidifying themselves in the RPI Top 50 as that adds three more wins to our RPI Top 50 record (currently 6-1). It would also be nice for Western Kentucky to move back into the RPI Top 50.

I am not concerned about LSU not finishing in the RPI Top 25 at this time. However, something to think about …

Like Alabama … if LSU were to win the SEC Regular season title (#1 seed in SEC Tournament), LSU would be a national seed … even with an RPI of 15. They might even be a national seed finishing 2nd (depending on RPI). Right now, Alabama is in the catbird seat. But they do need to travel to South Carolina and LSU … coupled with a home series vs. Florida.

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

Brian, one other question: In calculating OWP (and OOWP), you confirmed that the other teams' home/road wins/losses were treated the same... What about from our perspective? Is a team's contribution to our OWP weighted more or less because of where we played them? E.g.... EIU's WP contribution to our OWP - would it be EIU WP x 4 or x 2.8?

The # of games weighting in the RPI is never adjusted.

Ex. Three road wins
WP -> 1.3 * 3 (the # of games weight is still 3)

Ex. Opponent has a w/l record of 14-8 (10-2 home, 3-5 road, 1-1 vs. your team)
OOWP contribution -> .6500 (13-7) * 2 (# of games weight is still 2)

Brian

[RaginDave]

Well WKU has a real chance to help themselves vs. Indiana Wednesday night.

[CajunEXPRESS]

RPI is always stacked in the favor of the larger schools simply because they get to play "name" teams at their place. In basketball, it is not uncommon for an ACC team with a 6 and 10 record in conference to scream they deserve a tourney bid due to a strong RPI. Of course they beat Duke at home which leads to that strong RPI. Who's to say that if a quality mid-major program was allowed to play Duke at home they would not do the same. They probably would occasionally as indicated by the fact that Duke has lost twice in the last three years to mid majors in the first round. Refusal to play mid majors on the road is a way the big schools use the RPI in their favor in both basketball and baseball. You have to respect Alabama for having the guts to send their baseball team here for a weekend series.

Most of those guys are not beating the elite teams in the conference at home or away. They might beat the next level who may or may not have beaten the elite. I like your thinking except you are giving them far too much credit. They usually do about as well as a sixteen seed when playing the elite of those conferences.