RPI Musings

[LaCajunsFan]

It doesn't have to be a tough schedule for RPI purposes. It has to be against teams with wins. Two very different things. Stay away from the bottom feeders at any level. Play teams that historically have had winning records. Doesn't matter if they are in the SWAC or SEC.

You also have to stay away from the teams that consistently have horrible records. Softball was guilty of this for many years because they didn't understand the significance of playing a three game series against a team that was going to lose 30 games before the year was out and add 90 loses to your OWP.

There are obviously reasons to play a tough non-conference schedule but not in regards to RPI.

So, just doing a quick check, a couple of our ooc's are doing ok: Nichols is 67, mckyneese 167.....but Pepperdine is now 241 and @ruston is in the toilet with 261, and I believe ulm is 283. So even if we win tomorrow will our rpi suffer?

[Cajun90]

So, just doing a quick check, a couple of our ooc's are doing ok: Nichols is 67, mckyneese 167.....but Pepperdine is now 241 and @ruston is in the toilet with 261, and I believe ulm is 283. So even if we win tomorrow will our rpi suffer?

We would be adding 10 loses to 7 wins so no it isn't going to help. Keep in mind that the RPI number itself doesn't calculate into your RPI. It is opponents and opponents opponents winning percentage that matters. You also have to consider that our record gets added to our opponents once we play them. That in itself helps out their OWP.

However, I do think it might prove difficult to keep climbing the RPI ladder due to things outside of our control. At this stage there is only one thing we control and that is wins.

[VObserver]

So, just doing a quick check, a couple of our ooc's are doing ok: Nichols is 67, mckyneese 167.....but Pepperdine is now 241 and @ruston is in the toilet with 261, and I believe ulm is 283. So even if we win tomorrow will our rpi suffer?

Don't look at their RPI, look at their record against D1 teams. @ruston is currently 8-5, if they continue to win at that rate they won't hurt us. McNeese is 3-8, UNO is 5-6, Nicholls is 5-6. ULM hurts more because we play them twice. Pepperdine is 4-10. James Madison is 4-11. Aside from Minnesota and Possibly Georgia, the best team we have played for RPI purposes is Texas Southern. They are currently 6-9 against D1 teams, but will probably end the season with not more than 2 or 3 more losses. If I were scheduling, I would still schedule Pepperdine and JMU, because they are traditionally pretty good, but having horrible years. I would keep Tech and Texas Southern as well. The SLC schools we schedule are marginal, at best, though I do expect UNO and Nichols to have decent years this year.

[LaCajunsFan]

We would be adding 10 loses to 7 wins so no it isn't going to help. Keep in mind that the RPI number itself doesn't calculate into your RPI. It is opponents and opponents opponents winning percentage that matters. You also have to consider that our record gets added to our opponents once we play them. That in itself helps out their OWP.

However, I do think it might prove difficult to keep climbing the RPI ladder due to things outside of our control. At this stage there is only one thing we control and that is wins.

Thanks guys for the clarification. Just when I think I understand it I realize I really don't.

[VObserver]

Thanks guys for the clarification. Just when I think I understand it I realize I really don't.

Understanding it in principle doesn't necessarily mean that one understands exactly how much effect playing a given team will have. It is just too complex to follow that accurately without a computer doing the calculations. Still, certain generalities will almost always be true.

1. It is always better to win than to lose any given game; but sometimes it is better to not play the game than to win it. [This latter usually does not apply to basketball, because games are seldom cancelled due to weather or other reasons.]

2. Since opponents record is 50% of your RPI, the most important thing is to schedule teams that will win much more than they lose.

3. You will seldom win on all three parts of RPI in any given game. [Extreme example: you are not likely to beat Kansas on the road and benefit by your win, their record, and their opponents' records.] The best teams to schedule are those in which you have a high probability of pleasing your fans by winning, while still winning the second part, being your opponent's record. This way you win 75% of the RPI battle and take your chances on the other 25%. That is what makes Texas Southern a good team to schedule.

4. It is good to play teams your fans love to hate, but only if they are not detrimental to your RPI. @ruston usually fits into this slot. They can be depended upon to be decent most of the time, and they play in a conference that wont kill you in the opponent's opponents part of RPI, so you will generally get a modest RPI boost from playing them.

[Ragin4U]

Appreciate you doing the legwork on this VO. Good info.

[NewsCopy]

The best RPI in Louisiana will surprise you.

The rest of the story
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[VObserver]

Appreciate you doing the legwork on this VO. Good info.

Gonegolfing is the real RPI guru on RP. I am sure he could point out flaws in what I said, and add more helpful information.

[LaCajunsFan]

Gonegolfing is the real RPI guru on RP. I am sure he could point out flaws in what I said, and add more helpful information.

Both of you guys have given great info. Thanks again.

[moorecajun]

Gonegolfing is the real RPI guru on RP. I am sure he could point out flaws in what I said, and add more helpful information.

I was about to post you are the Gone Golfin of UL Basketball.

I will do it.

You are the Gone Golfin of UL Basketball.

Happy New Year.

[VObserver]

I was about to post you are the Gone Golfin of UL Basketball.

I will do it.

You are the Gone Golfin of UL Basketball.

Happy New Year.

I am very flattered. Thank you.

Happy New Year to you as well.

By the way, our RPI today is 73, one spot better than yesterday; the RPI gods smiled on us last night in some mysterious way.

[DaddyCajun]

73 awesome! How is that in reference to other state teams?