NCAA SB Final: Louisiana 5, LSU 8

[JMV JustMyView]

Recall that one advantage we have today, that was not the case in 2012 and prior ... there are no longer RPI bonuses for conference games. This was a boondoggle for the elite conferences. This was the one recommendation we made to the Coaches Committee that was adopted as an RPI change. Without that change, the Cajuns would have had an RPI of 11 and would not have hosted a Super Regional in 2014. Baby steps.

Brian

Brian as one of the most respected posters on this site go throw your 2 cents in on the 2022 softball thread. Would love to hear your view of the landscape of the portal versus developing high school kids for the sports of softball and baseball.

[moorecajun]

Not any more than what the Cajuns scheduled this year. And it is not p5 teams you need ... it is Top 25 RPI teams you need. And you do not need them for RPI purposes ... you need them for your selection committee resume. There are other ways to build your RPI. Meanwhile, there are certainly P5 teams that you want to avoid (one of the tenets of my smart scheduling process).

While I have not done an exhaustive analysis, there are some obvious reasons why the Cajuns did not finish with a Top 16 RPI and a chance to host (15 of the 16 hosts were in the RPI Top 16 ... with the #17 RPI team hosting). And the lack of scheduling top opponents was not one of them.

- The Cajuns needed to win more RPI Top 25 games. 3-8 will not cut it. We are not Texas. While going 5-6 would have certainly helped the Cajuns' RPI, it is more about not proving that you are on the level with your hosting peers.

- The Cajuns should not be scheduling the likes of Lamar. 8-43 (.1569). That hurt.
- You can do a lot better than Buffalo.
- I do not fault anyone for Memphis. They fell off the face of the earth. But they really hurt.
- Houston as well ... they are usually good. While they had an RPI ranking of 130, there are several teams in the 200's that would have been more RPI friendly. Including Prairie View A&M.
- I also do not fault the scheduling of Baylor, which is typically a good team to schedule. But this is an example of a P5 team you want to avoid. Teams that lose a lot of games but play difficult schedules ... and have a decent chance at beating you (which they did).

The bottom line is that the Cajuns Non-Conference SOS was weak (#84) and the above is why. Some of the above is correctable ... some is unfortunate luck.

Some teams that should be considered for future NC schedules ...
- Stephen F. Austin ... good team for four years running
- Central Arkansas ... turning the corner? Solid last couple of years
- South Dakota State ... gaudy records, but beatable
- Boston U ... traditionally strong and looking to travel early in the year
- Saint Francis ... strong record, more often than not. Early travel team.
- Miami Ohio and Ball State ... traditionally strong records. Early travel teams.
- Monmouth (rinse, repeat)
- There are some good Ivy League teams to schedule, once they decide to play
- If you can forecast the SWAC winner (or come close), this is typically a good opponent

These are just some examples. Notice that I am not targeting Top 50 or even Top 75 teams, though some of these teams are there. You want some of these ... but the above is where the value is from the RPI perspective. Good for your SOS (regardless of their RPI rank), with an increased probability of winning.

That said, the above is just one of my four core scheduling principles.

Interestingly enough, I received a text from Coach Glasco this morning. Looks like he is ready to get right back to work. We will be discussing in the next few days.

Brian

I really appreciate your in depth analysis and am very glad Coach Glasco does also. You really are a very valuable person to the Cajuns. I could see you getting a position as Scheduling Analyst for several of the teams!

Thank you for your insight!

[JMV JustMyView]

I really appreciate your in depth analysis and am very glad Coach Glasco does also. You really are a very valuable person to the Cajuns. I could see you getting a position as Scheduling Analyst for several of the teams!

Thank you for your insight!

Brian is definitely the man! Always appreciated his feedback.

[mun_RaginCajuns]

JMU has been a quality program since they had Jailyn Ford in the circle for them. I know it’s a far away team geographically but I’d love to see the Cajuns match up with them. They’d be a great team to bring in for one of our tournaments.

[moorecajun]

JMU has been a quality program since they had Jailyn Ford in the circle for them. I know it’s a far away team geographically but I’d love to see the Cajuns match up with them. They’d be a great team to bring in for one of our tournaments.

If she is who pitched in the regional I totally agree. She was phenomenal!

[JMV JustMyView]

JMU has been a quality program since they had Jailyn Ford in the circle for them. I know it’s a far away team geographically but I’d love to see the Cajuns match up with them. They’d be a great team to bring in for one of our tournaments.

I wouldn't invite them to a tournament but I would love a 3 game series at our place and there place.

[lcitsh]

If she is who pitched in the regional I totally agree. She was phenomenal!

Jailyn Ford was the first upper level pitcher Mickey Dean was able to recruit to James Madison several years ago. She was followed by Megan Good, a genuine blue chipper. Mickey left a few years ago to go to Auburn and his last great pitching recruit was Odicci Alexander, the pitcher you saw this past weekend.

[CajunAmos]

Not any more than what the Cajuns scheduled this year. And it is not p5 teams you need ... it is Top 25 RPI teams you need. And you do not need them for RPI purposes ... you need them for your selection committee resume. There are other ways to build your RPI. Meanwhile, there are certainly P5 teams that you want to avoid (one of the tenets of my smart scheduling process).

While I have not done an exhaustive analysis, there are some obvious reasons why the Cajuns did not finish with a Top 16 RPI and a chance to host (15 of the 16 hosts were in the RPI Top 16 ... with the #17 RPI team hosting). And the lack of scheduling top opponents was not one of them.

- The Cajuns needed to win more RPI Top 25 games. 3-8 will not cut it. We are not Texas. While going 5-6 would have certainly helped the Cajuns' RPI, it is more about not proving that you are on the level with your hosting peers.

- The Cajuns should not be scheduling the likes of Lamar. 8-43 (.1569). That hurt.
- You can do a lot better than Buffalo.
- I do not fault anyone for Memphis. They fell off the face of the earth. But they really hurt.
- Houston as well ... they are usually good. While they had an RPI ranking of 130, there are several teams in the 200's that would have been more RPI friendly. Including Prairie View A&M.
- I also do not fault the scheduling of Baylor, which is typically a good team to schedule. But this is an example of a P5 team you want to avoid. Teams that lose a lot of games but play difficult schedules ... and have a decent chance at beating you (which they did).

The bottom line is that the Cajuns Non-Conference SOS was weak (#84) and the above is why. Some of the above is correctable ... some is unfortunate luck.

Some teams that should be considered for future NC schedules ...
- Stephen F. Austin ... good team for four years running
- Central Arkansas ... turning the corner? Solid last couple of years
- South Dakota State ... gaudy records, but beatable
- Boston U ... traditionally strong and looking to travel early in the year
- Saint Francis ... strong record, more often than not. Early travel team.
- Miami Ohio and Ball State ... traditionally strong records. Early travel teams.
- Monmouth (rinse, repeat)
- There are some good Ivy League teams to schedule, once they decide to play
- If you can forecast the SWAC winner (or come close), this is typically a good opponent

These are just some examples. Notice that I am not targeting Top 50 or even Top 75 teams, though some of these teams are there. You want some of these ... but the above is where the value is from the RPI perspective. Good for your SOS (regardless of their RPI rank), with an increased probability of winning.

That said, the above is just one of my four core scheduling principles.

Interestingly enough, I received a text from Coach Glasco this morning. Looks like he is ready to get right back to work. We will be discussing in the next few days.

Brian

Good to see you're still a resource.

[GoneGolfin]

Good to see you're still a resource.

I think someone had a conversation with Coach Sunday/Monday and slipped him a phone number. What do you think?

Brian

[JMV JustMyView]

I think someone had a conversation with Coach Sunday/Monday and slipped him a phone number. What do you think?

Brian

I got Glasco's cell number, but it wasn't me who gave it to Brian ��

[moorecajun]

Jailyn Ford was the first upper level pitcher Mickey Dean was able to recruit to James Madison several years ago. She was followed by Megan Good, a genuine blue chipper. Mickey left a few years ago to go to Auburn and his last great pitching recruit was Odicci Alexander, the pitcher you saw this past weekend.

Yes, I recognize her name now! Good info.

[CajunAmos]

I think someone had a conversation with Coach Sunday/Monday and slipped him a phone number. What do you think?

Brian

He seems the type to not discard any info that can help him win, so I'm sure he kept it from the last time. It's never a bad thing to have access to data.