Games of Interest this weekend

[RaginScotsman]

Well done, Troy. A little breathing room.

[lcitsh]

I also ask, only because I don't know.

I also don't know how the selection process transpires; I know they will have the top 16 teams selected first because they are host sites. But after that, do they pick 17 - 64 in order? If that is the case, they would have already selected the Cajuns before any other SBC schools are selected. If they use the prior year as a guide, we are good because there were four SBC teams selected.

I agree that it looks better for the conference if we have more teams selected. I am just not sold that "helps" us any.

I hope I get educated because I need it!

How it helps the Cajuns:
The At Large dividing line is normally anyone in the top 50 is the most likely candidate for selection. The Sun Belt is the 8th rated rpi conference and has 1 team in the top 50. Conference USA is 7th, they have 2 teams in the top 50. Charlotte has been the top team even though they are middle of the pack in the conference standings. Their rpi ranking has bolstered Western Kentucky's resume. American Athletic is 6th and has 3 top 50 teams. When your conference is stronger, your resume is stronger primarily because it gives you more top 50 games (hello SEC).

If South Alabama and Texas State can work their way into the top 50, the Cajun resume is bolstered (more top 50 wins). That may push them into consideration for a #2 seed. Here's why this is important (hypothetical): regional is in Baton Rouge, Cajuns between 28 and 35 rpi ranking. Selection committee rarely gives a lower seeded regional 3 non-power conference opponents in the regional, so they will send a Power conference team there. PAC 12 teams not hosting a regional have to fly somewhere. Would you rather have (currently #17 rpi) Oregon as your #2 seed, or #45 Utah as your #3 seed? Which opponents give you a better chance of winning the regional?

Ok, you asked about 17-64. Selection committee chooses the best 32 at large candidates from the pool of eligible teams. Whatever their resume looks like, that's how they are chosen. They are then sent to whatever regional is closest to them. Because the NCAA pays travel expenses for teams in post season play, they send based upon a 400 mile radius to the host site. This is why we go to Baton Rouge every year, there are a limited number of teams within 400 miles of us that qualify to host. They try to balance the regionals as much as they can, but the mandate is to get as many 400 mile trips (bus driving distance) as possible. Geography is not used to place the teams in the tournament, only to which site they go.

[VObserver]

Well, we picked up a win on our Opponent's record with Lipscomb defeating Bellarmine last night. Of course we also got 15 wins and 15 losses from the 5 Sun Belt games played last night [we have played everyone 3 times, so their results count 3 times]. That is why Texas is so important to us, especially when they play someone we have not played.

[ragin50]

Well done, Troy. A little breathing room.

Better for us (RPI) if South Al would have swept Troy.

[JMV JustMyView]

Better for us (RPI) if South Al would have swept Troy.

Yes. But then the Cajuns would have to also sweep.

[VObserver]

Better for us (RPI) if South Al would have swept Troy.

Actually, as far as RPI, it did not matter who won. Either way we picked up 3 wins and 3 losses on our Opponents' Record, and all of both team's Opponents' records on our Opponents' Opponents Record.

[VObserver]

Yesterday was a good day for our RPI. The only OOC opponents that lost were 'Bama, Nicholls [2 losses] and St. Thomas [2 losses]. Since we played 'Bama twice, we got 2 losses there, so 6 losses total. Wins by LSU, Texas, Tulsa, Lipscomb, Indiana, UNT, Tech, UAB and McNeese [2 wins] gave us a nice boost: 16 wins, including 3 for Texas 2 for LSU and UAB and 4 for McNeese. If we get similar results the next two days and sweep ULM, we may improve our raw RPI score enough to move up into the top 30 RPI. [We are currently at 32]

[VObserver]

For RPI purposes there were 131 games added to our Opponents' record this weekend. Of these 76 were wins and 55 were losses. I think it is safe to assume that our raw RPI improved at least a little as a result of games this weekend. One can hope that it improved enough to bump us up a rank or two from the 32 we were at as of May 5th.

Unfortunately, I do not believe that either Texas State or UNT could have improved enough to get into the top 50 RPI from their May 5th rankings of 57 and 55, but anything is possible.

[Million$Mullet]

For RPI purposes there were 131 games added to our Opponents' record this weekend. Of these 76 were wins and 55 were losses. I think it is safe to assume that our raw RPI improved at least a little as a result of games this weekend. One can hope that it improved enough to bump us up a rank or two from the 32 we were at as of May 5th.

Unfortunately, I do not believe that either Texas State or UNT could have improved enough to get into the top 50 RPI from their May 5th rankings of 57 and 55, but anything is possible.

N/M

[moorecajun]

Texas state is at 38. We are at 53

This is the other diamond sport.

[Million$Mullet]

This is the other diamond sport.

Ooops my bad. Thought I clicked on baseball thread. Carry on

[VObserver]

UNT Did sneak into the top 50, which enhances our visuals.