D1 Field of 64 Projections

[J-Town Cajun]

Because not every team would play along. It would take full collusion to really work. But some teams would have Grambling or Prairie View A&M midweek and would come to the conclusion that they do not need their #1 to win and would save their top pitching for the conference weekend. This would proceed to break down the “unspoken” collusion piece by piece.

Brian

I know, and you’re right it would take total buy in and it would never happen. But in theory, it’s genius. Haha

[Dad04]

First priority is that there is not a sweep. If USM were a threat to take an at-large away from the Cajuns, I would say Coastal. But I do not think that will be the case (like it was with South Alabama in 2006 over the Cajuns due to RPI differential). As such, I would like to see USM take 2.

Brian

2006 was tough not getting a bid

[GoneGolfin]

I know, and you’re right it would take total buy in and it would never happen. But in theory, it’s genius. Haha

Yes, another "gaming the system" example due to the exploitable RPI.

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

2006 was tough not getting a bid

It bothers me to this day.

If you recall, Steve Kittrell added a game (late in the season) on the road midweek (Tuesday) against Florida State between their last conference game and the Sun Belt Tournament. This was doable thanks to a conference scheduling advantage that befell the Jags . a bye between their last conference weekend vs. Arkansas State and the beginning of the Sun Belt Tournament (a span of 10 days). Kittrell was smart to make it a road game against a top RPI opponent (Florida State was #9 at selection time). Given it was a non-conference road game, it qualified for the max RPI bonus. Kittrell threw ace PJ Walters at the Seminoles and the Jags won 7-2. Despite pitching and beating Arkansas State 4-3 the prior Friday, Walters threw over 130 pitches against Florida State on three days' rest.

This win vaulted South Alabama a number of RPI spots, growing the RPI ranking differential with the Cajuns from 7 to 17 during that time (38 vs. 55 at selection time). Despite many metrics in factor of the Cajuns .

- including better conference regular season finish (2nd place 19-5 . 2.5 full games ahead of 16-7 South Alabama . 1 game behind regular season champion 20-4 Troy )
- a better overall conference record including Sun Belt Tournament)
- eliminating the Jags from the Sun Belt Tournament (head-to-head was 2-2 . with 3 games in Mobile and one at a neutral site)
- Cajuns were 2-1 vs. RPI Top 25 . South Alabama was 2-7
- Cajuns were 4-3 vs. RPI Top 50 . South Alabama was 6-12
- Cajuns were 14-12 vs. RPI Top 100 . South Alabama was 17-18

. the selection committee leaned on RPI differential to make the decision between the two teams. As you know, this was a team sandwiched between two good 2005 and 2007 teams . with 2007 making a strong run to host (#14 RPI at selection time . just did not have the RPI Top 25 wins . 0-3).

Brian

[Dad04]

It bothers me to this day.

If you recall, Steve Kittrell added a game (late in the season) on the road midweek (Tuesday) against Florida State between their last conference game and the Sun Belt Tournament. This was doable thanks to a conference scheduling advantage that befell the Jags . a bye between their last conference weekend vs. Arkansas State and the beginning of the Sun Belt Tournament (a span of 10 days). Kittrell was smart to make it a road game against a top RPI opponent (Florida State was #9 at selection time). Given it was a non-conference road game, it qualified for the max RPI bonus. Kittrell threw ace PJ Walters at the Seminoles and the Jags won 7-2. Despite pitching and beating Arkansas State 4-3 the prior Friday, Walters threw over 130 pitches against Florida State on three days' rest.

This win vaulted South Alabama a number of RPI spots, growing the RPI ranking differential with the Cajuns from 7 to 17 during that time (38 vs. 55 at selection time). Despite many metrics in factor of the Cajuns .

- including better conference regular season finish (2 full games)
- a better overall conference record (by 2.5 games . includes Sun Belt Tournament)
- eliminating the Jags from the Sun Belt Tournament (head-to-head was 2-2 . with 3 games in Mobile and one at a neutral site)
- Cajuns were 2-1 vs. RPI Top 25 . South Alabama was 2-7
- Cajuns were 4-3 vs. RPI Top 50 . South Alabama was 6-12
- Cajuns were 14-12 vs. RPI Top 100 . South Alabama was 17-18

. the selection committee leaned on RPI differential to make the decision between the two teams. As you know, this was a team sandwiched between two good 2005 and 2007 teams . with 2007 making a strong run to host (#14 RPI at selection time . just did not have the RPI Top 25 wins . 0-3).

Brian

Kitrell was crafty. Really good coach and PJ Walters had a rubber arm. He could throw strikes forever. Great college pitcher.

[Big Buds]

2006 was tough not getting a bid

2005 we didn’t show up in the NOLA Regional.

2007 we got swept at Arizona State and possibly kept us from hosting. Fortunately we did show up in College Station but couldn’t pull through.

[Cajun90]

Apparently the selection committee reads RP

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stor.r-rpi-purpose/

[Jacob81]

Sunbelt goes 3-5 tonight and drops further behind the big 10 in rpi.

[CajunSID]

Kitrell was crafty. Really good coach and PJ Walters had a rubber arm. He could throw strikes forever. Great college pitcher.

“Crafty.” Lol. That’s one way to describe him. He’s a big part of what made UL-South Alabama a heck of a baseball rivalry back in the day.

[GoneGolfin]

Apparently the selection committee reads RP

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stor.r-rpi-purpose/

This practice has essentially forced the NCAA to admit that there are real problems with the RPI. This is the first step in admitting that you have a problem.

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

“Crafty.” Lol. That’s one way to describe him. He’s a big part of what made UL-South Alabama a heck of a baseball rivalry back in the day.

When I think of Steve Kittrell, I think of gamesmanship.

Brian

[CajunVic]

When I think of Steve Kittrell, I think of gamesmanship.

Brian

Is what Kittrell did similar to what you were assisting Mike Lotief with some?

Gamesmanship it is a good fair description.

[BamaCajun]

Apparently the selection committee reads RP

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stor.r-rpi-purpose/

Oh, this is rich. The committee chair, Coastal Carolina athletic director Matt Hogue, is the one who wrote the memo directing teams not to cancel non-conference games to boost RPI. It's because of CC's athletic brass that the term "Covid Carolina" is now wide spread.

[GoneGolfin]

Is what Kittrell did similar to what you were assisting Mike Lotief with some?

Gamesmanship it is a good fair description.

Do you mean what Kittrell did w/scheduling Florida State last minute? That was a component of the strategy employed with the Lotief schedules. But obviously it went much deeper than that. Most of the strategy was steeped in directives in setting up the schedule for the coming year. But during the season, especially late, I was advising on teams he might be considering adding midweek . as well as games he should cancel (for RPI reasons) if there was not another important reason for keeping it.

As far as Kittrell and gamesmanship is concerned . you never knew what you would get from him or his team in this regard, during or after a game. One of the reasons it was an excellent rivalry.

Brian

[CajunRage]

Brian, trying to make sense of how Indiana State's RPI is so highly ranked. Their schedule doesn't seem like anything special, but they have gone on the road/neutral 29 (20-9 record) times vs 12 (11-1 record) home games. Is that the main factor (along with winning obviously)?