RPI 5/16/2010

[GoneGolfin]

The Cajuns entered the weekend with an RPI of .5711. After last night's games, the Cajuns are sitting at .5713 and the same ordinal rank of #36 in the Adjusted RPI. The Cajuns have a base RPI rank of #34.

Northwestern State finds itself just outside the Base RPI top 75 (#76). Having Northwestern State in the Base RPI Top 75 is important for two reasons ...

1) The Cajuns will earn an RPI Bonus of .0012 for a non-conference road win over a Top 75 Base RPI team
2) The Cajuns will up their record against the Base RPI Top 75 (important during the selection process)

Troy rebounded from Friday night's loss and won the series yesterday by sweeping a doubleheader vs. Arkansas State. Troy now has a Base RPI of 69.

Middle Tennessee is ranked #60 in the Base RPI and finishes with New Orleans today. A run into the Base RPI Top 50 would help the Cajuns.

The Cajuns are 8-0 vs. the group of Middle Tennessee, Troy, and Northwestern State. Hence, we want them to finish as high as possible in the Base RPI ... but at minimum the Top 75 Base RPI.

Something to keep an eye on ... a Cajun win today would have Western Kentucky as the #8 seed in the SBC Tournament (behind Troy) if the season ended today. That would pit Ridings against FAU in the opening round. However, should WKU slip into the 7th spot ... the Cajuns may see Ridings in the opening round. WKU hosts Middle Tennessee (tied with USA for 3rd, but currently the #4 seed) and Troy is at South Alabama the final weekend.

Records vs. Base RPI:
vs. Top 75 11-12
vs. Top 50 2-6
vs. Top 100 14-15
vs. Top 25 0-1

The game against Western Kentucky today is crucial for several reasons. The most important is securing ourselves as the #2 selection from the Sun Belt. More wins over quality opponents is also very important. Western Kentucky has a Base RPI of 41 ... a Cajun win today would still likely keep Western Kentucky in the Base RPI Top 50 and notch another important win here for the Top 50, Top 75, and Top 100.

Unfortunately, McNeese State has fallen out of the Base RPI Top 100 at #106.

Some other important numbers:
Non-Conference RPI (.5668, #37)
Road RPI (.5588, #36)
Strength of Schedule (SOS) (.5418, #54)
Last 15: 12-3

26 0.5880 Oklahoma 25 0.5856
27 0.5856 Virginia Tech 24 0.5856
28 0.5821 Rice 30 0.5779
29 0.5811 Oregon State 28 0.5811
30 0.5805 North Carolina 29 0.5805
31 0.5760 Texas A&M 31 0.5760
32 0.5755 California 33 0.5719
33 0.5745 College of Charleston 32 0.5745
34 0.5734 Washington State 36 0.5680
35 0.5729 Florida Atlantic 35 0.5711
36 0.5713 Louisiana 34 0.5713
37 0.5710 Tennessee 38 0.5668
38 0.5705 Western Kentucky 41 0.5651
39 0.5705 New Mexico 44 0.5633
40 0.5675 Pittsburgh 37 0.5675
41 0.5667 Stanford 39 0.5667
42 0.5659 Kansas State 45 0.5629
43 0.5654 The Citadel 40 0.5654
44 0.5653 Texas State 43 0.5635
45 0.5653 UC Irvine 46 0.5629
46 0.5647 Florida Gulf Coast 50 0.5581
47 0.5646 Southeastern Louisiana 48 0.5604
48 0.5634 Liberty 42 0.5646
49 0.5628 Texas Tech 47 0.5628
50 0.5617 Elon 54 0.5551

Brian

[cajunhawk]

Sounds like we hit the perfect balance. Give em one to keep em in the top 50, then take the next two to keep the rpi bonus. How about MTSU, they keep winning, any chance they sneak into the top 50 and give us another huge bump?

Edit: woops sorry, I didnt read the whole thing, ADD meds havent kicked in yet. Hope MTSU can keep winning to boost our rpi.

[GoneGolfin]

_ Sounds like we hit the perfect balance. Give em one to keep em in the top 50, then take the next two to keep the rpi bonus.

There is no RPI bonus here. The purpose here is to beef our record vs. the Base RPI Top 50 and Base RPI Top 75.

With Northwestern State, it is dual purpose ... 1) RPI Bonus 2) beef our record vs. Base RPI Top 75.

How about MTSU, they keep winning, any chance they sneak into the top 50 and give us another huge bump? _

Yes ... a chance. But in doing so they would likely knock Western Kentucky out (they travel to Bowling Green next week). The worst case scenario is that they keep each other out.

Brian

[LSUTiger4RaginCajuns]

"That would pit Ridings against FAU in the opening round." YES

"However, should WKU slip into the 7th spot ." UGH

[ManAboutTown]

Tony giving Joey Satriano the nod today. I love the decision.

igeaux.mobi

[cajunhawk]

_ There is no RPI bonus here. The purpose here is to beef our record vs. the Base RPI Top 50 and Base RPI Top 75.

With Northwestern State, it is dual purpose ... 1) RPI Bonus 2) beef our record vs. Base RPI Top 75.


Yes ... a chance. But in doing so they would likely knock Western Kentucky out (they travel to Bowling Green next week). The worst case scenario is that they keep each other out.

Brian _

What a domnio effect. What I think I meant to say about WKU was, if we swept em they might have dropped out of the top 50, while if we lose one to em, then take the next two they stay in the top 50 thus it betters our record against the top 50. So we want WKU to keep winning or MTSU to keep winning. Ok.