RPI 5/17/2010

[GoneGolfin]

The Cajuns have an Adjusted RPI of .5741 (#34) and a Base RPI of .5741 (#33). As I stated previously, it was going to be close with respect to passing California or not. California came in at .5740.

Northwestern State finds itself just outside the Base RPI top 75 (#78). 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 now has a Base RPI of 66.

Middle Tennessee has a Base RPI of #57. A run into the Base RPI Top 50 would help the Cajuns. I would swap Middle for WKU in the Base RPI Top 50 (they play each other this weekend) if it comes to that. Having both their would be ideal. You just do not want both of them falling out.

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.

Records vs. Base RPI:
vs. Top 75 12-12
vs. Top 50 3-6
vs. Top 100 15-15
vs. Top 25 0-1

Unfortunately, McNeese State continues to fall and now finds themselves at #119 in the Base RPI.

Some other important numbers:
Non-Conference RPI (.5667, #37)
Road RPI (.5592, #34)
Strength of Schedule (SOS) (.5432, #51)
Last 15: 12-3


26 0.5879 Mississippi 20 0.5879
27 0.5832 Virginia Tech 27 0.5820
28 0.5826 Rice 30 0.5784
29 0.5814 College of Charleston 28 0.5814
30 0.5802 North Carolina 29 0.5802
31 0.5774 Texas A&M 31 0.5774
32 0.5767 Washington State 34 0.5713
33 0.5755 Oregon State 32 0.5755
34 0.5741 Louisiana 33 0.5741
35 0.5740 California 36 0.5704
36 0.5718 Florida Atlantic 35 0.5706
37 0.5704 Western Kentucky 42 0.5638
38 0.5693 New Mexico 44 0.5621
39 0.5682 Tennessee 41 0.5640
40 0.5679 Southeastern Louisiana 43 0.5637
41 0.5673 Kansas State 39 0.5643
42 0.5651 The Citadel 37 0.5651
43 0.5643 Stanford 40 0.5643
44 0.5637 Florida Gulf Coast 51 0.5571
45 0.5633 Liberty 38 0.5645
46 0.5625 Boston College 48 0.5595
47 0.5621 Pittsburgh 45 0.5621
48 0.5613 Texas State 49 0.5595
49 0.5612 Elon 55 0.553
50 0.5611 Baylor 46 0.5611

[TuffGuy84]

Heres a question for you, who would you want the cajuns to face in the tourny? would it be better for us to play someone like USA, ASU, or FIU in the first round so that we could possibly even the season series with them, or would it be better for us to play MT, or WKU with the possibility of losing our series advantages against them?

[GoneGolfin]

_ Heres a question for you, who would you want the cajuns to face in the tourny? would it be better for us to play someone like USA, ASU, or FIU in the first round so that we could possibly even the season series with them, or would it be better for us to play MT, or WKU with the possibility of losing our series advantages against them? _

Evening the series with USA, ASU, or FIU does not matter because an at-large bid will not come down to a comparison with these teams.

No matter what happens, we will have the season series over Middle Tennessee. With Western Kentucky tied for 7th (currently #8 seed), I am not concerned with the NCAA selecting the Hilltoppers over the Cajuns, unless the Cajuns were to tank the rest of the season.

I would probably rather face ASU. FIU is playing well and USA is always a battle. I do not want Middle on their home field and I do not want Ridings in the first round. The important thing for the Cajuns is to get wins in the conference tournament. The opponent does not matter. I would list the following opponents in order of preference (opening round) ...

1) Arkansas State
2) Troy
3) South Alabama
4) Florida International
5) Florida Atlantic (mathematically possible, but extremely unlikely)
5) Western Kentucky
6) Middle Tennessee

Brian