RPI Monday 5/24/2010 (through this weekend's games)

[GoneGolfin]

The Cajuns entered Thursday with an Adjusted RPI of .5699 (ranked #36). The Cajuns exited the weekend with an Adjusted RPI of .5694 (ranked #37), thanks to the re-emergence of the Northwestern State RPI bonus (.0012). The Demons moved to a rank of #63 in the Base RPI (they swept Southeastern Louisiana this weekend on the road). This also helped the Cajun W/L record vs. the Base RPI Top 75.

Troy (#66) and Middle Tennessee (#60) continue to maintain comfortable Base RPIs in the Top 75. Thus, the Cajuns should continue to keep these six wins in the Base RPI Top 75.

Meanwhile, Western Kentucky (#40) has solidified itself in the Top 50 Base RPI with its two wins over Middle Tennessee this past weekend.

Southeastern Louisiana sits on the fringe of the Base RPI Top 50 (at #50). A minor slip and the Cajuns will go from a 3-6 record vs. the Top 50 to 3-4 vs. the Top 50.

Arkansas State is close to falling out of the Base RPI Top 100. The Cajuns can even the series with a win and likely remove ASU from the Top 100. A loss however, will put the Cajuns under .500 vs. the Top 100 and solidify ASU in the Top 100.

Southern Mississippi has fallen to #70 in the Base RPI. The Cajuns went 1-2 vs. USM.

Records vs. Base RPI:
vs. Top 75 14-12
vs. Top 50 3-6
vs. Top 100 15-15
vs. Top 25 0-0

Some other important numbers:
Non-Conference RPI (.5600, #43)
Road RPI (.5478, #44)
Strength of Schedule (SOS) (.5333, #62)
Last 15: 12-3

Note how tightly packed it is between #33 and #41 in the Adjusted RPI.

26 0.5823 Texas A&M 26 0.5823
27 0.5812 Mississippi 27 0.5812
28 0.5808 Rice 30 0.5766
29 0.5796 Kentucky 31 0.5748
30 0.5784 Oregon State 29 0.5784
31 0.5783 Louisiana State 28 0.5795
32 0.5768 Washington State 32 0.5726
33 0.5725 Florida Atlantic 34 0.5707
34 0.5721 Virginia Tech 33 0.5721
35 0.5705 The Citadel 35 0.5705
36 0.5705 Western Kentucky 40 0.5645
37 0.5694 Louisiana 36 0.5682
38 0.5682 Kansas State 39 0.5652
39 0.5679 Florida Gulf Coast 43 0.5613
40 0.5678 Baylor 37 0.5678
41 0.5673 California 41 0.5637
42 0.5656 New Mexico 45 0.5584
43 0.5645 Stanford 38 0.5657
44 0.5644 Elon 51 0.5560
45 0.5637 UC Irvine 42 0.5625
46 0.5618 Boston College 44 0.5588
47 0.5616 Tennessee 48 0.5574
48 0.5613 Southeastern Louisiana 50 0.5571
49 0.5586 North Carolina State 47 0.5574
50 0.5584 Texas State 49 0.5572

Brian

[LifeTimeCajun]

I am a little concerned now seeing we are the third best rpi in the conference. Does this make it more important to get deep into the tourney to secure an at large bid.

igeaux.mobi

[ManAboutTown]

I don't think so. The committee strongly considers the way a team finishes a season, and I think we are something like 23-4 to close the year? We'll be fine.

[wcd35]

We're champions of the 5th/6th best conference in the nation. We're fine. RPI was always going to drop due to our opponent.

[LifeTimeCajun]

I just don't want to be upset on Monday!! Lol


igeaux.mobi

[GoneGolfin]

_ I am a little concerned now seeing we are the third best rpi in the conference. Does this make it more important to get deep into the tourney to secure an at large bid.

Do not be concerned.

#1 Western Kentucky is a mere .0011 ahead in the Adjusted RPI. This is nothing.
#2 RPI becomes an issue if the teams are close in the standings and the RPI rank differential is in the double digits. It is not and WKU is not close in the conference standings.
#3 Louisiana is a conference champion. Western Kentucky tied for 6th place.
#4 Louisiana holds the season series advantage over Western Kentucky 2-1. Western Kentucky cannot play UL again until the tournament finals. If UL goes 3-1 in the SBC Tournament (losing to WKU) in this scenario, WKU is in automatically and UL maintains or increases its RPI.

The Cajuns can go 0-2 and they are in.

Brian