Can you guess why the Cajuns' RPI increased?

[GoneGolfin]

_ Southern's WPct vs UNO's WPct _

Yes. Now why is this significant?

Folks, if you understand all of this, you will understand the RPI.

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

_ The fact that SU has a better record than UNO and that's reflected in our OWP of our RPI. _

Precisely.

But what about Southern's effect on the Cajuns' OOWP (as compared to UNO)?

And why does Southern have a much lower RPI than UNO?

Brian

[wcd35]

Its significant because the RPI factors in record vs D1 not a teams RPI into the formula. Southern, though likely an equal team to UNO, has a much better record. Therefore, our opponent's win percentage goes up by playing a poor team (SU) rather than down by playing an equally poor team (UNO). And that's 50% of the formula

[Rebel02]

_ Precisely.

But what about Southern's effect on the Cajuns' OOWP (as compared to UNO)?

And why does Southern have a much lower RPI than UNO?

Brian _

Could it have to do with the fact that SU has played fewer games than UNO?

[wcd35]

_ Could it have to do with the fact that SU has played fewer games than UNO? _

Probably that too

[cajun1300]

It's all about symmetry. The RPI algorithm likes the fact that the Cajuns have now won 2/3 of all games played (32-16) and 2/3 of conference games (16-8)

/sarcoff

[GoneGolfin]

_ Its significant because the RPI factors in record vs D1 not a teams RPI into the formula. Southern, though likely an equal team to UNO, has a much better record. Therefore, our opponent's win percentage goes up by playing a poor team (SU) rather than down by playing an equally poor team (UNO). And that's 50% of the formula _

Yes, the key is our Opponents WP (OWP). Since this is weighted twice as much as OOWP, Southern's dismal OWP does not hurt us as much. But obviously it kills Southern's own RPI as this is 50% of their calculation.

However, with UNO, their dismal record kills our OWP ... but their dismal record has more to do with the much tougher schedule they have played (when compared to Southern). This is reflected in their OWP (which is weighted less in the Cajuns' OOWP).

This is also why South Alabama's win over Auburn last night really does not help the Cajuns any more than if they had beaten a team with the same winning % ... say a #115 RPI team (Indiana State). South Alabama's opponent last night is included in the Cajuns' OOWP calculation. But the formula does not go any deeper. It does not factor OOOWP.

Brian

[GoneGolfin]

_ Could it have to do with the fact that SU has played fewer games than UNO? _

No. RPI is calculated using winning percentages. The # of games is not a factor.

Brian

[wcd35]

So you could manipulate the schedule by bringing in better teams in bad conferences since they will likely not be as good of an opponent, but would still give you a high number for your OWP.

In moderation of course, you do want to balance junk RPI scheduling with high profile team scheduling in order to get record vs top 50, 75, etc as well as challenging your team.

[CajunRed]

Brian...

I came in late... just read through all of this... and threw up my head was hurting so much!!