Wichita State

[houstontxbrave]

WSU eliminated themselves sometime before the season when they decided that playing that non-conference schedule was a good idea. Unless you are in the Big East or ACC, you aren't getting an at-large bid playing one of the weakest OOC schedules in the country.

That is the biggest wrong with the whole NCAA.

You can be in the Big East and its apparently ok to play a soft non conference, but you better not in any other non BCS, and god forbid you lose even one game that is played v a BCS school or trip up against essentially anyone and never ever at home if your not BCS.

Why is it good for one NCAA team but not another? Again conference affilation does matter.

The entire thing is completely rigged and staged and expansion will just expand the rigging and staging to more BCS's.

[houstontxbrave]

Well in all fairness to Illinois and the BCS, if you are lucky enough to play in one of those conferences, of course these teams will get far more opportunities to make an impact.

That's exactly why the Valley teams need to strengthen their schedules and win games against the BCS. Then we can repeat what we accomplished in 2006 when conference wins actually weighed as much as BCS wins.

How exactly do you do that when BCS schools will not play you... IE Maryland after 2006?

I guess you play only road buy games and then turn into the SWAC. And even then how many BCS's will be open to a buy game v an MVC team? Is it a significant enough number that will overall effect RPI and make Conference wins equal to the BCS win?

[MacabreMob]

Only 3 teams in the entire country have more RPI Top 25 wins than Illinois.

Actually, as of today, Illinois is 3-4 vs the Top 25 RPI (Clemson has dropped to 27).

So...
Kansas 6-1
Syracuse 5-1
West Virginia 4-4
New Mexico 4-0
Purdue 4-2
Georgetown 5-4
Wisconsin 4-2
Oklahoma St 4-2
Ohio St 4-4
...all have more wins vs the Top 25 RPI.

Oh, and here are the teams with 3 wins...
Kentucky 3-1
Kansas St 3-2
Villanova 3-5
Pitt 3-2
Wake Forest 3-2
Notre Dame 3-2
South Carolina 3-5

[TheAsianSensation]

Stupid numbers. If one of Clemson's opponents wins today, they climb to RPI 25, UI gains another Top 25 win, and only 2 teams have more than them. Instead, they have 3 instead of 4 and are now just another ordinary team.

Sounds like a flawed system, no? Just 2 days ago, when I looked up the info, what I said was true.

I hate the RPI.

[MacabreMob]

Stupid numbers. If one of Clemson's opponents wins today, they climb to RPI 25, UI gains another Top 25 win, and only 2 teams have more than them. Instead, they have 3 instead of 4 and are now just another ordinary team.

Sounds like a flawed system, no? Just 2 days ago, when I looked up the info, what I said was true.

I hate the RPI.

It's all gonna change daily from now til Sunday.

Let me know if you want me to email you Palm's Nitty Gritty info each day.

I like looking at the Ave RPI of a teams wins and Avve RPI of teams losses - just something to look at. Illinois are 160 and 57. Here is a list of the teams in the Top 50 RPI with a worse Ave RPI of teams they beat:
BYU 164
ODU 171
Utah St 168
Siena 186
San Diego St 168
Gonzaga 169
St Mary's 177
UTEP 172
UAB 172
Kent 166
Wich St 164
Memphis 178
Cornell 210
UNLV 165

Hmmmm...... what seems to be a common factor amongst those teams?

[Indy_BB]

That is the biggest wrong with the whole NCAA.

You can be in the Big East and its apparently ok to play a soft non conference, but you better not in any other non BCS, and god forbid you lose even one game that is played v a BCS school or trip up against essentially anyone and never ever at home if your not BCS.

Why is it good for one NCAA team but not another? Again conference affilation does matter.

The entire thing is completely rigged and staged and expansion will just expand the rigging and staging to more BCS's.

Because if you play in those leagues you play your "good teams" in your conference slate. Mid majors must play an inverted schedule (effectively a high major-level OOC) to counteract their mid-major in-conference. You are allowed to play Quinnepic and Wofford at home, in November, if you are taking a one week road trip to Syracuse, UConn, and Pittsburgh in February.

Conversely, high majors play mid-major OOC schedules because they play high-major in-league.

[TheAsianSensation]

It's all gonna change daily from now til Sunday.

Let me know if you want me to email you Palm's Nitty Gritty info each day.

I like looking at the Ave RPI of a teams wins and Avve RPI of teams losses - just something to look at. Illinois are 160 and 57. Here is a list of the teams in the Top 50 RPI with a worse Ave RPI of teams they beat:
BYU 164
ODU 171
Utah St 168
Siena 186
San Diego St 168
Gonzaga 169
St Mary's 177
UTEP 172
UAB 172
Kent 166
Wich St 164
Memphis 178
Cornell 210
UNLV 165

Hmmmm...... what seems to be a common factor amongst those teams?

Ooh, ooh, I know the answer!


I'll rely on InsideRPI for now, it's close enough. I just wish everyone would stop taking the RPI literally, if you get my drift.

[TheAsianSensation]

And if we wanna get into inequalities in opportunities, that's a whoe 'nother conversation. The committee has basically sent the message of "Yes, we realize the inequity in schedules between power conferences and the mid-majors, but our job is to select the best teams. We're basically passing the buck onto the individual schools to police themselves and to allow everyone a fair shot. Our job is to select the best teams based on the resume, without making any adjustments for the conference affiliation of the team."

Ok, that was a long pseudo quote, but you get the idea. The committee recognizes the gulf in schedules between the haves and have-nots. However, they don't feel it's their job to compensate for it. They feel it's the responsbility of the individual schools. The individual schools feel it should be the responsbility of the committee to make concessions for mid-majors to narrow the gulf.

[houstontxbrave]

Because if you play in those leagues you play your "good teams" in your conference slate. Mid majors must play an inverted schedule (effectively a high major-level OOC) to counteract their mid-major in-conference. You are allowed to play Quinnepic and Wofford at home, in November, if you are taking a one week road trip to Syracuse, UConn, and Pittsburgh in February.

Conversely, high majors play mid-major OOC schedules because they play high-major in-league.

That my friend is speak for its which conference you are or not in.

You get patted on the back for playing in a certain conference and a kick in the backside if you play elsewhere.... or money makes all decisions.

Bottom line until the NCAA mandates scheduling you can be pure average in the Big East and get atleast considered for the tournament. If you play in the Valley league you better not make one single mistake scheduling and you better not lose one a game. You better be perfect and **** close to it.

It is an absolute crap way but its the CBS, ESPN, NCAA ATM machine of today.

[Bravesfan]

Because if you play in those leagues you play your "good teams" in your conference slate. Mid majors must play an inverted schedule (effectively a high major-level OOC) to counteract their mid-major in-conference. You are allowed to play Quinnepic and Wofford at home, in November, if you are taking a one week road trip to Syracuse, UConn, and Pittsburgh in February.

Conversely, high majors play mid-major OOC schedules because they play high-major in-league.

That makes sense, and that's what the Valley needs to do. The problem is how does one get around not being able to schedule BCS teams when they avoid mid-majors like the plague? There are two ways.

First, try to get into a preseason tournament that will force the BCS teams to play the mid-majors (ie: Illinois this year). And second, try to schedule higher level mid-majors to elevate the OOC strength of schedule. Bradley did a good job on both counts, though another stronger mid-major or two would be even more beneficial in the future.

I do have to give credit to teams like Michigan St. and Illinois who do schedule up during the non-conference portion of the season to help their teams get the experience of playing against NCAA Tournament type competition. But the Maryland's of the world, well they feel they will get their best competition during their conference schedule, so why should they bother scheduling well. This is the system, and we have to find ways to beat it.

[flipper]

i think more valley teams need to take some more risks and schedule on the road against the bcs schools.

heck, i wouldnt mind a trip to champaign to watch us play the illini.or to iowa city.

[thefish7]

i think more valley teams need to take some more risks and schedule on the road against the bcs schools.

heck, i wouldnt mind a trip to champaign to watch us play the illini.or to iowa city.

Nothing wrong with that... But I think the issue this season is that instead of scheduling a team that's between, let's say, 150-250 in the RPI, a lot of schools scheduled against opponents in the 300s.

[SFP]

That makes sense, and that's what the Valley needs to do. The problem is how does one get around not being able to schedule BCS teams when they avoid mid-majors like the plague? There are two ways.

First, try to get into a preseason tournament that will force the BCS teams to play the mid-majors (ie: Illinois this year). And second, try to schedule higher level mid-majors to elevate the OOC strength of schedule. Bradley did a good job on both counts, though another stronger mid-major or two would be even more beneficial in the future.

I do have to give credit to teams like Michigan St. and Illinois who do schedule up during the non-conference portion of the season to help their teams get the experience of playing against NCAA Tournament type competition. But the Maryland's of the world, well they feel they will get their best competition during their conference schedule, so why should they bother scheduling well. This is the system, and we have to find ways to beat it.

What was wrong with Maryland's schedule? They play a bunch of in-state or close by schools at home where they sell out and generate revenue for both schools. They had no hand in who they would play in the Big Ten/ACC challenge, they played in the Maui Tournament, they also play in another yearly tournament in DC and played some pretty good teams in both. They really go out and prepare their team for their conference games which is usually rated number 1. Look at their schedule before you point to them. Also, having them leave their newly built in campus facility would take major $$$ because they make a ton at home.

http://kenpom.com/rate.php

[SaintLouBrave22]

Anyone feel like the last couple days is sliding the Shox closer to the top of the bubble?

[thefish7]

Kinda looking like it to me, SLB. Enough bubbles have been bursting that WSU seems to be kind of floating ever nearer to "last 4 in." Still don't think they'll have a miracle though.