JUST AS PREDICTED - gurus call the RPI obsolete

[tornado]

I knew it was just a matter of time until we saw the relatively respectable writers and gurus calling for the abandonment of the RPI calling it obsolete.

http://www.kenpom.com/blog/

"I know I once defended the thing, and in its original form, the combination of simplicity and accuracy was admirable. But the RPI was invented in 1981! In 1981, it was a state of the art formula. In 1981, Atari was a state of the art video game system. Kids aren???‚¬?„?t playing games on an Atari, yet the RPI is still the gold standard for the NCAA."

[amckillip]

Ya know, I'm not normally one to blame the media for making the BCS conferences the power conferences. But 3 years ago everyone was triumphing the RPI talking about how great it was, the MVC learns how to use it and works to schedule tough games, and now it's obselete? I agree with this conspiracy theory, a system doesn't lose all validity in 3 years, a conference just gets better.

[ser_solace]

That's absurd. So, they want to start measuring "performance" now? This isn't figure skating where you are scored on form and execution! Teams get scored on putting the ball in the basket.

[real fan]

If these teams don"t want to use the rpi then maybe they should start playing against better teams both at home and on the road instead of the cupcake schedules that a lot of them play.

[TheAsianSensation]

It's not necessarily the MVC learning how to use it as it is the change a couple years back. When the road/home adjustment went in, that forced the big boys to either sacrifice home games and home revenue for a better RPI. How dare the NCAA put them in that quandary.

[BUBraves2006]

The MVC just needs to keep whipping the other conferences as best as we can when we get our shot. The rest will take care of itself in time ... we can hope.

Oh how's about we get a team in the Elite 8 this year? That'd help too!

[MacabreMob]

Re: JUST AS PREDICTED - gurus call the RPI obsolete

I knew it was just a matter of time until we saw the relatively respectable writers and gurus calling for the abandonment of the RPI calling it obsolete.

http://www.kenpom.com/blog/

"I know I once defended the thing, and in its original form, the combination of simplicity and accuracy was admirable. But the RPI was invented in 1981! In 1981, it was a state of the art formula. In 1981, Atari was a state of the art video game system. Kids aren???‚¬?„?t playing games on an Atari, yet the RPI is still the gold standard for the NCAA."

1832
Matches

1888
Ball-point pen

1906
Light bulbs

1909
Electric toaster is made

1951
Long-distance dialing in the U.S.

1981
First space shuttle launched

[squirrel]

One thing to remember, though, is that Pomeroy's rankings had been essentially relegated useless as the RPI became more heavily utilized in the 1990's.

Over the last couple years, he has utilized an entirely new system of statistical performance analysis called the Gaussian method. I view these comments as a calculated move by him to get the NCAA to pay more attention to his stats and rankings, which I am sure they will. But I don't think it will be at the expense of the RPI.

I was kind of surprised by his statements, but I'm sure between he, Palm, and Sagarin, there is a fair amount of competition and jockeying for position with the NCAA and the selection committee. Pomeroy had been on the bottom, and he had to do something to get back on top.

His efficiency stats and rankings (a pythagorean calculation of how all teams would do in terms of winning% on a similar or "average" schedule) have become increasingly popular--much like sabremetrics in baseball.

[Dallas Brave]

Ask yourself this single question when ever you read or hear someone dismissing the RPI formula.

"If the use of the RPI is diminished, does he or she, or an institution they are affliated with, stand to benefit (1) monetarily through increased revenue and profits (or a higher paycheck in their job) or (2) indirectly through other means such as increased media exposure?"

Once you have answered that question, you'll know whether or not the source of the view is objective or is possibly swayed by self-interest.

The real, underlying debate that is taking place about the RPI is not if it creates an objective way to compare teams. What most people are concerned about is how the outcomes of the formula affect their vested interests.

Sly and cagey critics will try to cover their agenda by going on the offensive and claim that conferences like the MVC like the RPI because they have learned how to manipulate the formula. Pure BS, but it forces you to spend your time defending yourself rather that debating the fairness of the formula. What the critics know is that by shifiting the focus from their real agenda to making you defend yourself, they can win the war of attrition. Politicians (and wives) are the best at using this ploy.

The bottom line is this. The RPI is the best system developed by a cross-sectional group (i.e., NCAA) that hopefully represents the collective best interest of the whole set of member schools. Any changes to the system needs to be done based on evidence that the group as a whole will be more equitably treated. Of course, this is America and the power of the dollar is everything. I give into its allure everyday.

[Dubl R 1]

Re: JUST AS PREDICTED - gurus call the RPI obsolete

I knew it was just a matter of time until we saw the relatively respectable writers and gurus calling for the abandonment of the RPI calling it obsolete.

http://www.kenpom.com/blog/

"I know I once defended the thing, and in its original form, the combination of simplicity and accuracy was admirable. But the RPI was invented in 1981! In 1981, it was a state of the art formula. In 1981, Atari was a state of the art video game system. Kids aren???‚¬?„?t playing games on an Atari, yet the RPI is still the gold standard for the NCAA."

What a bunch of B.S. The RPI is a mathmatical formula. How can math be obsolete. That would be like saying the quadratic formula is obsolete, its absurd. The thing I like about the RPI is it takes the human element out of play. We seem to put more emphasis on the "rankings" like the AP top 25 poll than the RPI. The problem with the rankings is that it's all relative. The same teams keep getting ranked, while Southern Illinois has a hell of a time cracking the top 25. That's why it irritates me when the experts will say well so and so is a good team, but they don't have any wins over a ranked team. Well, IMO, if we keep ranking
mediocre teams from the "perceived" power conferences it just allows those conferences multiple opportunities to keep getting wins(in their own building mind you) against top 25 teams. Southern Illinois could just as easily be ranked as Indiana, who by the way just gave so called quality wins to Illinois, and Iowa by virtue of them being ranked. Another example is Butler, good wins early on like wichita state, but wichita had to come back to the Valley, where Butler goes to the Horizon League. If Wichita played in the Horizon league, they probably would still be in the top 10. That just goes to show how skewed the Rankings are. If you get rid of the importance of the RPI, then the power conferences would NEVER play anybody tough on their non conference schedule, why would they? If everybody already thinks they are so good, and are already ranked, and you no longer needed any RPI numbers why would you play anybody you had a chance to lose to.

[Guinness]

Watch them replace RPI with something that will always put big schools ahead of little ones.

[Dubl R 1]

Watch them replace RPI with something that will always put big schools ahead of little ones.

They already have that, It's called the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.