Rip Rpi

[GonzoCat]

Well the committee showed they will discard the RPI if it doesn't show what they want it to. They left out a number 21 and a number 30, both lower than the previous record low RPI of 33. It's too bad in my opinion because talk about whatever factors you want to, the RPI (and record against top RPI teams) is the only objective factor they had. Likewise the seeding is never in line with the RPI, the BCS teams always get favorable seeding and the non-BCS teams are set up to fail. That way they can always say the smaller schools weren't up to the task.

Also I think we learned what the absolute upper limit for a non BCS conference is. In spite of saying they look at teams, not conferences, they bowed to the pressure of the BCS conferences and the media that kiss up to them and capped the MVC at 4. The MVC had 5 teams in the top 33 - remember that was the previous record for not making it, and six in the top 39.

Despite the lip service played to the RPI and how the big boys should play better teams and maybe even considering mixing in a non-con road game I guarantee you they will change the formula so that they can continue to play cupcakes at home and the RPI will work out better for it. They're not going to risk letting a non BCS conference ever get 6 top 40 RPIs again.

[AmesPanther]

The selection criteria has been RPI, last 10 games, and out of conference games. It's not RPI alone.

I said MSU and CU was out last week and the reason was because they don't stack up in all 3 categories. None of the MVC selections or lack there of surprised me.

The RPI gets changed every year so yeah I'm sure it will get changed. I'm sure they will change it in favor of the BCS conferences, money talks.

I think we need to forget all the RPI junk and worry about winning games. If the 4 schools that did get in have a good showing this year then we can get 4 or maybe even 5 teams next year. If the 4 lay an egg then I'd bet 3 is a max.

It's put up or shut up time now.

[Newsbreaker]

The MVC teams that had good RPI's but got left out had poor other factors on their resume.

The lesson is that RPI is important (it was probably the defining factor in our selection), but only equally important with other factors.

[General_Panther]

I would have to agree on one factor. Creighton and Mizz St. played Virtually No one in their non conference schedules, so while Air Force (whom I heard absolutely no discussion about until their name suddenly poped up on the bracket last night) maybe was not as deservinga s Say a Cincy team, you have to give the selection Committee some slack. That's a tough job and I'm sure they did it to the best of their ability.

As far as UNI being Selected. I can say that as one of the biggest Panther fans I was a little worried to say the least. I mean at the end of the season the Panthers lost I believe 7 of their Last 8 games (if I'm wrong Sorry, I'm sure someone will correct me) that made me very worried. I know we had a great season, and we had quality non conference wins at home against Iowa and @ LSU but everyone (Media) was talking about momentum going in and we didn't seem to have much of that.

With that Said, I like Our Match up first round. I think that We have a Legitimate Shot this year to go to the Sweet 16 and finally become the new Gonzaga. I could easily see a Northern Iowa Vs. UW-Milwaukee Match up in the Sweet Sixteen, I like our chances against UW-Milwaukee should that Indeed happen.

All I can say is what a season, another excellent job by the Greatest Coach in UNI Basketball History, Greg McDermott and I see Nothing but Great things for the Panthers in the future. I know I'll be Cheering LOUDLY!!!!! GO PANTHERS!!!!

[DomeRanger Posse]

Maybe this doesn't belong here (maybe I don't belong in a basketball discussion), but I was listening to NPR this morning and they were talking the RPI and the selections made for the conference. The sports commentator talked about how surprising it was for a the mid-major, non-power conferences to get in, and how the Valley had the same number of teams in as the Big East and the ACC. In his opinion, though, it was based on the fact that teams in conferences like the Valley scheduled harder teams earlier in the season, while "power" teams tended to schedule easier nonconference teams (I'm thinking Campbells Soup or whatever those travelling teams are.) Anyway, he said that in the future the committee is going to reward those who schedule hard teams.

I will now leave you all to enjoy your "basket-ball."

[Newsbreaker]

I was just thinking about this whole RPI thing...I think realistically you have to take your RPI number as more of a range...we're probably the 22nd - 28th best team in the country, on average, over the course of the year.

When you're talking about this 'inflated RPI', it's teams like MSU that they're talking about primarily. They simply were NOT the 21st, 25th, or even 30th best team in the country at any second of the season. They didn't play anyone in OOC, but didn't lose to anyone either, and then benefited not by being high RPI teams in the league, but rather won precisely and exactly the games neccesary to benefit the most.

Most likely, you take a couple of W's and make them L's, and they drop dramatically. You even swap a few wins and losses to keep the same record and they probably fall dramatically. The committee knew this, and therefore they were out.

[Panthers to the Bone]

I have to admit, I was wrong in some of my selections due to the unprecedented snubs of teams in the RPI top 30. Next year, I will keep this in mind.

People keep talking about Mizzou State not playing anybody, but look at Air Force and Utah State.

Air Force played one team in the top 75 RPI...MSU played 2 teams in the top 75 RPI (in the non-con)...Air Force played zero teams in the top 50 in conference...MSU played 11.

Utah State played zero teams in the top 52 RPI in non-con...MSU played 2 teams in the top 52 in non-con (both on the road, going 1-1). Utah State played 3 games against the top 50 in conference....MSU played 11. Utah State 8 losses, Mizzou State 8 losses.

MSU deserved to get in over both teams.

[UNIAlum95]

I have to admit, I was wrong in some of my selections due to the unprecedented snubs of teams in the RPI top 30. Next year, I will keep this in mind.

People keep talking about Mizzou State not playing anybody, but look at Air Force and Utah State.

Air Force played one team in the top 75 RPI...MSU played 2 teams in the top 75 RPI (in the non-con)...Air Force played zero teams in the top 50 in conference...MSU played 11.

Utah State played zero teams in the top 52 RPI in non-con...MSU played 2 teams in the top 52 in non-con (both on the road, going 1-1). Utah State played 3 games against the top 50 in conference....MSU played 11. Utah State 8 losses, Mizzou State 8 losses.

MSU deserved to get in over both teams.

To be completely honest, Creighton got it worse. Creighton played a tougher schedule, won some big non-conference games and had injuries through out the year. MSU to me lined up behind CU. Utah State and Air Force were surprising to say the least. I was more upset however seeing Indiana as a 6 seed and Texas A&M getting in as a 12 seed. It's time for the smaller schools to knock the stuffing out of these phony teams and let the committee know that they are moving in the right direction. Everyone that feels that the big six conferences deserve a minimum number of bids needs to be hit over the head with some big wins over these teams. Bradley is a prime example KU has played well of late and no one will expect BU to give them a game. I am hoping KU will lose to a BU for the second straight year.

[Newsbreaker]

Air Force beat Washington on the road, as well as facing up against and beating Georgia Tech and Miami Florida. Not outstanding teams THIS year, however I think what the committee is saying is that it's not Air Force's fault the 'major' teams they scheduled turned out to be duds...they scheduled teams from major conferences, on the road, and beat those teams.

MSU on the other hand played ONE top-50 teams in the OOC, and even then it wasn't a major conference team. They didn't schedule a single BCS league team when they could, that's a problem.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Actually, two errors there.

Air Force lost at Washington 85-74 on Nov. 15
They did play Ga.Tech (at Air Force) and Miami (neutral site)---good scheduling.

But, MSU lost at Arkansas (major conference team) by 4, and beat UW-Milwaukee (the team I assume is the non-major team you are speaking of) on the road late in the season.

[PantherHawk]

this was posted on Collegesports.com

Worst comment of the weekend: Digger Phelps on the MVC

Phelps made this comment about the Missouri Valley Conference, "I watched the Bradley-Southern Illinois game, and frankly, it was an ugly game." Hey Coach, did you happen to see that Florida-South Carolina SEC title game? Or the Texas-Kansas Big 12 title game? Ugh. Don't take it out on the mid-majors just because they're getting some pub this year.

[AmesPanther]

I look at RPI like GPA. When you interview someone for a job you'd be crazy to hire strictly based on GPA. You need to see what they have done outside of school and what they have done for work recently; without these the GPA doesn't mean much.

MSU needed to beat UNI in the tourney to get in.

[UNIAlum95]

I look at RPI like GPA. When you interview someone for a job you'd be crazy to hire strictly based on GPA. You need to see what they have done outside of school and what they have done for work recently; without these the GPA doesn't mean much.

MSU needed to beat UNI in the tourney to get in.

You are right. The team IMO that got the worse end of the deal was CU. The selection committee did not take into account injuries, strength of schedule, or OOC schedule. Everyone is talking about MSU with the high RPI, but CU had a better resume...

[JCPanthers]

I look at RPI like GPA. When you interview someone for a job you'd be crazy to hire strictly based on GPA. You need to see what they have done outside of school and what they have done for work recently; without these the GPA doesn't mean much.

MSU needed to beat UNI in the tourney to get in.

If employers hired based on GPA only, I would be unemployed. Although, I did get a 3.9 my senior year...raised my cumulative to a 2.5. That "Listening to Music" class saved me.

[GvlSCHoya]

Hello, Panther fans. Looking forward to our game on Friday, it should be a good one.

I heard Jay Bilas on Dan Patrick's show today during lunch and he made some interesting comments about the MVC. Essentially, he said he thought the MVC learned how to game the RPI by scheduling its OOC games against teams from other mid-majors that were likely to have very good records. By racking up wins against these teams, it inflated their RPI which led to victories over other high-RPI teams.... all from the MVC. Bilas summed it up by saying that the MVC didn't have wins against good teams, but wins against teams with good records.

I thought his theory was interesting, so I looked at the schedules of the top 5 in the MVC.... there were definitely wins against schools from other mid-majors with gaudy W-L records, but it didn't seem to be a huge pattern. Also, I saw a reasonable number of games against BCS conferences-- especially by UNI (impressive win at LSU, BTW).

Any thoughts on Bilas' theory about RPI-gaming by the MVC?