At large bids....RPI...only one team worse than us...need to improve schedule

[ChicosBailBonds]

Feel free to correct me, but at first glance I think only USC (67th)  with a worse RPI than us for At-Large bids.  USC has to play a play-in game. 

Considering Colorado was two spots behind us at 65, I have to think we got in by the skin of our teeth.  Va Tech at 61 I'm sure is going to bitch about us.  As will Boston College.  Our SOS probably saved our bacon in those final discussions.

The statistical patterns appear to have held...you get below 60 and the chances of getting in are dicey at best.

61 Va Tech...out
62 Southern Miss...out
63 Marquette...in
64 Oklahoma State...out
65 Colorado....out
66 New Mexico...out
67 USC...in (play in game)
68 Iona...out
69 Central Florida...out

[IAmMarquette]

While I won't disagree with your premise that we need to enhance our OOC schedule, I don't think you can say that any of those teams have a legitimate gripe that they're more deserving of a spot than Marquette. Had we not been selected, the opposite would be just as true.

[NersEllenson]

Looks like the committee really went by the RPI this year..at first glance...

[brewcity77]

We need to improve the RPI in the future. While I disagree that we deserve to be an 11, it's clear that our RPI is what put us there (though devout RPI followers should note that 12/14 losses were to top-35 RPI teams) and it's the one correctable thing that must be addressed in the future.

[rocky_warrior]

I'd like all the RPI heads tO explain USU as a 12 seed (#15 rpi...)

[esotericmindguy]

Don't need to improve schedule, just need to win more games....it's pretty simple.

[TJ]

I think RPI needs to be fixed.  I know it's a pipedream, but if that's what they're going to use, it should better represent the teams in order of how good they are.

[brewcity77]

I'd like all the RPI heads tO explain USU as a 12 seed (#15 rpi...)

Obviously it's not the only factor, but it's the heaviest one and the only way to explain a number of the teams seeded ahead of us with clearly inferior resumes. As far as Utah State, they simply didn't play anyone. Their schedule is similar to that of Belmont, and they lost to the only good teams they played. It's a good note that they were seeded below their RPI, but they are an outlier in this tourney, far from the rule.

[NersEllenson]

Don't need to improve schedule, just need to win more games....it's pretty simple.

Idiotic in many ways - our RPI gets destroyed due to playing the Centenary's, Miss Valley State, etc.  We just need to schedule more 100-175 teams in the non conference schedule..our RPI would jump roughly 15-20 spots.

[Warrior Forever]

The problem with scheduling higher RPI teams is that they want return home games and with no football revenue we can't afford that.

Considering this is our 6th straight year in the tourney, I do not think the AD and administration sees any reason to change a thing.

Go Warriors.

[Warrior1969]

Those five or so brutal brutal cupcakes may have nearly cost us this year.

[brewcity77]

Idiotic in many ways - our RPI gets destroyed due to playing the Centenary's, Miss Valley State, etc.  We just need to schedule more 100-175 teams in the non conference schedule..our RPI would jump roughly 15-20 spots.

Yup. While winning more games would help, it's not the competition of the top teams that we play that's the problem. We're going to beat a team like Centenary or a team like Southern Methodist at home. But there's a big difference come March when you see the 342 RPI against the 206.

[Warrior1969]

Right are we really saying we could not do better then Centanary who is dropping down to division 2!!!!

[rocky_warrior]

Or...win more games.  Th other path to a good RPI.

[Pakuni]

UAB ... RPI 72.

[Badgerhater]

Beat Vandy, Wisc or Gonzaga and the rest of the OOC doesn't matter.

[Pakuni]

Don't necessarily need to improve the schedule. Heck, MU played one of the best schedules this year I can remember. They need to get better at gaming the schedule. Play against RPI 220 cupcakes instead of RPI 320 cupcakes, for example. We'll still win those games, it'll say not more about how good the team is and the fans will be no more eager to shell out money to see them, but it'll improve the RPI.

[brewcity77]

Don't necessarily need to improve the schedule. Heck, MU played one of the best schedules this year I can remember. They need to get better at gaming the schedule. Play against RPI 220 cupcakes instead of RPI 320 cupcakes, for example. We'll still win those games, it'll say not more about how good the team is and the fans will be no more eager to shell out money to see them, but it'll improve the RPI.

+100

Our upper-level opponents are fine, maybe even stronger than they need to be. It's the bottom end that kills us.

[Warrior Forever]

UAB ... RPI 72.

UAB RPI = 31

[ChicosBailBonds]

UAB ... RPI 72.

UAB .... RPI is 31

[ChicosBailBonds]

Don't necessarily need to improve the schedule. Heck, MU played one of the best schedules this year I can remember. They need to get better at gaming the schedule. Play against RPI 220 cupcakes instead of RPI 320 cupcakes, for example. We'll still win those games, it'll say not more about how good the team is and the fans will be no more eager to shell out money to see them, but it'll improve the RPI.

+1 that's exactly what I mean. 

[MerrittsMustache]

Or...win more games.  Th other path to a good RPI.

+1000!

Wins over Wisconsin, Vandy, Gonzaga and/or Duke would really help that non-conf RPI.

[willie warrior]

Agree that we must upgrade our non conference schedule.

[NotAnAlum]

Sorry but the schedule is fine.  We got in with 14 loses.  Lost nearly every opportunity we had in the Non-con.  How many more chances do you want.

[El Duderino]

Don't necessarily need to improve the schedule. Heck, MU played one of the best schedules this year I can remember. They need to get better at gaming the schedule. Play against RPI 220 cupcakes instead of RPI 320 cupcakes, for example. We'll still win those games, it'll say not more about how good the team is and the fans will be no more eager to shell out money to see them, but it'll improve the RPI.

Given that Marquette seems to have been playing these ultra cupcakes every year for a long time now to simply get paydays, can this even be avoided?

I'm far from being skilled in knowing how schedules get put together, but is it harder to schedule just home games with those not very good, but not absolutely brutal teams? Are those type of teams also looking for only a payday by playing at MU without expecting any return visit by us at their place?