Who would you rather face in game 2...

[downtown85]

Mississippi or Drake?  Which is more likely to help us from an RPI perspective?

[Benny B]

Mississippi strictly based on their SOS.   Unless Drake has Izzo'd their schedule this year.

[Freeport Warrior]

Drake gave Christopherson and Co. a beatdown earlier this week. Don't know if Drake is any good, or Iowa State is that bad. Drake won by 9 on Tuesday, after losing to them by 40 last year.

[muball]

win the first game should be the focus

[downtown85]

Mississippi strictly based on their SOS.   Unless Drake has Izzo'd their schedule this year.

I could be wrong but isn't the largest component of the RPI the oponent's winning %?  Would a win over Drake with a record of something like 29-2 be better than a win over Ole Miss with a final record of 17-14?  I never figured the RPI out exactly and don't like it much but everyone seems to look at it at tourney time.

[Benny B]

I could be wrong but isn't the largest component of the RPI the oponent's winning %?  Would a win over Drake with a record of something like 29-2 be better than a win over Ole Miss with a final record of 17-14?  I never figured the RPI out exactly and don't like it much but everyone seems to look at it at tourney time.

Yes, but keep in mind that opponents' opponents' winning percentage is also 25% of the RPI calculation.  I just don't see Drake dominating their schedule this year to the point it would offset the number of crappy teams they'll play relative to the teams Mississippi will play.

[JWags85]

Drake gave Christopherson and Co. a beatdown earlier this week. Don't know if Drake is any good, or Iowa State is that bad. Drake won by 9 on Tuesday, after losing to them by 40 last year.

ISU looked HORRENDOUS.  They missed at least a dozen layups/bunnies and only Royce White had a decent game

[lab_warrior]

The WINNER of that game, whoever it is, since it means Marquette won. 

[chapman]

From an RPI standpoint, what impact does also having SEC teams LSU and Vandy on our schedule play in wanting to play Ole Miss?

[Benny B]

From an RPI standpoint, what impact does also having SEC teams LSU and Vandy on our schedule play in wanting to play Ole Miss?

On the margin, none.  It doesn't matter if you play one team from the SEC or ten of them, the match-up against Ole Miss should have the same effect.

However, with that said, games against your opponents does not factor into OWP (which is 50% of RPI), and I've always assumed the same for OOWP.  However, if that's not true, games against multiple opponents that will (or have) themselves also play against each other could have a slight "compounding" effect on your RPI... but without doing the math, I would say we're talking - at best - enough to bump your RPI up by a rank or two.

It's an interesting question, though.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Ole Miss

[RawdogDX]

win the first game should be the focus

Yes, because as fans it's important for us to not think about more than one game at a time.  We might get ahead of ourselves and it could cause a group of people 3k miles away to play poorly.

thanks for contributing.

[brewcity77]

Yes, because as fans it's important for us to not think about more than one game at a time.  We might get ahead of ourselves and it could cause a group of people 3k miles away to play poorly.

thanks for contributing.

So here's the question for the players: is NFSU beating Drexel good or bad? Is it a wake-up call that Winthrop could be dangerous or does it convince them that the field is weak and they can win with their B-game (since they pounded NFSU)?

Obviously it doesn't matter for us at home (go Ole Miss) but is this a positive or negative for the guys that will be in the court?

[MUMac]

So here's the question for the players: is NFSU beating Drexel good or bad? Is it a wake-up call that Winthrop could be dangerous or does it convince them that the field is weak and they can win with their B-game (since they pounded NFSU)?

Obviously it doesn't matter for us at home (go Ole Miss) but is this a positive or negative for the guys that will be in the court?

I doubt that they notice it that much.  Their focus is likely more on the game, and doubt they saw any of this game or that it would factor into their mindset.  Now, if we played NFSU in the Championship game ...

[Benny B]

So here's the question for the players: is NFSU beating Drexel good or bad? Is it a wake-up call that Winthrop could be dangerous or does it convince them that the field is weak and they can win with their B-game (since they pounded NFSU)?

Obviously it doesn't matter for us at home (go Ole Miss) but is this a positive or negative for the guys that will be in the court?

I don't think Buzz let's them bring their B-Game.  Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised to see him buy an early plane ticket home for someone.

RPI-wise... I'm hoping we beat NFSU twice in one tourney... of course, that will cause some sort of conniption with the NCAA (just like you're not supposed to play in a tournament with someone from your conference, you're not supposed to play a team more than once in OOC).

[brewcity77]

I don't think Buzz let's them bring their B-Game.  Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised to see him buy an early plane ticket home for someone.

RPI-wise... I'm hoping we beat NFSU twice in one tourney... of course, that will cause some sort of conniption with the NCAA (just like you're not supposed to play in a tournament with someone from your conference, you're not supposed to play a team more than once in OOC).

Not that big a deal. Tennessee played Belmont in OOC last season, as I recall. Once in a tourney, once as a buy game.

[Benny B]

Not that big a deal. Tennessee played Belmont in OOC last season, as I recall. Once in a tourney, once as a buy game.

I know -- it's really more of a guideline than anything.  I just like poking fun at the NCAA anytime one of their stupid rules is broken... cheap & easy  entertainment.

[Golden Avalanche]

Tough spot for MU: their performances, and their results, won't matter a lick this weekend unless they are to lose. It's a backwater tournament lost in the hype of some other great games and the only mentions will come from tweets of the "experts" showing surprise MU lost.

Knowing that, I just want to see three wins and couldn't care less who they come against. With Sconnie, Vandy, and the Big East there's plenty of times to be tested in the future.

[Benny B]

Tough spot for MU: their performances, and their results, won't matter a lick this weekend unless they are to lose. It's a backwater tournament lost in the hype of some other great games and the only mentions will come from tweets of the "experts" showing surprise MU lost.

Knowing that, I just want to see three wins and couldn't care less who they come against. With Sconnie, Vandy, and the Big East there's plenty of times to be tested in the future.

Agreed... I liken these games to betting 34 different numbers on a roulette wheel... you can easily string together a win streak with nominal payouts, but a single loss is devastating.

[chapman]

Not that big a deal. Tennessee played Belmont in OOC last season, as I recall. Once in a tourney, once as a buy game.

I recall it happening with Kentucky and Gardner-Webb two or three years ago as well.

[marquette09]

Why are we even in this tournament?  Worst field ever.