Official NCAA RPI Update

[cusportsfan]

http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/rpi1.html

MSU - 20
WSU - 25
UNI - 31
CU - 32
SIU - 42
BU - 43

[WuDrWu]

It would seem to me that from these numbers, BU and SIU have a fair amount of work to do. At least 2 wins to merit serious at large considerations.

UNI has a stronger resume than CU and SMS (save for the last 10 games which cost WSU last year) but certainly none of those three are going to rest easy with a 0-1 record in St. Louis.

WSU seems solid but a loss to either ISU or DU could easily drop them 10 rpi points, and without a single really good win, really make their at large bid tenuous at best.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

It would seem to me that from these numbers, BU and SIU have a fair amount of work to do. At least 2 wins to merit serious at large considerations.

UNI has a stronger resume than CU and SMS (save for the last 10 games which cost WSU last year) but certainly none of those three are going to rest easy with a 0-1 record in St. Louis.

WSU seems solid but a loss to either ISU or DU could easily drop them 10 rpi points, and without a single really good win, really make their at large bid tenuous at best.

Wow, could you be any more pessimistic?

BU and SIU have a fair amount of work to do with low 40s RPIs? I will give you SIU, because they are a poor example this year with the D2 loss, but Bradley is right near the edge of lock status with that RPI. Win one game in St. Louis before dropping one and the RPI will remain steady, or maybe even move up a spot or two. I would say 1 more win and they are 90% in.

WSU is so much of a lock (especially as far as Valley teams go entering St. Louis) that I can't even imagine talking about them not getting a bid. A loss on Friday would be very unlikely to drop them 10 spots, but even if it did, they would be 35 in the RPI with a solid resume, a conference title, and a reasonably strong finish to the season. That, my friend, is a lock. "Tenuous at best"?... hahahaha. :D

[Majik45]

Bradley needs 1 win to have a chance at at-large. I think this squarely puts them on the bubble and it will depend on conference tournament winners. 2 Wins and I think Bradley is in pretty easily.

[shockinphi]

It would be a shame if Bradley doesn't end up getting an at-large. They could do some serious damage in the NCAA Tourney with the way they are playing right now.

[BradleyBrave]

It would be unprecedent for the committee to leave BU out if it wins on Friday. You would be hard-pressed to find another team with 7 top 50 wins, an RPI in the high 30's (with a win over CU), 8-2 in their last 10 (10 out of their last 12, not considering potential Saturday results v WSU), a decent SOS (I believe it's 76 right now), from a top 6 conference that has been left out of the tournament. The NCAA would be breaking new ground on that one.

[Braveman]

I agree... BU Has been hot at end, which the committee likes.. they should take no Franklin and POB into account, they have a winning record against top 50...

A lot in their favor.. one more win and I would think BU should be in...

[genius4point0]

I think both SIU and Bradley need to go to the Champ game to get an at-large. Both have multiple sub 150 losses and neither a great out of conference win unless you count Western Kentucky(BU). I would have to say the order for bids as of right now would be, WSU, MSU, CU=UNI, BU, SIU. Keep in mind SIU's loss to non-D-I doesn't show up in the RPI, but I read somewhere it won't effect them b/c it was in an exempt tournament.

[Fraydog]

I don't think the DII loss will affect us if we're on the bubble. However, to get on the right side of things we need to get to the Championship game, preferrably it would be best if we won it and took the judgement of the Selection Committee out of the picture altogether.

[barkeep1967]

I don't think the DII loss will affect us if we're on the bubble. However, to get on the right side of things we need to get to the Championship game, preferrably it would be best if we won it and took the judgement of the Selection Committee out of the picture altogether.


Absolutely

SIU and BU both need to at least get to sunday to avoid the sweating.

[getreal4]

Bradley's loss at Drake is a huge anchor for the Brave's at large chances.

[BradleyBrave]

Bradley's loss at Drake is a huge anchor for the Brave's at large chances.

I agree wholeheartedly. I said right after the game that it would haunt us all year. It still is. :(

[Hail Red & White]

Not only Drake, but the tough road losses to Creighton, Wichita State, and Butler were also hurtful. 20-7 heading into St. Louis like Missouri State would make me feel a lot better. Still, I think Bradley has displayed great intensity in its last four games. Other than a shakey first half against Tennessee Tech, the Braves have done it on both sides of the floor. If they can keep it up, they could be OK in March--St. Louis and beyond. I don't expect their "lights-out" shooting to continue, but they have been very determined defensively lately, and that's what you need when your shooting tails off.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Keep in mind SIU's loss to non-D-I doesn't show up in the RPI, but I read somewhere it won't effect them b/c it was in an exempt tournament.

An exempt tourney means it doesn't count against the number of games that a team is allowed to play in a season. Those games still count as much as any other towards a team's resume. Trust me, that loss will count. The committee doesn't simply ignore games. Everything is considered.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

I don't think the DII loss will affect us if we're on the bubble. However, to get on the right side of things we need to get to the Championship game, preferrably it would be best if we won it and took the judgement of the Selection Committee out of the picture altogether.


Absolutely

SIU and BU both need to at least get to sunday to avoid the sweating.

You have to be kidding me. It won't affect you? Why do people think that because it was D2 it doesn't count. If you had lost to RPI #300, it would definitely be a major slip-up. The D2 loss basically counts the same, except it doesn't show in the RPI. Nonetheless, the committee will definitely factor it into their evaluation of the Salukis.

[WSUbballer]

If my team was on the bubble, and I had a DII loss against me....I'd be sweating. That will be one of the few reasons given to SIU by the committee if they are left out. No doubt. It may have been November, but it still counts the same.

[skinny_uncle]

All 6 deserve to be in. A friday loss by BU or SIU will however probably send them to the NIT.
WSU is a lock. The Valley regular season champ has been going to the Dance for years.
With their RPI, the Bears are a lock.
SIU, UNI, CU and BU all have winning records vs. the top 50. UNI has 7 top 50 wins and the other 3 have 6 each. By comparison, Gonzaga only has 2 top 50 wins.
SIU cannot afford an RPI killing loss on Friday.
BU only has 18 wins although they have been hot lately. They probably need more to Dance.
If SIU or BU were in "power conferences". their resume would probably be enough. In the Valley, they will need more wins in the tourney to be comfortable.

[Bluejay03]

4 get in maybe 5, Bradley stays home. Creighton beats Bradley, Northern Iowa beats Missouri State (they are still alright though with the high RPI), SIU beats Evansville, then Creighton beat Wichita, Northern Iowa beats Southern, and Creighton beats Northern to be the champions...

[ColdHardFacts]

WSU seems solid but a loss to either ISU or DU could easily drop them 10 rpi points, and without a single really good win, really make their at large bid tenuous at best.

0% beer,100% foam.

Your joking right?

[SiuCubFan8]

WSU is in no matter what!!!! They are playing for a higher seed as of right now!!!!!

[Bradleyfan]

4 get in maybe 5, Bradley stays home. Creighton beats Bradley, Northern Iowa beats Missouri State (they are still alright though with the high RPI), SIU beats Evansville, then Creighton beat Wichita, Northern Iowa beats Southern, and Creighton beats Northern to be the champions...

Good predictions, but I'll be honest. I don't know who to pick between Bradley and Creighton. I'll say that whomever wins this game has a great chance to win the whole tournament, but despite Bradley's hot play of late, I'm definately scared playing Dana Altman in a tournament. He has his guys ready every year, and injuries or not, they will be a tough out.

Hopefully I'm wrong though, and Bradley continues their dominance of the last few weeks! :D Go Braves! :)