For those who complained about Central Arkansas--

[DC_Area_Panther]

and think Pitt is the only school that schedules such mismatches--please notice some opponents a couple of the big boys played and destroyed last night:

Mich. St 78 Maryland Eastern Shore 35 (+43)
Purdue 93 Howard 55 (+38 and 56-24 at the end of the 1st half.)

Md E. Shore is Sagarin rated 1 point stronger than Central Arkansas and Howard only about 8 points better than that.

 

[buckage]

Facts have no place on a message board.

 

[Zaratoughda]

and think Pitt is the only school that schedules such mismatches--please notice some opponents a couple of the big boys played and destroyed last night:

Mich. St 78 Maryland Eastern Shore 35 (+43)
Purdue 93 Howard 55 (+38 and 56-24 at the end of the 1st half.)

Md E. Shore is Sagarin rated 1 point stronger than Central Arkansas and Howard only about 8 points better than that.

Well, Mich State and Purdue would be better off not scheduling TOTAL cupcakes as it pulls your RPI way down. Better to play teams like Detroit and Kent State than the Central Arkansas' of this world.

But, in this case, I didn't have a problem with this game coming after the games against Purdue and the improved Dukes.

On the other hand... yes... we have Maryland Eastern Shore scheduled as well and... funny you should mention how bad they are.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Jamie doesn't seem to be as successful playing the RPI game anymore. Having two teams like that on our schedule in the same year is something he was able to avoid. I suspect everyone else has figured it out too and it's made it harder to avoid the RPI killers.

 

[steel_curtain]

Jamie doesn't seem to be as successful playing the RPI game anymore. Having two teams like that on our schedule in the same year is something he was able to avoid. I suspect everyone else has figured it out too and it's made it harder to avoid the RPI killers.

Pitt is 21st in the RPI. And has Davidson coming up who is 4th in the RPI. I'd say we are doing ok

 

[Fk_Pitt]

You're so literal! My point remains the same.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I think Jamie having two games like that on the schedule shows that it's getting harder to play the RPI game, but that said we are in good shape this year with the RPI--assuming we take care of business.

Looking at things in depth, if we were to lose to Davidson on a neutral floor, it's going to likely cost us 10 RPI spots. That's how critical that game is right now.

Working under the assumption that we beat Davidson, we would have to win 10 in the ACC to finish the regular season with 20 wins overall. If we do that, we will have a marquee home win along the way vs a Duke, Louisville or Virginia, or will have a quality road win somewhere else. Our RPI would then be in the 20's and we would be assured a spot in the NCAA tourney.

It's also likely that we at least stumble along the way, have a quality win and finish with a 10-8 ACC record (20 wins overall) and RPI in the mid to upper 30's. We will then be entering the ACC tourney somewhere on the bubble.

A win vs Davidson and 11 ACC wins should be our minimum goal to firmly make the NCAA and not be sweating during conference tourney week.

A win vs Davidson and 12 ACC wins should be our stretch goal if we want a seed in the NCAA that avoids the top seeds in round of 32.

A win vs Davidson and 13 wins may have our RPI in the teens and no worse than a 3, 4 or 5 seed.

 

[steel_curtain]

I think Jamie having two games like that on the schedule shows that it's getting harder to play the RPI game, but that said we are in good shape this year with the RPI--assuming we take care of business.

Looking at things in depth, if we were to lose to Davidson on a neutral floor, it's going to likely cost us 10 RPI spots. That's how critical that game is right now.

Working under the assumption that we beat Davidson, we would have to win 11 in the ACC to finish the regular season with 20 wins overall. If we do that, we will have a marquee home win along the way vs a Duke, Louisville or Virginia, or will have a quality road win somewhere else. Our RPI would then be in the 20's and we would be assured a spot in the NCAA tourney.

It's also likely that we at least stumble along the way, have a quality win and finish with a 10-8 ACC record (19 wins overall) and RPI in the mid to upper 30's. We will then be entering the ACC tourney somewhere on the bubble.

A win vs Davidson and 11 ACC wins should be our minimum goal to firmly make the NCAA and not be sweating during conference tourney week.

A win vs Davidson and 12 ACC wins should be our stretch goal if we want a seed in the NCAA that avoids the top seeds in round of 32.

A win vs Davidson and 13 wins may have our RPI in the teens and no worse than a 3, 4 or 5 seed.

Pitt will finish the non conference schedule with an 11-1 record.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Actually Pitt will have 10 OOC RPI wins unless I missed something. D2 wins don't count. I used RPIWizard for my post above.

The bottom line is this: we need to beat Davidson so that the demands during the conference schedule are not as tough. If we do that, 10 ACC wins will be needed to get the RPI to a comfortable level. Anything above that will bring our RPI even lower and we would be a lock. 11 wins in the ACC means that we will have a marquee win somewhere.

 

[steel_curtain]

Actually Pitt will have 10 OOC RPI wins unless I missed something. D2 wins don't count. I used RPIWizard for my post above.

The bottom line is this: we need to beat Davidson so that the demands during the conference schedule are not as tough. If we do that, 10 ACC wins will be needed to get the RPI to a comfortable level. Anything above that will bring our RPI even lower and we would be a lock. 11 wins in the ACC means that we will have a marquee win somewhere.

The wins most certainly count. They just are not used for RPI purposes.