If you're waiting to get Kentucky or Ohio State or Kansas to agree to a home and home (or even a 2-for-1) to boost your RPI and strength of schedule, you're going to be waiting for a long time. As has been said before, outside a few of them, that's simply not their MO. They'll play other power conference teams on the road and a bunch of nobodies at home. They only way you're gong to get them is if either you get them in an exempt tournament or in one of those body bag games.

Playing some big name school isn't the only way to do this. Remember half of your RPI is your opponent's record. You can't tell me that the High Points or Stephen F. Austins or Sam Houstons of the world have gotten big time enough that they'd look down their noses at coming to Ruston. You have one in your backyard in Northwestern St. Generally speaking, they usually get in the 17-20 win range year in and year out. If I were an AD, I'd be knocking down New Mexico St.'s AD's door trying to get an H&H or something with them. They're consistently good and play in the worst conference in America. For the foreseeable future, they're a guaranteed 20+ win team year in and year out.

(02-23-2015 08:17 PM)STexMiner Wrote:  

(02-23-2015 08:00 PM)ODUgradstudent Wrote:  

(02-23-2015 07:51 PM)STexMiner Wrote:  It looks like with the current seeding (UNT, UAB, and La Tech), UTEP's projected RPI would be 48. I think that RPI Forecast tends to be a little on the conservative side, so maybe the best case scenario is low to mid 40s. Maybe a top 25 win in Xavier, maybe 2 26-50 wins in ODU and Tech, maybe 2 more 51-100 wins in Kent St. and NMSU. Probably good enough to get us on the bubble, not good enough to get us in.

Really have no one else to blame but ourselves. We had 3 games we probably should have won (Washington, Colorado St., WKU) and 2 were we had a damn good chance (Arizona and NMSU) and we didn't get it done. If we win 3 of those games, I think we'd be in the just don't screw up too bad the rest of the season category. But, we didn't so this is where we find ourselves. And, that's not even counting Marshall. Washington is just killing us. We had thee misfortune of playing them when they were good. Started the season 11-0 or something and then went in the tank after they kicked their best player off the team.

I think it was CBS's bracket that had Xavier on the bubble and listed UTEP as a bad loss. I almost spat my drink out, I don't think a 4 point loss at the Don can be called a bad loss by anyone, let alone Xavier.

It was a neutral court game at the Wooden Legacy, but I had the same reaction when I saw that. In fairness, I think they did that for a couple of weeks after we lost to Marshall and were hanging out around 100.

I stand corrected. Still there as a bad loss. This is from yesterday.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca.../23853115/

Well I sure hope La Tech or ODU gets the 2nd bid! :)

(02-24-2015 11:46 AM)HeadsetGuy Wrote:  A great solution to all of this would be for EVERY team that indicates that they care about basketball in this conference (UAB, LaTech, WKU, Charlotte, MTSU) would schedule aggressively ala UTEP and ODU. Then we all would rise in computers and voters mindsets. We all need to raise each other, stop the NAIA, D2 and low-low major SOS 300+ scheduling.
Or split the conference up after admitting that CUSA is a glorified low-Major in basketball with good G5 football

That's right. Schedule the best D1 opponents possible and forget about the rest.

(02-24-2015 11:46 AM)HeadsetGuy Wrote:  A great solution to all of this would be for EVERY team that indicates that they care about basketball in this conference (UAB, LaTech, WKU, Charlotte, MTSU) would schedule aggressively ala UTEP and ODU. Then we all would rise in computers and voters mindsets. We all need to raise each other, stop the NAIA, D2 and low-low major SOS 300+ scheduling.
Or split the conference up after admitting that CUSA is a glorified low-Major in basketball with good G5 football

Our OOC schedule was better than yours, so no reason to include us in that list.

We played:

Penn State
South Carolina
Miami (2x)
Georgetown
George Washington
Georgia Tech
Davidson


And all but Miami 1x was on the road or at a neutral site.

(02-24-2015 10:57 PM)Niner National Wrote:  

(02-24-2015 11:46 AM)HeadsetGuy Wrote:  A great solution to all of this would be for EVERY team that indicates that they care about basketball in this conference (UAB, LaTech, WKU, Charlotte, MTSU) would schedule aggressively ala UTEP and ODU. Then we all would rise in computers and voters mindsets. We all need to raise each other, stop the NAIA, D2 and low-low major SOS 300+ scheduling.
Or split the conference up after admitting that CUSA is a glorified low-Major in basketball with good G5 football

Our OOC schedule was better than yours, so no reason to include us in that list.

We played:

Penn State
South Carolina
Miami (2x)
Georgetown
George Washington
Georgia Tech
Davidson


And all but Miami 1x was on the road or at a neutral site.

He might have missed that but anyone has to agree that Charlotte has the toughest schedule this season among the conference teams. You guys get my vote on the best SOS in CUSA.

(02-24-2015 11:30 PM)12thmonarch Wrote:  

(02-24-2015 10:57 PM)Niner National Wrote:  

(02-24-2015 11:46 AM)HeadsetGuy Wrote:  A great solution to all of this would be for EVERY team that indicates that they care about basketball in this conference (UAB, LaTech, WKU, Charlotte, MTSU) would schedule aggressively ala UTEP and ODU. Then we all would rise in computers and voters mindsets. We all need to raise each other, stop the NAIA, D2 and low-low major SOS 300+ scheduling.
Or split the conference up after admitting that CUSA is a glorified low-Major in basketball with good G5 football

Our OOC schedule was better than yours, so no reason to include us in that list.

We played:

Penn State
South Carolina
Miami (2x)
Georgetown
George Washington
Georgia Tech
Davidson


And all but Miami 1x was on the road or at a neutral site.

He might have missed that but anyone has to agree that Charlotte has the toughest schedule this season among the conference teams. You guys get my vote on the best SOS in CUSA.

Agreed. Charlotte, UTEP, ODU and UAB all played the type of OOC schedules all of CUSA should be aiming for.

RPI is only one piece of the puzzle, but it would help ODU if LSU, W&M, and Georgia State win out and even get to the dance. I would add VCU to that list too, but there is no Clorox close by.

I amend my post to ...like UTEP, ODU and CHARLOTTE...my apologies

(02-25-2015 11:30 AM)HeadsetGuy Wrote:  I amend my post to ...like UTEP, ODU and CHARLOTTE...my apologies

I accept your apology

(02-25-2015 12:09 AM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(02-24-2015 11:30 PM)12thmonarch Wrote:  

(02-24-2015 10:57 PM)Niner National Wrote:  

(02-24-2015 11:46 AM)HeadsetGuy Wrote:  A great solution to all of this would be for EVERY team that indicates that they care about basketball in this conference (UAB, LaTech, WKU, Charlotte, MTSU) would schedule aggressively ala UTEP and ODU. Then we all would rise in computers and voters mindsets. We all need to raise each other, stop the NAIA, D2 and low-low major SOS 300+ scheduling.
Or split the conference up after admitting that CUSA is a glorified low-Major in basketball with good G5 football

Our OOC schedule was better than yours, so no reason to include us in that list.

We played:

Penn State
South Carolina
Miami (2x)
Georgetown
George Washington
Georgia Tech
Davidson


And all but Miami 1x was on the road or at a neutral site.

He might have missed that but anyone has to agree that Charlotte has the toughest schedule this season among the conference teams. You guys get my vote on the best SOS in CUSA.

Agreed. Charlotte, UTEP, ODU and UAB all played the type of OOC schedules all of CUSA should be aiming for.

I think teams should aim for less road games than we had, but a lot of ours was just unfortunate timing.

GT was a return game. Georgetown was the first in a H/H. I believe George Washington was as well. This was just our year to go on the road to Davidson.

Next year we'll have Georgetown, GW (I think), and Davidson in Charlotte.

We are also playing in Atlantis, with possible their most stacked field ever. We are hands down the worst program in the field.

Heres to hoping for multiple bids. Unlike Dawgxas, I think most of us on here realize that multiple bids would be good for conference recognition. Now guys lets keep the arguments about past success and scheduling minimal. Dawgxas please pour water all over your keyboard and computer.

To continue speculation on who Dawgxas is....maybe that VCU tool that altered the Richmond Spider tweet/Instagram thing??

(02-25-2015 12:27 PM)Monarch Homselr Wrote:  To continue speculation on who Dawgxas is....maybe that VCU tool that altered the Richmond Spider tweet/Instagram thing??

probably herd fever.

(02-25-2015 12:27 PM)Monarch Homselr Wrote:  To continue speculation on who Dawgxas is....maybe that VCU tool that altered the Richmond Spider tweet/Instagram thing??

I still think he has more of a masonfan/P8 style. VCU trolls at least tend to be a little more creative. xJohnx could be a longshot though.

There hasn't been a lock in C-USA (non-Memphis) since the Big East Raid. Not even scheduling will help. Just ask UAB, USM, & La Tech.

09-10 Blazers
23-8 Overall (11-5; 3rd)
2-1 vs AP25
Good W- GA, #20 Butler, #25 Cincy, @Arky, Marshall, Tulsa
Losses- @VA, @Kent St. (MAC Champ), UTEP (2x), Memphis (2x), Marshall, USM (Tourney)

13-14 Golden Eagles
27-6 Overall (13-3; 1st)
0-1 vs AP25
Good W- @DePaul, @NDSU, @GSU, UTEP, La Tech
Losses- @UAB, @MTSU, @Louisville, @Tulsa, @WKU, La Tech, (Tourney)

13-14 Bulldogs
27-7 Overall (13-3; 1st)
1-1 vs AP25
Good W- @Okla, St. Bona (Gulf Coast Showcase), MTSU, Tulsa, USM (Tourney)
Losses- @St. Mary's, UL-L, OK St. (In OKC), @UTEP, @USM, @ECU, Tulsa (Tourney)

ODU fans get a pass since they're new to C-USA, but the "bubble" dream is useless (Esp. if they aren't 1st or 2nd).

Better Scheduling could help, but La Tech did beat 3 NCAA teams & lose to one more. Joining C-USA is really just the end of your at-large chances.

(02-25-2015 02:34 PM)blazing tiger Wrote:  There hasn't been a lock in C-USA (non-Memphis) since the Big East Raid. Not even scheduling will help. Just ask UAB, USM, & La Tech.

09-10 Blazers
23-8 Overall (11-5; 3rd)
2-1 vs AP25
Good W- GA, #20 Butler, #25 Cincy, @Arky, Marshall, Tulsa
Losses- @VA, @Kent St. (MAC Champ), UTEP (2x), Memphis (2x), Marshall, USM (Tourney)

13-14 Golden Eagles
27-6 Overall (13-3; 1st)
0-1 vs AP25
Good W- @DePaul, @NDSU, @GSU, UTEP, La Tech
Losses- @UAB, @MTSU, @Louisville, @Tulsa, @WKU, La Tech, (Tourney)

13-14 Bulldogs
27-7 Overall (13-3; 1st)
1-1 vs AP25
Good W- @Okla, St. Bona (Gulf Coast Showcase), MTSU, Tulsa, USM (Tourney)
Losses- @St. Mary's, UL-L, OK St. (In OKC), @UTEP, @USM, @ECU, Tulsa (Tourney)

ODU fans get a pass since they're new to C-USA, but the "bubble" dream is useless (Esp. if they aren't 1st or 2nd).

Better Scheduling could help, but La Tech did beat 3 NCAA teams & lose to one more. Joining C-USA is really just the end of your at-large chances.

Exactly.

If the CAA can get 3 At-Large teams one being VCU who was 4th place and was just beaten by ODU for the 2nd time...then goes on to FF. This conference can do it, and this year's bubble is very weak.

(02-25-2015 02:57 PM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(02-25-2015 02:34 PM)blazing tiger Wrote:  There hasn't been a lock in C-USA (non-Memphis) since the Big East Raid. Not even scheduling will help. Just ask UAB, USM, & La Tech.

09-10 Blazers
23-8 Overall (11-5; 3rd)
2-1 vs AP25
Good W- GA, #20 Butler, #25 Cincy, @Arky, Marshall, Tulsa
Losses- @VA, @Kent St. (MAC Champ), UTEP (2x), Memphis (2x), Marshall, USM (Tourney)

13-14 Golden Eagles
27-6 Overall (13-3; 1st)
0-1 vs AP25
Good W- @DePaul, @NDSU, @GSU, UTEP, La Tech
Losses- @UAB, @MTSU, @Louisville, @Tulsa, @WKU, La Tech, (Tourney)

13-14 Bulldogs
27-7 Overall (13-3; 1st)
1-1 vs AP25
Good W- @Okla, St. Bona (Gulf Coast Showcase), MTSU, Tulsa, USM (Tourney)
Losses- @St. Mary's, UL-L, OK St. (In OKC), @UTEP, @USM, @ECU, Tulsa (Tourney)

ODU fans get a pass since they're new to C-USA, but the "bubble" dream is useless (Esp. if they aren't 1st or 2nd).

Better Scheduling could help, but La Tech did beat 3 NCAA teams & lose to one more. Joining C-USA is really just the end of your at-large chances.

Exactly.

XACLY....I haven't trusted the 'trust' (committee) for some time now.....what a cf of bs...

Your point about at large bids from CUSA may be valid but the examples used in defense are terrible. I would say it isn't that CUSA can't get at large bids but rather those recent teams simply haven't put together a good resume.
From 13-14
USM RPI: 32 Non-Conf. SOS: 152 Record vs. top 100: 6-5
La Tech RPI: 59 Non-Conf. SOS: 286 Record vs. top 100: 5-6

Now this is ODU's resume as of the games completed:
RPI: 46 Non-Conf. SOS: 51 Record vs. top 100: 6-2

According to RPI Forecast Wizard, if ODU finishes the regular season with 4 wins, ODU's RPI should be around 33. That would give ODU, going into the conference tournament, a much better resume than either USM or La Tech had last season. That is quite an accomplishment based upon how poorly CUSA is this year in men's basketball (last year 13th this year 17th).

Remember being 1st or 2nd in conference is not examined by the selection committee. What really matters, especially for mid-majors like CUSA, is a strong non-conference schedule (you can't beat who you didn't schedule). This is what needs to be improved if CUSA wants multiple bids.