(01-05-2010 10:21 AM)AtlantaJag Wrote: 50% of it is the team's record, 25% is their opponent's record, and 25% is the opponent's, opponent's record.
Wrong. It is 50% your opponents' record and 25% for the other two.
RPI is designed to give power conference teams all the chips. HALF of your RPI is your opponents record. That half has absolutely nothing to do how good your team is. And half or more of your opponents are your conference mates. Therefore anywhere from one fourth to one third of your RPI is your conference mates' win %. That is how mediocre BCS have better RPI than good Mud-majors.
BCS teams buy home games against mediocre teams and mostly win them. It kills thier RPI early in the season (because they eat a bunch of cupcakes) but then when the BCS teams start playing other conference teams that also racked up wins against cupcakes then thier RPI gets good.
DEAR WRIGHT WATERS:
IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE CONFERENCE RPI HERE IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS PURE AND GOOD PLEASE DO THIS!
The incentive structure in conference should be changed.
Right now, teams are rewarded for
taking from thier conference mates. Now it is a competition so to some extent that is okay. But I think we should reward conference teams for
helping thier conference.
Non conference games should be included in conference standings.
Seeding in the conference tournament would be rewarded based on a formula as follows.
1/3 your opponents' win %.
2/3 your overall win %.
Non D1 games don't count.
That's it. Seed the teams on that formula and watch Sunbelt basketball improve. Doesn't cost a penny to do.
And why use that formula? Because that is exactly the portion (and proportion) of RPI that affects your conference mates. The more games you win... the more you help your opponents. Most of your opponents are in the Sunbelt.
To add teeth to it... I would play all Sunbelt tournament games on the home court of the higher seed.
So the incentive becomes to schedule the toughest schedule you can win against. Which is exactly what is best for the conference. And if you don't... enjoy your road game in the conference tournament.
Over time, AD's and coaches would get the message. They would actively seek ways to win more D1 games (regardless of who those wins come against). And thus the RPI would be improved.