2008.01.29
RPI likes the winless teams
It’s not too early to start thinking about who will make the field of 64 this year, so I took a look Monday at the RPI. Tennessee is No. 1, but the most interesting tidbit was found all the way at the end of the list. Eastern Illinois is last at No. 341 with a 2-17 record and Jacksonville State is 2-16 and No. 339. Both teams play in the Ohio Valley Conference. Both of them trail a winless team, which doesn’t say much for the OVC. North Florida is No. 338 and 0-18. New Jersey Institute of Technology is No. 340 and 0-21. Higher strength of schedule ratings saved these winless teams from being at the bottom. It sure seems like winning two games ought to count for something. When the NCAA dissects these numbers for tournament-worthy teams in March, it will be good to know that they rely on more than the RPI when you see things like this. — Jeff Gilbert
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