ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

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ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

Unread post by ATPTourFan »

Rhode Island's non-conf schedule is certainly tough for a rebuilding team, but far from the most challenging in the A10.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... tlantic-10
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Re: ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

Unread post by Obadiah »

I thought this Katz piece showed a narrow band among the schools on toughness. As I did last year, I looked into the strength of the OOC schedule for all A-10 schools and came up with this take on how URI compares. This arithmetic analysis has two weaknesses; it is based on the RPI at the end of last season and it does not include those tournament games where the opponent is unknown.

Code: Select all

Rank	School	    Composite RPI 
 1.	Butler	           99.5
 2.	St. Joseph’s	    111.6
 3.	URI	             123.9
 4.	Xavier	          126.2
 5.	Temple	          139.0
 6.	Dayton	          140.3
 7.	Fordham	         141.4
 8.	St. Bonaventure	 157.4
 9.	La Salle	        160.5
10.	VCU	             161.1
11.   Duquesne	        168.0
12.	Richmond	        169.7
13.	UMass	           173.4
14.	Charlotte	       174.9
15.   GW	              186.8
16.	St. Louis U.	    190.1
Generally strong teams or programs play a more strenuous OOC schedule than weaker ones and while that strategy is generally true in this summary, URI is on the high side. But what is SLU’s excuse for being on the bottom. Also, UMass continues the pattern of previous years in avoiding playing big dogs. BTW, Butler plays two D2/3 teams.
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Re: ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

Unread post by ATPTourFan »

I think any D2/D3 opponent should be given a RPI of 300 for calculation purposes. I wonder where Butler would land if those two non-D1 games were averaged in this way.

Great post, Obadiah!
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Re: ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

Unread post by Obadiah »

ATP, it would drive up the composite average up by 70 points. However, remember that the NCAA does not count those games in the record for the Dance and it's not included in the RPI calculation.
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Re: ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

Unread post by Blue Man »

Very good to see the A-10 going after big teams. Yes Temple will be missed.

Does Butler play Xavier OOC as well? That part confused me.
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Re: ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

Unread post by ATPTourFan »

Yes, Butler already had Xavier scheduled for an OOC game before Bulldogs joined A10 "immediately". Both schools decided to keep the OOC game for the mutual benefit. They will play their normal A10 game later in the season.
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Re: ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

Unread post by twisted3829 »

another main reason they kept the OOC game (X vs Butler) is it is part of the ESPN tip-off marathon. If it wasn't part of this I think the game would have been dropped. If it was dropped the question would be who gets the ESPN game or what does ESPN do with that open time slot then?
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Re: ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

Unread post by ATPTourFan »

ESPN/ESPN2 games during a highly promoted event (Tipoff Marathon) are just too precious for any A10 team, nevermind former Horizon league team, to pass up.

A great start to the season where the A10 will get lots of talk and attention.
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Re: ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

Unread post by Ryan Rowdy »

You have to give the staff credit for a relatively tough OOC schedule given our roster, as well as the strength that A10 poses this year.

I feel we can string together some good wins to turn some heads. I don't expect a high finish in conference play, but I do see us sneaking into the conference tourney. Which it seems many media outlets don't see happening.
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Re: ESPN: Andy Katz Rates the A10's Non-Conf Schedules

Unread post by reef »

I like having a very tough OOC slate, it will prepare us big time
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