(04-12-2013 11:38 AM)axeme Wrote:  Thought I would look into how good UMass basketball would be if they were in the MAC.

UMass started 7 year run of NCAA appearances in 1992. They had one other appearance in 1962 and have had none since 1998. It was an historic run---they were a 3 seed twice, a 2 seed twice, and a 1 seed in their run to the national championship game in 1996. They had two one-and-done's after '96.

Comparing UMass to MAC team in the 15 succeeding years, how many times would they have been the best team in the conference? RPI is not the be-all and end-all, but it will do for a hypothetical look at this idea.
Bolded years=UMass with best RPI.
Year UMass RPI MAC teams with better RPI
2013 56 Akron 42
2012 77 Ohio 46, Akron 55
2011 105 Kent. St. 78
2010 181 Kent St. 47, Akron 89, Ohio 95, Buffalo 108, Miami 144
2009 152 Miami 80, Buffalo 89, Akron 99
2008 42 Kent St. 21
2007 62 Akron 67
2006 126 Kent St. 48, Akron 70, Miami 84, Ohio 99
2005 136 Miami, 39, Buffalo 46, Ohio 48, Kent St. 61, Akron 70, WMU 98, Toledo 95, BG 107, Ball St. 117
2004 174 WMU 44, Kent St. 76, Toledo 91, Miami 93 +3 others over 130 and less than 174.
2003 209 CMU 44, Kent St 77, and WMU 86 + ALL others but one (UB) under 209.
2002 106 Kent St. 25, BG 58, Ball St. 78
2001 64 Toledo 84, Kent St. 93
2000 108 Kent St. 36, Ball St. 44, BG 76, Ohio 74
1999 108 Miami 21, Kent St. 23, Toledo 62, BG 72, Ohio 73, Akron 99.

Two years out of 15, UMass had the best RPI. Most other years, they would be in the top third. They would be a great addition for basketball. They would most likely be a top half team almost every year, but they would not be a dominant team by any means unless they step up their program, though the same could be said for a number of MAC teams who have been better in the last decade-plus than UMass.

Unfortunately UMass lost to Kentucky in the Final Four in 1996. UMass Basketball has never played in a national championship game.