Data below includes all games played through Sunday January 20, 2013. RPI is from Jerry Palm at CBSSports.com.


CONFERENCE USA
RPI: #11
Sagarin: #12
**Record overall: 130-84 (.607)
**Record vs. Conference USA opponents: 22-22 (.500)
**Record vs. non-conference opponents: 108-62 (.635)
**Record vs. Division 1 non-conference opponents: 94-61 (.606)
**Record vs. non-Division 1 non-conference opponents: 14-1 (.933)
Record vs. the ACC: 0-7
Record vs. the Big East: 1-5
Record vs. the Big Ten: 1-2
Record vs. the Big XII: 3-5
Record vs. the Pac 12: 2-3
Record vs. the SEC: 3-4
**Record vs. the "big 6" conferences: 10-26 (.278)
Record vs. the Atlantic 10: 0-6
Record vs. the Missouri Valley: 3-6
Record vs. the Mountain West: 1-3
Record vs. the West Coast: 3-1
**Record vs. the top 10 conferences (the “big 6”, Atlantic 10, Missouri Valley, Mountain West and West Coast): 17-42 (.288)
**Record vs. non-top 10 conferences (including independents) in Division 1 (excluding C-USA): 77-19 (.802)
**Record vs. ranked non-conference opponents (AP): 0-10 (East Carolina: 0-1; Marshall: 0-1; Memphis: 0-1; Southern Mississippi: 0-1; Tulsa: 0-1; UCF: 0-1; UAB: 0-2; UTEP: 0-2)
**Record vs. non-conference opponents at HOME: 82-14 (.854)
**Record vs. non-conference opponents AWAY: 18-32 (.360)
**Record vs. non-conference opponents on a NEUTRAL court: 8-16 (.333)


**Current RPI of each member of Conference USA**
(in parenthesis is each team’s record vs. Division 1 opponents only)
-Southern Mississippi (13-4, 4-0): #40 (SOS: #130)
-Memphis (14-3, 3-0): #48 (SOS: #96)
-UTEP (10-7, 3-1): #71 (SOS: #28)
-UCF (11-5, 2-1): #103 (SOS: #128)
-East Carolina (7-6, 2-2): #116 (SOS: #105)
-Tulsa (10-8, 3-2): #127 (SOS: #140)
-Tulane (12-5, 1-2): #150 (SOS: #288)
-UAB (7-10, 0-3): #162 (SOS: #74)
-SMU (10-9, 1-4): #177 (SOS: #197)
-Houston (11-5, 1-3): #209 (SOS: #342)
-Marshall (8-9, 2-1): #214 (SOS: #160)
-Rice (3-12, 0-3): #327 (SOS: #249)


Remaining Non-Conference Games for Conference USA Teams
Memphis
-02/26: @ Xavier (11-6)...RPI: #67 (SOS: #56)
UCF
-02/26: Georgia Southwestern (Non-Division 1)
UTEP
-02/23: @ New Mexico State (11-8)...RPI: #89 (SOS: #91)


**Current RPI ranking of the top 10 conferences in Division 1**
(each conference’s record is vs. Division 1 non-conference opponents only)
1. Big Ten…121-31 (.796)…0.5942
2. Big East…151-34 (.816)…0.5862
3. Mountain West…85-26 (.766)…0.5860
4. ACC…114-37 (.755)…0.5758
5. Big XII…89-33 (.730)…0.5691
6. Pac 12…109-41 (.727)…0.5676
7. Atlantic 10…142-77 (.648)…0.5534
8. SEC…117-58 (.669)…0.5459
9. Missouri Valley…68-42 (.618)…0.5393
10. West Coast…68-44 (.607)…0.5308
--------------------------------------------------
11. Conference USA…94-61 (.607)…0.5147


Conference USA’s RPI Finish Year-By-Year
2012-13 (so far): 0.5147 (#11)
2011-12: 0.5292 (#9)
2010-11: 0.5366 (#8)
2009-10: 0.5170 (#11)
2008-09: 0.5206 (#10)
2007-08: 0.5178 (#10)
2006-07: 0.5088 (#11)
2005-06: 0.5015 (#13)
2004-05: 0.5336 (#9)
2003-04: 0.5490 (#5)
2002-03: 0.5447 (#8)
2001-02: 0.5388 (#8)
2000-01: 0.5259 (#10)
1999-00: 0.5583 (#5)
1998-99: 0.5452 (#6)
1997-98: 0.5355 (#8)
1996-97: 0.5341 (#9)
1995-96: 0.5624 (#5)


Conference USA’s RPI History
(Team’s records consist of W-L's vs. only Division 1 opponents thru all games played in the regular season and conference tournament):
2011-12
C-USA RPI: #9
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 2
*Memphis (26-8)…RPI: #16 (SOS: #20)…received #8 seed (West Region)
*Southern Mississippi (23-8)…RPI: #21 (SOS: #47)…received #9 seed (East Region)

2010-11
C-USA RPI: #8
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 2
*Memphis (25-9)…RPI: #28 (SOS: #46)…received #12 seed (West Region)
*UAB (22-8)…RPI: #31 (SOS: #78)…received #12 seed (East Region)

2009-10
C-USA RPI: #11
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 2
*UTEP (26-6)…RPI: #38 (SOS: #111)…received #12 seed (West Region)
*Houston (18-15)…RPI: #110 (SOS: #106)...received #14 seed (Midwest Region)

2008-09
C-USA RPI: #10
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 1
*Memphis (31-3)…RPI: #7 (SOS: #49)…received #2 seed (West Region)

2007-08
C-USA RPI: #10
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 1
*Memphis (33-1)…RPI: #3 (SOS: #27)…received #1 seed (South Region)

2006-07
C-USA RPI: #11
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 1
*Memphis (30-3)…RPI: #8 (SOS: #75)…received #2 seed (South Region)

2005-06
C-USA RPI: #13
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 2
*Memphis (30-3)…RPI: #4 (SOS: #31)…received #1 seed (West Region)
*UAB (23-6)…RPI: #32 (SOS: #115)…received #9 seed (East Region)

2004-05
C-USA RPI: #9
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 4
*Louisville (27-4)…RPI: #12 (SOS: #54)…received #4 seed (West Region)
*Cincinnati (24-7)…RPI: #24 (SOS: #53)…received #7 seed (South Region)
*Charlotte (21-7)…RPI: #31 (SOS: #99)…received #7 seed (East Region)
*UAB (21-10)…RPI: #49 (SOS: #92)…received #11 seed (Midwest Region)

2003-04
C-USA RPI: #5
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 6
*Cincinnati (24-6)…RPI: #11 (SOS: #23)…received #4 seed (South Region)
*DePaul (21-9)…RPI: #37 (SOS: #51)…received #7 seed (West Region)
*Memphis (21-7)…RPI: #32 (SOS: #65)…received #7 seed (East Region)
*Charlotte (21-8)…RPI: #34 (SOS: #58)…received #9 seed (East Region)
*UAB (20-9)…RPI: #33 (SOS: #35)…received #9 seed (Midwest Region)
*Louisville (20-9)…RPI: #24 (SOS: #16)…received #10 seed (South Region)

2002-03
C-USA RPI: #8
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 4
*Marquette (23-5)…RPI: #10 (SOS: #39)…received #3 seed (Midwest Region)
*Louisville (24-6)…RPI: #11 (SOS: #26)…received #4 seed (East Region)
*Memphis (23-6)…RPI: #26 (SOS: #77)…received #7 seed (West Region)
*Cincinnati (17-11)…RPI: #29 (SOS: #9)…received #8 seed (West Region)

2001-02
C-USA RPI: #8
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 3
*Cincinnati (30-3)…RPI: #2 (SOS: #23)…received #1 seed (West Region)
*Marquette (26-6)…RPI: #23 (SOS: #87)…received #5 seed (East Region)
*Charlotte (18-11)…RPI: #37 (SOS: #22)…received #9 seed (South Region)

2000-01
C-USA RPI: #10
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 2
*Cincinnati (23-9)…RPI: #31 (SOS: #63)…received #5 seed (West Region)
*Charlotte (21-10)…RPI: #48 (SOS: #77)…received #9 seed (Midwest Region)

1999-00
C-USA RPI: #5
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 4
*Cincinnati (28-3)…RPI: #1 (SOS: #5)…received #2 seed (South Region)
*Louisville (18-11)…RPI: #29 (SOS: #15)…received #7 seed (West Region)
*DePaul (20-11)…RPI: #30 (SOS: #25)…received #9 seed (East Region)
*Saint Louis (19-13)…RPI: #33 (SOS: #10)…received #9 seed (Midwest Region)

1998-99
C-USA RPI: #6
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 4
*Cincinnati (25-5)…RPI: #9 (SOS: #35)…received #3 seed (East Region)
*Charlotte (22-10)…RPI: #19 (SOS: #18)…received #5 seed (Midwest Region)
*Louisville (19-10)…RPI: #22 (SOS: #21)…received #7 seed (South Region)
*UAB (20-11)…RPI: #48 (SOS: #68)…received #12 seed (West Region)

1997-98
C-USA RPI: #8
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 3
*Cincinnati (26-5)…RPI: #16 (SOS: #71)…received #2 seed (West Region)
*Charlotte (19-10)…RPI: #31 (SOS: #20)…received #8 seed (East Region)
*Saint Louis (21-10)…RPI: #47 (SOS: #75)…received #10 seed (South Region)

1996-97
C-USA RPI: #9
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 4
*Cincinnati (25-7)…RPI: #13 (SOS: #47)…received #3 seed (Midwest Region)
*Louisville (23-8)…RPI: #18 (SOS: #56)…received #6 seed (East Region)
*Charlotte (21-8)…RPI: #27 (SOS: #62)…received #7 seed (West Region)
*Marquette (22-8)…RPI: #51 (SOS: #106)…received #7 seed (Southeast Region)

1995-96
C-USA RPI: #5
C-USA schools receiving NCAA Tournament invitations: 4
*Cincinnati (25-4)…RPI: #4 (SOS: #19)…received #2 seed (Southeast Region)
*Marquette (22-7)…RPI: #23 (SOS: #47)…received #4 seed (East Region)
*Memphis (22-7)…RPI: #15 (SOS: #27)…received #5 seed (West Region)
*Louisville (19-11)…RPI: #19 (SOS: #5)…received #6 seed (Midwest Region)

**Current RPI of each member of the future Conference USA (probable 2014-15 version)**
(in parenthesis is each team’s record vs. Division 1 opponents only)
-Middle Tennessee (16-4, 8-1): #36 (SOS: #108)
-Southern Mississippi (13-4, 4-0): #40 (SOS: #130)
-Louisiana Tech (16-3, 7-0): #54 (SOS: #240)
-Charlotte (15-3, 3-1): #56 (SOS: #173)
-UTEP (10-7, 3-1): #71 (SOS: #28)
-FIU (10-8, 5-4): #128 (SOS: #151)
-UAB (7-10, 0-3): #162 (SOS: #74)
-Western Kentucky (10-9, 5-4): #166 (SOS: #147)**
-FAU (9-10, 5-4): #199 (SOS: #247)
-Marshall (8-9, 2-1): #214 (SOS: #160)
-North Texas (7-11, 3-6): #250 (SOS: #245)
-UTSA (4-13, 0-7): #289 (SOS: #246)
-Old Dominion (2-16, 0-6): #321 (SOS: #183)
-Rice (3-12, 0-3): #327 (SOS: #249)

**probable addition if Tulsa accepts a Big East Conference invite (which appears to be likely)

**Current RPI of some expansion candidates for Conference USA
(in parenthesis is each team’s record vs. Division 1 opponents only)
-New Mexico State (11-8, 6-2): #89 (SOS: #91)
-Western Kentucky (10-9, 5-4): #166 (SOS: #147)
-Arkansas State (10-7, 5-4): #190 (SOS: #293)
-Louisiana-Lafayette (6-14, 3-7): #236 (SOS: #120)
-Georgia State (7-11, 3-3): #257 (SOS: #243)

Thanks!

The top of new C-USA has a chance to be pretty good.

(01-21-2013 10:22 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  Thanks!

The top of new C-USA has a chance to be pretty good.

Given the fact that UAB, Marshall, and ODU are having atypically bad years and yet we still have 5 current/future CUSA teams in the RPI Top 75 is pretty impressive. WKU would be a great replacement for Tulsa or anyone else that may leave. As I have said before, I think the new CUSA will be more balanced and have more teams in the RPI Top 100 which should translate to more opportunities for at-large bids.

(01-21-2013 10:22 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  Thanks!

The top of new C-USA has a chance to be pretty good.

It really does. I was surprised how solid it was when compiling the numbers. And if UAB, Marshall, Old Dominion and Western Kentucky (if they were to get an invite) could get back to their normal winning ways, it would be that much better. Tons of potential on the hoops side for the future C-USA.

(01-21-2013 10:25 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 10:22 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  Thanks!

The top of new C-USA has a chance to be pretty good.

It really does. I was surprised how solid it was when compiling the numbers. And if UAB, Marshall, Old Dominion and Western Kentucky (if they were to get an invite) could get back to their normal winning ways, it would be that much better. Tons of potential on the hoops side for the future C-USA.

Depending on how things shake out and whether or not some current CUSA teams leave or simply more are added to the current group, it could be:

UAB
ODU
Charlotte
UTEP
Tulsa
Marshall
MTSU
La Tech
Southern Miss
New Mexico State
WKU

Every single one of those teams has the potential to be Top 100 RPI teams, and on a pretty consistent basis as well. It actually would be a much more balanced league than the BE is shaping up to be with a couple of heavy-weights (Memphis, Cincinnati) along with a bunch of significantly less talented programs.

I'm curious as to how in the hell Marshall's SOS is so low.

(01-21-2013 10:32 AM)Blazer85 Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 10:25 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 10:22 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  Thanks!

The top of new C-USA has a chance to be pretty good.

It really does. I was surprised how solid it was when compiling the numbers. And if UAB, Marshall, Old Dominion and Western Kentucky (if they were to get an invite) could get back to their normal winning ways, it would be that much better. Tons of potential on the hoops side for the future C-USA.

Depending on how things shake out and whether or not some current CUSA teams leave or simply more are added to the current group, it could be:

UAB
ODU
Charlotte
UTEP
Tulsa
Marshall
MTSU
La Tech
Southern Miss
New Mexico State
WKU

Every single one of those teams has the potential to be Top 100 RPI teams, and on a pretty consistent basis as well. It actually would be a much more balanced league than the BE is shaping up to be with a couple of heavy-weights (Memphis, Cincinnati) along with a bunch of significantly less talented programs.

To be fair, the nBE also has UConn and Temple. If Tulsa is added, they're a traditionally solid program as well.

(01-21-2013 10:32 AM)fedale Wrote:  I'm curious as to how in the hell Marshall's SOS is so low.

#336 Longwood
#300 Hofstra
#174 Morehead State
#268 UNC-Wilmington
#288 Coppin State
#125 Savannah State
#243 Delaware State
#129 Ohio

Plus, some of the big name schools the Herd played are not having their usual good seasons and that doesn't help:

#73 Villanova
#159 Nevada
#94 West Virginia
#52 Kentucky

Here is the future Big East (with Tulsa added):

**Current RPI of each member of the future Big East (probable 2014-15 version)**
(in parenthesis is each team’s record vs. Division 1 opponents only)
-Cincinnati (16-3, 4-2): #24 (SOS: #21)
-Connecticut (12-5, 2-3): #28 (SOS: #9)
-Memphis (14-3, 3-0): #48 (SOS: #96)
-Temple (12-5, 2-2): #48 (SOS: #49)
-USF (10-7, 1-4): #77 (SOS: #27)
-UCF (11-5, 2-1): #103 (SOS: #128)
-East Carolina (7-6, 2-2): #116 (SOS: #105)
-Tulsa (10-8, 3-2): #127 (SOS: #140)**
-Tulane (12-5, 1-2): #150 (SOS: #288)
-SMU (10-9, 1-4): #177 (SOS: #197)
-Houston (11-5, 1-3): #209 (SOS: #342)

**probable addition to the Big East

Very close to CAA rpi most seasons (this year obviously not so much). Meaning CUSA, not BE

By NCAA tournament bids (with at least 10 appearances):

UAB (14)
ODU (12)
Charlotte (11)
UTEP (17)
Tulsa (14)
New Mexico State (16)
WKU (22)

TOTAL: 106 NCAA appearances

For those 7 teams, that is an average of 15.1 NCAA appearances in their history.

The new BE so far as I can tell will also have about 7 teams with 10 or more NCAA appearances.

Of course this is all contingent on what happens with UTEP, Tulsa, WKU, and NMSU.

(01-21-2013 09:49 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  **Current RPI of each member of the future Conference USA (probable 2014-15 version)**
(in parenthesis is each team’s record vs. Division 1 opponents only)
-Middle Tennessee (16-4, 8-1): #36 (SOS: #108)
-Southern Mississippi (13-4, 4-0): #40 (SOS: #130)
-Louisiana Tech (16-3, 7-0): #54 (SOS: #240)
-Charlotte (15-3, 3-1): #56 (SOS: #173)
-UTEP (10-7, 3-1): #71 (SOS: #28)
-FIU (10-8, 5-4): #128 (SOS: #151)
-UAB (7-10, 0-3): #162 (SOS: #74)
-Western Kentucky (10-9, 5-4): #166 (SOS: #147)**
-FAU (9-10, 5-4): #199 (SOS: #247)
-Marshall (8-9, 2-1): #214 (SOS: #160)
-North Texas (7-11, 3-6): #250 (SOS: #245)
-UTSA (4-13, 0-7): #289 (SOS: #246)
-Old Dominion (2-16, 0-6): #321 (SOS: #183)
-Rice (3-12, 0-3): #327 (SOS: #249)

**probable addition if Tulsa accepts a Big East Conference invite (which appears to be likely)

If this were the conference this year, that would definitely be two bids there and probably even three if Charlotte and/or Tech continued to perform down the line.

If we can get two or three teams to pick up the weight lost by Memphis this league has an even better chance of getting multiple bids more than it has in the past. We really, really need to be a three bid league (no less than two) most years to help us remain viable financially.

(01-21-2013 10:58 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 09:49 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  **Current RPI of each member of the future Conference USA (probable 2014-15 version)**
(in parenthesis is each team’s record vs. Division 1 opponents only)
-Middle Tennessee (16-4, 8-1): #36 (SOS: #108)
-Southern Mississippi (13-4, 4-0): #40 (SOS: #130)
-Louisiana Tech (16-3, 7-0): #54 (SOS: #240)
-Charlotte (15-3, 3-1): #56 (SOS: #173)
-UTEP (10-7, 3-1): #71 (SOS: #28)
-FIU (10-8, 5-4): #128 (SOS: #151)
-UAB (7-10, 0-3): #162 (SOS: #74)
-Western Kentucky (10-9, 5-4): #166 (SOS: #147)**
-FAU (9-10, 5-4): #199 (SOS: #247)
-Marshall (8-9, 2-1): #214 (SOS: #160)
-North Texas (7-11, 3-6): #250 (SOS: #245)
-UTSA (4-13, 0-7): #289 (SOS: #246)
-Old Dominion (2-16, 0-6): #321 (SOS: #183)
-Rice (3-12, 0-3): #327 (SOS: #249)

**probable addition if Tulsa accepts a Big East Conference invite (which appears to be likely)

If this were the conference this year, that would definitely be two bids there and probably even three if Charlotte and/or Tech continued to perform down the line.

If we can get two or three teams to pick up the weight lost by Memphis this league has an even better chance of getting multiple bids more than it has in the past. We really, really need to be a three bid league (no less than two) most years to help us remain viable financially.

When all of this realignment finally shakes out and settles down, there is no reason that C-USA can not be right up there with the Big East, the C7 + the five they add, the MVC, the West Coast and the Mountain West. I don't think there will be any drop-off in C-USA hoops, in fact there is a good chance it improves. The conference that looks like it will take a serious hit will be the Atlantic 10 if it loses Xavier, Dayton, Saint Louis and Butler to the C7.

If USM, MTSU, Charlotte, La Tech and UTEP (the Miners are almost always good) can keep what they have going and UAB, ODU, Marshall and WKU (if they are invited) can get back to what they have been in the recent past, C-USA could challenge for the best of the non-"big 5" conferences in men's basketball.

Interesting that Charlotte move up a couple spots after getting torched in Richmond and the only opponent we play twice (Temple) got beat by George Washington.

(01-21-2013 10:41 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  Here is the future Big East (with Tulsa added):

**Current RPI of each member of the future Big East (probable 2014-15 version)**
(in parenthesis is each team’s record vs. Division 1 opponents only)
-Cincinnati (16-3, 4-2): #24 (SOS: #21)
-Connecticut (12-5, 2-3): #28 (SOS: #9)
-Memphis (14-3, 3-0): #48 (SOS: #96)
-Temple (12-5, 2-2): #48 (SOS: #49)
-USF (10-7, 1-4): #77 (SOS: #27)
-UCF (11-5, 2-1): #103 (SOS: #128)
-East Carolina (7-6, 2-2): #116 (SOS: #105)
-Tulsa (10-8, 3-2): #127 (SOS: #140)**
-Tulane (12-5, 1-2): #150 (SOS: #288)
-SMU (10-9, 1-4): #177 (SOS: #197)
-Houston (11-5, 1-3): #209 (SOS: #342)

**probable addition to the Big East

***I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself there, chief.

(01-21-2013 02:16 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 10:41 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  Here is the future Big East (with Tulsa added):

**Current RPI of each member of the future Big East (probable 2014-15 version)**
(in parenthesis is each team’s record vs. Division 1 opponents only)
-Cincinnati (16-3, 4-2): #24 (SOS: #21)
-Connecticut (12-5, 2-3): #28 (SOS: #9)
-Memphis (14-3, 3-0): #48 (SOS: #96)
-Temple (12-5, 2-2): #48 (SOS: #49)
-USF (10-7, 1-4): #77 (SOS: #27)
-UCF (11-5, 2-1): #103 (SOS: #128)
-East Carolina (7-6, 2-2): #116 (SOS: #105)
-Tulsa (10-8, 3-2): #127 (SOS: #140)**
-Tulane (12-5, 1-2): #150 (SOS: #288)
-SMU (10-9, 1-4): #177 (SOS: #197)
-Houston (11-5, 1-3): #209 (SOS: #342)

**probable addition to the Big East

***I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself there, chief.

Only time will tell.

(01-21-2013 11:07 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 10:58 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 09:49 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  **Current RPI of each member of the future Conference USA (probable 2014-15 version)**
(in parenthesis is each team’s record vs. Division 1 opponents only)
-Middle Tennessee (16-4, 8-1): #36 (SOS: #108)
-Southern Mississippi (13-4, 4-0): #40 (SOS: #130)
-Louisiana Tech (16-3, 7-0): #54 (SOS: #240)
-Charlotte (15-3, 3-1): #56 (SOS: #173)
-UTEP (10-7, 3-1): #71 (SOS: #28)
-FIU (10-8, 5-4): #128 (SOS: #151)
-UAB (7-10, 0-3): #162 (SOS: #74)
-Western Kentucky (10-9, 5-4): #166 (SOS: #147)**
-FAU (9-10, 5-4): #199 (SOS: #247)
-Marshall (8-9, 2-1): #214 (SOS: #160)
-North Texas (7-11, 3-6): #250 (SOS: #245)
-UTSA (4-13, 0-7): #289 (SOS: #246)
-Old Dominion (2-16, 0-6): #321 (SOS: #183)
-Rice (3-12, 0-3): #327 (SOS: #249)

**probable addition if Tulsa accepts a Big East Conference invite (which appears to be likely)

If this were the conference this year, that would definitely be two bids there and probably even three if Charlotte and/or Tech continued to perform down the line.

If we can get two or three teams to pick up the weight lost by Memphis this league has an even better chance of getting multiple bids more than it has in the past. We really, really need to be a three bid league (no less than two) most years to help us remain viable financially.

When all of this realignment finally shakes out and settles down, there is no reason that C-USA can not be right up there with the Big East, the C7 + the five they add, the MVC, the West Coast and the Mountain West. I don't think there will be any drop-off in C-USA hoops, in fact there is a good chance it improves. The conference that looks like it will take a serious hit will be the Atlantic 10 if it loses Xavier, Dayton, Saint Louis and Butler to the C7.

If USM, MTSU, Charlotte, La Tech and UTEP (the Miners are almost always good) can keep what they have going and UAB, ODU, Marshall and WKU (if they are invited) can get back to what they have been in the recent past, C-USA could challenge for the best of the non-"big 5" conferences in men's basketball.

I agree...look at current rpi relative to new adds...all former CUSA is at the bottom with the exception of MEM...I just don't understand why schools would move for a name...IMHO, the branding will be lost.

LaTech just got some help from Utah St with both their best players getting injured for a while

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketba...wo-players