Dukes win 6-2 over St. Joe's. Complete game from Alissa Humphrey. Coppin State tomorrow if weather permits. We're supposed to be getting some rain/snow mix overnight and more rain throughout the day.

(03-09-2023 05:46 PM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote:  

(03-09-2023 07:44 AM)Vobserver Wrote:  

(03-08-2023 04:59 PM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  Marshall picks up the 6-4 win over Ohio.

Marshall also just announced they are now playing Cleveland State tomorrow afternoon at home. Cleveland State is supposed to play in our hosted event this weekend, so I don't know if this is an added game, or if our scheduled game against them on Sunday just moved up to tomorrow.

I just looked at your event this weekend. Is your coach trying to crash your RPI? Four games with opponents RPI of 132 [This one is ok, not great], 274, 277, 277. The Herd can sweep this group and have your RPI drop.

Ok?? We’re 18-3 and doing exactly what we should be doing and that’s win. Can’t wait till Nester shuts down that Offense

Through yesterday's games Marshall is 18-3 with an RPI of 73, which isn't bad until you look behind the numbers. Marshall has a current SOS of 245 and has played only 1 game against a top 50 team [Liberty, 39] which they lost. They are 3-0 against RPI's 51-100, with their best win being Indiana State [66]. Their 2 other losses are Butler [239] and Chattanooga [112].

The highest rated SBC team Marshall plays this year is Texas State. The Bobcats are 16-5 with an RPI of 45 and a SOS of 109. They are 1-1 against top 25 teams and 2-3 vs the rest of the top 100. Their best win is Wichita State [22]. The Bobcats also have 2 wins over S. Dakota State [56]. Their losses are to Wichita State [22], Villanova [58], South Dakota State [56], New Mexico State [79] and Winthrop [121].

I know none of this is either precise or predictive; but if I want a general idea of the relative strengths of 2 or more teams I use the sum of RPI and SOS, with lower numbers being better.

VO's Power Ratings for SBC Teams

Louisiana 21
Texas State 153
South Alabama 153
Troy 161
Georgia Southern 194
ULM 236
Appalachian State 286
Coastal Carolina 317
Marshall 320
James Madison 371
Southern Mississippi 374
Georgia State 482

VO's Relative SOS for Conference Schedules
[Mean of Opponent's VOPRs in Conference Games] [Lower # is Stronger]

Troy 201.125
Southern Mississippi 230.375
ULM 232.25
South Alabama 238.375
James Madison 241.75
Texas State 244.25
Appalachian State 251.375
Louisiana 256.375
Coastal Carolina 273.50
Georgia State 281.375
Georgia Southern 290.75
Marshall 301.625

Numbers used as basis for both of the above come from schedule pages of each team on the D1 Softball website.

14 games being played today by SBC teams, including games between Louisiana and Florida [17], Coastal and Ohio State [38], Texas State and Wisconsin [76], Louisiana and Rutgers [85], South Alabama and Iowa [117], Appalachian and Southern Illinois [47], ULM vs McNeese [75], Appalachian and Middle Tennessee [103], Marshall and Winthrop [121].

If we could go 4-0 vs the Big Ten today, that would be huge. I expect no worse than 3-1.
Appalachian needs to split their two games at worst.
A Marshall win over Winthrop would be a nice win for them and for the conference. I expect the Herd to win.
ULM has 3 against McNeese this weekend. Winning at least 2 of 3 would really help the Warhawk's RPI, and give the conference 2 or 3 more wins against the team likely to win the Southland.

I predict we win at least 5, more likely 6, of the nine games I listed for today, and sweep the remaining 5, going 11-3 or 10-4 for the day. I would not be surprised if Louisiana beats Florida [the Cajuns really need the Top 25 win] or Appalachian beats SIU, and a Coastal upset of The OSU would be a landmark win for the Chants if they can pull it off; but the safer prediction is that the SBC teams lose those three. The ULM-McNeese game is a pick-em game, and the difference between the 5 or 6 wins in listed games.

The Sun Belt can make a statement today. Everyone needs to take care of business.

Geaux Cajuns! and Go Sun Belt!

Dukes win 9-2 over Coppin State. Highlight of the game imo, absolute bomb from freshman KK Mathis:

Herd 8-1 over Winthrop.

Congratulations to Coastal for their great top 50 win over Ohio State. The Cajuns took care of Rutgers 3-0, so the SBC got a couple of Big 10 Top 75 RPI wins. Losses to Wisconsin by Texas State and to Iowa by South Alabama were a mild surprise; I had expected both SBC schools to win. With Georgia Southern and Michigan canceled, the day ended up 2-2 vs the Big 10.
Against all others the conference went 5-2 for the day, and a couple of games were postponed.

Overall, a very good day for the SBC: 7-4 with a top 50 win and no really bad losses.

(03-11-2023 08:46 AM)Vobserver Wrote:  Congratulations to Coastal for their great top 50 win over Ohio State. The Cajuns took care of Rutgers 3-0, so the SBC got a couple of Big 10 Top 75 RPI wins. Losses to Wisconsin by Texas State and to Iowa by South Alabama were a mild surprise; I had expected both SBC schools to win. With Georgia Southern and Michigan canceled, the day ended up 2-2 vs the Big 10.
Against all others the conference went 5-2 for the day, and a couple of games were postponed.

Overall, a very good day for the SBC: 7-4 with a top 50 win and no really bad losses.

Could you also post this in the softball thread?