CSNbbs

CollegeRPI.com is generally acknowledged as the most accurate of the RPI services as it mirrors the "mysterious' secret formula of the NCAA the closest, it seems. They are all pretty close to one another. At the halfway point of the year, it's something to keep an eye on, though in truth, we are in such bad shape in the MAC it's going to be tough to get an at-large team in as it usually needs to be AT LEAST in the top 40. Once you get in the top 50, it gets hard to move up without wins over teams rated higher.
Last year, Kent, BallSt. and BG were dancing around each other and we were able to make some progess with our wins over those two. This year is another matter as the relative quality of MAC ball is not as strong as last year--and we got no extra bids then. :(

MAC RPI's

Kent State--48
West. Mich--67
Cent. Mich--78
Miami--100
Ball State--112
BGSU--116
Marshall--141
Toledo--144
NIU--146
Ohio--185
East. Mich--200
Akron--228
Buffalo--279


And now that that's done, we can look forward to our next opponent:





<!--EDIT|axeme|Jan 21 2003, 10:54 AM-->

And now to the Sagarin ratings, which are in every way superior to the RPI, which are statistically biased toward the favorable home game scheduling of teams in the six "BCS" leagues.

10 MID-AMERICAN = 75.80 75.96 ( 10) TEAMS= 13
College Basketball 2002-2003 thru Monday, January 20, 2003 (Div I games only) (connected-unbiased)
HOME ADVANTAGE= 4.06 RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 30 | ELO CHESS | PREDICTOR
40 Western Michigan = 83.64 10 4 75.92( 83) 0 0 | 1 0 | 81.86 56 | 85.51 30
45 Kent St. = 82.40 10 2 75.26( 112) 0 0 | 0 0 | 84.94 30 | 80.10 66
62 Central Michigan = 80.91 10 3 76.29( 65) 0 0 | 0 0 | 83.93 40 | 78.24 94
107 Miami-Ohio = 77.66 5 9 80.66( 2) 0 0 | 0 5 | 77.51 114 | 77.37 107
113 Marshall = 77.16 7 5 74.51( 141) 0 0 | 0 0 | 77.54 113 | 76.36 123
116 Bowling Green = 76.96 7 5 75.99( 80) 0 0 | 0 1 | 78.25 101 | 75.31 136
133 Toledo = 75.69 8 7 76.02( 77) 0 0 | 0 1 | 76.47 122 | 74.49 153
160 Northern Illinois = 74.22 8 8 75.95( 82) 0 0 | 0 1 | 76.16 130 | 71.86 182
163 Ball St. = 74.15 6 9 77.42( 26) 0 0 | 0 3 | 75.21 145 | 72.67 173
182 Ohio U. = 72.80 4 9 78.77( 10) 0 0 | 0 2 | 73.31 173 | 71.84 184
189 Akron = 72.16 6 7 72.21( 236) 0 0 | 0 0 | 71.74 199 | 72.14 179
201 Eastern Michigan = 71.29 5 6 73.80( 176) 0 0 | 0 0 | 72.27 187 | 69.83 218
238 Buffalo = 68.47 3 11 74.24( 154) 0 0 | 0 0 | 66.36 271 | 69.88 216

I completely agree with you on Sagarin, OC.
I think it better identifies the relative quality of teams. I post the RPI because it is the NCAA's baby and like it or not, those are the numbers that talk or walk come selection day.

Did I mention our opponent this week?

As of Monday morning ( before the Akron game), Miami's RPI strength of schedule rating was second in the nation to Georgia. This is kind of amazing 6 games into the MAC scedule. Strength of schedule will start to drop now as Miami has games with EMU, UB, and Akron in the next few weeks.