When I was taking a look at the Bubble Team Watch on ESPN, it had Western Kentucky mentioned, they said a high RPI just wasn't enough and they had a really low SOS (222) and didnt have any real big wins. I dont get how that is calculated, can anyone fill me in? They also mentioned that WKU would need a share of the sunbelt crown to have any at-large chances.

SOS is your strength of schedule. And as usual, WKU has played a weak schedule.

Quote:-STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (SOS). This is another mathematical formula that consists of the following:
2/3 a team’s opponents’ W/L record
1/3 a team’s opponents’ opponents’ W/L record

And since WKU lost to UALR, they have all but been eliminated from any at-large considerations. The Cajuns are the only ones with a chance for an at-large, but they must win out and make it to the conference finals.

As usual? Show me some SOS history to back that up.

WKU has a very difficult time scheduling games with quality programs. Longterm success does that. Other mid-majors won't even play us!

Surely you can relate to scheduling woes.

I'm like Jeff. I've not been following basketball much the last couple years but WKU has traditionally played a pretty good schedule.

Taken from KenPom:

2000- # 161
2001- # 191
2002- # 168
2003- # 135
2004- # 139

Maybe they haven't been easier than I thought, but still mid to upper 100s.

Ok, looking at ULL:

2004 - 122
2003 - 131
2002 - 163
2001 - 142
2000 - 169

Average schedule of 145

WKU's avg over five years was 158

Pretty marginal... probably could be attributed to playing in the East division vs the West division.


WKU
YEAR...RPI...RECORD
2000...202...(11-18) (Coach Felton's First year)
2001...76...(21-6)
2002...26...(26-3)
2003...58...(23-8)
2004...144..(13-13) (Coach Horn First year)
2005...63...(18-6)
18.67 Wins

ULL
YEAR...RPI...RECORD
2000...66...(24-8)
2001...140...(15-13)
2002...92...(19-10)
2003...72...(19-9)
2004...71...(18-8)
2005...43...(16-8)
18.50 Wins

Take off Coach Felton's horrible first year and it would be a larger margin.

SOS is important, but as you can see by looking at RPI vs SOS, what matters more is WINNING and winning against programs that win. I think the SBC is figuring that out. Playing the big dogs is great, as long as you can win. But losing every game against a big dog doesn't help. You're better off playing a lesser team that is winning.

Just curious, what was the reason for Coach Felton's bad first year?

I forget how many players were dismissed or left, three or four at least. The RPI info on that site only go back to 2000, but The topper's were coming off five consecutive losing seasons. Actually now that I think about it, 98-99 was Felton's first year, so that was his second. But to put in perspective:

1994-95 27-4 Matt Kilcullen's first year
1995-96 13-14
1996-97 12-15
1997-98 7-16 Matt Kilcullen's last year
1998-99 13-16 Felton's First Year
1999-00 11-18
2000-01 21-6

So Felton was only rebuilding from the dicaster that Kilcullen created. Kilcullen couldn't recruit obviously, he did well his firs year with Willard's recruits, and then went down hill FAST. You can see Felton did a great job rebuilding.

WOW! So I take it that Topper fans don't like Kilcullen too much?

Kilcullen??

We refer to him as Matty KILLPROGRAM!

WKU Topper Jeff Wrote:Kilcullen??

We refer to him as Matty KILLPROGRAM!

LOL!!! We feel the same way about our previous football coach. He went 6-27 in 3 seasons and didn't know why he got fired. He said it was because he was a black head coach. So instead of calling him Coach Baldwin, it's Coach BadLOSS!

See, you and me, we aren't so different after all.

WKU Topper Jeff Wrote:See, you and me, we aren't so different after all.

But I still don't like your school! :D

Haha, I don't like yours either! But we can still have good fun on here! If all this MAC talk does come true, I do hope we can continue a series with you all.

Go Tops!
Go Cajuns! :eek:

Actually, against UALR, I do need to cheer for you guys... man its tough

WKU Topper Jeff Wrote:Go Cajuns!  :eek:

I knew it wouldn't take you long to come over to the GOOD side; the side with the better shade of RED as the school color.

Quote:Actually, against UALR, I do need to cheer for you guys... man its tough

Don't forget the game is on ESPN2 this Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 pm CDT.

Hey..WKU and ULL...screw you both, we'll fly past both of you :fish:
hehe.. but hey..i remember when WKU had Chris Marcus...man o man..was i salivating over that dude to enter the NBA and give Shaq some competition.