Someone recently commented that WSU ought to play Utah State home and home, which sounded appealing to me too, so I looked at the Aggies' recent RPI ranks and was surprised to see that despite having had reasonably successful records they've actually been in the RPI top 100 just two of the last five seasons (although they were definitely well up in those two seasons --18th and 40th, according to Warren Nolan -- and just barely missed the top 100 two other times).
But while I was looking up Utah State, I also noticed their fellow WAC member (and former Valley team) New Mexico State, and noticed that the Green Chile Aggies had RPI ranks in the 50s two of those years and in the 60s in two others. They missed the top 100 only once in the last five seasons. So if WSU would like to schedule quality opponents from outside the "power" conferences -- and I don't know whether they do, although it would seem an easier way to get good RPI games than by trying to rope in opponents from snooty leagues to play at IBA -- how about playing home and home with NMSU?
Las Cruces may seem a little isolated, but it's certainly no more than Logan, Utah is, and basketball is a big deal in New Mexico, so it could even be a game that's a little bit of fun to play as well as a potential RPI booster.
But while I was looking up Utah State, I also noticed their fellow WAC member (and former Valley team) New Mexico State, and noticed that the Green Chile Aggies had RPI ranks in the 50s two of those years and in the 60s in two others. They missed the top 100 only once in the last five seasons. So if WSU would like to schedule quality opponents from outside the "power" conferences -- and I don't know whether they do, although it would seem an easier way to get good RPI games than by trying to rope in opponents from snooty leagues to play at IBA -- how about playing home and home with NMSU?
Las Cruces may seem a little isolated, but it's certainly no more than Logan, Utah is, and basketball is a big deal in New Mexico, so it could even be a game that's a little bit of fun to play as well as a potential RPI booster.
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