2014-15 Schedule

[1972Shocker]

Great topic. It starts out as WSU bashing, then transforms into how the MVC is 100% reliant on WSU and SIU needs to look at the MAC, OVC, or Sun Belt. It's like they don't even realize how stupid they are while they're talking about how stupid they are.

So is the SIU fan base throwing in the towel on SIU being able to re-visit their glory years?

[WuDrWu]

So is the SIU fan base throwing in the towel on SIU being able to re-visit their glory years?

Sadly it seems a plurality of their fans are eagerly awaiting the impending demise of our program so they can have a chance to succeed again. It's an idea played out all too often throughout the league. Bring the big guy down to our level, not "what can we do to get better and be like WSU". Now granted, our current "run" is pretty damned lofty, so perhaps it's not realistic for other fans to think they can be a top 10 program, but still, rarely is the discussion about "let's shoot for the stars". Very sad, and a prime example of why so many want to get out of this league.

[Shocker-maniac]

Sadly it seems a plurality of their fans are eagerly awaiting the impending demise of our program so they can have a chance to succeed again. It's an idea played out all too often throughout the league. Bring the big guy down to our level, not "what can we do to get better and be like WSU". Now granted, our current "run" is pretty damned lofty, so perhaps it's not realistic for other fans to think they can be a top 10 program, but still, rarely is the discussion about "let's shoot for the stars". Very sad, and a prime example of why so many want to get out of this league.

Same theme that we heard from our Redbird friend, Vance, last week. Unfortunately, many try to bring down others to their level instead of seeing the opportunities that they have by trying to improve themselves to the level of their high performing peers.

[proshox]

I want the MVC teams to play the toughest schedule they can play and still win >80% of their games. If SIU needs to play the 250th best schedule to win games then it is the best we can hope for. Overscheduling (which means lots of losses) kills the league's RPI.

[Cdizzle]

I want the MVC teams to play the toughest schedule they can play and still win >80% of their games. If SIU needs to play the 250th best schedule to win games then it is the best we can hope for. Overscheduling (which means lots of losses) kills the league's RPI.

Unfortunately, that is not the 250th best schedule.

[pogo]

I understand that we are playing in the Diamond Head Classic this year and Maui again soon but I have been unable to find the Battle for Atlantis times. Were we scheduled for that tournament and took another or is it still a couple of years out? Help an old guy out here please.

[Triticum aestivum L.]

Pogo, per one of the assistants we are playing in Battle for Atlantis either in 15-16 or 16-17. He told me it is the one to attend - better competition and all-inclusive resort. That's the one on my to-do list. Cheers!

[Play Angry]

Maui is 2017-18, and Atlantis is rumored to be 2016-17, right?

So we still have an opening for an exempt tournament for 2015-16?

[shocks771]

Maui is 2017-18, and Atlantis is rumored to be 2016-17, right?

So we still have an opening for an exempt tournament for 2015-16?

Yes, Maui is 2017-2018. No announcement has been made yet that I know of for the 2015-2016 season or the 2016-2017 season but the rumors are that one of those years would be Atlantis and the other was rumored to be in Orlando at Disney.

[pogo]

Pogo, per one of the assistants we are playing in Battle for Atlantis either in 15-16 or 16-17. He told me it is the one to attend - better competition and all-inclusive resort. That's the one on my to-do list. Cheers!

\

Thanks guys. So Cindy does this help you as well.

[AndShock]

I want the MVC teams to play the toughest schedule they can play and still win >80% of their games. If SIU needs to play the 250th best schedule to win games then it is the best we can hope for. Overscheduling (which means lots of losses) kills the league's RPI.

Here are some records and RPIs from Valley schools and SWAC schools last year.

SIU OoC SoS - 245
Record - 3-9
RPI - 312

Southern OoC SoS - 8
Record - 1-9
RPI - 186

Loyola OoC SoS - 344
Record - 4-7
RPI - 329

Arkansas Pine-Bluff OoC SoS - 20
Record - 0-10
RPI - 278

SWAC>bottom of the Valley

[WSUwatcher]

Ouch, but maybe that means the SWAC schools are easier to buy?

[proshox]

Here are some records and RPIs from Valley schools and SWAC schools last year.

SIU OoC SoS - 245
Record - 3-9
RPI - 312

Southern OoC SoS - 8
Record - 1-9
RPI - 186

Loyola OoC SoS - 344
Record - 4-7
RPI - 329

Arkansas Pine-Bluff OoC SoS - 20
Record - 0-10
RPI - 278

SWAC>bottom of the Valley

None of those would be a good win. And your opponents winning percentage is much more important in terms of your RPI than their actual RPI ranking.

[WSUwatcher]

Good point, proshox.

Back a few years ago when folks were complaining about how the Valley was gaming the RPI, the "trick" the teams were using was to try to schedule teams that were beatable but figured to have good records. That's because 50% of RPI is your opponent's record, so you want that percentage to be as high as possible.

Of course, what's even better is if you can play some of those winnable games on the road, so you can also have a shot at the road bonus -- and then actually win them. It's not an ironclad guarantee, as Missouri State once learned to their great chagrin, but it's the best technique Valley schools have at their disposal, and it's why games like WSU's against NC Central can actually be positive. You just need to play your guarantee games against opponents who figure to end up with good records, and then make sure to beat them -- RPI Inflation 301, an upper division course (by Professor Doug Elgin).

[AndShock]

None of those would be a good win. And your opponents winning percentage is much more important in terms of your RPI than their actual RPI ranking.

Yes, but the committee has lately been emphasizing that your own RPI is less important than the RPI of your opponents. Granted, the RPI of your opponents probably doesn't matter once you get into the 200s and 300s.