Catamount basketball ranked 28th nationally, SoCon sixth
Dewey defeats Truman.
Martians invade New Jersey.
Beelzebub frostbitten on the butt.
Western Carolina basketball nationally ranked.
Release from Western’s sports information department:
CULLOWHEE–Collegiate Basketball News released its first Rating Percentage Index (RPI) Report for men’s basketball today with Western Carolina leading the Southern Conference with an RPI of 28. The Catamounts are currently riding a three-game winning streak stemming from its pair of neutral court wins at the Great Alaska Shootout, and last Saturday’s win over Kent State on the road.
The SoCon, which features four teams in the nation’s top 100 RPI, debuted at an all-time high of sixth overall as a conference among the 32 NCAA Division I conferences. In addition to WCU, preseason SoCon favorite, Davidson, is ranked 50th on the list, followed by conference counterparts Wofford at 68th and Georgia Southern in 92nd.
Gonzaga is the national RPI leader in the first rating report, with the Atlantic Coast Conference representing the league leader. The Big Ten ranks second, just ahead of the Big East, Big 12 and Mountain West in fifth.
The RPI is used by the NCAA basketball committee to supplement the selection of at-large teams and the seeding of all teams for the NCAA basketball tournament. Using statistics generated through games played Dec. 7, the list is an independent duplication of the RPI without input from the NCAA. It is derived from three component factors: Div. I winning percentage (FI, 25%); schedule strength (FII, 50%); and opponent’s schedule strength (FIII, 25%).
Games against non-Division I opponents are not used in calculating the RPI.
According to the CBN RPI list, WCU boasts the nation’s 15th toughest strength of schedule, with the SoCon rated first in the same category. Catamount opponents Connecticut and San Diego State rank 12th and 35th, respectively, with upcoming foe, Marquette, standing 75th on the list.
WCU, which has tied its best start under fourth-year head coach Larry Hunter, is amidst final exams this week, with the team not returning to practice until late in the week to concentrate on studies. The Catamounts return to the court to host Tennessee Wesleyan on Monday, Dec. 15 at 7:00 pm in the Ramsey Center.
For the complete RPI list: http://rpiratings.com/mensrpi.html
Tags: Southern Conference, Western Carolina basketball, Western Carolina University, Western Carolina University sports notes
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