Does anyone here remember the RPI rankings of Ohio and NMSU the last time the Aggies got a TV BracketBuster game? From what I hear, it carries a lot of weight when making the pairings so here are four possibilities in no particular order with RPI rankings in parenthesis according to RealTimeRPI.com
NMSU moved up to an 82 with a 97 Strength of Schedule.
Pacific (95) SOS Rank 198 (14-6, 7-1 Big West)
Record against NMSU: Aggies 29-8 (NMSU won last meeting 76-74 in 2006)
Key Games: 11/25 a 71-63 home loss to San Diego State (36); 12/8 a 61-58 win at home vs. Nevada (65); 12/8 a 80-65 loss at St. Mary's (35); 1/10 a 68-67 loss at UC Santa Barbara (175)
Katz thinks this game makes sense and regionally it's closer than other games if that is a factor for ESPN. I'm not a big fan of the Big West though this year while the WAC is having a good year in terms of RPI rankings. (NMSU (82), Utah State (53) La. Tech. (76), Nevada (65), San Jose State (128). Pacific is the only team in the Big West in the top 100. Long Beach State is at 125 and UCSB is 175 and then the rest of the league is 208 and higher.
Missouri St. (83) SOS Rank 132 (15-7, 5-6 Missouri Valley)
Record against NMSU: 1-0 Missouri St. (64-54 in 1950)
Key Games: 11/28 a 83-75 win vs. Tulsa (58); 1/3 a 84-76 loss to Northern Iowa (18); 1/6 a 65-62 loss vs. Wichita State (49); 1/19 a 99-92 win vs. Indiana State (87)/ a 55-54 loss vs. Northern Iowa (18)
Wouldn't it be cool to return to the MVC? The MVC's RPI rank is 9 while the WAC is ranked 10th
Iona (85) SOS Rank 167 (16-6, 8-3 Metro Atlantic Athletic)
Key Games: 11/29 a 63-55 win vs. Creighton (111); 12/7 a 73-60 loss vs. Siena (42); 12/12 a 82-73 win at Providence (98); 1/4 a 77-65 loss at Canisius (189)
Iona has won its last seven games but the MAAC is ranked 15th
Murray State (90) SOS Rank 313 (18-3, 11-0 Ohio Valley)
Record against NMSU: 1-7 (Murray won 72-69 in 1964)
Key Games: 11/9 a 75-70 loss at Cal (21); 12/15 a 87-81 loss at La. Tech (76); 12/22 a 83-72 loss at West. Kentucky (153)
Could Murray be the best team on this list?
Murray State is blowing people out. They are ranked sixth nationally with an 18.4 margin of victory. They are second in field goal percentage at 51.2 percent and 23rd in FG defense (39 percent) and second behind Missouri with 11.3 steals per game.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Bracketbuster rankings/La. Tech
Well the RPI will certainly continue to improve after Saturday's win. La Tech had a RPI ranking of 57 entering this week while the Aggies were at 110. Let's see what happens when Bracket Buster pairings are announced on Monday but I would be shocked to see the Aggies fail to get a TV game after Saturday's win.
I read Katz's blog where he would like to see NMSU travel to Pacific, which is certainly a possibility since they are so similar in RPI. Here are the top 11 designated home teams and the top 11 designated road teams based on the RPI rankings as of Monday on the NCAA's website
HOME TEAMS
Butler (24)
VCU (49)
Northeastern (53)
Utah State (61)
Kent State (69)
Iona (72)
Missouri State (76)
Murray State (78)
Bradley (85)
Pacific (101)
George Mason (105)
Green Bay (109)
Creighton (115)
VISITING TEAMS
Siena (34)
Old Dominion (36)
William and Mary (45)
Louisiana Tech (57)
Nevada (71)
W. Carolina (74)
College of Charleston (83)
Buffalo (91)
Western Michigan (106)
NMSU (110)
Wright State (116)
Drexel, Moorehead (117)
So what do you think? It would be interesting to see if they pair the Aggies with a Bradley or Murray State, but I'm not sure if they will climb that high with the La. Tech win.
I read Katz's blog where he would like to see NMSU travel to Pacific, which is certainly a possibility since they are so similar in RPI. Here are the top 11 designated home teams and the top 11 designated road teams based on the RPI rankings as of Monday on the NCAA's website
HOME TEAMS
Butler (24)
VCU (49)
Northeastern (53)
Utah State (61)
Kent State (69)
Iona (72)
Missouri State (76)
Murray State (78)
Bradley (85)
Pacific (101)
George Mason (105)
Green Bay (109)
Creighton (115)
VISITING TEAMS
Siena (34)
Old Dominion (36)
William and Mary (45)
Louisiana Tech (57)
Nevada (71)
W. Carolina (74)
College of Charleston (83)
Buffalo (91)
Western Michigan (106)
NMSU (110)
Wright State (116)
Drexel, Moorehead (117)
So what do you think? It would be interesting to see if they pair the Aggies with a Bradley or Murray State, but I'm not sure if they will climb that high with the La. Tech win.
No Gillenwater this weekend
I called Braun Cartwright late Friday afternoon. He said that they expect a decision next week, probably early in the week. I know we have heard that before, but he seemed fairly confident that we would hear something next week. I hope so as well
Monday, January 25, 2010
Boston comment on Gillenwater appeal
This comment is from McKinley Boston on Friday. I've been hounding folks on Troy's status before each game.
At this point, we're waiting to hear. I've worked with the NCAA long enough and in various capacities to know you're better off waiting. It's a bureaucracy all in its own. Every time they make a decision that favors student athletes, they set a precedent and they're reluctant to set that. They're extremely careful as to how they manage that appeal process.
There was one point on Friday where I heard Gillenwater's return looked promising which is why I wanted to talk to Boston. My understanding is that the NCAA keeps requesting information from NMSU, which I guess is reason for hope
At this point, we're waiting to hear. I've worked with the NCAA long enough and in various capacities to know you're better off waiting. It's a bureaucracy all in its own. Every time they make a decision that favors student athletes, they set a precedent and they're reluctant to set that. They're extremely careful as to how they manage that appeal process.
There was one point on Friday where I heard Gillenwater's return looked promising which is why I wanted to talk to Boston. My understanding is that the NCAA keeps requesting information from NMSU, which I guess is reason for hope
JY
A previous poster said they don't care about individual accomplishments. OK. I thought maybe this was the week that the Aggies had a player in Jahmar Young who would be named the league's Player of the Week. Ultimately it isn't about individual accomplishments, which was proven with the selection of San Jose State's Adrian Oliver whose team won big home games against Louisiana Tech and NMSU over the weekend.
On the week, Oliver averaged 30.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. He shot 54.3 percent (19-of-35) from the field, 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from three-point range and was 19-of-20 from the free throw line.
Young and the Aggies went 1-1 on the road, hitting the game-winner against Hawaii and posting a career best 34 at San Jose. Young averaged 30 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and shot 24 of 47 (51 percent)
Perhaps it the Aggies would have held on, they would have their first weekly award, but with the way that Gibson and Young share scoring honors so often, who knows when either one will have such an explosive weekend.
On the week, Oliver averaged 30.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. He shot 54.3 percent (19-of-35) from the field, 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from three-point range and was 19-of-20 from the free throw line.
Young and the Aggies went 1-1 on the road, hitting the game-winner against Hawaii and posting a career best 34 at San Jose. Young averaged 30 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and shot 24 of 47 (51 percent)
Perhaps it the Aggies would have held on, they would have their first weekly award, but with the way that Gibson and Young share scoring honors so often, who knows when either one will have such an explosive weekend.
Friday, January 22, 2010
WAC individuals lighting it up
The WAC has proven to have its fair share of offensive weapons this year.
Four players in the WAC are ranked in the top 20 scoring in the country thus far in the season.
San Jose State guard Adrian Oliver is eighth nationally at 21.9 points per game after scoring a career-high 39 against La. Tech on Thursday. La. Tech’s Kyle Gibson is 10th (21.7), Nevada’s Luke Babbitt is 15th (21.1 points per game) and JY is 19th at 20.6 per game. Aggies senior Jonathan Gibson is 33rd at 19.3 per game.
From a team standpoint, Nevada is the top scoring club at 82 per game, 14th in the country. La. Tech is 24th at 79.9 per game.The Aggies are 52nd with 76.7 per game.
Four players in the WAC are ranked in the top 20 scoring in the country thus far in the season.
San Jose State guard Adrian Oliver is eighth nationally at 21.9 points per game after scoring a career-high 39 against La. Tech on Thursday. La. Tech’s Kyle Gibson is 10th (21.7), Nevada’s Luke Babbitt is 15th (21.1 points per game) and JY is 19th at 20.6 per game. Aggies senior Jonathan Gibson is 33rd at 19.3 per game.
From a team standpoint, Nevada is the top scoring club at 82 per game, 14th in the country. La. Tech is 24th at 79.9 per game.The Aggies are 52nd with 76.7 per game.
How important is McKines
Say what you will about the off court stuff, it's realistic that without Wendell McKines, the Aggies would be a very average or below average team. We saw it in the first half when Wendell had three fouls. Then with McKines back in the game, the Aggies open the second half on a 17-2 run. He sits for a couple minutes, Hawaii steals the lead back briefly and after Gibson puts them up one, McKines converts a three-point play when he returns.
The Aggies press was also the difference. They shot 44.4 percent in the second half after a 31 percent first half. When the shots were falling and NMSU was able to set up its press, the Warriors turned the ball over eight times in the second half and 17 for the game.
I thought the San Jose State game would be an easy win. Not so. Adrian Oliver now has two of the top three scoring performances of the WAC season with 39 points in a win over La. Tech.
San Jose State 87, Louisiana Tech 76
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP)-- Adrian Oliver scored a career-high 39 points,
lifting San Jose State to an 87-76 victory over Louisiana Tech on Thursday
night.
The Spartans (10-8, 3-3) snapped the Bulldogs' 10-game winning streak and
handed them their first WAC loss of the season.
Chris Oakes had 16 points for the Spartans while Robert Owens scored 12.
Kyle Gibson led Louisiana Tech (17-3, 5-1) with 22 points, only two of those
coming in the first half when he got into early foul trouble. Olu Ashaolu
added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Oliver was one point short of the San Jose State single-game scoring record
of 40 set by Wally Rank on Jan. 3, 1980 against Sacramento State. Oliver's
39 points surpassed his previous career high of 37, set last February
against Boise State.
The Aggies press was also the difference. They shot 44.4 percent in the second half after a 31 percent first half. When the shots were falling and NMSU was able to set up its press, the Warriors turned the ball over eight times in the second half and 17 for the game.
I thought the San Jose State game would be an easy win. Not so. Adrian Oliver now has two of the top three scoring performances of the WAC season with 39 points in a win over La. Tech.
San Jose State 87, Louisiana Tech 76
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP)-- Adrian Oliver scored a career-high 39 points,
lifting San Jose State to an 87-76 victory over Louisiana Tech on Thursday
night.
The Spartans (10-8, 3-3) snapped the Bulldogs' 10-game winning streak and
handed them their first WAC loss of the season.
Chris Oakes had 16 points for the Spartans while Robert Owens scored 12.
Kyle Gibson led Louisiana Tech (17-3, 5-1) with 22 points, only two of those
coming in the first half when he got into early foul trouble. Olu Ashaolu
added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Oliver was one point short of the San Jose State single-game scoring record
of 40 set by Wally Rank on Jan. 3, 1980 against Sacramento State. Oliver's
39 points surpassed his previous career high of 37, set last February
against Boise State.
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