How To Increase RPI Today

[justducky]

Moral victory for Oakland.  I'm giving them no love. I have confidence with T Walker and his ability to defend Felder.  They live and die with Felder being able to hit acrobatic shots to win or get to the free throw line.

How much of the Washington and MSU games did you watch? Believe what you want but this is not the Oakland of years past and Felder has plenty of help. Sorry but T Walker will struggle with Felder just like everyone else has. I think we will try to get back quickly and play more zone than man. It will help if we can make a high % of our shots and not turn the ball over.

Valpolaw is correct -- MSU was short a key player.  Oakland played exceptionally well.  In light of our inconsistency lately, MSU blows us out by 15+ with Valentine in the lineup.  However, we would have a real chance against the Butlers of the top 25. 

Please don't sell us or Oakland short. The talent and experience difference between MSU and the HL's best is much narrower than you might think. The VU and Oakland benches are very deep and very comparable to some of the best.

[a3uge]

Now the Grizzly board is talking of a possible at-large bid.   

"Almost wins" don't really count to the selection committee. They have 2 top 100 RPI wins and one of them is Eastern Michigan. Maybe if they beat Virginia and win out? Sagarin's simulations give that a 0.06% chance of happening.

[VULB#62]

Moral victory for Oakland.  I'm giving them no love. I have confidence with T Walker and his ability to defend Felder.  They live and die with Felder being able to hit acrobatic shots to win or get to the free throw line.

How much of the Washington and MSU games did you watch? Believe what you want but this is not the Oakland of years past and Felder has plenty of help. Sorry but T Walker will struggle with Felder just like everyone else has. I think we will try to get back quickly and play more zone than man. It will help if we can make a high % of our shots and not turn the ball over.

Valpolaw is correct -- MSU was short a key player.  Oakland played exceptionally well.  In light of our inconsistency lately, MSU blows us out by 15+ with Valentine in the lineup.  However, we would have a real chance against the Butlers of the top 25.

Please don't sell us or Oakland short. The talent and experience difference between MSU and the HL's best is much narrower than you might think. The VU and Oakland benches are very deep and very comparable to some of the best.

I watched a portion of the MSU game and was impressed by the fact that, except for the unis I could not see much of a difference between the two teams in terms of size, athleticism or skill. Scary actually.

[StlVUFan]

Maybe something like they (Oakland) are good and will contend for their league championship?

Maybe they will win the title but time will tell us about that. Valpo and Milwaukee will give Oakland solid challenges IMO.

His team is #1 in the nation!  My lord, if I was in his shoes, I'd easily think Oakland should win their league after witnessing that performance.

Of course it would be an exaggeration.  I'm not defending his judgment, just his sincerity.  It was hardly a slight to Valpo.  Kampe's a friend of his, it's an in-state rivalry (don't laugh, it kind of is).  You expect him to think of Valpo right after that game?

[wh]

You expect him to think of Valpo right after that game?

The only thing Tom "if I don't do it someone else will" Izzo was thinking at that moment was how can I steal Felder away from the Horizon League (ala BW and Forbes).

[justducky]

The only thing Tom "if I don't do it someone else will" Izzo was thinking at that moment was how can I steal Felder away from the Horizon League (ala BW and Forbes).

"Stick with me kid and I'll have you wearing diamonds instead of handcuffs."

I think this is loosely quoted from an old Bogart, Bacall movie but it popped right into my head when you mentioned Izzo's man love for Felder.

[Grizz]

FYI, Kampe's responds to the Izzo quote of He'll be mad if ..... "Tom hasn't seen Valpo!"  Also, Yes Stlvalpofan.... a big enough rivalry that 21,000 fans were at the game, set a record for the largest NCAA crowd ever at the Palace and there have been many big games there over the years including finial 8 games. Even Lebron didn't draw that crowd. Should Oakland have won, maybe, the ball rolled around the rim and fell out. It goes in we have a chance at an at large bid. Did we get cheated, a little, but we were playing #1 with Big Ten refs. No one here doesn't think that Valpo is still the favorite. U are. But this is the best Oakland team I've ever seen and we have had some really good ones. A shame it has to be the same year you guys might have your best too. (I guess that's a good question....is this your best ever?)

[vu72]

FYI, Kampe's responds to the Izzo quote of He'll be mad if ..... "Tom hasn't seen Valpo!"  Also, Yes Stlvalpofan.... a big enough rivalry that 21,000 fans were at the game, set a record for the largest NCAA crowd ever at the Palace and there have been many big games there over the years including finial 8 games. Even Lebron didn't draw that crowd. Should Oakland have won, maybe, the ball rolled around the rim and fell out. It goes in we have a chance at an at large bid. Did we get cheated, a little, but we were playing #1 with Big Ten refs. No one here doesn't think that Valpo is still the favorite. U are. But this is the best Oakland team I've ever seen and we have had some really good ones. A shame it has to be the same year you guys might have your best too. (I guess that's a good question....is this your best ever?)

Yes

[vu72]

Moral victory for Oakland.  I'm giving them no love. I have confidence with T Walker and his ability to defend Felder.  They live and die with Felder being able to hit acrobatic shots to win or get to the free throw line.  If Peters is having an off day we have 7 others guys who can explode for points.

This "almost" victory will focus our guys even more when we play them. 

The matchups will be fun. Felder will no doubt be a problem but so will be Felder's guarding of E Victor.

[wh]

Let me throw a rare compliment Oakland's way. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the game and came away totally impressed with the Grizzlies.  If only some of the teams from the HL's old guard were doing half as much to elevate their programs as Oakland is doing, the HL would be the envy of the mid major world.

[StlVUFan]

FYI, Kampe's responds to the Izzo quote of He'll be mad if ..... "Tom hasn't seen Valpo!"

Makes sense to me, Grizz.  Looking forward to another barnburner on the 8th.

My point was, for a coach like Izzo, the old saw about "a bird in the hand" applies.  He's not scouting Valpo, and he probably isn't following us.  He played Oakland, that's who he scouted, and that's who he saw.  Plus, it's very common for a coach at Izzo's level to give out effusive compliments like that to a coach he just barely beat.  It's a way of saying to his fanbase, "NO, WE DID *NOT* JUST LAY AN EGG AGAINST AN INFERIOR TEAM, YOU IDIOTS!"

[oklahomamick]

Izzo doesn't scout Valpo nor does he know we were the preseason favorite by a large margin

[ValpoFan]

Hey Grizz. It is not a shame at all that we both have good teams. I wish all the league did. That's the only way to elevate our conference. Hats off to coach Kempe for remaining humble and acknowledging Valpo is the preseason favorite. However, we all know that the preseason polls mean squat when the two teams meet on the hard floor.

[talksalot]

going into this week's activity...courtesy RealTimeRPI:... HL Conference RPI has jumped to #13 with an overall SOS ranking of #9

RPI                                   Rk  Horizon League  Conf  All  RPI  SOS Rk  SOS 
Down 2 From Last Week  20  Valparaiso 0-0   8-2  0.6253 87  0.5438
Down 26 From Last Week  63  Detroit 0-0   4-4  0.5750 13  0.6000
Up 16 From Last Week   83  Oakland 0-0   7-4  0.5566 177  0.5003
Up 19 From Last Week   115  Milwaukee 0-0   7-4  0.5369 190  0.4956
Down 21 From Last Week 173  Cleveland St. 0-0   3-8  0.4993 32  0.5748
UP 14 From Last Week   184  Green Bay 0-0   4-5  0.4891 228  0.4813
Up 25 From Last Week   187  Wright St. 0-0   4-7  0.4863 98  0.5346
Up 7 From Last Week  261  Youngstown St. 0-0   3-8  0.4392 221  0.4835
Up 2 From Last Week  285   North. Kentucky  2-6  0.4273 182  0.4982   0-0  Still in the Atlantic Sun...
Up 1 From Last Week  347  Ill. Chicago 0-0   0-8  0.3466 260  0.4622

[talksalot]

Before the end of the Belmont Game
Valpo RPI 19 SOS 79

After the Scores were posted for the other opponent games, before the Belmont game went final
Valpo RPI 20 SOS 85

After the Belmont game went final
Valpo RPI 31 SOS 85

Belmont went from 93 before the game... to 73 after the game went final...


NOW... watch that Valpo RPI plummet after we play #348 UIC on Saturday afternoon... 1PM tip in the ARC.   VU going for 20 in a row at home.

[talksalot]

The last time Valpo was 10-3 on the year, was 2007-8... 3rd loss was by 32 @ the Dean Dome 90-58 to UNC... and after that game our RPI was 46... falling from 39...

the next game that year was Indiana Wesleyan, a 93-46 win.

[talksalot]

I copied this over from the UIC Game thread... and added one more time bracket...

Taking a periodic look at the Nolan RPI as the scores come in:
1. After the Valpo and Green Bay finals:
2. After the Oakland and Detroit finals
3. After the Wright State final
4. after a few more, like Virginia and OK State
5. and a few more
   3:42pm   4:10pm   5:40pm   6:48pm  8:35pm  10:15pm

Valpo 42   42   41   42   44   40  !! 
Oakland 94   95   95   91   93   94
Detroit 102   106   110   112   106   106
Milwaukee 134   133   166   170   170   169
Green Bay 148   155   153   150   151   153
Cleveland State 162   172   168   168   165   163
Wright State 198   192   158   158   156   155
Youngstown State 258   257   259   261   265   264
Northern Kentucky 306   307   307   305   304   303
Illinois Chicago  344   344   345   346   345   344

[justducky]

After falling off the map it looks like Iona has everybody back in uniform and returning to health.    Wouldn't be shocked to see them claw their way back into the top 100 and we need all the RPI help we can get!

[talksalot]

Taking a periodic look at the Nolan RPI as the scores come in:
1. After the Valpo and Green Bay finals:
2. After the Oakland and Detroit finals
3. After the Wright State final
4. after a few more, like Virginia and OK State
5. and a few more
   3:42pm   4:10pm   5:40pm   6:48pm  8:35pm  10:15pm... and 10:25 Sunday Morning

Valpo 42   42   41   42   44   40   40       
Oakland 94   95   95   91   93   94   92
Detroit 102   106   110   112   106   106   112
Milwaukee 134   133   166   170   170   169   169
Green Bay 148   155   153   150   151   153   153
Cleveland State 162   172   168   168   165   163   163
Wright State 198   192   158   158   156   155   154
Youngstown State 258   257   259   261   265   264   263
Northern Kentucky 306   307   307   305   304   303   300
Illinois Chicago  344   344   345   346   345   344   344

[talksalot]

REAL TIME RPI.com predicted final standings... before any HL Games:

Valpo 17 - 1 Loss @Detroit 70-69
Oakla 13 - 5 Loss to Valpo, @Detroit, @Milw, @Clev, @Valpo
Detro 12 - 6 Loss @Wright,@Milw, @GBay, @Clev, @Valpo @Oakl
Milwa 11 - 7 Road wins @ YST and NKY; Home loss to Valpo
GrBay 10 - 8  Loss @Clev, @Valpo, H-Oak, @Milw, @WSU, @Detr, @Oak, H-Valpo
WriSt 9 - 9 Loss @Milw, @Gbay, @Valpo, @Oak, @UDM, @Valpo, H-Oak, @YST, @Clev
Young 5 - 13  Wins @UIC, H-Clev, H-UIC, H-Wright, H-NorKy
NorKy 3 - 15  Wins H-Yst, H-Cleve, H-UIC
IllCh 2 - 16  Wins H-Clev, H-NorKy

so far... They missed the Wright State- Milwaukee game; where Milw was a 12-point favorite.

[HC]

Looks like a tweaking is in order before the next installment.

Edit: myself and realtime RPI think a lot alike.

[talksalot]

Yeh, my problem with their predictor is the value they give to Home Court....  16 points!!

Valpo vs. Oak:   Valpo by 70-69 there, and Valpo 77-61 at home
Valpo vs. UDM:  UDM 70-69 there, and Valpo 77-61 at home
Valpo vs. MIL:  Valpo 78-61 at home, Valpo 70-69 there
Valpo vs. GBY:  Valpo 79-60 at home, Valpo 71-68 there
Valpo vs. YST:  Valpo 75-66 there, Valpo 83-58 at home
Valpo vs. WSU:  Valpo 72-68 there, Valpo 80-59 at home
Valpo vs. NKY:  Valpo 76-66 there, Valpo 84-57 at home
Valpo vs. CLE:  Valpo 79-60 at home, Valpo 71-68 there
Valpo vs. UIC:  Valpo 86-56 at home, Valpo 78-64 there

[HC]

Home court in basketball is probables more valuable then home court/field/ice in the other major sports. Not sure what amount I'd give, but 16 seems high to me.

Looks like we are in for some snoozes at the ARC, lol.

[vu72]

Watching Oregon State beating Oregon by 14 with 14 to go.  Presume it is better for us if OSU wins. True??

[ValpoHoops]

As for RPI, it won't matter. Our opponents will go 1-1 in that game.

RPI is based solely on winning percentages.

For our resume, it would make the win over OSU look a bit better.