Big-12 Baseball RPI update
By JQ Section: Baseball
Posted on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:54:08 AM EDT

It has been two weeks since I updated this chart so a lot of action.

Texas A&M makes a big move and now leads the conference both in winning percentage and in RPI ranking. The Aggies moved from 22 all the way down to 6! A&M also became the first NCAA team to read the magic number of 40 wins, generally considered to be a mark of a great season. Nebraska comes in right behind A&M at #7. The Huskers moved up eight slots. Oklahoma State falls from #6 to #13, and into third place in the conference rankings. The Cowboys only lost one game during the last two weeks but it was against Utah Valley State (#243). Just playing teams ranked as low at UVS hurts a team's RPI, loosing to them comes with an even harsher penalty.

Right now A&M and Nebraska look like they might be awarded Regional Host status by the NCAA. The UVS loss by Oklahoma State might take the Cowboys out of the running or one of these rare honors. The NCAA names eight Regional Hosts each year - giving these teams the honor and advantage of playing at home for the first two rounds of the 64 team tournament. The eight teams that emerge from these sites travel to Omaha to compete in the College World Series.

Texas seems to have found some stability these last two weeks, winning back to back conference series. The last time I updated this chart the Longhorns looked to be slipping into "bubble" status. Now they look pretty well like a lock for an at-large invite. Baylor holds steady. The Bears are on the bubble and will need a strong finish. Missouri continues to slide. Even though the Tigers are ranked below Baylor I think they are in a better position to win a tournament invite due to their better conference record and high profile pitching staff. Boyd's World agrees with this assesment. According to Boyd's latest "RPI needs" list Missouri can go 5-3 in thier last eight games and still make the cut. Baylor must win five of their remaining six for the same result.

Kansas State makes a very strong move, moving up fifteen notches to #56. The Wildcats have no chance at earning an at-large, but the way they have been playing they will have to be taken seriously in the post-season Big-12 championship tournament in Oklahoma City. Kansas makes the most impressive move in the rankings, jumping 29 spots up to #93. This is the first time KU has broke into the top-100 all season. Kansas has won four consecutive games vs. Big-12 opponents.

Texas Tech and Oklahoma hold steady. The Red Raiders will need to play their best baseball of the season just to fight their way back into the top-8 of the conference and be given an opportunity to play in the Big-12 tournament.

RPI
ranking
TeamNCAA D-I
record
Big-12
record
Two weeks
ago
6Texas A&M40-818-322
8Nebraska35-8-115-5-115
13Oklahoma State33-1214-76
32Texas29-1912-1237
44Baylor27-229-1247
48Missouri29-1611-1041
50Oklahoma28-19-16-14-148
56Kansas State22-257-1473
84Texas Tech21-255-1383
93Kansas25-228-13122


Tracking KU's out of conference opponents - Wins over LeMoyne (151), Dartmouth (155), Xavier (166), Iowa (180), Northwestern (205), CCSU (231), UMBC (238), two over Missouri State (68) and Chicago State (291) each, plus three over NDSU (254). Loses to Vanderbilt (25), Arkansas (26), Wichita State (27), Illinois (110) and Ohio State (129). Lost a series 3-2 at Hawaii-Hilo (249).


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Dartmouth

Dartmouth and Columbia will play for the Ivy League championship tomorrow.  The two teams are tied 1-1 in the championship series after today's split double-header.  The winner tomorrow will be the first team to earn an NCAA berth.  

Russell Young, the Dartmouth starter who pitched well against KU in a 8-6 Jayhawk victory during the Florida Spring classic started the first game for the Big Green.  Just as they did versus KU, Dartmouth stuck with their ace even though he was taking a beating.  Young went 7.2 Innings, gave up 20 hits and 11 runs.  That is one pitcher willing to take lumps for his team.  I wonder how many pitches he ended up throwing.

by JQ on Tue May 06, 2008 at 08:30:53 PM EDT


Columbia first to earn NCAA tournament bid

Columbia became the first team to lock up an invitation to the NCAA tournament.  They defeated Dartmouth 7-5 yesterday in the third and deciding game of the Ivy League championship series.

Columbia might be the weakest team in the field of 64 this year.  They have an NCAA record of 22-25 and an RPI of .495 (#147).  The fall a bit the average of all 296 NCAA baseball teams.  Their likely reward for winning yesterday will be an opening game against Miami at Miami.

But congratulations go out to the Lions.  This will be their first NCAA tournament appearance and I am sure the school is thrilled with the opportunity.



Even Ivy Leaguers dogpile on special days.

by JQ on Thu May 08, 2008 at 10:27:42 AM EDT
[ Parent ]


Kansas State 7 - (#3) Arizona State 6

Huge win for the Bat Cats.  This win will help the whole conference.  Just one more indication that the Big-12 is every bit as good as the Pac-10, ACC and SEC.  The crazy thing is that there are still college baseball fans out there who still do not know this.  I think the "costal bias" is stronger in college baseball than in any other sport.

by JQ on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:44:27 PM EDT


I think...

a lot of it is that they see "northern" teams and just figure they can't be any good.  Undoubtedly, K-State and KU have underperformed this year, but in several games against top-notch competition, both teams have shown what they can do.

Thanks for the props JQ.  Don't forget to email me about the upcoming Sunflower Series.  I know for sure I will be at the game in Lawrence and the Saturday game in Manhattan.  May not make it Sunday.

by TB on Wed May 07, 2008 at 07:52:24 AM EDT
[ Parent ]


Will do

K-State is ranked #48 in the RPI this morning.  KU and the rest of the Big-12 got a boost as well.  KU moved up two notches while idle.

Missouri beat Creighton on a walk-off homerun 5-4 last night.  The Tigers play Missouri State tonight.  KU hosts Oral Roberts, weather permiting.  The biggest conference game is Oklahoma State at Rice.

by JQ on Wed May 07, 2008 at 10:14:24 AM EDT
[ Parent ]

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