Cleveland Pod
1. Ohio State (Big Ten auto)
Record: 9-0 overall: 0-0 conference; 1-0 vs. RPI Top 50; 2-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 2-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 2-0
Average RPI win: 115; loss: 0
RPI: 5
SOS: 31
Holiday Schedule: 12/15 Florida Gulf Coast; 12/18 South Carolina; 12/21 UNC Asheville; 12/23 Oakland; 12/27 Tennessee-Martin; 12/31 @Indiana
The Buckeyes haven't missed Evan Turner, thanks to the arrival of Jared Sullinger. They may not be tested until a home game against Minnesota on January 9 (sorry, Iowa and Indiana).
16. Opening Round: Jackson State (SWAC auto) vs. Furman (Southern auto)
Jackson State
Record: 2-7 overall: 0-0 conference; 0-3 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 2-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 1-7
Average RPI win: 187; loss: 69
RPI: 66
SOS: 6
Holiday Schedule: 12/14 Spring Hill: 12/16 Talladega; 12/20 @Bradley
The Tigers have played once at home, a win over Florida International. Their next two won't count toward their tournament profile, however, as they're against non-Division I opponents.
Furman
Record: 5-2 overall: 2-0 conference; 0-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 5-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 3-2
Average RPI win: 228; loss: 52
RPI: 192
SOS: 336
Holiday Schedule: 12/18 @North Florida; 12/22 South Carolina; 12/29-30 UCF Holiday Classic (at Orlando)
Don't expect to see the Paladins here long, thanks to the presence of College of Charleston, Wofford, and Appalachian State in the SoCon. Fairly easy victories over Elon and UNC Greensboro sees Furman tied with the Cougars and Terriers atop the league's South Division.
8. Texas (Big 12 at-large)
Record: 7-2 overall: 0-0 conference; 1-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 4-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 1-2
Average RPI win: 180; loss: 69
RPI: 50
SOS: 93
Holiday Schedule: 12/14 North Florida; 12/18 North Carolina (at Greensboro); 12/22 @Michigan State; 12/31 Coppin State
The Longhorns would have been a higher seed, thanks to a win over Illinois and close loss to Pitt in the Coaches vs. Cancer event, but they took a tumble thanks to a bad loss at USC. Road wins over the Tar Heels and Spartans would push them back up.
9. Miami (FL) (ACC at-large)
Record: 7-2 overall: 0-0 conference; 2-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 3-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 1-2
Average RPI win: 107; loss: 90
RPI: 12
SOS: 8
Holiday Schedule: 12/18 UCF (at Sunrise, FL); 12/21 Oral Roberts (at Las Vegas); 12/22 Rice (at Las Vegas); 12/23 Akron (at Las Vegas); 12/30 Pepperdine; 1/2 @Duke
The Hurricanes biggest problem is that their two biggest victories, over Mississippi and West Virginia, came at home. Over the next couple of weeks, they'll have some chances to boost their road/neutral mark.
Denver Pod
5. Notre Dame (Big East at-large)
Record: 9-1 overall: 0-0 conference; 3-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 5-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 3-1
Average RPI win: 158; loss: 4
RPI: 36
SOS: 121
Holiday Schedule: 12/19 Stony Brook; 12/22 UMBC; 12/29 Georgetown; 1/1 @Syracuse
The Fighting Irish, who swept past Georgia, Cal, and Wisconsin, to claim the Old Spice Classic crown over Thanksgiving weekend, are one of the biggest surprises in the country so far. They have two winnable home games before the Big East grind.
12. Drexel (CAA auto)
Record: 6-1 overall: 1-0 conference; 0-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 5-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 3-1
Average RPI win: 185; loss: 48
RPI: 52
SOS: 187
Holiday Schedule: 12/14 @Louisville; 12/18 @St. Francis (PA); 12/22 @Syracuse; 12/28 Niagara
The Colonial is a two-bid league as long as the Dragons can stick around, which may not be for long with two Big East road trips on the slate before conference play resumes after the New Year.
4. Temple (Atlantic 10 at-large) (@Akron today)
Record: 6-2 overall: 0-0 conference; 2-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 2-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 2-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 3-2
Average RPI win: 129; loss: 43
RPI: 25
SOS: 22
Holiday Schedule: 12/18 Northern Illinois; 12/22 @Ohio; 12/30 @Villanova
Owl fans had to be concerned after a 1-2 trip to Orlando, but back-to-back wins over Maryland and Georgetown helped to ease their minds.
13. Vermont (America East auto)
Record: 7-2 overall: 0-0 conference; 0-2 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 5-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 2-2
Average RPI win: 185; loss: 8
RPI: 30
SOS: 58
Holiday Schedule: 12/20 @Fairfield; 12/22 @Iona; 12/29 Mount St. Mary's
The Catamounts have been a part of a pair of nationally memorable moments this year: Kemba Walker's huge game against them on November 17, which served as a dress rehearsal for his Maui coming out party and Jimmer Fredette's homecoming game in Glens Falls. However, UVM fans will probably appreciate their opening win at Siena more.
Tulsa Pod
6. Michigan State (Big Ten at-large)
Record: 6-3 overall: 0-0 conference; 0-3 vs. RPI Top 50; 3-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 3-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 2-3
Average RPI win: 173; loss: 10
RPI: 45
SOS: 36
Holiday Schedule: 12/18 Prairie View A&M: 12/22 Texas; 12/31 Minnesota
The Spartans seem to be missing something early on, and time is running out before the Big Ten season starts. And it's not like the Longhorns will be a picnic either.
11. Virginia (ACC at-large)
Record: 6-3 overall: 1-0 conference; 1-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 4-1 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 3-3
Average RPI win: 174; loss: 113
RPI: 76
SOS: 113
Holiday Schedule: 12/17 Oregon; 12/20 Norfolk State; 12/22 Seattle; 12/30 Iowa State; 1/2 LSU
Sure, the Cavaliers looked bad in losses to Stanford, Washington, and Wichita State, but Tony Bennett looks to have to have gotten things turned around quickly, as illustrated by a storming comeback at Minnesota and win at Virginia Tech.
3. Kansas State (Big 12 at-large)
Record: 8-1 overall: 0-0 conference; 0-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 3-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 3-1
Average RPI win: 134; loss: 8
RPI: 22
SOS: 63
Holiday Schedule: 12/18 Florida (at Sunrise, FL); 12/21 UNLV (at Kansas City); 12/23 UMKC; 12/31 North Florida
Wins over Gonzaga and Virginia Tech don't look so great at the moment, but they certainly are more attractive than the Wildcats' free throw percentage.
14. Hampton (Mid-Eastern auto)
Record: 7-2 overall: 1-0 conference; 0-0 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 7-1 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 5-1
Average RPI win: 232; loss: 162
RPI: 87
SOS: 199
Holiday Schedule: 12/20 Towson; 12/22 Liberty; 12/28 Dominican (at San Francisco); 12/30 @San Francisco; 1/1 Colorado State (at San Francisco)
The Pirates put together a seven-game win streak before falling to Delaware at home on Wednesday, and only one of those victories, an OT triumph against Georgia State, came at home.
Washington Pod
7. UNLV (MWC at-large)
Record: 9-1 overall: 0-0 conference; 1-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 2-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 3-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 5-1
Average RPI win: 151; loss: 18
RPI: 10
SOS: 28
Holiday Schedule: 12/15 UC Santa Barbara; 12/18 Southern Utah; 12/21 Kansas State (at Kansas City); 12/30 Central Michigan
On Saturday in Louisville, the Rebels became the first of the MWC's top three to lose this season, and they may drop another before BYU or San Diego State drop their first.
10. St. Mary's (West Coast auto)
Record: 5-2 overall: 0-0 conference; 0-2 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 4-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 1-2
Average RPI win: 158; loss: 10
RPI: 70
SOS: 103
Holiday Schedule: 12/14 UC Riverside; 12/18 Long Beach State (at Anaheim); 12/23 @New Mexico State; 12/29 Mississippi State (at Las Vegas); 12/31 Hartford
The Gaels' one-point defeat at the hands of BYU in South Padre was one of the best games that few people got to see so far this season. Their two best wins, against St. John's and Texas Tech, may not have much shelf life, however.
2. Connecticut (Big East at-large)
Record: 8-0 overall: 0-0 conference; 4-0 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 4-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 3-0
Average RPI win: 145; loss: 0
RPI: 7
SOS: 44
Holiday Schedule: 12/20 Coppin State; 12/22 Harvard; 12/27 @Pittsburgh; 12/31 USF
The Huskies are perhaps the most unexpected top four seed at this point of the season. The challenge will be for Kemba Walker and company to keep it going in a Big East campaign that will provide numerous challenges.
15. Morehead State (Ohio Valley auto)
Record: 4-4 overall: 2-0 conference; 0-2 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-2 vs. RPI 51-100; 2-0 vs. RPI 150+; Road/Neutral: 1-4
Average RPI win: 129; loss: 35
RPI: 98
SOS: 122
Holiday Schedule: 12/19 @Tennessee State; 12/21 @Austin Peay; 12/28 Kent State; 12/30 Binghamton; 1/2 College of Charleston
The Eagles defeated preseason favorite Murray State at home back on December 4.
RPI and schedule data from Basketball State, accessed on December 12, 2010. This information only reflects games played against Division I opponents.
East Region Breakdown
Southwest Region Breakdown
West Region Breakdown