RPI and schedule data from Basketball State (subscription), accessed on January 3, 2011. This information only reflects games played against Division I opponents up to Tuesday, January 4, 2010.
Tulsa Pod
1. Kansas (Big 12 auto)
Record: 13-0 overall; 0-0 conference; 2-0 vs. RPI Top 50; 6-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 4-0 vs. RPI 150+; 5-0 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 112; Loss: 0
RPI: 1
SOS: 19
Last Week: def. Texas-Arlington 82-57; def. Miami (OH) 83-56
This Week: vs. Missouri-Kansas City (Wed.), at Michigan (Sun.)
The Jayhawks look simply unstoppable with Josh Selby in the lineup.
16. Stephen F. Austin (Southland auto)
Record: 5-3 overall; 0-0 conference; 0-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 5-1 vs. RPI 150+; 1-3 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 185; Loss: 107
RPI: 187
SOS: 320
Last Week: def. Louisiana-Monroe, 60-36, def. Wiley 86-49
This Week: at Southeastern Louisiana (Sat.)
The Lumberjacks own the best winning percentage against D1 teams of any Southland member, which admittedly isn't saying much.
8. Gonzaga (West Coast at-large)
Record: 9-5 overall; 0-0 conference; 1-4 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 6-0 vs. RPI 150+; 3-4 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 173 Loss: 29
RPI: 50
SOS: 17
Last Week: def. Oklahoma State 73-52, won at Wake Forest 73-63
This Week: vs. Portland (Sat.)
The Bulldogs closed 2010 out by trouncing the Cowboys, then flew across country to play in Winston-Salem a little more than 36 hours later. Mark Few's team is glad the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament is played at one site.
9. Tennessee (SEC at-large)
Record: 9-4 overall; 0-0 conference; 2-0 vs. RPI Top 50; 2-3 vs. RPI 51-100; 3-1 vs. RPI 150+; 3-1 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 122 Loss: 108
RPI: 39
SOS: 8
Last Week: def. Tennessee-Martin 68-62; lost to College of Charleston 91-78
This Week: vs. Memphis (Wed.), at Arkansas (Sat.)
Remember when the Volunteers looked like world beaters? Two tricky matchups this week could send them tumbling even further.
Tucson Pod
5. Michigan State (Big Ten at-large)
Record: 9-4 overall; 2-0 conference; 3-4 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 4-0 vs. RPI 150+; 2-3 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 171 Loss: 15
RPI: 51
SOS: 28
Last Week: def. Minnesota 71-62, won at Northwestern 65-62
This Week: at Penn State (Sat.)
Since Tom Izzo's team won its first two Big Ten games after a rough early season, look for this team to make a nice run. If they'd dropped their opening two, history shows they'd be headed for an early tournament exit.
12. Utah State (WAC auto)
Record: 13-2 overall; 2-0 conference; 0-2 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 12-0 vs. RPI 150+; 3-2 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 210 Loss: 3
RPI: 42
SOS: 183
Last Week: def. Hawai'i 74-66, def. San Jose State 80-71
This Week: at Nevada (Sat.)
The Aggies, who need to go 14-0 in the conference to have a shot at an at-large, face a substantial challenge over the weekend, as they visit a somewhat resurgent Wolf Pack team.
4. Notre Dame (Big East at-large)
Record: 12-2 overall; 1-1 conference; 4-2 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 7-0 vs. RPI 150+; 3-2 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 163 Loss: 4
RPI: 12
SOS: 42
Last Week: def. Georgetown 69-55, lost at Syracuse 70-58
This Week: vs. Connecticut (Tue.), vs. St. John's (Sat.), at Marquette (Mon.)
The Fighting Irish are hoping that the crowd at Purcell Pavillion will help push them to 3-1 in the league.
13. George Mason (CAA auto)
Record: 10-3 overall; 2-0 conference; 0-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 6-1 vs. RPI 150+; 3-3 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 181 Loss: 109
RPI: 56
SOS: 116
Last Week: lost at Dayton 73-67, def. Delaware 75-66
This Week: vs. Hofstra (Wed.), at Old Dominion (Sat.)
The Patriots face a pair of huge games this week. They welcome the CAA co-leaders (along with Georgia State) on Wednesday and visit the preseason favorites three days later.
Tampa Pod
6. Texas A&M (Big 12 at-large)
Record: 12-1 overall; 0-0 conference; 2-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 6-0 vs. RPI 150+; 3-1 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 145 Loss: 24
RPI: 29
SOS: 126
Last Week: def. McNeese State 66-57, def. Nicholls State 66-55
This Week: at Oklahoma (Sat.)
The Aggies face a rough slate after taking on the Sooners on Saturday, but three of the four (Oklahoma State, Missouri, and Kansas State) are at home.
11. Arizona (Pac-10 at-large)
Record: 12-3 overall; 1-1 conference; 0-2 vs. RPI Top 50; 1-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 9-1 vs. RPI 150+; 4-3 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 188 Loss: 102
RPI: 31
SOS: 88
Last Week: won at Oregon 76-57, lost at Oregon State 76-75
This Week: vs. California (Thu.), vs. Stanford (Sat.)
The Wildcats are still looking for a marquee win. They won't get it against the Bay Area schools this weekend.
3. Connecticut (Big East at-large)
Record: 11-1 overall; 1-1 conference; 2-1 vs. RPI Top 50; 3-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 5-0 vs. RPI 150+; 3-1 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 144 Loss: 9
RPI: 6
SOS: 35
Last Week: lost at Pittsburgh 78-63, def. South Florida 66-61 (OT)
This Week: at Notre Dame (Tue.), at Texas (Sat.)
The Huskies really need to find some better scoring options, now that teams are starting to key in on Kemba Walker. UConn could rise if they grab two huge road wins this week.
14. Belmont (Atlantic Sun auto)
Record: 11-3 overall; 3-0 conference; 0-3 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 8-0 vs. RPI 150+; 4-3 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 242 Loss: 31
RPI: 111
SOS: 305
Last Week: def. Miami (OH) 83-72, won at Florida Gulf Coast 83-51
This Week: at Stetson (Wed.), North Florida (Sat.), Jacksonville (Mon.)
Provided they make the field, this Bruins team could finally make it past their first game.
Chicago Pod
7. North Carolina (ACC at-large)
Record: 10-4 overall; 0-0 conference; 1-4 vs. RPI Top 50; 3-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 5-0 vs. RPI 150+; 3-4 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 151 Loss: 33
RPI: 18
SOS: 4
Last Week: def. Rutgers (N) 78-55, def. St. Francis (PA) 103-54
This Week: at Virginia (Sat.)
The second-placed team in the ACC, unless they separate themselves from the rest of the pack significantly, won't receive as high of a seed as you'd expect. UNC is in best position to make such a move.
10. Cincinnati (Big East at-large)
Record: 14-0 overall; 2-0 conference; 1-0 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-0 vs. RPI 51-100; 9-0 vs. RPI 150+; 3-0 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 226 Loss: 0
RPI: 65
SOS: 325
Last Week: def. DePaul 76-60, def. Seton Hall 70-53
This Week: vs. Xavier (Thu.), at Villanova (Sun.)
During Friday's win over Seton Hall, ESPN listed the Bearcats "competitive" wins: Dayton, Wright State, Oklahoma. This is why they're no higher than here.
2. Purdue (Big Ten auto)
Record: 13-1 overall; 2-0 conference; 2-0 vs. RPI Top 50; 3-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 5-0 vs. RPI 150+; 4-1 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 136 Loss: 55
RPI: 10
SOS: 53
Last Week: won at Michigan 80-57, def. Northwestern 82-69
This Week: at Penn State (Wed.), vs. Iowa (Sun.)
Even without Robbie Hummel, the Boilermakers are looking like a serious Big Ten contender. Games against the Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes shouldn't change this.
15. Ball State (MAC auto)
Record: 7-3 overall; 0-0 conference; 0-2 vs. RPI Top 50; 0-1 vs. RPI 51-100; 6-0 vs. RPI 150+; 3-3 Road/Neutral
Average RPI win: 205 Loss: 23
RPI: 83
SOS: 127
Last Week: lost at Valparaiso 69-52, def. North Carolina A&T 80-68, def. SIU Edwardsville 76-46
This Week: at Northern Illinois (Sat.)
The Cardinals hold the auto bid for a conference that annually sees its best teams beat each other up.
Southeast Region Breakdown
East Region Breakdown
West Region Breakdown
Outside Looking In Breakdown