SEC and the RPI

The Patrick Patterson loss has greatly hurt the Cats chances to get into the dance. I believe that Kentucky has fallen behind most bubble teams, some of which are in the SEC.

Thru Friday, February 29, 2008 from Kenpom

SEC: RPI Rank 5

1. Tennessee
7. Vandy
41. MSU
44. Arkansas
47. Ole Miss
50. Florida
56. Kentucky

Kentucky Gets On the Bubble?

Bubble Teams Before and After Bracketbuster Saturday.

Kentucky really improved their position Saturday with the win over Arkansas. With 4 games, left Kentucky needs to go 4-1 giving them a conference record of 12-4 in conference. There is no way that Kentucky will be left out of the Dance if this happens.

The teams with the worst RPI to receive a bid have been #74 New Mexico in 1999, #70 Air Force in 2004, #66 Minnesota in 1995 and three teams #No. 63.

By the Way: Dukie V. believes that Kentucky will play their way into the NCAA tournament.

BOLD = Losers
Italics= Not in action Saturday
(##) RPI on Friday, Feb 22

Biggest Gains:
Creighton: +18
Kent State +9
So. Illinois +9
Kentucky +9
San Diego St. +9

27. (25). BYU (lost to San Diego St.)
31. (26) St. Mary's (lost to Kent State)
26. (27) South Alabama
25. (28) Miami, FL (beat Maryland)
28 (29) Oklahoma (lost to 5 RPI Texas)
29. (30.)Purdue
32. (31) UMASS
40. (32) USC (beat #244 Oregon St.)
33. (33) Dayton
35. (34) Gonzaga
38. (35.)Arkansas (lost to Kentucky)
34. (36) UNLV (beat #212 Wyoming)
39. (37) Kansas St. (lost to Baylor)
44. (38). Texas A&M (lost to #119 Nebraska)
30. (39) Kent State (beat St. Mary's)
36. (40). West Virgina (beat #101 Providence)
45. (41) Ole Miss (lost by 20 to LSU)
37. (42) Baylor (beat Kansas St.)
42. (43) Rhode Island
41. (44) Mississippi St. (beat #111 S. Carolina)
58. (45) Oral Roberts (lost to Creighton)
48. (46) Ohio State
46. (47) Syracuse
47. (48) Stephen F. Austin
43. (49) New Mexico (beat Utah)
62. (50) Houston (beat #270 Rice)
55. (51) Western Kentucky
50. (52) Illinois St.
54. (53) St. Joes
57. (54) Oregon (lost to #9 UCLA)
61. (55) Davidson
49. (56) Villanova (beat #11 UCONN)
59. (57) Florida
56. (58) Texas Tech (beat #128 Iowa St.)
50 (59) Southern Illinois (beat Nevada by 25)
52. (60). VCU (beat #91 Akron)
63. (61) VA Tech (beat #81 GA Tech)
60. (62) Ohio (beat George Mason)
65. (63.)Maryland (lost to Miami)
67. (64) Wake Forest
80. (65) Temple (lost to #157 Fordham)
69. (66) NC State
69. (67) UAB (beat #278 Southern Methodist)
70. (68) George Mason (lost to Ohio)
73. (69)Seton Hall (beat #147 Depaul)
74. (70) Wright St.
53. (71) Creighton (beat Oral Roberts)
82. (72) Nevada (lost to So. Ill by 25)
64. (73) Kentucky (beat Arkansas)
71. (74) Arizona St. (beat #102 Wash)
66. (75) San Diego St. (beat BYU)
75. (76) Cincinnati (lost by 20 to Georgetown)
89. (77) Utah (lost to New Mexico)
76. (78) Cleveland St. (beat #121 Marist)
78. (79) California
72. (80) Cornell (beat #110 Brown)

Bracket Buster Weekend

Right Now I am watching Davidson slaughter Winthrop early on ESPN's much over hyped Bracket Buster weekend. Well here is how the Cats stack up against these juggernauts.

Conf Standing	Winthrop 1		Davidson 1		UK 2
AP Rank	0		0		0
RPI	0.5344		0.5657		0.5597
RPI Rank	107		62		72
SOS	0.4862		0.4981		0.5698
SOS Rank	192		164		23
Wins & Losses
Overall	18-9	(66.7%)	20-6	(76.9%)	14-10	(58.3%)
Home	10-1	(90.9%)	11-2	(84.6%)	11-4	(73.3%)
Away	5-6	(45.5%)	9-3	(75.0%)	3-5	(37.5%)
Neutral	3-2	(60.0%)	0-1	(0.0%)	0-1	(0.0%)
Conference	9-3	(75.0%)	18-0	(100.0%)	8-3	(72.7%)
Top 25	1-0	(100.0%)	0-3	(0.0%)	2-3	(40.0%)
Blowout (> 19)	3-0	(100.0%)	9-0	(100.0%)	5-1	(83.3%)
Close (<>	1-6	(14.2%)	2-2	(50.0%)	3-2	(60.0%)

Thursday's Bubble Games

The Cats are not getting much help from the other bubble teams. Last nights teams went 3-2. WKU and Arizona St. lost. The only way Kentucky is going to climb out of that 70ish RPI range is to beat number 34 (and tournament bound) Arkansas on Saturday. Kentucky needs to be in the 45-50 Range come tournament time.

What Teams to Watch Thursday

Conference	UMASS A-10		S. Bama Sun Belt		WKU Sun Belt		Oral Roberts Summit League		Arizona St. Pac 10
State	MA		AL		KY		OK		AZ
Founded	1863		1963		1906		1963		1885
School Type	Public		Public		Public		Private		Public
Enrollment	22,812		13,538		18,391		5,500		45,693
Rankings
Conf Standing	9		2		1		1		4
AP Rank	0		0		0		0		0
RPI	0.5865		0.5902		0.5808		0.5825		0.5581
RPI Rank	39		37		45		44		74
SOS	0.568		0.5115		0.5008		0.5075		0.54
SOS Rank	30		131		155		139		79
Wins & Losses
Overall	16-9	(64.0%)	21-5	(80.8%)	21-5	(80.8%)	19-6	(76.0%)	16-8	(66.7%)
Home	9-3	(75.0%)	14-0	(100.0%)	12-0	(100.0%)	11-0	(100.0%)	12-3	(80.0%)
Away	4-6	(40.0%)	5-4	(55.6%)	8-3	(72.7%)	7-5	(58.3%)	2-4	(33.3%)
Neutral	3-0	(100.0%)	2-1	(66.7%)	1-2	(33.3%)	1-1	(50.0%)	2-1	(66.7%)
Conference	5-6	(45.5%)	13-2	(86.7%)	13-1	(92.9%)	14-1	(93.3%)	6-6	(50.0%)
Top 25	1-2	(33.3%)	0-0	(0.0%)	0-2	(0.0%)	0-2	(0.0%)	2-2	(50.0%)
Blowout (> 19)	2-0	(100.0%)	5-0	(100.0%)	7-0	(100.0%)	5-1	(83.3%)	5-2	(71.4%)
Close (<>	2-2	(50.0%)	3-4	(42.8%)	5-3	(62.5%)	3-2	(60.0%)	5-2	(71.4%)

A No Win Wednesday

Talk about bad luck. There were 12 teams in action last night who are on the bubble and only one (Maryland) lost because they played another bubble team, VA Tech.

Kentucky dropped 3 spots to number 73. Damn Computers.

Wednesday Bubble Busters

These teams are in action tonight. There are some big games for Kentucky. I believe the Cats are going to need all the outside help they can get.

Conf Standing	Temple 3		NC State 9		TX Tech 7		Villanova 10		G. Mason 2		VCU 1
AP Rank	0		0		0		0		0		0
RPI	0.5642		0.566		0.5598		0.5655		0.5635		0.5645
RPI Rank	64		61		71		62		66		63
SOS	0.5764		0.5599		0.59		0.544		0.515		0.4974
SOS Rank	19		44		4		71		124		167
Wins & Losses
Overall	13-11	(54.2%)	15-10	(60.0%)	13-11	(54.2%)	15-9	(62.5%)	18-8	(69.2%)	19-6	(76.0%)
Home	8-3	(72.7%)	10-3	(76.9%)	11-2	(84.6%)	9-2	(81.8%)	11-1	(91.7%)	11-1	(91.7%)
Away	4-5	(44.4%)	2-7	(22.2%)	1-8	(11.1%)	3-6	(33.3%)	5-5	(50.0%)	6-3	(66.7%)
Neutral	1-3	(25.0%)	3-0	(100.0%)	1-1	(50.0%)	3-1	(75.0%)	2-2	(50.0%)	2-2	(50.0%)
Conference	6-4	(60.0%)	4-7	(36.4%)	4-6	(40.0%)	5-7	(41.7%)	10-5	(66.7%)	12-3	(80.0%)
Top 25	1-3	(25.0%)	2-4	(33.3%)	3-2	(60.0%)	1-2	(33.3%)	1-1	(50.0%)	0-1	(0.0%)
Blowout (> 19)	1-0	(100.0%)	2-3	(40.0%)	3-1	(75.0%)	3-1	(75.0%)	5-0	(100.0%)	4-0	(100.0%)
Close (<>	5-5	(50.0%)	6-2	(75.0%)	1-5	(16.6%)	3-3	(50.0%)	2-5	(28.5%)	3-2	(60.0%)

Conf Standing	Wright St. 2		Florida 4		VA Tech 6		Marylan 3		Miami, Fl 7		Kentucky 2
AP Rank	0		0		0		0		0		0
RPI	0.5642		0.5673		0.5584		0.5781		0.5895		0.561
RPI Rank	64		58		72		51		38		69
SOS	0.5045		0.5198		0.5568		0.5782		0.555		0.5715
SOS Rank	146		117		50		17		54		27
Wins & Losses
Overall	19-6	(76.0%)	19-7	(73.1%)	14-11	(56.0%)	17-9	(65.4%)	17-7	(70.8%)	14-10	(58.3%)
Home	11-3	(78.6%)	14-2	(87.5%)	9-2	(81.8%)	13-4	(76.5%)	10-2	(83.3%)	11-4	(73.3%)
Away	7-3	(70.0%)	2-5	(28.6%)	3-7	(30.0%)	4-2	(66.7%)	4-4	(50.0%)	3-5	(37.5%)
Neutral	1-0	(100.0%)	3-0	(100.0%)	2-2	(50.0%)	0-3	(0.0%)	3-1	(75.0%)	0-1	(0.0%)
Conference	11-4	(73.3%)	6-5	(54.5%)	5-6	(45.5%)	7-4	(63.6%)	4-6	(40.0%)	8-3	(72.7%)
Top 25	1-0	(100.0%)	1-3	(25.0%)	0-4	(0.0%)	1-3	(25.0%)	0-2	(0.0%)	2-3	(40.0%)
Blowout (> 19)	1-0	(100.0%)	9-1	(90.0%)	4-1	(80.0%)	6-0	(100.0%)	6-0	(100.0%)	5-1	(83.3%)
Close (<>	12-3	(80.0%)	2-2	(50.0%)	3-5	(37.5%)	5-2	(71.4%)	4-2	(66.6%)	3-2	(60.0%)

RPI after the Georgia Game

Kentucky up 2 spots to 70 after win.
Ohio falls from 56 to 62 after win.
Davidson up 8 to 58 after win.
Creighton falls a spot to 71 after win.
Oral Roberts gives up one spot to 44 after win.
Baylor falls 2 spots to 42 after loss.

Man.......Watching the RPI sucks.

Bubble Wednesday

Big Wednesday today. There are approx. 11 bubble teams in action on Wednesday.

Temple (63) on the road against St. Bonaventure
N.C. State (58) home against North Carolina
Texas Tech (67) on the road against Colorado
Villanova (60) home against West Virginia
George Mason (65) home against Delaware
VCU (64) on the road against Northeastern
Wright St. (62) home against Detroit
Florida (57) home against South Carolina
Virginia Tech (71) at Maryland (50)
Miami, Fl (39) hosting Duke
(Joe Lunardi, ESPN's Brackatologist has VCU and Maryland in the field of 64)

Bubble Watch Tuesday, Feb 19

The Cats took care of business against the Georgia Bulldogs. The other bubble teams also won when needed except for Baylor. Using crude math, I figure there are still about 20-25 teams ahead of the Cats for an "At Large" bid. This game will not sway the voters.

Here are the results of the "Bubble" games that mean something to the Kentucky faithful.

Bowling Green 48 vs Ohio 69
Missouri St. 67 vs. Creighton 88
UNC Greensboro 66 vs. Davidson 75
Southern Utah 62 vs. Oral Roberts 71
Baylor 91 vs. Oklahoma 92


(Tuesdays Results have not been calculated)

Conf Standing	Ohio 3		Creighton 4		Davidson 1		Or. Roberts 1		Baylor 5		Kentucky 2
AP Rank	0		0		0		0		0		0
RPI	0.5687		0.56		0.5633		0.584		0.588		0.5582
RPI Rank	56		70		66		43		40		72
SOS	0.5206		0.5245		0.4969		0.5113		0.5618		0.5725
SOS Rank	117		111		166		131		42		27
Wins & Losses
Overall	16-9	(64.0%)	17-8	(68.0%)	19-6	(76.0%)	18-6	(75.0%)	17-7	(70.8%)	13-10	(56.5%)
Home	9-0	(100.0%)	13-2	(86.7%)	10-2	(83.3%)	10-0	(100.0%)	10-3	(76.9%)	10-4	(71.4%)
Away	5-8	(38.5%)	4-6	(40.0%)	9-3	(75.0%)	7-5	(58.3%)	4-3	(57.1%)	3-5	(37.5%)
Neutral	2-1	(66.7%)	0-0	(0.0%)	0-1	(0.0%)	1-1	(50.0%)	3-1	(75.0%)	0-1	(0.0%)
Conference	7-5	(58.3%)	8-7	(53.3%)	17-0	(100.0%)	13-1	(92.9%)	5-5	(50.0%)	7-3	(70.0%)
Top 25	0-1	(0.0%)	0-3	(0.0%)	0-3	(0.0%)	0-2	(0.0%)	1-4	(20.0%)	2-3	(40.0%)
Blowout > 19	0-1	(0.0%)	6-1	(85.7%)	9-0	(100.0%)	5-1	(83.3%)	6-0	(100.0%)	5-1	(83.3%)

Bubble Watch

Here is the Bubble Watch after Monday nights games:

(ALL RPI rankings as of February 17)

Lousiville 61 - Syracuse 50
Syracuse
RPI 46
Overall: 17-10
Conf: 7-7 Big East (9th)
SOS: 13
Top 25: 1-4
RPI Top 50: 2-8
RPI 50-100: 5-0
RPI 101-150: 7-2
RPI 151-200 : 2-0
RPI 200+ : 1-0
Big Wins: Feb 16 against #8 Georgetown
Big Losses: Feb 13 against South Florida (RPI 156)

Syracuse really helped themselves last week with a big win against top 10 Georgetown. It nearly erases the bad loss 3 days earlier to South Florida. There is not an easy game left on the schedule.

Gonzaga 56-San Diego 51
Gonzaga
RPI: 40
Overall: 21-6
Conf: 10-1 WCC (1st)
SOS: 93
Top 25: 0-4
RPI Top 50: 3-4
RPI 50-100: 2-2
RPI 101-150: 3-0
RPI 151-200: 6-0
RPI 200+ : 7-0
Big Wins: In late November, early December on Neutral or Road courts the Zags beat VT (72), St. Joe's (RPI 41) and UCONN (RPI 12)
Big Loses: None

They play in the WCC (RPI 12) so their SOS is not going to be great. The Zags have beat the teams they were supposed to beat (13 with 150+ RPI) and lost to good teams (Texas Tech, Washington State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Memphis, St. Mary's). They have done enough to get in and will probably go deep into the conference tourny without a loss.

Kentucky
RPI: 71
Overall: 13-10
Conf: 7-3 WCC (4th)
SOS: 25
Top 25: 2-3
RPI Top 50: 3-4
RPI 51-100: 1-3
RPI 101-150: 3-3
RPI 151-200: 2-0
RPI 200+ : 4-0
Big Wins: Jan 12 Vandy, Jan 22 Tennessee,
Big Loses: You Know!!!!!

Games tonight:
Bowling Green vs Ohio (63)
Missouri St. vs. Creighton (70)
UNC Greensboro vs. Davidson (56)
Southern Utah vs. Oral Roberts (44)
(42) Baylor vs. Oklahoma

Bubble Watch

After a long month out of the country..........and away from a computer I have returned to the DREADED BUBBLE WATCH. So this week I am tracking the games that have meaning for Kentucky.

Monday Night
Syracuse at #23 Louisville.
Gonzaga at San Diego

The Orangemen (RPI 46) could slide in if the season was to end today, but they have a lot of work to do. The Zags (RPI 40) are in with maybe a 9 or 10 seed but if San Diego could knock off a Top 50 team it would strenghen their RPI (115) therefor helping the Cats (RPI 71).

Complete breakdown of these games tomorrow plus a preview of the match ups on Tuesday.