RPI WATCH: 12/30/2010

We'll go quick-recap style today:

• Colorado and Kansas both dispatched weak opponents at home. Just another holiday tuneup...
• Duke and Gonzaga both continued their respective winning streaks against over-matched opponents.
• Kudos to Savannah State, our Jan. 3 opponent, which won its first game against a Division I team (and only its second game of the season) by beating Southeastern Louisiana on a neutral court.
• As you'll see in tomorrow's conference preview, I haven't predicted a last-place finish for Texas Tech, but I'm already starting to waffle on that stance. The Red Raiders lost their seventh non-conference game last night by one point to New Mexico. They certainly keep finding creative new ways to lose.
• If Washington State has designs upon winning the Pac-10, the Cougars are going to have to figure out a way to win road games against mediocre teams such as UCLA. Witness Washington beating USC at Galen Center. Instead, the Cougs are on a two-game losing streak and their window of opportunity for entering the Top 25 appears to have closed shut for the immediate future.
• BONUS RECAP: What the hell happened to West Virginia? Those expecting the Mountaineers to reload from last year's Final Four squad likely were surprised by their 81-71 loss to St. John's in WVU's Big East home opener. I certainly was. Looks like a rebuilding year in Morgantown...

Associated Press Ranking = 17

ESPN/USA Today Ranking = 17

Overall Record = 10-3

RPI = 13

SOS = 9

Signature Wins (RPI 1-30) = none

Quality Wins (RPI 31-100) = James Madison, Virginia Tech, Presbyterian, Gonzaga, Washington State

Bad Losses (RPI 101 or greater) = none

• James Madison (9-3, 0-1 CAA) | RPI = 69
  
• Virginia Tech (7-4, 0-1 ACC) | RPI = 36
  
• Presbyterian (6-7, 1-1 Big South) | RPI = 80
  
• Gonzaga (8-5) | RPI = 66: Win over Lafayette (83-55)
  
• No. 1 Duke (12-0) | RPI = 10: Win at UNC Greensboro (108-62)
  
• Texas Southern (2-8) | RPI = 170
  
• Emporia State (7-4, 4-1 MIAA*)
  
• Washington State (10-3, 0-1 Pac-10) | RPI = 60: Loss at UCLA (71-80)
  
• Alcorn State (0-9) | RPI = 248
  
• Loyola-Chicago (9-4, 0-2 Horizon League) | RPI = 207
  
• Florida (9-3) | RPI = 30
  
• UNLV (11-2) | RPI = 18
  
• UMKC (8-5, 1-2 Summit League) | RPI = 227
  
• North Florida (4-8, 1-1 Atlantic Sun) | RPI = 142: Loss at Maryland (62-85)
  
• Savannah State (2-13) | RPI = 331: Win over Southeastern Louisiana (74-65 in the Hardwood Club Holiday Tournament)
  
• Oklahoma State (11-1) | RPI = 37
  
• Colorado (9-4) | RPI = 157: Win over Maryland-Eastern Shore (92-65)
  
• Texas Tech (6-7) | RPI = 198: Loss to New Mexico (60-61)
  
• No. 10 Missouri (12-1) | RPI = 42
  
• No. 18 Texas A&M (11-1) | RPI = 32
  
• No. 23 Baylor (8-3) | RPI = 147
  
• No. 3 Kansas (12-0) | RPI = 2: Win over Texas-Arlington (82-57)
  
• Nebraska (10-2) | RPI = 100
  
• Iowa State (11-2) | RPI = 113
  
• Oklahoma (6-6) | RPI = 181
  
• No. 14 Texas (10-2) | RPI = 31
  

*Division II