RPI WATCH: 12/31/2010

For our non-conference opponents, there was more bad than good Thursday. The good consisted of UNLV and Virginia Tech winning fairly standard home games for this time of year.

But the bad somewhat outweighed that. It began with Alcorn State's loss to Ole Miss and Savannah State's loss to Southern Miss, but you expect those teams to lose games like that.

Far more damaging were conference losses by Loyola, which fell to 0-3 in the Horizon League (although those losses are to the three best teams in the conference — rough opening schedule), and UMKC, which fell to 1-3 in the Summit League.

The Roos' loss to South Dakota State was particularly head-scratching, since it came at home.

In Big 12 action, Iowa State posted an insanely good win by beating Virginia in Charlottesville. It was the Cyclones' first trip outside Iowa, which you might remember me harping on a few times.

Well, in that first test, they defeated by 13 points a Tony Bennett team that already has won at Minnesota and at Virginia Tech. Fred Hoiberg has to be the early favorite for Big 12 Coach of the Year, doesn't he?

Meanwhile, Missouri has been trucking right along, demolishing a very good Old Dominion team yesterday. A month ago, I was critical of Mizzou's halfcourt defense, but it's come a long way since then.

KU has shown enough potential weaknesses that I find myself wondering if the Tigers might actually the best Big 12 team right now.

Finally, Oklahoma barely escaped Central Arkansas by three points in Norman. There's simply no excuse for the game to have been that close.

Although freshman Cameron Clark had a career night, I continue to maintain that the Sooners are the worst team in the league, even if they have a one-game better record than Texas Tech right now.

Associated Press Ranking = 17

ESPN/USA Today Ranking = 17

Overall Record = 10-3

RPI = 15

SOS = 12

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 = 68
  
• Virginia Tech (8-4, 0-1 ACC) | RPI = 47: Win over South Carolina-Upstate (64-53)
  
• Presbyterian (6-7, 1-1 Big South) | RPI = 83
  
• Gonzaga (8-5) | RPI = 65
  
• No. 1 Duke (12-0) | RPI = 12
  
• Texas Southern (2-8) | RPI = 161
  
• Emporia State (7-4, 4-1 MIAA*)
  
• Washington State (10-3, 0-1 Pac-10) | RPI = 58
  
• Alcorn State (0-10) | RPI = 237: Loss at Ole Miss (62-100)
  
• Loyola-Chicago (9-5, 0-3 Horizon League) | RPI = 185: Loss at Cleveland State (55-73)
  
• Florida (9-3) | RPI = 28
  
• UNLV (12-2) | RPI = 23: Win over Central Michigan (73-47)
  
• UMKC (8-6, 1-3 Summit League) | RPI = 249: Loss to South Dakota State (71-91)
  
• North Florida (4-8, 1-1 Atlantic Sun) | RPI = 130
  
• Savannah State (2-14) | RPI = 321: Loss at Southern Miss (54-64 in the Hardwood Club Holiday Tournament)
  
• Oklahoma State (11-1) | RPI = 36
  
• Colorado (9-4) | RPI = 145
  
• Texas Tech (6-7) | RPI = 200
  
• No. 10 Missouri (13-1) | RPI = 32: Win over Old Dominion (81-58)
  
• No. 18 Texas A&M (11-1) | RPI = 35
  
• No. 23 Baylor (8-3) | RPI = 153
  
• No. 3 Kansas (12-0) | RPI = 2
  
• Nebraska (10-2) | RPI = 100
  
• Iowa State (12-2) | RPI = 92: Win at Virginia (60-47)
  
• Oklahoma (7-6) | RPI = 193: Win over Central Arkansas (76-73)
  
• No. 14 Texas (10-2) | RPI = 31
  

*Division II