RPI WATCH: 2/18/2010

I'll discuss the Big 12 games tomorrow in BIG 12 OUTLOOK.

And I don't plan to discuss piddly Loyola or Boston U. at all.

So that leaves the cases of UNLV and Xavier, which could not be more dissimilar.

In case there was any doubt that UNLV still might win the Mountain West Conference, the Runnin' Rebels were swept by Utah last night. Utah is terrible. UNLV still will make the tournament, but it's just an average team at this point.

Meanwhile, Xavier keeps trucking along in an Atlantic 10 Conference that just gets more confusing by the day. Saint Louis knocked off Rhode Island at home Wednesday night, following disruptive home wins against Richmond and Dayton.

In other words, the Billikens are the ultimate spoiler who hold the key to the entire conference. They still get Temple and Xavier at home, too. Whichever team can get a win under the Arch probably will win the league.

AP Ranking = 7

ESPN/USA Today Ranking = 7

Record = 21-4

Big 12 Record = 8-3

RPI = 7

SOS = 7

Signature Wins (RPI 1-30) = Xavier, Texas A&M, Texas, Baylor

Quality Wins (RPI 31-100) = Dayton, IUPUI, UNLV, Alabama

Bad Losses (RPI 101 or greater) = none

• Loyola Chicago (14-12, 5-11) | RPI = 185: Loss at Valparaiso (84-73)
  
• Western Illinois (11-14, 4-10) | RPI = 275
  
• Boston University (15-12, 10-5) | RPI = 171: Win over Binghamton (93-51)
  
• Ole Miss (17-7, 5-5) | RPI = 45
  
• Dayton (17-7, 6-4) | RPI = 32
  
• IUPUI (18-9, 11-3) | RPI = 99
  
• No. 10* FHSU (18-4)
  
• Washington State (15-10, 5-8) | RPI = 118
  
• Xavier (18-7, 9-2) | RPI = 21: Win over St. Joseph's (88-52)
  
• UNLV (19-7, 7-5) | RPI = 35: Loss at Utah (66-61)
  
• Alabama (14-11, 4-7) | RPI = 95
  
• UAPB (10-14, 10-3) | RPI = 223
  
• Cleveland State (13-14, 9-6) | RPI = 129
  
• South Dakota (14-9) | RPI = 231
  
• Missouri (19-7, 7-4) | RPI = 47: Win over No. 15 Texas (82-77)
  
• No. 24 Texas A&M (18-7, 7-4) | RPI = 13
  
• Colorado (12-13, 3-8) | RPI = 141: Win over Oklahoma (77-67)
  
• No. 15 Texas (20-6, 6-5) | RPI = 28: Loss at Missouri (82-77)
  
• Oklahoma State (18-7, 6-5) | RPI = 38: Win at Iowa State (69-64)
  
• No. 22 Baylor (20-5, 7-4) | RPI = 17
  
• No. 1 Kansas (25-1, 11-0) | RPI = 1
  
• Nebraska (13-13, 1-10) | RPI = 124: Loss at No. 7 Kansas State (91-87)
  
• Iowa State (13-13, 2-9) | RPI = 107: Loss to Oklahoma State (69-64)
  
• Oklahoma (13-12, 4-7) | RPI = 89: Loss at Colorado (77-67)
  
• Texas Tech (16-9, 4-7) | RPI = 38
  

*Division II Top 25