RPI WATCH: 1/19/2011

Before we discuss our opponents' performances, I want to offer a quick shout-out to Alabama coach (and bosom friend of Frank Martin) Anthony Grant, who netted his first signature win Tuesday night with an upset victory over Kentucky.

The Crimson Tide blew a 20-point lead and lost star freshman guard Trevor Releford to cramps late in the game, but held on for a squeaker. To quote the ESPN ad, "Roll Tide!"

In Big 12 action, we learned that Colorado is not quite ready for prime time and that Texas Tech is the worst team in the conference — for now.

You knew the Buffs would drop a road game sooner or later (and BIG 12 OUTLOOK predicted sooner, I might add), but it was the way they lost that was disappointing.

They made the Devaney Center look more intimidating than Bramlage Coliseum and they made Doc's boys look like KU with all those fast breaks. I think 3-0 got into their heads a little bit.

As for the Red Raiders, I still think they have more talent than Oklahoma. But they play like crap on the road no matter who the opponent is.

They'll probably get the Sooners back in Lubbock, so the real tiebreaker to determine which is the worse program will be whichever one can spring more home upsets over teams such as Baylor and Nebraska.

Speaking of horribly bad teams, kudos to Savannah State, which won its third game of the season at home by a point over the Stetson Hatters. Prime accomplishment, that.

Associated Press Ranking = 28

ESPN/USA Today Ranking = 24

Overall Record = 13-6

Big 12 Record = 1-3

RPI = 51

SOS = 26

Signature Wins (RPI 1-30) = none

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

Bad Losses (RPI 101 or greater) = none

• James Madison (15-3, 5-1 CAA) | RPI = 61
  
• Virginia Tech (11-5, 2-2 ACC) | RPI = 75
  
• Presbyterian (8-11, 2-5 Big South) | RPI = 133
  
• Gonzaga (13-5, 3-0 WCC) | RPI = 45
  
• No. 5 Duke (16-1, 3-1 ACC) | RPI = 10
  
• Texas Southern (7-9, 5-0 SWAC) | RPI = 168
  
• Emporia State (9-7, 6-4 MIAA*)
  
• Washington State (13-5, 3-3 Pac-10) | RPI = 58
  
• Alcorn State (1-15, 1-5 SWAC) | RPI = 317
  
• Loyola-Chicago (11-8, 2-6 Horizon League) | RPI = 190
  
• Florida (13-4, 2-1 SEC) | RPI = 17
  
• UNLV (14-4, 2-2 Mountain West) | RPI = 22
  
• UMKC (10-8, 3-4 Summit League) | RPI = 235
  
• North Florida (6-12, 3-4 Atlantic Sun) | RPI = 156
  
• Savannah State (3-17) | RPI = 290: Win over Stetson (50-49)
  
• Oklahoma State (13-4, 1-2 Big 12) | RPI = 42
  
• Colorado (14-5, 3-1 Big 12) | RPI = 73: Loss at Nebraska (67-79)
  
• Texas Tech (8-11, 0-4 Big 12) | RPI = 214: Loss at Oklahoma (74-83)
  
• No. 14 Missouri (16-3, 2-2 Big 12) | RPI = 28
  
• No. 10 Texas A&M (16-1, 3-0 Big 12) | RPI = 16
  
• Baylor (12-5, 2-2 Big 12) | RPI = 101
  
• No. 2 Kansas (18-0, 3-0 Big 12) | RPI = 1
  
• Nebraska (14-4, 2-2 Big 12) | RPI = 87: Win over Colorado (79-67)
  
• Iowa State (14-4, 1-2 Big 12) | RPI = 81
  
• Oklahoma (9-9, 1-3 Big 12) | RPI = 184: Win over Texas Tech (83-74)
  
• No. 11 Texas (14-3, 2-0 Big 12) | RPI = 39
  

*Division II