RPI WATCH: 2/25/2011

A hearty "welcome back" to Gonzaga, which won its biggest game of the season Thursday night in Moraga, Calif.

With the victory, the Bulldogs crushed the hopes and dreams of raucous St. Mary's students, who had visions of an undisputed regular-season championship (and an end to GU's 10-year championship streak, a mark that makes even KU's streak pale in comparison) dancing in their heads.

Now, as long as the Zags take care of business in their last game, they can finish no worse than in a tie for the title.

They probably still should plan on winning the West Coast Tournament — just to be safe as far as making the NCAA Tournament — but given that SMC is on a three-game losing streak (two of those at home and one to the worst team in the WCC), Gonzaga already might be the most attractive at-large candidate in the conference.

Which, you know, is really good for K-State.

Other RPI and SOS boosts will come from Florida's sweep of Georgia, Loyola's extremely unexpected 20-point win at league power Valpo, North Florida's three-point triumph at Stetson and yet another Savannah State trouncing of an over-matched NCCAA opponent (yes, jon, I looked it up this time).

With its ugly home loss to Old Dominion, James Madison appears destined for the NIT, at best, and Presbyterian's home loss to Virginia Military Institute didn't do much for us, either.

But there's no shame in UMKC's home loss to Oakland, the Summit League's likely representative in the Big Dance.

Overall Record = 19-9

Big 12 Record = 7-6

Top 50 Record = 1-6

RPI = 27

SOS = 8

Signature Wins (RPI 1-30) = Kansas

Quality Wins (RPI 31-100) = James Madison, Virginia Tech, Gonzaga, Washington State, Baylor, Nebraska (2)

Bad Losses (RPI 101 or greater) = none

• James Madison (20-10, 9-8 CAA) | RPI = 76: Loss to Old Dominion (59-75)
  
• Virginia Tech (18-8, 8-5 ACC) | RPI = 63
  
• Presbyterian (12-18, 6-11 Big South) | RPI = 205: Loss to VMI (74-80)
  
• Gonzaga (20-9, 10-3 WCC) | RPI = 71: Win at St. Mary's (89-85 in overtime)
  
• No. 1 Duke (26-2, 12-1 ACC) | RPI = 5
  
• Texas Southern (15-10, 13-1 SWAC) | RPI = 163
  
• Emporia State (14-13, 11-10 MIAA*)
  
• Washington State (17-10, 7-8 Pac-10) | RPI = 83
  
• Alcorn State (3-23, 3-13 SWAC) | RPI = 340
  
• Loyola-Chicago (16-13, 7-10 Horizon League) | RPI = 212: Win at Valparaiso (68-48)
  
• No. 13 Florida (22-5, 11-2 SEC) | RPI = 12: Win over Georgia (71-62)
  
• UNLV (21-7, 9-5 Mountain West) | RPI = 25
  
• UMKC (16-12, 9-8 Summit League) | RPI = 197: Loss to Oakland (90-103)
  
• North Florida (12-18, 9-10 Atlantic Sun) | RPI = 178: Win at Stetson (80-77)
  
• Savannah State (10-18) | RPI = 263: Win over Carver Bible College** (103-64)
  
• Oklahoma State (16-11, 4-9 Big 12) | RPI = 57
  
• Colorado (17-11, 6-7 Big 12) | RPI = 86
  
• Texas Tech (12-16, 4-9 Big 12) | RPI = 154
  
• No. 20 Missouri (22-6, 8-5 Big 12) | RPI = 31
  
• No. 21 Texas A&M (22-5, 9-4 Big 12) | RPI = 26
  
• Baylor (17-10, 6-7 Big 12) | RPI = 82
  
• No. 3 Kansas (26-2, 11-2 Big 12) | RPI = 1
  
• Nebraska (18-9, 6-7 Big 12) | RPI = 77
  
• Iowa State (14-14, 1-12 Big 12) | RPI = 140
  
• Oklahoma (12-15, 4-9 Big 12) | RPI = 129
  
• No. 5 Texas (24-4, 12-1 Big 12) | RPI = 9
  

*Division II
**NCCAA