RPI WATCH: 3/6/2011

Things we learned Saturday:

• Based on K-State's experiences (and their overall records), was Alcorn State at Texas Southern the biggest mismatch in SWAC history? Probably not — there's been a lot of crappy SWAC teams.
• Duke can't beat athletic teams on the road. That does not augur well for the Kyrie-less Blue Devils' chances of making it past the Sweet Sixteen.
• It was a valiant effort for Emporia State to reach the MIAA semifinals, but that's the end of the road. The Hornets never were anything more than a marginally mediocre team.
• Big win for Florida at Vanderbilt, securing an undisputed conference championship and a nice hot streak for the Gators — who, along with K-State and North Carolina, have to be considered one of the most dangerous non-No. 1 seeds in the Big Dance.
• North Florida tried its best, but simply reaching the A-Sun championship was a mighty feat for a team that outclassed by Belmont in every way possible. The Bruins are going to knock someone off...
• UNLV, which will be a dangerous team in the NCAA Tournament, sent Utah off to the Pac-12 with a 20-point home loss. Strangely appropriate.
• If Virginia Tech reaches the NCAA Tournament, the Hokies will be in Dayton. Guaranteed. The First Four was created with Seth Greenberg's team in mind, and I defy the NCAA to deny it.
• Washington State's NCAA hopes, in the end, were undone by a pair of joints. Wazzu blew a huge lead at home against UCLA in a game that could have put the Cougars in the field of 68, given the rate at which bubble teams have been losing marginal games. They held on until overtime, but due to Klay Thompson's marijuana arrest and Reggie Moore's bum knee, the Cougs didn't have enough weapons.
  

Associated Press Ranking = 29

ESPN/USA Today Ranking = 29

Overall Record = 22-9

Big 12 Record = 10-6

Top 50 Record = 3-6

RPI = 19

SOS = 6

Signature Wins (RPI 1-30) = Kansas, Texas

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

Bad Losses (RPI 101 or greater) = none

• James Madison (21-11, 10-8 CAA) | RPI = 87
  
• Virginia Tech (19-10, 9-7 ACC) | RPI = 66: Loss at Clemson (60-69)
  
• Presbyterian (13-18, 7-11 Big South) | RPI = 203
  
• Gonzaga (22-9, 11-3 WCC) | RPI = 68
  
• No. 4 Duke (27-4, 13-3 ACC) | RPI = 5: Loss at No. 13 North Carolina (67-81)
  
• Texas Southern (18-11, 16-2 SWAC) | RPI = 178: Win over Alcorn State (79-68)
  
• No. 6 seed Emporia State (16-14, 12-10 MIAA*): Loss to No. 19*/No. 2 seed Fort Hays State (71-74 in the MIAA Tournament)
  
• Washington State (19-11, 9-9 Pac-10) | RPI = 75: Loss to UCLA (54-58 in overtime)
  
• Alcorn State (4-24, 4-14 SWAC) | RPI = 336: Loss at Texas Southern (68-79)
  
• Loyola-Chicago (16-15, 7-11 Horizon League) | RPI = 198
  
• No. 14 Florida (24-6, 13-3 SEC) | RPI = 10: Win at No. 21 Vanderbilt (86-76)
  
• UNLV (23-7, 11-5 Mountain West) | RPI = 25: Win at Utah (78-58)
  
• UMKC (16-13, 9-9 Summit League) | RPI = 207
  
• No. 6 seed North Florida (15-19, 10-10 Atlantic Sun) | RPI = 150: Loss to No. 1 seed Belmont (46-87 in the A-Sun Tournament)
  
• Savannah State (11-18) | RPI = 265
  
• Oklahoma State (18-12, 6-10 Big 12) | RPI = 62: Loss at Oklahoma (61-64)
  
• Colorado (19-12, 8-8 Big 12) | RPI = 76: Win over Nebraska (67-57)
  
• Texas Tech (13-18, 5-11 Big 12) | RPI = 159: Loss at No. 24 Texas A&M (54-66)
  
• No. 22 Missouri (22-9, 8-8 Big 12) | RPI = 34: Loss to No. 2 Kansas (66-70)
  
• No. 24 Texas A&M (23-7, 10-6 Big 12) | RPI = 30: Win over Texas Tech (66-54)
  
• Baylor (18-12, 7-9 Big 12) | RPI = 83: Loss to No. 7 Texas (54-60)
  
• No. 2 Kansas (29-2, 14-2 Big 12) | RPI = 1: Win at No. 22 Missouri (70-66)
  
• Nebraska (19-11, 7-9 Big 12) | RPI = 78: Loss at Colorado (57-67)
  
• Iowa State (16-15, 3-13 Big 12) | RPI = 128: Loss at Kansas State (55-67)
  
• Oklahoma (13-17, 5-11 Big 12) | RPI = 134: Win over Oklahoma State (64-61)
  
• No. 7 Texas (25-6, 13-3 Big 12) | RPI = 13: Win at Baylor (60-54)
  

*Division II