This is one of those rare RPI WATCHes where there actually are some developments to discuss.
For starters, more of our non-conference opponents won Saturday than lost. That alone is cause for celebration.
BracketBusters wins were notched by Charleston Southern and Loyola Chicago (wow, Bradley must really suck).
Unfortunately, BracketBusters losses were incurred by Long Beach State and Southern Illinois. The former of those was particularly painful, as the 49ers led for virtually the entire second half until blowing the lead in the last minute.
Other big wins were tallied by Alabama over Tennessee and UTEP at Memphis, which simply was huge for their RPI and our SOS. Even lowly Howard got in on the act, winning at Coppin State.
Wins also were logged at home in overtime by North Florida and Virginia Tech, but I'd hesitate to call them "big."
More like "avoidance of bad losses." Kennesaw State is winless in A-Sun play and Georgia Tech simply has been woeful this season. There was no excuse for either home team to let those games go to extra minutes.
So, in combination with the signature win at Baylor, what was the net impact on K-State's tournament resume?
Our RPI improved from 63 to 49, passing Texas, which fell from 39 to 51. SOS improved by 10 spots and will improve again after Tuesday night. Things are looking up.
Also, it's worth noting that K-State would be 5-6 against RPI top 50 opponents, which is two more wins than last season, except that Texas just barely fell out of the top 50. Now the Longhorns need to recover.
Overall Record = 18-8
Big 12 Record = 7-7
Top 50 Record = 4-5
RPI = 49
SOS = 62
Signature Wins (RPI 1-30) = Missouri, Baylor
Quality Wins (RPI 31-100) = Alabama, Long Beach State, Texas
Bad Losses (RPI 101 or greater) = Oklahoma (x2)
- Charleston Southern (17-10, 10-6 Big South) | RPI = 169: Win over Wofford (77-59) in BracketBusters
- Loyola Chicago (7-19, 1-14 Horizon) | RPI = 301: Win at Bradley (56-44) in BracketBusters
- UMES (6-19, 3-9 MEAC) | RPI = 311
- George Washington (9-17, 4-8 A-10) | RPI = 178: Loss to St. Joseph's (66-73)
- Virginia Tech (15-12, 4-8 ACC) | RPI = 102: Win over Georgia Tech (74-73 in overtime)
- West Virginia (17-10, 7-7 Big East) | RPI = 40
- North Florida (14-15, 8-8 A-Sun) | RPI = 190: Win over Kennesaw State (81-77 in overtime)
- Alabama (17-9, 6-6 SEC) | RPI = 36: Win over Tennessee (62-50)
- Southern Illinois (8-20, 5-11 MVC) | RPI = 240: Loss at Ball State (62-71) in BracketBusters
- UTEP (13-13, 6-6 C-USA) | RPI = 146: Win at Memphis (60-58)
- Long Beach State (19-7, 12-0 Big West) | RPI = 39: Loss at Creighton (79-81) in BracketBusters
- Howard (8-19, 5-9 MEAC) | RPI = 291: Win at Coppin State (70-66)
- No. 4 Kansas (22-5, 12-2 Big 12) | RPI = 6: Win over Texas Tech (83-50)
- No. 3 Missouri (25-2, 12-2 Big 12) | RPI = 9: Win at Texas A&M (71-62)
- No. 9 Baylor (22-5, 9-5 Big 12) | RPI = 10: Loss to Kansas State (56-57)
- Oklahoma (13-13, 3-11 Big 12) | RPI = 115: Loss at Iowa State (69-80)
- Texas (17-10, 7-7 Big 12) | RPI = 51: Loss at Oklahoma State (78-90)
- Oklahoma State (13-14, 6-8 Big 12) | RPI = 101: Win over Texas (90-78)
- Texas Tech (8-18, 1-13 Big 12) | RPI = 228: Loss at No. 4 Kansas (50-83)
- Iowa State (19-8, 9-5 Big 12) | RPI = 41: Win over Oklahoma (80-69)
- Texas A&M (13-13, 4-10 Big 12) | RPI = 156: Loss to No. 3 Missouri (62-71)