RPI WATCH: 3/13/2011

Two Saturday games were of notable interest to K-State fans, although neither is likely to have any impact on the Cats' seeding.

Obviously, the Big 12 championship (which I attempted, but apparently failed, to post an open game thread for — sorry 'bout that) was interesting from the perspective that it involved two teams K-State beat in its "signature wins."

Clearly, one of those wins was more impressive than the other, because as of March 12, Texas doesn't look as if it even belongs on the same floor with Kansas.

In a series of unmemorable (or memorably bad) performances by Rick Barnes-coached teams in conference championship games, this might have been the worst.

And in a rematch of a Gameday broadcast upset a few weeks ago, Duke took Virginia Tech apart.

The obvious theme linking these two games is that basketball powerhouse teams and Hall of Fame coaches remember when you beat them, and they don't particularly enjoy it much.

Two other non-conference opponents were in action on Selection Eve.

Florida beat Vanderbilt for this third time this season to advance to a SEC championship game against Kentucky, while Savannah State defeated N.C. Central (likely with Dominique Sutton on the sideline in warm-ups) in a MEAC "bonus game."

The game was held as part of the MEAC Tournament festivities to match SSU, which will join the conference next year, and NCCU, which is not eligible for the tourney as it completes its transition to Division I status.

It was nice of the conference to make them feel included, I suppose.

Associated Press Ranking = 19

ESPN/USA Today Ranking = 23

Overall Record = 22-10

Big 12 Record = 10-6

Top 50 Record = 3-6

Big 12 Seed = 4

RPI = 23

SOS = 8

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 = 88
  
• No. 6 seed Virginia Tech (21-11, 9-7 ACC) | RPI = 60: Loss to No. 2 seed Duke (63-77 in the ACC Tournament)
  
• Presbyterian (13-18, 7-11 Big South) | RPI = 204
  
• Gonzaga (23-9, 11-3 WCC) | RPI = 56
  
• No. 2 seed Duke (29-4, 13-3 ACC) | RPI = 4: Win over No. 6 seed Virginia Tech (77-63 in the ACC Tournament)
  
• Texas Southern (19-12, 16-2 SWAC) | RPI = 192
  
• Emporia State (16-14, 12-10 MIAA*)
  
• Washington State (19-12, 9-9 Pac-10) | RPI = 82
  
• Alcorn State (4-24, 4-14 SWAC) | RPI = 337
  
• Loyola-Chicago (16-15, 7-11 Horizon League) | RPI = 197
  
• No. 1 (East) seed Florida (26-6, 13-3 SEC) | RPI = 7: Win over No. 3 (East) seed Vanderbilt (77-66 in the SEC Tournament)
  
• UNLV (24-8, 11-5 Mountain West) | RPI = 26
  
• UMKC (16-14, 9-9 Summit League) | RPI = 212
  
• North Florida (15-19, 10-10 Atlantic Sun) | RPI = 148
  
• Savannah State (12-18) | RPI = 251: Win over North Carolina Central (64-50 in the MEAC Tournament "bonus game")
  
• Oklahoma State (19-13, 6-10 Big 12) | RPI = 62
  
• Colorado (21-13, 8-8 Big 12) | RPI = 65
  
• Texas Tech (13-19, 5-11 Big 12) | RPI = 165
  
• Missouri (23-10, 8-8 Big 12) | RPI = 37
  
• Texas A&M (24-8, 10-6 Big 12) | RPI = 29
  
• Baylor (18-13, 7-9 Big 12) | RPI = 94
  
• No. 1 seed Kansas (32-2, 14-2 Big 12) | RPI = 1: Win over No. 2 seed Texas (85-73 in the Big 12 Tournament)
  
• Nebraska (19-12, 7-9 Big 12) | RPI = 89
  
• Iowa State (16-16, 3-13 Big 12) | RPI = 138
  
• Oklahoma (14-18, 5-11 Big 12) | RPI = 128
  
• No. 2 seed Texas (27-7, 13-3 Big 12) | RPI = 11: Loss to No. 1 seed Kansas (73-85 in the Big 12 Tournament)
  

*Division II