A look back: Big Ten Nonconference Sked Ratings

[SelectionSunday]

Prior to the season, I rated Big Ten teams' overall & home nonconference schedules using as a guide opponents RPI from the previous season. Obviously, potential in-season tournament foes (such as Portland and Texas A&M for the Gophers) were not included in the initial projections. Here's how it actually turned out. The numbers in parentheses represent the opponents' projected (preseason) or actual (final) RPI.

Big Ten Nonconference Schedule Ratings (Preseason)
Overall
1. Wisconsin (146.3)
2. Penn State (148.6)
3. Illinois (152.583)
4. Michigan (153.6)
5. Michigan State (158)
6. Ohio State (165.5)
7. Iowa (170.333)
8. Purdue (180.8)
9. GOPHERS (182.7)
10. Indiana (198.1)
11. Northwestern (204.166)

Nonconference Home Opponents
1. Penn State (152.142)
2. Purdue (165)
3. Wisconsin (166.25)
4. Iowa (197.444)
5. Michigan State (202.875)
6. Michigan (210.857)
7. Ohio State (215.333)
8. GOPHERS (217.25)
9. Illinois (223.714)
10. Northwestern (226.2)
11. Indiana (237.125)

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Big Ten Nonconference Schedule Ratings (Actual)
Overall
1. Wisconsin (134.083) -- Best: Duke (3)
2. Illinois (141.692) -- Best: Vandy (26)
3. Michigan State (154.076) -- Best: @ Texas (29)
4. Purdue (154.916) -- Best: West Virginia (4)
5. Iowa (157.153) -- Best: @ Northern Iowa (17)
6. GOPHERS (160.916) -- Best: vs. Butler (12)
7. Michigan (164.666) -- Best: @ Kansas (1)
8. Ohio State (166) -- Best: @ West Virginia (4)
9. Indiana (188.166) -- Best: Kentucky (2)
10. Northwestern (209.384) -- Best: Butler (12)
11. Penn State (210.75) -- Best: @ Temple (8)

Nonconference Home Opponents
1. Purdue (157.857) -- Best: West Virginia (4); Worst: Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (322)
2. Wisconsin (168.25) -- Best: Duke (3); Worst: Grambling State (340)
3. Michigan State (180.875) -- Best: Gonzaga (36); Worst: Toledo (324)
4. Illinois (194.285) -- Best: Vandy (26); Worst: Presbyterian (329)
5. Iowa (203.444) -- Best: Virginia Tech (59); Worst: North Carolina Central (347)
6. GOPHERS (216) -- Best: Morgan State (103); Worst: Utah Valley (342)
7. Michigan (221.571) -- Best: UConn (64); Worst: Non-D-I (348)
8. Ohio State (225.555) -- Best: Florida State (42); Worst: Alcorn State (344)
9. Indiana (235.5) -- Best: Kentucky (2); Worst: North Carolina Central (347)
10. Penn State (242.285) -- Best: Virginia Tech (59); Worst: UMBC (333)
11. Northwestern (245.2) -- Best: Butler (12); Worst: Chicago State (345)

SCRAPS
**The Gophers finished better than projected in each category, from 9th to 6th in overall nonconference schedule & 8th to 6th in home schedule. The average RPI of the Gophers' home opponents was almost spot on, projected at 217.25 and finishing at 216.

**Penn State opponents had the second-best average RPI heading into the season, but that didn't prevent the Nittany Lions' foes from finishing dead-last in average RPI (210.75). Looks like Ed DeChellis still needs work on that "scheduling thing." In fairness, the Nitts didn't help their cause by falling into the loser's bracket of the Charleston Classic.

**Indiana held the dubious distinction of hosting the two worst teams in all of Division I, Bryant (346) and North Carolina Central (347). Of course, getting to host Kentucky helps soften that blow.

**The Gophers were the only team not to host a top-100 RPI opponent.

**Michigan is the only school that played a non-Division I opponent.

**Michigan State, Northwestern & the Gophers were the only schools whose best home opponents came from outside the 5 other major conferences. The glaring difference? Sparty got Gonzaga (36) at the Breslin Center and the Wildcats got Final Four-bound Butler (#12) at Welsh-Ryan, while the Gophers settled for MEAC champion Morgan State (#103).

**The Badgers continue to schedule well both overall and @ the Kohl Center. Bo Ryan's schedule-maker clearly "gets it" year after year.