Big Ten Non-Conference Schedule Rankings: Gophers come in at #10

[SelectionSunday]

(edited Sept. 12 with Washington & Santa Clara added to Gophers schedule)

I used last year's final (pre-NCAA Tournament) RPI for all opponents. Non-Division I opponents are excluded from rankings. The first number is opponents' average quadrant rank, the second number is opponents' average RPI rank.

Big Ten Non-Conference Schedule Rankings
1 Wisconsin (Q-2.555, 153.666)
2 Indiana (Q-2.636, 136.545)
3 Nebraska (Q-2.666, 138.111)
4 Illinois (Q-2.666, 144.555)
5 Michigan State (Q-2.7, 140.1)
6 Purdue (Q-2.888, 134.333)
7 Penn State (Q-2.9, 137.8)
8 Maryland (Q-2.909, 146.09)
9 Ohio State (Q-2.909, 175.818)
10 Minnesota (Q-3.0, 169.636)
11 Michigan (Q-3.2, 187.2)
12 Rutgers (Q-3.2, 192.1)
13 Northwestern (Q-3.555, 227)
14 Iowa (Q-3.6, 221.7)

Opponents Average Q-Rank: 2.956
Opponents Average RPI Rank: 164.644

 

[cjbfbp]

You always obsess so much about this. As you well know, the quality of opponents is determined at the end of the season, not at the beginning.

 

[gopherguy15]

You always obsess so much about this. As you well know, the quality of opponents is determined at the end of the season, not at the beginning.

Cranky today?

Keep up the good posts SS. 99% of us on this site enjoy them.

 

[SelectionSunday]

You always obsess so much about this. As you well know, the quality of opponents is determined at the end of the season, not at the beginning.

You are correct. How it looks at end of year is what matters. Simply a talking point for now.

 

[cjbfbp]

You are correct. How it looks at end of year is what matters. Simply a talking point for now.

As a pre-season talking point, fair enough. I was just hoping that you weren't too concerned about this.

 

[bizzle22]

You always obsess so much about this. As you well know, the quality of opponents is determined at the end of the season, not at the beginning.

I don't think anyone is saying it's an exact science, or even close to it. But it's a valid measure as far as discussion about the schedule goes. Results from the previous year are all we have to go on at this point, and it's at least a good baseline to begin with. I don't think it is a stretch to say that, for example, a game at Arizona is tougher than a game vs Western Illinois. We don't need to let the season play out to have a pretty good idea about that.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Power 6 Non-Conference Schedule Rankings (so far): Gophers currently #41

This is with 68 of 75 complete non-conference schedules. Still waiting on Colorado, NC State, Oregon, Oregon State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, and Washington.

Power 6 Non-Conference Schedule Rankings
1 Kansas (2.0, 61.166)
2 Creighton (2.3, 122.2)
3 North Carolina (2.333, 106.25)
4 Florida (2.363, 112.545)
5 Oklahoma (2.363, 116.363)
6 Louisville (2.416, 115.916)
7 South Carolina (2.454, 130.181)
8 Kentucky (2.461, 108.076)
9 Alabama (2.545, 123.09)
10 West Virginia (2.545, 132.818)
11 Tennessee (2.545, 147.727)
12 Wisconsin (2.555, 153.666)
13 Texas (2.583, 119.416)
14 Seton Hall (2.6, 143.4)
15 Villanova (2.636, 134.636)
16 Indiana (2.636, 136.545)
17 Nebraska (2.666, 138.111)
18 Illinois (2.666, 144.555)
19 Auburn (2.7, 135.5)
20 Michigan State (2.7, 140.1)
21 Providence (2.75, 152.333)
22 Vanderbilt (2.769, 130.615)
23 Virginia (2.8, 152.8)
24 LSU (2.818, 139.727)
25 Syracuse (2.833, 135.5)
26 Baylor (2.833, 137)
27 Ole Miss (2.833, 139.916)
28 Mississippi State (2.833, 143.583)
29 USC (2.833, 149.666)
30 Arizona State (2.833, 149.666)
31 Purdue (2.888, 134.333)
32 Penn State (2.9, 137.8)
33 Maryland (2.909, 146.09)
34 Oklahoma State (2.909, 149.181)
35 Arizona (2.909, 156.272)
36 Ohio State (2.909, 175.818)
37 Arkansas (2.923, 154.538)
38 UCLA (3.0, 147.75)
39 Duke (3.0, 150.09)
40 Xavier (3.0, 160)
41 GOPHERS (3.0, 169.636)
42 Marquette (3.0, 177.5)
43 Texas Tech (3.0, 189.333)
44 Utah (3.0, 190.4)
45 Cal (3.083, 185.75)
46 Stanford (3.09, 145.181)
47 Florida State (3.09, 147.363)
48 TCU (3.09, 151.545)
49 Georgia (3.09, 159.818)
50 Kansas State (3.09, 168.545)
51 Missouri (3.1, 163.7)
52 Notre Dame (3.153, 188.846)
53 Michigan (3.2, 187.2)
54 Rutgers (3.2, 192.1)
55 Georgia Tech (3.23, 198.538)
56 Washington State (3.25, 210.25)
57 Clemson (3.272, 177.545)
58 Butler (3.272, 187.181)
59 Iowa State (3.272, 195.181)
60 Wake Forest (3.3, 200.3)
61 Boston College (3.333, 193.916)
62 DePaul (3.454, 232.727)
63 Saint John’s (3.5, 216.916)
64 Northwestern (3.555, 227)
65 Miami (3.6, 220.2)
66 Iowa (3.6, 221.7)
67 Pitt (3.615, 226.076)
68 Georgetown (3.615, 233.23)

 

[obobo55]

I like it.

Just curious how you come up with the tier #. Is that based on what tier that team fit into last year?

Secondly, I assume that you only consider the 1st game for exempt tourneys. For example, UW plays Stanford in Atlantis, but could face Florida and Virginia. Do you ignore all 3 or include the predetermined game?

 

[SelectionSunday]

Just curious how you come up with the tier #. Is that based on what tier that team fit into last year?

Yes, it's based on last year's RPI, and the NCAA's quadrant ranks. Per NCAA, quadrants will not change this year even though ditching RPI rankings and moving to NET rankings.

Secondly, I assume that you only consider the 1st game for exempt tourneys. For example, UW plays Stanford in Atlantis, but could face Florida and Virginia. Do you ignore all 3 or include the predetermined game?

I only include the predetermined games, so ensuing games not factored in and/or assumed.