Final 2014-15 B1G Non-Conference Home Scheduling Rankings/Notes

[SelectionSunday]

Consider this a follow-up on my unhealthy obsession with non-conference scheduling, especially NC home schedules. Based on final RPI, here's how B1G teams ranked in terms of average RPI of their home opponents. Please note these are games played only on home courts. For example, Illinois' annual game at the United Center (usually a quality opponent) is not included, nor are the Crossroads Classic games at Conseco Fieldhouse involving Indiana and Purdue vs. Butler or Notre Dame.

As a season-ticket holder, these numbers are near & dear to my heart. Let's just say I'm not surprised by these numbers. Please note that all non-DI opponents/RPI non-counters (for example, Franklin Pierce) were given the worst RPI +1.

2014-15 Average RPI of B1G Home Opponents
1. Wisconsin (117.857)
2. Michigan (189.666)
3. Michigan State (195.428)
4. Penn State (201.714)
5. Rutgers (202.142)
6. Maryland (203.7)
7. Iowa (204.888)
8. Nebraska (205.428)
9. Indiana (208.4)
10. Northwestern (217.222)
11. Purdue (218.25)
12. Ohio State (222.09)
13. Illinois (242.428)
14. Minnesota (254.888)

Notes
** B1G schools hosted 18 NCAA qualifiers, paced by Iowa's 4. The Hawkeyes hosted Iowa State, North Dakota State, North Florida, and Hampton. Indiana (SMU, Eastern Washington, Texas Southern) and Wisconsin (Duke, Buffalo, Boise State) hosted 3 apiece, while Purdue (NC State, North Florida) welcomed 2 NCAA qualifiers. Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Northwestern all hosted 1 apiece. Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, and Rutgers were the only schools without a NCAA qualifier on their home schedule.

** Wisconsin (4), Indiana (3), and Michigan (2) were the only schools to host 2 or more RPI top-100 opponents. #6 Duke, #28 Buffalo, #40 Boise State, and #54 Green Bay visited the Kohl Center, while IU's Assembly Hall greeted #12 SMU, #74 Eastern Washington, and #76 Pitt. Michigan's Crisler Center saw #12 SMU and #69 Syracuse.

** Fans of Illinois, Michigan State, and Minnesota were the only ones that failed to see a top-100 opponent pass through their arena, though Sparty did lose to #118 and eventual NCAA qualifier Texas Southern.

** 10 of the B1G's 14 schools hosted a Power 6 opponent (still considering the Big East a power conference), thanks mostly to the annual B1G-ACC Challenge. Only Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Rutgers failed to host a Power 6 opponent.

 

[XMan]

Interesting stuff and always well done. The part that we have to remember is you are talking about non conference home games. MN and all of the big ten saw many top 100 teams and NCAA qualifiers "pass through their arena" just by playing other big ten teams.

 

[howieramone]

SS, anyway you can use your influence to schedule the Blue Demons? Pre-internet, I couldn't really follow my favorite team because the Chicago papers don't favor us farm folk. I liked Joey Meyer. Nice campus!

 

[SelectionSunday]

Joey Meyer would look pretty good right now with all the failures they've had since he was fired. Tough job following his dad, for sure, but his tenure doesn't look so bad, in hindsight.

 

[SelectionSunday]

2-year B1G home scheduling data, circa Pitino hire (alphabetical)

In terms of average RPI of non-conference home opponents, Wisconsin best at 135.466, Gophers 10th at 221.166. Illinois brings up the rear at 239.785.

ILLINOIS (#14)
#113 Georgia Southern
#115 Fort Wayne
#136 American
#184 Valparaiso
#249 Brown
#251 Hampton (auto)
#254 Alabama State
#259 Chicago State
#265 Bradley
#266 Dartmouth
#311 Coppin State
#317 Jacksonville State
#318 Austin Peay
#319 Kennesaw State

Fighting Illini Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 0
Top 75 Opponents: 0
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 0
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 1
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2013-14 (237.142)
Average RPI: 14/3357 = 239.785

INDIANA (#11)
#12 SMU (auto)
#74 Eastern Washington (auto)
#76 Pitt (Power 6)
#118 Texas Southern (auto)
#165 Stony Brook
#181 Oakland
#190 North Florida
#214 Evansville
#219 Lamar
#259 Chicago State
#262 Nicholls State
#274 Grand Canyon
#298 LIU
#309 NC-Greensboro
#313 Samford
#324 Kennesaw State
#326 New Orleans
#331 Savannah State
#345 Mississippi Valley State

Hoosier Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 1 (1 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 2
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 0
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 3
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2014-15 (208.4)
Average RPI: 19/4290 = 225.789

IOWA (#13)
#9 Iowa State (Power 6, auto)
#92 North Dakota State (auto)
#134 Pepperdine
#136 Notre Dame (Power 6)
#162 North Florida (auto)
#186 Northern Illinois
#219 Omaha
#251 Hampton (auto)
#264 UAPB
#269 FDU
#281 NC-Wilmington
#284 Penn
#316 Longwood
#346 UMBC
#347 UMES
#348 Alcorn State
#350 Abilene Christian

Hawkeye Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 2 (1 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 1
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 0
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 4
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2014-15 (204.888)
Average RPI: 17/3994 = 234.941

MARYLAND (#4)
#7 Virginia (Power 6, at-large)
#73 Tulsa (auto)
#84 Boston U
#99 NCCU (auto)
#100 Oregon State (Power 6)
#127 NCCU
#155 Oakland
#176 Monmouth
#202 Winthrop
#209 SC-Upstate
#225 Morgan State
#238 Fordham
#270 FAU
#287 VMI
#294 Wagner
#342 Central Connecticut
#350 Abilene Christian

Terrapin Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 2 (0 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 2
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 1
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 2
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2013-14 (171.571)
Average RPI: 17/3238 = 190.47

MICHIGAN (#6)
#2 Arizona (Power 6, at-large)
#12 SMU (auto)
#69 Syracuse (Power 6)
#127 Holy Cross
#137 Bucknell
#140 Eastern Michigan
#159 NJIT
#206 Detroit
#261 Coppin State
#283 UMass-Lowell
#311 Coppin State
#321 Nicholls State
#331 South Carolina State
#341 Houston Baptist
#352 Hillsdale College

Wolverine Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 2 (1 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 3
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 1
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 1
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2014-15 (189.666)
Average RPI: 15/3052 = 203.466

MICHIGAN STATE (#3)
#25 North Carolina (Power 6, at-large)
#118 Texas Southern (auto)
#123 Loyola-Chicago
#130 Columbia
#140 Eastern Michigan
#155 Oakland
#178 Portland
#189 Mount Saint Mary’s (auto)
#190 North Florida
#203 Santa Clara
#260 New Orleans
#272 McNeese State
#302 UAPB
#327 Citadel

Spartan Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 1 (1 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 1
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 1
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 2
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2013-14 (177.714)
Average RPI: 14/2612 = 186.571

MINNESOTA (#10)
#54 Florida State (Power 6)
#117 Western Kentucky
#138 South Dakota State
#146 NC-Wilmington
#153 Wofford (auto)
#183 Montana
#196 Coastal Carolina (auto)
#219 Omaha
#221 Western Carolina
#229 Southern U
#236 Lehigh
#248 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
#260 New Orleans
#280 Seattle
#293 Furman
#310 North Dakota
#346 UMBC
#352 Franklin Pierce

Golden Gopher Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 1 (1 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 1
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 0
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 2
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2013-14 (187.444)
Average RPI: 18/3981 = 221.166

NEBRASKA (#8)
#37 Cincinnati (at-large)
#110 Miami-Florida (Power 6)
#146 Florida Gulf Coast
#151 Creighton (Power 6)
#160 Incarnate Word
#177 Tennessee-Martin
#180 Arkansas State
#217 Northern Illinois
#264 Northern Kentucky
#290 Western Illinois
#300 Omaha
#331 South Carolina State
#345 Citadel
#349 Central Arkansas

Cornhusker Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 2 (1 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 1
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 1
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 0
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2014-15 (205.428)
Average RPI: 14/3057 = 218.357

NORTHWESTERN (#9)
#66 Western Michigan (auto)
#70 Central Michigan
#120 Western Michigan
#134 Illinois State
#153 Georgia Tech (Power 6)
#154 DePaul (Power 6)
#162 North Florida (auto)
#229 Brown
#241 Gardner-Webb
#258 Elon
#264 Northern Kentucky
#286 Houston Baptist
#291 Eastern Illinois
#297 UIC
#322 IUPUI
#342 Mississippi Valley State
#345 Mississippi Valley State

Wildcat Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 2 (1 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 2
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 0
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 2
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2014-15 (217.222)
Average RPI: 17/3734 = 219.647

OHIO STATE (#2)
#35 North Dakota State (auto)
#65 Delaware (auto)
#78 Maryland (Power 6)
#87 Ohio
#89 High Point
#118 American (auto)
#135 Wyoming
#147 Marquette (Power 6)
#148 James Madison
#177 Bryant
#190 North Florida
#194 Colgate
#201 Morehead State
#225 Morgan State
#230 Miami-Ohio
#243 Sacred Heart
#244 Louisiana-Monroe
#263 Wright State
#265 UMass-Lowell
#293 Central Connecticut
#323 Campbell
#340 North Carolina A&T

Buckeye Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 2 (1 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 2
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 0
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 3
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2013-14 (149.727)
Average RPI: 22/4090 = 185.9

PENN STATE (#7)
#84 George Washington
#98 La Salle
#115 Akron
#122 Princeton
#167 Bucknell
#187 Dartmouth
#189 Mount Saint Mary’s (auto)
#218 Wagner
#223 Duquesne
#228 Virginia Tech (Power 6)
#238 Fordham
#276 Marshall
#292 Monmouth
#337 Longwood
#337 Morgan State

Nittany Lion Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 1 (1 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 0
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 0
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 1
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2014-15 (201.714)
Average RPI: 15/3111 = 207.4

PURDUE (#12)
#39 NC State (Power 6, at-large)
#86 Eastern Michigan
#138 Gardner-Webb
#162 North Florida (auto)
#193 Siena
#198 Rider
#207 Boston College (Power 6)
#215 Fort Wayne
#259 IUPUI
#277 Arkansas State
#291 Eastern Illinois
#293 Central Connecticut
#305 Samford
#310 Northern Kentucky
#347 UMES
#351 Grambling

Boilermaker Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 2 (2 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 1
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 1
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 1
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2014-15 (218.25)
Average RPI: 16/3671 = 229.437

RUTGERS (#5)
#84 George Washington
#96 Canisius
#119 William & Mary
#122 Princeton
#128 Seton Hall (Power 6)
#132 Drexel
#147 Yale
#170 Saint Francis-NY
#180 Saint Francis-Pa
#193 New Hampshire
#233 Saint Peter’s
#235 Army
#243 Sacred Heart
#269 FDU
#295 Florida A&M
#301 NC-Greensboro
#312 FDU
#350 Stillman College

Scarlet Knight Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 1 (0 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 0
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 0
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 0
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2013-14 (187.444)
Average RPI: 18/3609 = 200.5

WISCONSIN (#1)
#1 Florida (Power 6, auto)
#6 Duke (Power 6, at-large)
#28 Buffalo (auto)
#40 Boise State (at-large)
#54 Green Bay
#92 Marquette (Power 6)
#97 Eastern Kentucky (auto)
#112 Chattanooga
#131 Milwaukee (auto)
#191 Oral Roberts
#194 Bowling Green
#197 North Dakota
#264 Northern Kentucky
#304 Prairie View A&M
#321 Nicholls State

Badger Skinny
Power 6 Opponents: 3 (1 ACC Challenge)
Top 75 Opponents: 5
NCAA At-Large Opponents: 2
NCAA Auto Bid Opponents: 4
Best RPI Home Schedule: 2014-15 (117.857)
Average RPI: 15/2032 = 135.466

**All non-DI opponents/RPI non-counters given worst RPI +1