Gopher Opponent Schedule Part 1: USC Trojans (Dec. 3)

[SelectionSunday]

Gopher Opponent Schedule Rankings

In addition to winning games, who your opponents play and how they perform vs. that competition (strength of schedule) is an important piece of the RPI puzzle. To date, USC is the only Gophers (known) opponent to have released its entire schedule. As the complete schedules of Gopher opponents become available throughout the summer, I'll post 'em for comparative purposes. USC's sked looks like a keeper. A very solid nonconference slate put together by Kevin O'Neill.

RPIs from 2010-11 season are noted in parentheses.

USC
Nov. 11: NORTHRIDGE STATE (248)
Nov. 14: NEBRASKA (89)
Nov. 17: @ San Diego State (3)
Nov. 19: CAL POLY (201) -- Las Vegas Invitational
Nov. 22: MORGAN STATE (209) -- Las Vegas Invitational
Nov. 25: vs. UNLV (25) -- Las Vegas Invitational
Nov. 26: vs. North Carolina (6) or South Carolina (134) -- Las Vegas Invitational
Nov. 30: @ UC-Riverside (265)
Dec. 3: @ Minnesota (85)
Dec. 10: NEW MEXICO (66)
Dec. 17: GEORGIA (47)
Dec. 19: TCU (208)
Dec. 22: KANSAS (1)
Dec. 29: @ Cal* (76)
Dec. 31: @ Stanford* (160)
Jan. 5: ARIZONA STATE* (161)
Jan. 8: ARIZONA* (19)
Jan. 15: UCLA* (44)
Jan. 19: @ Oregon* (135)
Jan. 21: @ Oregon State* (219)
Jan. 26: COLORADO* (65)
Jan. 28: UTAH* (118)
Feb. 2: @ Washington State* (82)
Feb. 4: @ Washington* (32)
Feb. 9: CAL* (76)
Feb. 12: STANFORD* (160)
Feb. 15: @ UCLA* (44)
Feb. 23: @ Arizona* (19)
Feb. 25: @ Arizona State* (161)
March 1: WASHINGTON* (32)
March 3: WASHINGTON STATE* (82)
March 7-10: Pac 12 Tournament

Average RPI of All Opponents: 104.4
Average RPI of Nonconference Opponents: 120.583

Top-100 Opponents (18): Kansas (1), San Diego State (3), Arizona (19), Arizona (19), UNLV (25), Washington (32), Washington (32), UCLA (44), UCLA (44), Georgia (47), Colorado (65), New Mexico (66), Cal (76), Cal (76), Washington State (82), Washington State (82), Minnesota (85), Nebraska (89)

Games vs. NCAA Qualifiers (10): Kansas (1), San Diego State (3), Arizona (19), Arizona (19), UNLV (25), Washington (32), Washington (32), UCLA (44), UCLA (44), Georgia (47)

 

[SelectionSunday]

Gopher Opponent Schedule Part 2: Appalachian State Mountaineers (Dec. 6)

App State has a solid D-I nonconference slate that also includes East Carolina (Conference USA semifinalist last season), Miami-Florida and North Carolina.

APPALACHIAN STATE
Nov. 15: @ East Tennessee State (91)
Nov. 19: @ Tennessee Tech (189)
Nov. 22: EAST CAROLINA (96)
Dec. 1: NC-GREENSBORO* (298)
Dec. 3: @ Georgia Southern* (341)
Dec. 6: @ Minnesota (85)
Dec. 10: EAST TENNESSEE STATE (91)
Dec. 17: @ North Carolina (6)
Dec. 22: CAMPBELL (280)
Dec. 30: @ Miami-Florida (73)
Jan. 5: @ Samford* (284)
Jan. 7: @ Chattanooga* (199)
Jan. 12: FURMAN* (116)
Jan. 14: DAVIDSON* (182)
Jan. 19: @ Wofford* (109)
Jan. 21: WESTERN CAROLINA* (172)
Jan. 26: @ NC-Greensboro* (298)
Jan. 28: ELON* (269)
Feb. 2: SAMFORD* (284)
Feb. 4: COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON* (72)
Feb. 6: @ Elon* (269)
Feb. 9: @ Furman* (116)
Feb. 11: WOFFORD* (109)
Feb. 15: CHATTANOOGA* (199)
Feb. 18: BRACKET BUSTER
Feb. 22: @ Citadel* (294)
Feb. 25: @ Western Carolina* (172)
March 2-5: Southern Tournament

Average RPI of All Opponents: 180.538
Average RPI of Nonconference Opponents: 113.875

Top-100 Opponents (7): North Carolina (6), College of Charleston (72), Miami-Florida (73), Minnesota (85), East Tennessee State (91), East Tennessee State (91), East Carolina (96)

Games vs. NCAA Qualifiers (3): North Carolina (6), Wofford (109), Wofford (109)

Overall Strength of Schedule (SOS) Rankings for Gopher Opponents
1. USC (104.4)
2. Appalachian State (180.538)

Nonconference SOS for Gopher Opponents
1. Appalachian State (113.875)
2. USC (120.583)