Part 1: Big 10 OOC Sked Ratings (Michigan)

[SelectionSunday]

Between now & the start of the season, the plan is to take a look at the non-league schedules for all 73 BCS programs. I'll do these randomly as I find the time, with priority given to Big 10 schedules. I'll keep a running tally of the rankings as we go.

We'll start with the Michigan Wolverines, one of only three Big 10 schools to release its entire OOC schedule as of this date. RPI numbers are from last season. Any non-DI or provisional D-I programs from 2008-09 are assigned a RPI of #344.

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Nov. 14 – NORTHERN MICHIGAN (344)
Nov. 20 – HOUSTON BAPTIST (312)
Nov. 26 -- vs. Creighton (40) (Old Spice Classic)
Nov. 27 – vs. Marquette or Xavier (Old Spice Classic)
Nov. 29 – vs. Alabama, Baylor, Florida State or Iona (Old Spice Classic)
Dec. 2 – BOSTON COLLEGE (60)
Dec. 5 – ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (251)
Dec. 9 – at Utah (9)
Dec. 13 -- DETROIT (281)
Dec. 19 – at Kansas (11)
Dec. 22 – COPPIN STATE (220)
Jan. 17 -- CONNECTICUT (8)

Average RPI of Opponents: 153.6
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 210.857
NCAA Qualifiers (4): Boston College, Connecticut, Kansas, Utah
Top 100 (5): Connecticut (8), Utah (9), Kansas (11), Creighton (40), Boston College (60)
Projected Opponents: Xavier (17) & Florida State (15) in the Old Spice Classic.

The Good?: Kansas and UConn on the same schedule? How many rebuilding programs have the guts to do that?

The (not so) Bad?: Utah likely won't be as strong as last season, but nevertheless the Huntsman Center (made famous by Magic Johnson & Larry Bird) will provide a nice road test for Harris, Sims & Company.

The Ugly?: Northern Michigan? No Big Ten program should ever willingly schedule a non-DI opponent, but maybe this is one way Big Blue can put the wood to Tom Izzo.

Composite Schedule Ratings through Part 1
Overall
1. Michigan (153.6)

Home
1. Michigan (210.857)

 

[howeda7]

Now that's a non-conference schedule! They have to play AT Kansas and at Utah AND in a tournament and they still found a way to work in a home game with UConn. You could remove UConn and Kansas from that schedule and it would STILL be better then the Gophers. How sad is that?

 

[SelectionSunday]

Part 2: Big 10/BCS OOC Sked Ratings (Penn State)

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
Nov. 13 – PENN (259)
Nov. 16 – ROBERT MORRIS (109)
Nov. 19 – vs. North Carolina-Wilmington (277) (Charleston Classic)
Nov. 20 – vs. Miami-Florida or Tulane (Charleston Classic)
Nov. 22 – vs. Davidson, LaSalle, South Carolina or South Florida (Charleston Classic)
Nov. 25 – SACRED HEART (183)
Nov. 30 – at Virginia (114)
Dec. 5 -- at Temple (30)
Dec. 8 -- UMBC (162)
Dec. 12 -- VIRGINIA TECH (61)
Dec. 19 – GARDNER WEBB (218)
Dec. 21 -- AMERICAN (73)

Average RPI of Opponents: 148.6
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 152.142
NCAA Qualifiers (3): American, Robert Morris, Temple
Top 100 (3): Temple (30), Virginia Tech (61), American (73)
Projected Opponents: Miami-Florida (65) & South Carolina (58) in Charleston Classic.

The Good?: Ed DeChellis clearly got the Selection Committee's message that the Nitts needed to upgrade their non-league schedule. Two ACC opponents and a road game at Temple are a nice start. Also doesn't hurt to get RPI-killer NJIT off the slate.

The (not so) Bad?: The Charleston Classic doesn't have any NCAA qualifiers from last season, but there will be some RPI helpers in the field. In addition to the Nitts, Miami, LaSalle and South Carolina all figure to be at-large contenders in 2009-10.

The Ugly?: If the Nitts somehow get upset by UNCW in the first round, there doesn't figure to be much SOS pop in the consolation bracket.

Composite Schedule Ratings through Part 2 (of 73)
Overall
1. Penn State (148.6)
2. Michigan (153.6)

Home
1. Penn State (152.142)
2. Michigan (210.857)

 

[Plinnius]

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
Nov. 13 – PENN (259)
Nov. 16 – ROBERT MORRIS (109)
Nov. 19 – vs. North Carolina-Wilmington (277) (Charleston Classic)
Nov. 20 – vs. Miami-Florida or Tulane (Charleston Classic)
Nov. 22 – vs. Davidson, LaSalle, South Carolina or South Florida (Charleston Classic)
Nov. 25 – SACRED HEART (183)
Nov. 30 – at Virginia (114)
Dec. 5 -- at Temple (30)
Dec. 8 -- UMBC (162)
Dec. 12 -- VIRGINIA TECH (61)
Dec. 19 – GARDNER WEBB (218)
Dec. 21 -- AMERICAN (73)

American is probably going to have the most precipitous drop in RPI of any college basketball team this year. This is their roster. Of the players that averaged at least five minutes a game, only Hendra and Lumpkins didn't graduate.