According to Rivals.com, Akron has a 55 RPI and Ohio has a 78.  Akron is 16-7, Ohio is 19-4.  Akron is 1-2 vs. top 50 RPIs, Ohio is 1-1.  Akron is 3-4 vs. 51-100 RPIs, Ohio is 3-1.  So according to Rivals.com, the secret to gaining 23 RPI positions is to lose one more game to a top 50 RPI and three more games to 51-100.  This is the second-crappiest system for selecting post-season teams ever devised by man (the BCS is the crappiest).

In fairness, that doesn't tell the whole story. Yes Akron has had a tougher schedule. But also, of the losses against +100 rpi teams, Akron lost one game @ Valpo (RPI 105) and Ohio lost at home to Robert Morris (RPI 103) and @ Bowling Green (RPI 173)

Akron has also won 4 MAC road games @ this point in the season, which will help them in a MAC Championship run down the stretch. 5 of our last 7 MAC games will be on the road. If we somehow end up winning the MAC Championship, we will be ranked higher than Akron. I think Akron deserves to be ranked higher right now.

not true. Actually you can lose to BG and Robert Morris and still be in great position for an at large bid. Below are two teams that both lost to BGSU-

Team 1 has 5 losses, the RPI for those teams are 54,65,69,125, and 171.
Team 2 has 4 losses, the RPI for those teams are 29,56,104 and 171.

Team 1= Temple, RPI 16
Team 2= Ohio, RPI 78

Ohio has fewer losses overall and their second worst loss to RoMo has an RPI 21pts higher than Temple's second worst loss to Richmond.


The difference can be found at the ends of the schedule-

Temple has played 11 teams in the top 100 and their record is 8-3 .
Ohio has only played 6 teams in the top 100 and their record is 4-2. Fewer losses, but also fewer wins.

Temple has only played 4 teams with an RPI +200. (Toledo and Central Michigan OOC)
Ohio has played 11 teams with an RPI +200. (7 are OOC)

the largest detriment to Ohio's RPI is not losses, its OOC scheduling and conference association. All the more reason to be disappointed with the Bracket Buster selection. Since we won't be changing conferences next year I hope we can take advantage of the entire team returning (knock on wood) by replacing the 200+ RPI OOC games with teams in the 100s and maybe one or two more top 20 teams. Still plenty of winnable games to be found.

Of course, strength of schedule is based on, what else, RPI.  It just feeds off itself.  It's still crap.

It all seems razor thin.  Where would the Ohio team be if it would have beaton Akron? 

Ohio has 9 wins vs. teams  with 220 or worse RPI.  That is about the worst 1/3 of college basketball. So, half of Ohio's 18 D1 wins are against some of the worst competition.  Blame the MAC West all you want, but too many stiffs on non-conference schedule is why a 18 win (against D1) is where they are in the RPI.  The RPI rewards you for playing good teams and winning.

It's not just the MAC West.  Several teams we played were expected to be better than they are.  Portland's RPI rank last year was 102 (224 this year). Wright State was 124 (219). Miami was 111 (257).   In all 9 teams on our schedule have an RPI 20 places or more worse than last year.   That kind of thing can happen but you aren't doing yourself any favors by scheduling four teams that have no hope of cracking the top 200. even if they have successful seasons. I don't have a problem scheduling two of the following, UT-Martin, Kennesaw St, Morgan State and NC A&T but having all four really puts you in a bind when you know that the West is going to destroy your RPI already.

Or win games like BG and Robert Morris. With just losses at Louisville and at Akron, RPI would probably still be in at-large range.

Temple lost to BGSU and a team with a worse RPI than Robert Morris and their RPI is 16.

The RPI is statistically invalid. This has been proven time and again. No need to debate it. 

It's what the NCAA uses, but arguing over whether one team or another should be where they are is silly. It's an invalid instrument.