Welcome back, college sports fans, as we spend today talking about Men’s Basketball. But first, I have to apologize. During Monday’s post, I said we would have special episodes Tuesday (women) and Thursday (men) about the conference races. Due to some sort of last-minute travel and a little lack of focus on my part, we are postponing that analysis. We are currently aiming for over the weekend. Thank you for bearing with us as we are preparing for the very busy postseason that is college basketball.
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This post is about the Week 15 Men’s Top 365. Teams are seeing the end of the season, nagging (or worse) injuries are piling up, and good teams are losing (sometimes because they are playing other good teams and sometimes because they are upset). Nebraska, for example, who had a tremendous start to the season, has fallen out of the GCR Top 10. Expect more shifting as we move towards the end of the season as those mitigating factors take their toll. These last couple weeks are brutal with the pressure building up not only for the best conference tourney seeding, but also for post-season invitations and placement. Stay tuned in.
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With that, let’s look at some key games over the next seven days. To be on the list below, out of the nearly 340 games (155 just on Saturday), both teams need to have at least 15 wins, or at least one per week of the season.
| Day | Games to Watch |
| Wed | E Tennessee St @ Furman, Arkansas @ Alabama, Dayton @ George Mason, UAB @ Temple, Fort Wayne @ N Kentucky, BYU @ Arizona, Kansas @ Oklahoma St, Vanderbilt @ Missouri, Murray St @ Illinois St, St Marys @ Seattle, Illinois @ Southern Cal, Boise St @ Utah St, Gonzaga @ San Francisco |
| Thu | Vermont @ Balt County, Marshall @ App St, Texas St @ South Alabama, CA Baptist @ Utah Valley, Lindenwood @ Tennessee St, Tulane @ North Texas, Northridge @Santa Barbara |
| Fri | VCU @ St Louis, St Peters @ Iona, Indiana @ Purdue, Siena @ Merrimack, Bowling Green @ Miami OH |
| Sat | North Carolina @ Syracuse, Marshall @ Coastal, Ga Southern @ App St, Miami FL @ Virginia, Tennessee @ Vanderbilt, Duquesne @ Dayton, Samford @ Mercer, SIUE @ Tennessee St, Arizona @ Houston, Texas @ Georgia, Missouri @ Arkansas, Winthrop @ High Point, Troy @ South Alabama, West Virginia @ TCU, UCONN @ Villanova, Temple @ Wichita St, San Diego St @ Colorado St, Stanford @ California, Buffalo @ UMASS, Michigan @ Duke, Vermont @ NJ Tech, Furman @ Wofford, Illinois @ UCLA, Illinois St @ Bradley, Pacific @ Gonzaga, Utah St @ Nevada, Santa Clara @ San Francisco, Santa Barbara @ Hawaii, UC San Diego @ UC Irvine, Iowa St @ BYU |
| Sun | Ohio St @ Michigan St, Iona @ Merrimack, Fairfield @ Quinnipiac, Robert Morris @ Wright St, St Peters @ Siena, Iowa @ Wisconsin |
| Mon | Louisville @ North Carolina, Rio Grande @ McNeese, Houston @ Kansas |
| Tue | NC St @ Virginia, St Louis @ Dayton, West Virginia @ Oklahoma St, Buffalo @ Akron, Bradley @ UIC, Tennessee @ Missouri, UCF @ BYU, New Mexico @ Nevada, Southern Cal @ UCLA |
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We keep saying it, but it is crunch time. Certainly, there are teams looking forward to the season being over, but most teams still have something to play for, even if that is just the hope of a few upsets in the conference tourney.
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That’s it for today. In the table below you can use either the Score, RPIF, or both columns to determine a winner. Add 4.5 to the home team and compare the numbers. Note: if the two metrics pick a different winner, the GCR cannot predict the game. If they are in agreement, the differences provide a range for a theoretical point spread. Thank you for reading and sharing with others. Here is the Week 15 Men’s Basketball GCR Top 365 from Michigan to MS Valley, JoJo and G.
| RANK | Team | Record | SOS | Score | RPI | Rank | RPI Factor |
| 1 | Michigan | 25-1 | 22 | 100.00 | 0.688 | 1 | 187.0 |
| 2 | Duke | 24-2 | 28 | 95.33 | 0.674 | 3 | 183.2 |
| 3 | Arizona | 23-2 | 26 | 95.16 | 0.675 | 2 | 183.4 |
| 4 | UCONN | 24-2 | 52 | 92.35 | 0.659 | 7 | 179.1 |
| 5 | Iowa St | 23-3 | 61 | 86.31 | 0.638 | 16 | 173.4 |
| 6 | Kansas | 19-6 | 3 | 85.87 | 0.674 | 4 | 183.2 |
| 7 | Illinois | 21-5 | 16 | 85.78 | 0.656 | 8 | 178.3 |
| 8 | Houston | 23-3 | 65 | 85.74 | 0.635 | 19 | 172.6 |
| 9 | Purdue | 21-5 | 18 | 85.40 | 0.654 | 9 | 177.7 |
| 10 | Vanderbilt | 21-4 | 45 | 84.93 | 0.642 | 13 | 174.5 |
| 11 | Nebraska | 22-4 | 55 | 84.19 | 0.636 | 18 | 172.8 |
| 12 | Texas Tech | 19-7 | 2 | 83.49 | 0.671 | 5 | 182.3 |
| 13 | Michigan St | 21-5 | 34 | 83.12 | 0.641 | 14 | 174.2 |
| 14 | Florida | 20-6 | 9 | 82.44 | 0.650 | 10 | 176.6 |
| 15 | North Carolina | 20-6 | 15 | 81.97 | 0.647 | 11 | 175.8 |
| 16 | Virginia | 22-3 | 96 | 81.64 | 0.615 | 27 | 167.1 |
| 17 | Gonzaga | 25-2 | 124 | 81.21 | 0.608 | 29 | 165.2 |
| 18 | Alabama | 18-7 | 4 | 81.16 | 0.661 | 6 | 179.6 |
| 19 | Arkansas | 19-6 | 14 | 81.05 | 0.645 | 12 | 175.3 |
| 20 | BYU | 19-6 | 21 | 79.86 | 0.638 | 15 | 173.4 |
| 21 | St Johns | 20-5 | 57 | 79.26 | 0.622 | 24 | 169.0 |
| 22 | Villanova | 21-5 | 69 | 78.03 | 0.612 | 28 | 166.3 |
| 23 | Utah St | 22-3 | 118 | 77.62 | 0.599 | 33 | 162.8 |
| 24 | St Marys | 23-4 | 109 | 76.38 | 0.597 | 35 | 162.2 |
| 25 | UCF | 18-7 | 20 | 75.94 | 0.629 | 21 | 170.9 |
| 26 | Louisville | 19-7 | 33 | 75.58 | 0.622 | 23 | 169.0 |
| 27 | Clemson | 20-6 | 68 | 74.83 | 0.605 | 31 | 164.4 |
| 28 | St Louis | 24-2 | 189 | 74.49 | 0.579 | 47 | 157.3 |
| 29 | SMU | 18-8 | 12 | 74.32 | 0.629 | 20 | 170.9 |
| 30 | Tennessee | 18-7 | 39 | 73.96 | 0.616 | 26 | 167.4 |
| 31 | NC St | 19-8 | 25 | 73.87 | 0.621 | 25 | 168.8 |
| 32 | Miami FL | 21-5 | 140 | 71.99 | 0.578 | 49 | 157.1 |
| 33 | Kentucky | 17-9 | 5 | 71.73 | 0.628 | 22 | 170.7 |
| 34 | Santa Clara | 22-6 | 95 | 71.67 | 0.587 | 42 | 159.5 |
| 35 | Yale | 20-4 | 143 | 71.52 | 0.575 | 52 | 156.3 |
| 36 | Miami OH | 26-0 | 340 | 71.18 | 0.549 | 80 | 149.2 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | 18-8 | 43 | 71.03 | 0.607 | 30 | 165.0 |
| 38 | Belmont | 24-4 | 196 | 70.92 | 0.566 | 62 | 153.8 |
| 39 | VCU | 21-6 | 78 | 70.79 | 0.591 | 39 | 160.6 |
| 40 | Iowa | 19-7 | 75 | 70.41 | 0.590 | 40 | 160.3 |
| 41 | Georgia | 18-8 | 62 | 68.31 | 0.589 | 41 | 160.1 |
| 42 | Liberty | 22-3 | 285 | 67.94 | 0.546 | 85 | 148.4 |
| 43 | Southern Cal | 18-7 | 108 | 66.97 | 0.572 | 55 | 155.4 |
| 44 | Seton Hall | 18-8 | 74 | 66.92 | 0.580 | 45 | 157.6 |
| 45 | Ohio St | 17-9 | 46 | 66.92 | 0.595 | 37 | 161.7 |
| 46 | Indiana | 17-9 | 48 | 66.88 | 0.595 | 38 | 161.7 |
| 47 | Virginia Tech | 17-10 | 24 | 66.57 | 0.603 | 32 | 163.9 |
| 48 | Wilmington | 22-4 | 267 | 66.25 | 0.543 | 90 | 147.6 |
| 49 | California | 18-8 | 83 | 66.23 | 0.575 | 51 | 156.3 |
| 50 | George Mason | 21-5 | 175 | 66.08 | 0.555 | 74 | 150.8 |
| 51 | Auburn | 14-11 | 1 | 66.00 | 0.637 | 17 | 173.1 |
| 52 | New Mexico | 20-6 | 158 | 65.56 | 0.555 | 73 | 150.8 |
| 53 | Akron | 21-5 | 222 | 65.49 | 0.546 | 86 | 148.4 |
| 54 | San Diego St | 18-7 | 111 | 64.80 | 0.564 | 66 | 153.3 |
| 55 | Stanford | 16-10 | 29 | 64.76 | 0.597 | 36 | 162.2 |
| 56 | Missouri | 17-8 | 86 | 64.73 | 0.571 | 57 | 155.2 |
| 57 | Oklahoma St | 16-9 | 56 | 64.28 | 0.583 | 44 | 158.4 |
| 58 | Texas A&M | 17-8 | 91 | 64.24 | 0.567 | 61 | 154.1 |
| 59 | McNeese | 22-5 | 269 | 63.89 | 0.535 | 98 | 145.4 |
| 60 | UCLA | 17-9 | 71 | 63.76 | 0.573 | 53 | 155.7 |
| 61 | Kent St | 20-7 | 154 | 63.46 | 0.549 | 81 | 149.2 |
| 62 | South Florida | 18-8 | 77 | 63.40 | 0.571 | 56 | 155.2 |
| 63 | Texas | 17-9 | 76 | 63.28 | 0.570 | 58 | 154.9 |
| 64 | Steph F Austin | 24-3 | 347 | 62.80 | 0.518 | 123 | 140.8 |
| 65 | Nevada | 17-9 | 73 | 62.02 | 0.569 | 59 | 154.6 |
| 66 | West Virginia | 16-9 | 82 | 61.56 | 0.564 | 67 | 153.3 |
| 67 | TCU | 16-10 | 59 | 61.46 | 0.573 | 54 | 155.7 |
| 68 | Tulsa | 20-6 | 211 | 61.39 | 0.535 | 97 | 145.4 |
| 69 | Murray St | 19-9 | 116 | 60.93 | 0.552 | 78 | 150.0 |
| 70 | CA Baptist | 19-7 | 198 | 60.69 | 0.535 | 95 | 145.4 |
| 71 | Grand Canyon | 17-9 | 100 | 59.93 | 0.554 | 75 | 150.6 |
| 72 | Arizona St | 14-12 | 6 | 59.55 | 0.598 | 34 | 162.5 |
| 73 | Utah Valley | 18-7 | 221 | 58.71 | 0.524 | 116 | 142.4 |
| 74 | High Point | 24-4 | 356 | 58.63 | 0.498 | 163 | 135.3 |
| 75 | Syracuse | 15-12 | 32 | 58.43 | 0.578 | 48 | 157.1 |
| 76 | Boise St | 15-10 | 63 | 58.02 | 0.561 | 69 | 152.5 |
| 77 | Marshall | 17-10 | 99 | 57.91 | 0.548 | 83 | 148.9 |
| 78 | N Iowa | 17-10 | 101 | 57.83 | 0.547 | 84 | 148.7 |
| 79 | Dayton | 16-9 | 90 | 57.71 | 0.551 | 79 | 149.7 |
| 80 | Cincinnati | 14-12 | 27 | 57.31 | 0.579 | 46 | 157.3 |
| 81 | Winthrop | 19-8 | 231 | 56.91 | 0.516 | 127 | 140.2 |
| 82 | Bradley | 18-9 | 166 | 56.85 | 0.527 | 110 | 143.2 |
| 83 | Wake Forest | 13-12 | 13 | 56.76 | 0.585 | 43 | 159.0 |
| 84 | Merrimack | 18-9 | 176 | 56.55 | 0.526 | 113 | 142.9 |
| 85 | Hawaii | 18-6 | 318 | 56.34 | 0.503 | 154 | 136.7 |
| 86 | Charleston | 17-10 | 128 | 56.08 | 0.535 | 100 | 145.4 |
| 87 | North Dakota St | 21-6 | 341 | 55.92 | 0.494 | 170 | 134.2 |
| 88 | Colorado | 14-12 | 44 | 55.91 | 0.568 | 60 | 154.4 |
| 89 | Troy | 17-10 | 133 | 55.83 | 0.532 | 104 | 144.6 |
| 90 | UC Irvine | 17-9 | 184 | 55.21 | 0.520 | 120 | 141.3 |
| 91 | E Tenn St | 19-8 | 291 | 54.77 | 0.502 | 156 | 136.4 |
| 92 | UC San Diego | 18-9 | 217 | 54.71 | 0.512 | 137 | 139.1 |
| 93 | Austin Peay | 19-6 | 342 | 54.56 | 0.490 | 177 | 133.2 |
| 94 | Georgetown | 13-12 | 40 | 54.48 | 0.566 | 64 | 153.8 |
| 95 | Baylor | 13-13 | 17 | 54.40 | 0.577 | 50 | 156.8 |
| 96 | Quinnipiac | 18-10 | 187 | 54.29 | 0.517 | 126 | 140.5 |
| 97 | LSU | 14-12 | 60 | 54.16 | 0.553 | 76 | 150.3 |
| 98 | Sam Houston | 17-8 | 260 | 54.11 | 0.504 | 151 | 137.0 |
| 99 | Hofstra | 17-10 | 169 | 53.79 | 0.517 | 124 | 140.5 |
| 100 | St Thomas | 21-7 | 344 | 53.78 | 0.486 | 187 | 132.1 |
| 101 | Arkansas St | 16-11 | 115 | 53.64 | 0.530 | 105 | 144.0 |
| 102 | South Alabama | 19-8 | 309 | 53.52 | 0.494 | 169 | 134.2 |
| 103 | Wichita St | 16-10 | 127 | 53.47 | 0.528 | 109 | 143.5 |
| 104 | Florida St | 13-13 | 31 | 53.09 | 0.566 | 65 | 153.8 |
| 105 | Illinois St | 17-10 | 197 | 52.78 | 0.510 | 140 | 138.6 |
| 106 | William & Mary | 16-10 | 162 | 52.78 | 0.515 | 129 | 140.0 |
| 107 | Xavier | 13-13 | 36 | 52.77 | 0.563 | 68 | 153.0 |
| 108 | Siena | 18-9 | 274 | 52.66 | 0.499 | 161 | 135.6 |
| 109 | Navy | 21-6 | 359 | 52.57 | 0.475 | 213 | 129.1 |
| 110 | Creighton | 13-13 | 41 | 52.43 | 0.560 | 70 | 152.2 |
| 111 | Northridge | 16-10 | 179 | 52.32 | 0.512 | 139 | 139.1 |
| 112 | Davidson | 15-10 | 126 | 52.20 | 0.524 | 118 | 142.4 |
| 113 | Rhode Island | 15-11 | 92 | 52.14 | 0.534 | 101 | 145.1 |
| 114 | Washington | 13-13 | 47 | 52.04 | 0.557 | 72 | 151.4 |
| 115 | Wright St | 17-10 | 215 | 51.87 | 0.503 | 153 | 136.7 |
| 116 | Tulane | 15-10 | 135 | 51.87 | 0.521 | 119 | 141.6 |
| 117 | Colorado St | 15-10 | 155 | 51.86 | 0.514 | 131 | 139.7 |
| 118 | Portland St | 17-7 | 334 | 51.85 | 0.482 | 194 | 131.0 |
| 119 | Long Island | 18-9 | 303 | 51.45 | 0.490 | 176 | 133.2 |
| 120 | UAB | 16-10 | 164 | 51.40 | 0.512 | 138 | 139.1 |
| 121 | UT Martin | 20-8 | 343 | 51.38 | 0.477 | 210 | 129.6 |
| 122 | Wyoming | 14-12 | 81 | 51.10 | 0.535 | 96 | 145.4 |
| 123 | Duquesne | 15-10 | 145 | 50.91 | 0.513 | 133 | 139.4 |
| 124 | Geo Wash | 15-12 | 87 | 50.84 | 0.532 | 103 | 144.6 |
| 125 | Santa Barbara | 17-9 | 298 | 50.81 | 0.489 | 180 | 132.9 |
| 126 | Columbia | 15-9 | 233 | 50.74 | 0.497 | 165 | 135.1 |
| 127 | Utah Tech | 16-11 | 171 | 50.69 | 0.507 | 147 | 137.8 |
| 128 | St Bonaventure | 14-11 | 98 | 50.52 | 0.528 | 108 | 143.5 |
| 129 | Coastal | 16-11 | 181 | 50.42 | 0.506 | 149 | 137.5 |
| 130 | Notre Dame | 12-14 | 19 | 50.34 | 0.566 | 63 | 153.8 |
| 131 | App St | 18-10 | 297 | 50.13 | 0.486 | 186 | 132.1 |
| 132 | Butler | 13-13 | 64 | 50.03 | 0.539 | 92 | 146.5 |
| 133 | Seattle | 16-11 | 192 | 49.99 | 0.502 | 157 | 136.4 |
| 134 | St Peters | 15-9 | 257 | 49.99 | 0.492 | 172 | 133.7 |
| 135 | UC Davis | 16-10 | 237 | 49.97 | 0.494 | 171 | 134.2 |
| 136 | W Kentucky | 14-11 | 136 | 49.88 | 0.515 | 130 | 140.0 |
| 137 | Mercer | 17-10 | 276 | 49.84 | 0.488 | 181 | 132.6 |
| 138 | Furman | 17-10 | 278 | 49.78 | 0.487 | 182 | 132.3 |
| 139 | Lipscomb | 16-11 | 201 | 49.75 | 0.500 | 159 | 135.9 |
| 140 | Oklahoma | 13-12 | 93 | 49.75 | 0.526 | 114 | 142.9 |
| 141 | Depaul | 13-12 | 94 | 49.72 | 0.525 | 115 | 142.7 |
| 142 | UMASS | 15-12 | 130 | 49.72 | 0.515 | 128 | 140.0 |
| 143 | Fairfield | 16-11 | 207 | 49.50 | 0.499 | 162 | 135.6 |
| 144 | Marist | 16-10 | 254 | 49.45 | 0.490 | 175 | 133.2 |
| 145 | Mississippi St | 12-13 | 54 | 49.44 | 0.545 | 88 | 148.1 |
| 146 | Robert Morris | 18-10 | 310 | 49.15 | 0.480 | 202 | 130.4 |
| 147 | Oakland | 14-13 | 85 | 49.09 | 0.528 | 107 | 143.5 |
| 148 | Penn | 13-10 | 153 | 49.09 | 0.507 | 148 | 137.8 |
| 149 | IL Chicago | 15-12 | 142 | 48.98 | 0.509 | 144 | 138.3 |
| 150 | C Arkansas | 17-10 | 302 | 48.75 | 0.480 | 200 | 130.4 |
| 151 | Pacific | 17-11 | 259 | 48.70 | 0.487 | 183 | 132.3 |
| 152 | Buffalo | 15-11 | 195 | 48.68 | 0.498 | 164 | 135.3 |
| 153 | Oregon St | 14-14 | 70 | 48.40 | 0.533 | 102 | 144.8 |
| 154 | San Francisco | 15-13 | 125 | 48.26 | 0.512 | 135 | 139.1 |
| 155 | SEMO | 17-11 | 273 | 48.24 | 0.483 | 192 | 131.3 |
| 156 | Towson | 14-13 | 102 | 48.14 | 0.519 | 122 | 141.0 |
| 157 | St Josephs | 15-10 | 224 | 48.04 | 0.491 | 174 | 133.4 |
| 158 | Arlington | 14-11 | 173 | 48.03 | 0.499 | 160 | 135.6 |
| 159 | Stony Brook | 16-11 | 255 | 47.73 | 0.484 | 190 | 131.5 |
| 160 | TN St | 17-9 | 339 | 47.54 | 0.465 | 234 | 126.4 |
| 161 | Harvard | 14-10 | 236 | 47.49 | 0.487 | 185 | 132.3 |
| 162 | Wofford | 17-10 | 324 | 47.43 | 0.471 | 221 | 128.0 |
| 163 | Bowling Green | 16-11 | 263 | 47.41 | 0.481 | 196 | 130.7 |
| 164 | FAU | 14-12 | 123 | 47.34 | 0.510 | 143 | 138.6 |
| 165 | UNLV | 13-12 | 120 | 47.14 | 0.510 | 142 | 138.6 |
| 166 | Toledo | 13-13 | 89 | 47.08 | 0.519 | 121 | 141.0 |
| 167 | James Madison | 14-13 | 119 | 47.07 | 0.510 | 141 | 138.6 |
| 168 | N Colorado | 17-10 | 331 | 46.73 | 0.465 | 233 | 126.4 |
| 169 | Lindenwood | 16-11 | 293 | 46.52 | 0.475 | 214 | 129.1 |
| 170 | Iona | 15-12 | 209 | 46.48 | 0.489 | 179 | 132.9 |
| 171 | Richmond | 14-12 | 141 | 46.41 | 0.503 | 155 | 136.7 |
| 172 | Green Bay | 15-13 | 161 | 46.39 | 0.496 | 168 | 134.8 |
| 173 | Minnesota | 12-14 | 67 | 46.34 | 0.528 | 106 | 143.5 |
| 174 | Samford | 15-12 | 213 | 46.30 | 0.487 | 184 | 132.3 |
| 175 | Texas St | 17-11 | 319 | 46.24 | 0.468 | 227 | 127.2 |
| 176 | Mississippi | 11-14 | 49 | 46.22 | 0.541 | 91 | 147.0 |
| 177 | North Texas | 15-11 | 226 | 46.22 | 0.484 | 189 | 131.5 |
| 178 | Kansas St | 11-15 | 23 | 46.02 | 0.552 | 77 | 150.0 |
| 179 | Rio Grande | 15-12 | 227 | 45.78 | 0.483 | 193 | 131.3 |
| 180 | Providence | 11-15 | 30 | 45.66 | 0.548 | 82 | 148.9 |
| 181 | Ohio | 14-13 | 146 | 45.59 | 0.497 | 166 | 135.1 |
| 182 | N Kentucky | 16-11 | 308 | 45.52 | 0.467 | 229 | 126.9 |
| 183 | Morehead St | 15-12 | 241 | 45.34 | 0.478 | 207 | 129.9 |
| 184 | Memphis | 12-13 | 72 | 45.28 | 0.524 | 117 | 142.4 |
| 185 | Montana St | 15-11 | 295 | 45.25 | 0.470 | 225 | 127.7 |
| 186 | Queens | 15-12 | 246 | 45.24 | 0.479 | 206 | 130.2 |
| 187 | Colgate | 16-12 | 289 | 45.09 | 0.471 | 220 | 128.0 |
| 188 | Elon | 14-13 | 163 | 44.96 | 0.491 | 173 | 133.4 |
| 189 | Valparaiso | 14-13 | 174 | 44.69 | 0.489 | 178 | 132.9 |
| 190 | Penn St | 11-15 | 51 | 44.42 | 0.535 | 94 | 145.4 |
| 191 | Mid Tenn | 12-13 | 110 | 44.42 | 0.505 | 150 | 137.2 |
| 192 | Temple | 15-10 | 321 | 44.31 | 0.462 | 236 | 125.6 |
| 193 | Kennesaw St | 14-11 | 286 | 44.30 | 0.468 | 226 | 127.2 |
| 194 | Monmouth | 14-12 | 232 | 44.19 | 0.476 | 211 | 129.4 |
| 195 | Vermont | 17-10 | 353 | 44.12 | 0.447 | 273 | 121.5 |
| 196 | Cornell | 12-11 | 205 | 44.05 | 0.482 | 195 | 131.0 |
| 197 | Fordham | 14-12 | 216 | 43.61 | 0.477 | 209 | 129.6 |
| 198 | Northwestern | 10-16 | 7 | 43.60 | 0.558 | 71 | 151.6 |
| 199 | LMU | 13-15 | 97 | 43.57 | 0.508 | 146 | 138.1 |
| 200 | South Carolina | 11-15 | 58 | 43.48 | 0.526 | 112 | 142.9 |
| 201 | Charlotte | 13-12 | 186 | 43.31 | 0.484 | 191 | 131.5 |
| 202 | Jax St | 13-12 | 223 | 43.22 | 0.475 | 212 | 129.1 |
| 203 | Maryland | 10-15 | 35 | 43.05 | 0.539 | 93 | 146.5 |
| 204 | Fort Wayne | 15-12 | 305 | 43.00 | 0.459 | 244 | 124.7 |
| 205 | S Illinois | 12-15 | 79 | 42.89 | 0.513 | 134 | 139.4 |
| 206 | SIUE | 17-10 | 360 | 42.82 | 0.437 | 290 | 118.8 |
| 207 | Fresno St | 12-14 | 112 | 42.74 | 0.501 | 158 | 136.2 |
| 208 | LA Tech | 14-11 | 320 | 42.71 | 0.455 | 249 | 123.6 |
| 209 | Rutgers | 10-15 | 42 | 42.70 | 0.535 | 99 | 145.4 |
| 210 | NJ Tech | 15-12 | 317 | 42.68 | 0.457 | 245 | 124.2 |
| 211 | Missouri St | 13-12 | 253 | 42.27 | 0.467 | 231 | 126.9 |
| 212 | Balt County | 16-8 | 365 | 41.99 | 0.424 | 319 | 115.2 |
| 213 | New Mexico St | 12-13 | 165 | 41.83 | 0.481 | 198 | 130.7 |
| 214 | Georgia Tech | 11-15 | 84 | 41.75 | 0.508 | 145 | 138.1 |
| 215 | Southern Miss | 14-14 | 220 | 41.73 | 0.471 | 219 | 128.0 |
| 216 | Montana | 14-12 | 307 | 41.71 | 0.454 | 252 | 123.4 |
| 217 | C Connecticut | 15-10 | 358 | 41.64 | 0.436 | 294 | 118.5 |
| 218 | Fullerton | 13-14 | 177 | 41.64 | 0.479 | 204 | 130.2 |
| 219 | Drexel | 13-14 | 185 | 41.46 | 0.478 | 208 | 129.9 |
| 220 | American | 14-13 | 282 | 41.32 | 0.459 | 241 | 124.7 |
| 221 | Portland | 12-15 | 113 | 41.24 | 0.496 | 167 | 134.8 |
| 222 | Bethune | 13-13 | 234 | 41.20 | 0.467 | 230 | 126.9 |
| 223 | Ga Southern | 15-12 | 336 | 41.17 | 0.445 | 277 | 120.9 |
| 224 | North Dakota | 15-14 | 292 | 40.99 | 0.457 | 246 | 124.2 |
| 225 | Idaho | 14-12 | 325 | 40.93 | 0.448 | 268 | 121.7 |
| 226 | Howard | 17-10 | 364 | 40.90 | 0.422 | 325 | 114.7 |
| 227 | FIU | 12-13 | 203 | 40.80 | 0.471 | 218 | 128.0 |
| 228 | Campbell | 12-14 | 149 | 40.78 | 0.481 | 197 | 130.7 |
| 229 | Asheville | 12-14 | 151 | 40.75 | 0.481 | 199 | 130.7 |
| 230 | Abilene Chr | 12-14 | 156 | 40.61 | 0.479 | 203 | 130.2 |
| 231 | Washington St | 11-16 | 66 | 40.31 | 0.512 | 136 | 139.1 |
| 232 | Corpus Christi | 14-13 | 306 | 40.28 | 0.449 | 263 | 122.0 |
| 233 | Radford | 14-13 | 312 | 40.12 | 0.448 | 267 | 121.7 |
| 234 | Tarleton | 13-13 | 299 | 39.52 | 0.450 | 259 | 122.3 |
| 235 | Oregon | 9-17 | 8 | 39.39 | 0.546 | 87 | 148.4 |
| 236 | Pittsburgh | 9-17 | 10 | 39.23 | 0.544 | 89 | 147.8 |
| 237 | Utah | 9-16 | 37 | 39.00 | 0.527 | 111 | 143.2 |
| 238 | Alabama A&M | 15-11 | 362 | 38.96 | 0.420 | 327 | 114.1 |
| 239 | Drake | 12-16 | 139 | 38.73 | 0.480 | 201 | 130.4 |
| 240 | New Orleans | 12-15 | 180 | 38.59 | 0.471 | 223 | 128.0 |
| 241 | Hampton | 12-14 | 228 | 38.51 | 0.459 | 243 | 124.7 |
| 242 | Detroit | 12-13 | 284 | 38.45 | 0.450 | 260 | 122.3 |
| 243 | South Dakota | 14-13 | 337 | 38.44 | 0.433 | 302 | 117.7 |
| 244 | Weber St | 13-14 | 294 | 38.28 | 0.448 | 270 | 121.7 |
| 245 | Omaha | 14-14 | 329 | 37.83 | 0.435 | 298 | 118.2 |
| 246 | Greensboro | 12-15 | 212 | 37.64 | 0.460 | 240 | 125.0 |
| 247 | Dartmouth | 10-13 | 193 | 37.51 | 0.463 | 235 | 125.8 |
| 248 | Denver | 13-15 | 275 | 37.49 | 0.448 | 269 | 121.7 |
| 249 | Le Moyne | 14-13 | 348 | 37.47 | 0.426 | 315 | 115.8 |
| 250 | Presbyterian | 13-14 | 316 | 37.36 | 0.439 | 286 | 119.3 |
| 251 | Boston College | 9-17 | 50 | 37.06 | 0.517 | 125 | 140.5 |
| 252 | Youngstown St | 13-14 | 322 | 36.97 | 0.435 | 296 | 118.2 |
| 253 | Fla Gulf Coast | 12-15 | 239 | 36.86 | 0.452 | 257 | 122.8 |
| 254 | Marquette | 9-17 | 53 | 36.86 | 0.514 | 132 | 139.7 |
| 255 | Mt St Marys | 12-15 | 251 | 36.60 | 0.450 | 261 | 122.3 |
| 256 | Longwood | 14-14 | 346 | 36.48 | 0.423 | 322 | 115.0 |
| 257 | Lamar | 12-15 | 261 | 36.37 | 0.447 | 272 | 121.5 |
| 258 | Cal Poly | 11-16 | 152 | 36.31 | 0.468 | 228 | 127.2 |
| 259 | West Georgia | 12-14 | 314 | 36.00 | 0.435 | 297 | 118.2 |
| 260 | South Dakota St | 12-15 | 280 | 35.84 | 0.441 | 281 | 119.8 |
| 261 | Milwaukee | 11-17 | 138 | 35.82 | 0.473 | 215 | 128.5 |
| 262 | W Carolina | 10-15 | 147 | 35.81 | 0.467 | 232 | 126.9 |
| 263 | Sacred Heart | 12-16 | 238 | 35.66 | 0.449 | 265 | 122.0 |
| 264 | UTEP | 10-16 | 129 | 35.41 | 0.473 | 216 | 128.5 |
| 265 | Grambling | 11-14 | 290 | 35.34 | 0.438 | 287 | 119.0 |
| 266 | Boston Univ | 13-15 | 328 | 35.33 | 0.428 | 309 | 116.3 |
| 267 | Lehigh | 12-15 | 301 | 35.31 | 0.436 | 291 | 118.5 |
| 268 | Manhattan | 12-16 | 256 | 35.26 | 0.445 | 276 | 120.9 |
| 269 | Chrls So | 13-15 | 332 | 35.12 | 0.425 | 317 | 115.5 |
| 270 | SC Upstate | 11-16 | 204 | 35.06 | 0.454 | 254 | 123.4 |
| 271 | Ark Pine Bluff | 11-15 | 258 | 34.79 | 0.442 | 280 | 120.1 |
| 272 | East Texas | 11-17 | 168 | 34.70 | 0.460 | 239 | 125.0 |
| 273 | Nicholls | 11-16 | 214 | 34.69 | 0.451 | 258 | 122.6 |
| 274 | Rice | 11-15 | 229 | 34.54 | 0.447 | 274 | 121.5 |
| 275 | Bellarmine | 11-15 | 271 | 34.49 | 0.439 | 285 | 119.3 |
| 276 | San Diego | 11-17 | 182 | 34.38 | 0.456 | 247 | 123.9 |
| 277 | Mercyhurst | 13-14 | 354 | 34.08 | 0.408 | 336 | 110.9 |
| 278 | Old Dominion | 10-18 | 107 | 34.02 | 0.479 | 205 | 130.2 |
| 279 | NC A&T | 10-14 | 277 | 33.97 | 0.436 | 292 | 118.5 |
| 280 | E Illinois | 11-16 | 247 | 33.90 | 0.441 | 282 | 119.8 |
| 281 | Lowell | 11-15 | 311 | 33.25 | 0.425 | 316 | 115.5 |
| 282 | New Haven | 11-15 | 315 | 33.20 | 0.425 | 318 | 115.5 |
| 283 | East Carolina | 9-16 | 114 | 33.07 | 0.473 | 217 | 128.5 |
| 284 | Southern | 12-14 | 352 | 33.04 | 0.405 | 339 | 110.1 |
| 285 | E Michigan | 10-17 | 170 | 32.84 | 0.454 | 253 | 123.4 |
| 286 | Indiana St | 10-17 | 200 | 32.19 | 0.446 | 275 | 121.2 |
| 287 | Norfolk St | 13-14 | 363 | 32.19 | 0.390 | 354 | 106.0 |
| 288 | Delaware | 9-16 | 167 | 32.13 | 0.453 | 255 | 123.1 |
| 289 | Sacramento St | 9-16 | 178 | 31.94 | 0.449 | 264 | 122.0 |
| 290 | Jacksonville | 10-17 | 210 | 31.93 | 0.443 | 278 | 120.4 |
| 291 | Idaho St | 10-17 | 218 | 31.66 | 0.439 | 284 | 119.3 |
| 292 | W Michigan | 9-17 | 144 | 31.57 | 0.456 | 248 | 123.9 |
| 293 | TN Tech | 11-16 | 327 | 31.49 | 0.415 | 330 | 112.8 |
| 294 | NC Central | 10-14 | 338 | 31.37 | 0.407 | 338 | 110.6 |
| 295 | Chattanooga | 10-17 | 235 | 31.24 | 0.434 | 301 | 117.9 |
| 296 | Jackson St | 9-17 | 157 | 31.22 | 0.452 | 256 | 122.8 |
| 297 | S Utah | 9-17 | 159 | 31.12 | 0.450 | 262 | 122.3 |
| 298 | TX Southern | 9-15 | 264 | 31.08 | 0.428 | 306 | 116.3 |
| 299 | E Kentucky | 9-18 | 132 | 31.04 | 0.460 | 238 | 125.0 |
| 300 | Loyola MD | 11-16 | 333 | 31.04 | 0.410 | 332 | 111.4 |
| 301 | Princeton | 8-17 | 105 | 30.96 | 0.471 | 222 | 128.0 |
| 302 | N Illinois | 9-16 | 219 | 30.91 | 0.437 | 289 | 118.8 |
| 303 | Louisiana | 9-18 | 137 | 30.90 | 0.459 | 242 | 124.7 |
| 304 | E Washington | 9-17 | 172 | 30.88 | 0.448 | 271 | 121.7 |
| 305 | Little Rock | 10-17 | 262 | 30.74 | 0.428 | 305 | 116.3 |
| 306 | Army | 10-17 | 265 | 30.62 | 0.427 | 310 | 116.0 |
| 307 | Houston Chr | 10-17 | 266 | 30.61 | 0.427 | 311 | 116.0 |
| 308 | Cleveland St | 10-17 | 279 | 30.39 | 0.424 | 321 | 115.2 |
| 309 | Florida A&M | 10-14 | 350 | 30.34 | 0.397 | 348 | 107.9 |
| 310 | N Arizona | 10-17 | 283 | 30.30 | 0.423 | 323 | 115.0 |
| 311 | Incarnate Word | 10-17 | 296 | 30.03 | 0.420 | 328 | 114.1 |
| 312 | La Salle | 7-18 | 38 | 29.63 | 0.503 | 152 | 136.7 |
| 313 | New Hampshire | 8-16 | 194 | 29.50 | 0.438 | 288 | 119.0 |
| 314 | Brown | 8-15 | 250 | 29.44 | 0.426 | 314 | 115.8 |
| 315 | Georgia St | 9-18 | 206 | 29.19 | 0.436 | 293 | 118.5 |
| 316 | Morgan St | 10-14 | 361 | 28.95 | 0.382 | 359 | 103.8 |
| 317 | Stetson | 9-18 | 245 | 28.31 | 0.424 | 320 | 115.2 |
| 318 | UC Riverside | 8-19 | 122 | 28.20 | 0.455 | 251 | 123.6 |
| 319 | Wagner | 9-16 | 330 | 27.90 | 0.400 | 344 | 108.7 |
| 320 | Prairie View | 10-16 | 355 | 27.69 | 0.383 | 358 | 104.1 |
| 321 | Long Beach | 8-18 | 183 | 27.62 | 0.435 | 295 | 118.2 |
| 322 | C Michigan | 8-18 | 188 | 27.54 | 0.434 | 299 | 117.9 |
| 323 | Bakersfield | 8-18 | 190 | 27.51 | 0.434 | 300 | 117.9 |
| 324 | San Jose St | 7-19 | 80 | 27.29 | 0.470 | 224 | 127.7 |
| 325 | Bucknell | 8-19 | 148 | 27.27 | 0.442 | 279 | 120.1 |
| 326 | Holy Cross | 9-18 | 300 | 27.17 | 0.409 | 334 | 111.1 |
| 327 | Albany | 9-17 | 335 | 26.71 | 0.394 | 350 | 107.1 |
| 328 | Fair Dickins | 10-17 | 357 | 26.67 | 0.379 | 361 | 103.0 |
| 329 | Citadel | 9-18 | 323 | 26.38 | 0.398 | 345 | 108.2 |
| 330 | Nwestern St | 8-19 | 199 | 26.34 | 0.428 | 308 | 116.3 |
| 331 | Canisius | 8-19 | 202 | 26.32 | 0.428 | 307 | 116.3 |
| 332 | Stonehill | 9-18 | 326 | 26.25 | 0.397 | 349 | 107.9 |
| 333 | SELA | 8-19 | 208 | 26.21 | 0.426 | 313 | 115.8 |
| 334 | Alabama St | 9-17 | 345 | 26.16 | 0.388 | 357 | 105.4 |
| 335 | Bryant | 8-18 | 272 | 25.85 | 0.410 | 333 | 111.4 |
| 336 | North Alabama | 8-17 | 313 | 25.85 | 0.400 | 343 | 108.7 |
| 337 | Ball St | 8-18 | 281 | 25.69 | 0.408 | 337 | 110.9 |
| 338 | Pepperdine | 7-20 | 103 | 25.65 | 0.455 | 250 | 123.6 |
| 339 | Lafayette | 8-19 | 244 | 25.49 | 0.416 | 329 | 113.1 |
| 340 | Northeastern | 6-18 | 88 | 25.40 | 0.460 | 237 | 125.0 |
| 341 | Niagara | 7-19 | 160 | 24.89 | 0.432 | 304 | 117.4 |
| 342 | MD Eastern | 8-19 | 304 | 24.29 | 0.398 | 347 | 108.2 |
| 343 | Evansville | 6-20 | 117 | 22.79 | 0.440 | 283 | 119.6 |
| 344 | Loyola Chicago | 6-20 | 104 | 22.64 | 0.448 | 266 | 121.7 |
| 345 | IU Indy | 7-21 | 252 | 21.76 | 0.402 | 342 | 109.2 |
| 346 | North Florida | 6-21 | 134 | 21.70 | 0.433 | 303 | 117.7 |
| 347 | Alcorn St | 6-19 | 230 | 21.43 | 0.405 | 340 | 110.1 |
| 348 | SC St | 6-18 | 288 | 21.43 | 0.392 | 351 | 106.5 |
| 349 | Oral Roberts | 6-21 | 150 | 21.19 | 0.422 | 324 | 114.7 |
| 350 | Maine | 6-21 | 191 | 20.64 | 0.413 | 331 | 112.2 |
| 351 | St Francis | 6-20 | 248 | 20.47 | 0.398 | 346 | 108.2 |
| 352 | Chicago St | 6-21 | 225 | 20.06 | 0.402 | 341 | 109.2 |
| 353 | UTSA | 5-20 | 131 | 19.49 | 0.427 | 312 | 116.0 |
| 354 | Coppin St | 6-21 | 268 | 19.45 | 0.391 | 352 | 106.3 |
| 355 | VMI | 6-21 | 270 | 19.44 | 0.390 | 353 | 106.0 |
| 356 | Delaware St | 6-19 | 351 | 18.50 | 0.352 | 363 | 95.7 |
| 357 | S Indiana | 5-21 | 249 | 17.52 | 0.388 | 355 | 105.4 |
| 358 | W Illinois | 5-22 | 243 | 16.99 | 0.388 | 356 | 105.4 |
| 359 | Air Force | 3-23 | 11 | 15.29 | 0.485 | 188 | 131.8 |
| 360 | Binghamton | 5-22 | 349 | 14.85 | 0.341 | 365 | 92.7 |
| 361 | Kansas City | 4-22 | 240 | 14.68 | 0.380 | 360 | 103.3 |
| 362 | ULM | 4-23 | 242 | 14.16 | 0.379 | 362 | 103.0 |
| 363 | Rider | 3-22 | 106 | 13.75 | 0.421 | 326 | 114.4 |
| 364 | Gardner Webb | 3-25 | 121 | 12.12 | 0.408 | 335 | 110.9 |
| 365 | MS Valley | 1-25 | 287 | 5.70 | 0.342 | 364 | 92.9 |

Robert — I am not sure I understand how to use the table to identify a winner. Can you give an example or two using your directions?
Also — what does RPI and SOS represent?
Thanks I enjoy the emails.
Scott
Hi Scott and thanks for the great questions. RPI is a metric that adds a team’s winning percentage to twice its opponent’s winning percentage to their opponents’ opponent’s winning percentage, after which you divide by 4. It provides a combination of “goodness” and “difficulty”. SOS is Strength of Schedule which can be calculated a few different ways. We use a simple average of a team’s opponent’s GCR metric of Performance Score. We don’t generally publish that number, but it is a value based on wins collected and games played.
For the post I’m about to write, I just updated all women’s games through yesterday, so I’ll use that as an example. I know you are in Big Ten country, so I’ll use a game from that conference. The only game today is Penn St (9-17/233) at Rutgers (9-17/235) – not the best game, but ok. One way to calculate the winner of that game is the Score, which is normalized so that the best team (UCLA) has a Score of 100. Rutgers is 38.42 and Penn St is 38.89. They are playing at Rutgers so add 4.5 which has Rutgers winning by a margin of (38.42+4.5-38.89) or 4.03. Likewise, we could use the RPIF (or RPI Factor which puts the RPI variation among teams at the same margin of spread as the Score – in other words, because the variation within the RPI (which is a fraction) is very small, we normalize the RPI Factor so that we can compare teams without the reader having to do a bunch of math. For our game today, Rutgers is sitting at 140.8 and Penn St is at 143.7. Again, Rutgers is at home so add 4.5. 140.8+4.5-143.7 or 1.6. We would say Rutgers should win with a theoretical point spread of somewhere between 1.6 and 4.03.
Hope that helps. Let me know your thoughts.
r