Soccer America Slams NCAA for Soccer RPI

[GoZips]

by Paul KennedyMEN'S NEWS ... The second Men's Division I RPI index the NCAA released Tuesday underscores the parity in men's college soccer this year. The RPI -- Ratings Percentage Index -- includes teams from 14 different conferences among the top 28 teams and two major surprises. Not one of the 16 Big East teams is in the top 25, nor is any team from the Big West.Three Big East teams are among the top nine teams in this week's Soccer America Men's Top 25: No. 5 Connecticut, No. 6 South Florida and No. 9 Louisville rank 30-34-44 in the RPI index. If the current RPI index were used to rank the 48 NCAA qualifiers -- the top-ranked teams from the 21 conferences whose champions get automatic bids and 27 at-large teams -- Louisville would not get in.The two Big West teams in this week's Top 25 -- No. 7 UC Santa Barbara and No. 19 UC Irvine -- are No. 48 and No. 38 in the RPI index. Like Louisville, UCSB falls below the 42 teams who would get in as conference champions or at-large teams.Also of note:-- Two top 25 RPI teams -- No. 7 Indiana and No. 15 Loyola Marymount -- have .500 records.-- Since the Mid-American Conference does not get an automatic berth this year, Northern Illinois (No. 46) and Hartwick (No. 61) have their work cut out. Akron (15-0-0) is No. 3 in the RPI Index and a shoo-in for an NCAA Tournament bid.NCAA RPI IndexThe Ratings Percentage Index is the most important of the criteria the NCAA uses to determine the 64-team field for the NCAA Division I Women's Tournament. The RPI is a mathematical formula designed to objectively compare results and strength of schedule.

[ZachTheZip]

That's what happens when you don't factor in margin of victory.

[Z.I.P.]

That's what happens when you don't factor in margin of victory.

I looked at #15 (7-7-1) Loyola Marymount's schedule. They beat UCSB on the road but they lost to #5 San Diego and #11 San Diego State, as well as way-down Cal St Bakersfield. Good strength of schedule can overcome some bad losses. Too bad we don't have SOS provided. Can anyone find one?Hey at least we're a shoo-in for a tournament bid. Like shoo fly pie?

[Zipmeister]

by Paul KennedyMEN'S NEWS ... The second Men's Division I RPI index the NCAA released Tuesday underscores the parity in men's college soccer this year. The RPI -- Ratings Percentage Index -- includes teams from 14 different conferences among the top 28 teams and two major surprises. Not one of the 16 Big East teams is in the top 25, nor is any team from the Big West.Three Big East teams are among the top nine teams in this week's Soccer America Men's Top 25: No. 5 Connecticut, No. 6 South Florida and No. 9 Louisville rank 30-34-44 in the RPI index. If the current RPI index were used to rank the 48 NCAA qualifiers -- the top-ranked teams from the 21 conferences whose champions get automatic bids and 27 at-large teams -- Louisville would not get in.The two Big West teams in this week's Top 25 -- No. 7 UC Santa Barbara and No. 19 UC Irvine -- are No. 48 and No. 38 in the RPI index. Like Louisville, UCSB falls below the 42 teams who would get in as conference champions or at-large teams.Also of note:-- Two top 25 RPI teams -- No. 7 Indiana and No. 15 Loyola Marymount -- have .500 records.-- Since the Mid-American Conference does not get an automatic berth this year, Northern Illinois (No. 46) and Hartwick (No. 61) have their work cut out. Akron (15-0-0) is No. 3 in the RPI Index and a shoo-in for an NCAA Tournament bid.NCAA RPI IndexThe Ratings Percentage Index is the most important of the criteria the NCAA uses to determine the 64-team field for the NCAA Division I Women's Tournament. The RPI is a mathematical formula designed to objectively compare results and strength of schedule.

To be fair they should use the women's rpi rather than the men's rpi to select teams for the womens d1 tourney.