Rankings Smankings

[Redwingtom]

BG drops 3 places to 34 in the AP poll. Why am I not surprised one iota...LOL
AP Poll - 1/3/11

At least we picked up 4 points.

[bgsufalcon24]

Well, I'm definitely not surprised. Our RPI right now is 43, SOS is 177. The truth of the matter is that our schedule has been very easy. Again, we'd be in if we were undefeated seeing as we started the year with 31 votes, but that loss to Evansville on opening night was an absolute killer. Hardly any of the teams in the top 25 have losses against sub-RPI 150 teams on their resume like that.

According to realtimerpi, we have 5 wins against teams in the RPI top 100, including two in the top 50, but none in the top 40. Here's the slate:

Detroit - 41
Vanderbilt - 49
Arkansas-Little Rock - 54
Creighton - 68
Western Kentucky - 95

We have just three games against RPI top 100 teams (at the moment) remaining, those are:
Miami (x2) - 92
Central Michigan - 78

Conceivably, Toledo (RPI 111) and Northern Illinois (RPI 114) could crack in at some point too. The MAC just isn't as good a league this year, and it's hurting our prospective strength of schedule.

Bottom line is we just have to keep winning. Eventually, an, 18-1, 19-1, 20-1 record while the power conference teams are beating each other up is going to become too much to ignore. What we cannot do is drop games against mediocre or bad teams in MAC play (ie: anybody not Miami, CMU, Toledo, or NIU). A defeat to say, Ohio, Buffalo, or WMU, would probably put us out of the rankings discussion for the rest of the season.

[Class of 61]

Well, I'm definitely not surprised.

Conceivably, Toledo (RPI 111) and Northern Illinois (RPI 114) could crack in at some point too. The MAC just isn't as good a league this year, and it's hurting our prospective strength of schedule.

.

Perhaps you need to listen in/watch Curt Miller's latest press conference...in which he states the MAC has its HIGHEST RPI in years (12th) and says we're a very "top heavy" league with anywhere from 5 to 8 teams being able to win on any given night....or season! But then, what does Curt know, right?

[Falconfreak90]

Just keep winning, baby...the run for title #7 starts this week.

GO FALCONS!!!!

[transfer2BGSU]

But then, what does Curt know, right?

Exactly '61. This is the same man that talked about a "five year plan" when he was hired. I think he accomplished his plan in only four years. You can't trust what he says

[bgsufalcon24]

Well, I'm definitely not surprised.

Conceivably, Toledo (RPI 111) and Northern Illinois (RPI 114) could crack in at some point too. The MAC just isn't as good a league this year, and it's hurting our prospective strength of schedule.

.

Perhaps you need to listen in/watch Curt Miller's latest press conference...in which he states the MAC has its HIGHEST RPI in years (12th) and says we're a very "top heavy" league with anywhere from 5 to 8 teams being able to win on any given night....or season! But then, what does Curt know, right?

That's not an accurate statement, the MAC was 10th in total RPI in 2007, and 11th in 2009. The 2009 MAC Championship pitted two teams in the RPI top 50, BG was 33rd, and Ball State was 47th. Back in 2007, there were three teams in the top 70, BGSU, Ball State, and Eastern Michigan.

Just compare this year with last year. Toledo isn't as good as a year ago. Ball State isn't as good as a year ago. Ohio is worse. Akron is arguably worse. Really the only teams that are clearly better right now than they were a season ago are Miami and Central Michigan.

Miller just likes to butter up the mediocre teams in the middle of the pack, he's done it for years. To his credit, occasionally those teams give us a hard time, but they very rarely ever beat us. Undefeated in 2006. 1 loss in 2007 (to Ohio), 2009 (to Miami), and 2010 (Toledo). BG lost to a few bad teams in MAC play in 2008, but that was mostly due to youth, as Prochaska, Uhl, Pontius, etc were all freshmen. Suffice to say, I'm not expecting a whole bunch of defeats in MAC play this year.

[Class of 61]

Today's PD indicated that BG is now ranked 28th in country...obviously, several teams must've bit the dust.

[Redwingtom]

Yes, BG is 28th in the latest Coaches Poll with 26 votes (15 away from #25!)
ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

[Falcon Commander]

must be nice to have 4 losses and be in the Top 20
:smt078tosu

[bgsufalcon24]

must be nice to have 4 losses and be in the Top 20
:smt078tosu

Agreed. Over on rebkell pretty much all the posters rip on the buckeyes. Duquesne came into Columbus a few weeks ago and smacked them around, so they aren't all that, even though their other losses have been against very tough opposition. BGSU can certainly lay claim to best team in the state as far as I'm concerned.

[bgsufalcon24]

In the 1/10 AP poll, BG is now 32nd in the nation, with 21 votes. Ohio State is STILL ranked at 24th despite having 5 losses on the ledger. Eff that.

BGSU has a decent shot at pulling into the top 25 of the coaches poll tomorrow. They were 28th last week, and #21 Ohio State, #24 Texas, #25 Oklahoma State, and #26 Syracuse all lost this week.

[gmartin]

1/11 Coaches Poll is out. BG is ranked #26. Arkansas and Miami (FL) are the two new additions and cannot argue with them as they are 16-1. However tOSU with their 10-5 record should have dropped out. Only thing keeping them in the Top 25 is their name and that they have the fifth toughest strength of schedule. The lower top 25 in the coaches poll all have tough games and one of them should slip up so two more wins this week and we will be in the Top 25 next week. AP poll is and always has been a joke because they jist go off of what they see on tv anyways see once we get in the Top 25 in the coaches we will get more respect.

Saturday's game at Kent is going to be huge as to who holds the upper hand in the MAC East.

[bgsufalcon24]

gmartin you're absolutely right about that, Kent State is one of the tougher teams in the MAC, and they're out to a 2-0 conference start and are 10-3 overall. The schedule does get a bit testy beginning with Kent, as after we face them we turn around and face both Central Michigan and Toledo, the two best teams out west, with just one breather game at Buffalo inbetween. If BG runs the table in those three games you could make a great case that we'll go unbeaten through MAC play, with dates at Ypsilanti and Oxford on 2/12 and 2/19 the only serious tests remaining.

[jg4242]

must be nice to have 4 losses and be in the Top 20
:smt078tosu

Agreed. Over on rebkell pretty much all the posters rip on the buckeyes. Duquesne came into Columbus a few weeks ago and smacked them around, so they aren't all that, even though their other losses have been against very tough opposition. BGSU can certainly lay claim to best team in the state as far as I'm concerned.

Let's not forget about #8 Xavier... they're pretty good, too

[bgsufalcon24]

Yeah, Xavier's really good to be sure, but I'm not convinced that we couldn't beat them. We'd have nobody to guard Amber Harris one on one, and that would be a major problem, but if we were to get her in foul trouble early and hit outside shots consistently, BGSU could beat Xavier. You have a good point though, in that Xavier is definitely tougher and better than tOSU.