Bad News For Tennessee

[HawaiiVol]

Originally Posted by lidderer

You do realize the flaws inherent with how the RPI is set-up, no? I did not prior to getting the Colton breakdown, which you should watch/hear in order to better grasp what is so particularly flawed with it.

The 'joke' aspect of the RPI is in its ultimate deciding process and the way you can ACTUALLY gain by losing. That right there should suggest something in the realm of 'joke', no?

Again, what team in their right mind wants to lose just so they can gain RPI?

With all the apparent inherent flaws in the RPI, the Colton Index comes to pretty much the same result at the top, where it really matters.

[TennTom]

if that same team won said game, would they not gain more in RPI than if they lost??

[lidderer]

Originally Posted by MphsBlues

lid, you have been a member for over a year? Why only 50 posts? You seem knowledgeable about basketball and I guess you are a Vol fan. Just wondering..

The typical time-constraints answer+ it burns me, living in canada, that I don't ever get a chance to attend vols games so I try not to let my fandom reach really high peaks, knowing as I do that it'd make the inability to attend even more frustrating.

sigh

[lidderer]

Originally Posted by TennTom

if that same team won said game, would they not gain more in RPI than if they lost??

well you understand what he means in that it would help you to schedule like 4 teams slotted 120-160 and win all those games, whereas losing to a #2 ranked team and beating 45, 52, and 30 would appear as 'worse', which is all sorts of crazy and stupid.

There are much better examples of this weirdness on the colton index itself

[lidderer]

Originally Posted by HawaiiVol

Again, what team in their right mind wants to lose just so they can gain RPI?

With all the apparent inherent flaws in the RPI, the Colton Index comes to pretty much the same result at the top, where it really matters.

Does the RPI really matter at the top?, won't these teams make the tourney regardless? Isn't the sole purpose of the RPI a 'precise' tool to help distinguish which teams are worthy of a berth v.s. those which are not?

It's primary aim, to me, seems like a solution to bubbling Bubble questions, and secondarly as a means to assist in seeding.

[HawaiiVol]

I looked all over and couldn't find the formula he uses. Any ranking system that uses known data points is able to be gamed by those wanting to do so.

[MphsBlues]

Originally Posted by lidderer

The typical time-constraints answer+ it burns me, living in canada, that I don't ever get a chance to attend vols games so I try not to let my fandom reach really high peaks, knowing as I do that it'd make the inability to attend even more frustrating.

sigh

That doesn't stop the rest of us that can't stroll to the stadium to watch from being die-hard fans - or at least putting something Vol-related in our avatar. Not trying to bust on you, but jump on the bandwagon. We're turning into a great team - with tons of heart that statistics can't account for. Hope supplants years of misery. I think that bodes well for our boys come Saturday...

[HawaiiVol]

I took some time to compare the top 64 teams from each ranking. Only a 4 team difference, so really the only thing that's in contention would be seeding. Doesn't sound compelling enough to say the RPI is a joke.

[lidderer]

Originally Posted by HawaiiVol

I took some time to compare the top 64 teams from each ranking. Only a 4 team difference, so really the only thing that's in contention would be seeding. Doesn't sound compelling enough to say the RPI is a joke.

I'm not sure what you glossed over in my earlier post, but it seems pretty clear if you just watch the video that the RPI has serious serious flaws; just because at the present time there doesn't appear to be discrepancies worthy of justifying an alternative does not mean that historically the RPI has not been, yes, a joke, and an injustice.

Seriously Hawaiivol, just watch the video, it's enjoyable even.

[lidderer]

Originally Posted by MphsBlues

That doesn't stop the rest of us that can't stroll to the stadium to watch from being die-hard fans - or at least putting something Vol-related in our avatar. Not trying to bust on you, but jump on the bandwagon. We're turning into a great team - with tons of heart that statistics can't account for. Hope supplants years of misery. I think that bodes well for our boys come Saturday...

Well I certainly watch every game---save the auburn and vandy ones from earlier--but I'm a sucker for the opportunity to view them in person.

At least my avatar has some orange in it. I hope that counts.

[HawaiiVol]

Quicktime is not making it's way onto my system anytime soon if I can help it.

I flipped through the PDF and just don't see a big enough difference to say one system is better than the other based on the top 64 results from each system. I can't even find the formula he uses himself, but I'd wager it could be gamed as well, just like any ranking formula.

[MphsBlues]

Originally Posted by lidderer

Well I certainly watch every game---save the auburn and vandy ones from earlier--but I'm a sucker for the opportunity to view them in person.

At least my avatar has some orange in it. I hope that counts.

I knew as soon as I said that I should've thought before changing my Lofton avatar. But at least it's not another teams avatar. Anyway, interesting view - I think the game will be close. Should be a good one.

[BACKDOC]

If UT's in so much trouble how did they beat the two national champs 3 of 4 (Lofton didn't play in the lone loss) as well as K. Durant and Tx. with less talent than they have this year.

[hmanvolfan]

Originally Posted by HawaiiVol

you don't have to make assumptions if you watch the games. It's right there in front of you.

And no, I wouldn't be surprised at the number of inane assumptions at all.

Well said. Memphis has a tendency to falter against zone defenses. Tennessee has had a tendency to be lax in the interior defense category. Whichever team improves in those areas has the best chance of winning this game. In case lid missed the insinuation, the two teams are relatively equal in all the other basketball skills. This ain't rocket science.

[lidderer]

Originally Posted by BACKDOC

If UT's in so much trouble how did they beat the two national champs 3 of 4 (Lofton didn't play in the lone loss) as well as K. Durant and Tx. with less talent than they have this year.

This is also why the new york rangers of the late 90s went 82-0 and the yankees have won the world series 9gabillion years in a row.

Texas plays a much better brand of basketball this year than they did last season, which has been mostly evident through numbers.

As an easier and more direct response: how is UT not in trouble if they lost to Kentucky and a texas team which, according to you, is "with less talent than they [had last] year"?