Postseason chat on Nebraska and the B1G:
Link: https://d1baseball.com/chats/d1baseball-weekly-chat-may-6/
Q: Iowa in the rankings, which is great....but dropping 8 RPI spots after losing yesterday despite taking the series? Michigan's resume is objectively less impressive, but they're almost certain to get in at this point while Iowa probably won't, especially with the Hawks' schedule the rest of the way. What gives with the numbers here?
Aaron Fitt: Yeah, that stuff can be frustrating. Obviously, we like Iowa's resume more than Michigan's, that's why we ranked the Hawkeyes this week and not the Wolverines. We value high-end series wins, and Iowa has four nice ones (sweeping Illinois, at Oklahoma State, vs. Nebraska and vs. UC-Irvine). Michigan doesn't have a single series win against anything close to a regional team. But as for the RPI -- Iowa has 12 games against teams outside the Top 200, and those games continue to drag them down. If a bunch of teams you played in February go 0-3 on a weekend in May, it hurts you, even if you have a good weekend against a quality opponent yourself. So you're right, the RPI is really working against Iowa right now. Going to he a fascinating bubble case.
Q: What's your thoughts on Nebraska now, given they keep slumping. Looks like they might not even make the postseason the way they've been playing, especially offensive-wise and their schedule is only going to get tougher.
Aaron Fitt: Nebraska looked good for our postseason field last week, but you're right, losing a series to Northwestern at this juncture is pretty terrible. The RPI is now down to 47. What that said, the Huskers will have earned a spot in the postseason if they take the series from Arizona State and Michigan, there's no doubt about that. Both of those series are at home, too, so you have to like NU's chances.
Q: Is Creighton still within striking distance of hosting? Perhaps if they win out?
Aaron Fitt: Certainly still right in the mix -- they're still No. 25 in the RPI, with a solid 6-2 mark against the Top 50, and now they're back in first place in the Big East at 9-3, percentage points ahead of Xavier. I think Creighton's in pretty darn good shape, actually.
Q: What margin of error does Iowa have moving forward with the RPI? Seems they have a regional worthy resume, but RPI is not too kind.
Kendall Rogers: Little margin for error, but Iowa is going to rank really really well with the RAC (regional advisory committee) and the marquee series wins will certainly look impressive to the committee. Iowa's resume reminds me a lot of Washington last season, who finished at 50 in the RPI but had a strong standing in the Pac-12. Obviously Iowa's RPI is down to 57 after the weekend, so it's not the same, but that's the closest comparison I can think of at the moment.
Q: What are Michigan's chances of hosting a regional?
Kendall Rogers: Michigan could win the league and have an RPI within range give its opponents the final two weeks of the season. However, it's hard to see them hosting right now with Michigan's overall resume. It just lacks quality wins outside of one game against UCLA. That Big Ten race has captivated me down the stretch.
Q: Regarding the Big Ten, I see Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa safely in with Nebraska with work to do. Agree? Minnesota got off to a tough start and I don't see RPI bolstering opportunities for them.
Kendall Rogers: I think you're on the right track. I feel pretty good about the first three, and Iowa as well. Iowa's RPI might not be amazing, but that's a strong resume. Nebraska has some work to do IMO.
Link: https://d1baseball.com/chats/d1baseball-weekly-chat-may-6/
Q: Iowa in the rankings, which is great....but dropping 8 RPI spots after losing yesterday despite taking the series? Michigan's resume is objectively less impressive, but they're almost certain to get in at this point while Iowa probably won't, especially with the Hawks' schedule the rest of the way. What gives with the numbers here?
Aaron Fitt: Yeah, that stuff can be frustrating. Obviously, we like Iowa's resume more than Michigan's, that's why we ranked the Hawkeyes this week and not the Wolverines. We value high-end series wins, and Iowa has four nice ones (sweeping Illinois, at Oklahoma State, vs. Nebraska and vs. UC-Irvine). Michigan doesn't have a single series win against anything close to a regional team. But as for the RPI -- Iowa has 12 games against teams outside the Top 200, and those games continue to drag them down. If a bunch of teams you played in February go 0-3 on a weekend in May, it hurts you, even if you have a good weekend against a quality opponent yourself. So you're right, the RPI is really working against Iowa right now. Going to he a fascinating bubble case.
Q: What's your thoughts on Nebraska now, given they keep slumping. Looks like they might not even make the postseason the way they've been playing, especially offensive-wise and their schedule is only going to get tougher.
Aaron Fitt: Nebraska looked good for our postseason field last week, but you're right, losing a series to Northwestern at this juncture is pretty terrible. The RPI is now down to 47. What that said, the Huskers will have earned a spot in the postseason if they take the series from Arizona State and Michigan, there's no doubt about that. Both of those series are at home, too, so you have to like NU's chances.
Q: Is Creighton still within striking distance of hosting? Perhaps if they win out?
Aaron Fitt: Certainly still right in the mix -- they're still No. 25 in the RPI, with a solid 6-2 mark against the Top 50, and now they're back in first place in the Big East at 9-3, percentage points ahead of Xavier. I think Creighton's in pretty darn good shape, actually.
Q: What margin of error does Iowa have moving forward with the RPI? Seems they have a regional worthy resume, but RPI is not too kind.
Kendall Rogers: Little margin for error, but Iowa is going to rank really really well with the RAC (regional advisory committee) and the marquee series wins will certainly look impressive to the committee. Iowa's resume reminds me a lot of Washington last season, who finished at 50 in the RPI but had a strong standing in the Pac-12. Obviously Iowa's RPI is down to 57 after the weekend, so it's not the same, but that's the closest comparison I can think of at the moment.
Q: What are Michigan's chances of hosting a regional?
Kendall Rogers: Michigan could win the league and have an RPI within range give its opponents the final two weeks of the season. However, it's hard to see them hosting right now with Michigan's overall resume. It just lacks quality wins outside of one game against UCLA. That Big Ten race has captivated me down the stretch.
Q: Regarding the Big Ten, I see Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa safely in with Nebraska with work to do. Agree? Minnesota got off to a tough start and I don't see RPI bolstering opportunities for them.
Kendall Rogers: I think you're on the right track. I feel pretty good about the first three, and Iowa as well. Iowa's RPI might not be amazing, but that's a strong resume. Nebraska has some work to do IMO.
