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Posted on Mar 23rd, 2021, 1:02 PM, , User Since 268 months ago, User Post Count: 17498
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This is interesting. Look where #1 ranked Oklahoma rates in the latest RPI.
Softball RPI Rankings as of March 21, 2021
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/softball/d1/ncaa-womens-softball-rpiRPI Rankings of Big-12 Teams
22 - Oklahoma State
23 - Oklahoma
25 - Texas
39 - Iowa State
49 - Baylor
75 - Kansas
83 - Texas TechThe RPI currently ranks eight SEC teams ahead of Oklahoma, including 5 SEC teams in the Top-10.
The Coaches Poll looks a lot different: https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/softball/d1/usa-today/nfca-coaches
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Posted on Mar 23rd, 2021, 1:09 PM, , User Since 242 months ago, User Post Count: 577
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Here we go more SEC biased softball. The Sooners should be ranked ahead of several of those teams. We beat Mizzou two games.
Posted on Mar 23rd, 2021, 1:20 PM, , User Since 268 months ago, User Post Count: 17498
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boomercarlton said... (original post) .. Here we go more SEC biased softball. The Sooners should be ranked ahead of several of those teams. We beat Mizzou two games.
While there are flaws in the RPI, human bias cannot be blamed. The RPI is based on "metrics" as it is a formula based rating. There are no people voting in the RPI.
What is RPI in Softball? https://www.basesloadedsoftball.com/learn/what-is-rpi-in-softball/
[ EXCERPT ] RPI is an acronym that stands for Rating Percentage Index. This index was created in the late seventies as a tool to rank teams based on their wins and losses, and it isn’t exclusive to just softball. The RPI is used in multiple sports, including NCAA basketball, hockey, baseball, lacrosse, volleyball, and soccer.
This ranking system is a tool that’s used in the selection and seeding of teams that will go on to face each other in the playoffs. There are a few different polls that rank Division I softball teams. There’s the ESPN/USA Softball poll, the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll, and a Women’s Softball RPI.
The current formulation of the RPI is made up of a team’s winning percentage (25%), the winning percentage of that team’s opponents (50%), and the winning percentage of this opposing team’s opponents (25%). These percentages are also known as “division I winning percentage,” “strength of schedule,” and “opponents’ strength of schedule,” respectively.
How important is the RPI?
According to the The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), “The RPI is just one of many factors used by the committee. Each committee member must weigh each factor available and make his or her own decision regarding its importance. Clearly, the RPI will be more helpful to a committee member when evaluating a team out of out his/her region, especially if he/she has never seen them play. If a committee member is evaluating two or more teams, a wide difference in RPI rank can be a factor. How “wide” is “wide”? A good rule of thumb is 20 or more ranking places, as well as the actual mathematical difference between RPI rankings.”
This post was edited by SoonerTraveler 3 years ago
Posted on Mar 23rd, 2021, 2:45 PM, , User Since 234 months ago, User Post Count: 3128
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It looks like you get more points for losing to a good team than beating a bad team. Liberty is ranked 11th and has a 21-9 record. It lost to a number of good teams, including two losses to Oklahoma, one of which was a 16-0 drubbing.
Posted on Mar 23rd, 2021, 2:51 PM, , User Since 268 months ago, User Post Count: 17498
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I will never defend the RPI, although formulas like this helped OU get into several National Championship football games in the early years of Bob Stoops.
The RPI can look especially crazy in the early part of the season. It seems to make more sense after many more games are played.
Posted on Mar 23rd, 2021, 10:54 PM, , User Since 172 months ago, User Post Count: 27067
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Incsooner said... (original post)It looks like you get more points for losing to a good team than beating a bad team. Liberty is ranked 11th and has a 21-9 record. It lost to a nu...
You are correct. A team can get penalized for beating a low ranked team. I never understood that reasoning. A win should never hurt you. I can understand getting a bump for beating a high ranked team and I can understand a team with lots of wins over top ranked teams being ranked higher than a team without any top wins. However, I have seen situations where a team moves up by losing to a high ranked team where another team beats a lower ranked team and falls behind the losing team. That makes no sense.
Posted on Mar 24th, 2021, 7:12 AM, , User Since 61 months ago, User Post Count: 8413
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See AlsoRPI for Division I Women's Soccer - RPI: FormulaAshland soars back to No. 1 in DII women's basketball Power 10 rankingsOHSAA votes to add postseason tournament divisions in seven sports, including basketballODU Baseball Set to Open 2024 Season Against George Washington - Old Dominion UniversityThere is good news in the RPI rankings however.
I don't believe the Big 12 has started the Big 12 portion of their schedule with all 7 teams ranked as highly by RPI as they are this year. (Tech is the lowest at #83.) So that should raise Oklahoma in the RPI rankings simply by adding 18 games against 'Top 85' teams. IT looks like the Big 12 is again the #3 conference with regards to RPI.
BUT the SEC teams are all ranked above the 'Top 45". The Pac 12 has 6 teams in that category. The ACC has six teams also. The Big 10 is down though with maybe 3.
So OU has the chance to rise. But games like the 2 against Georgia (#19-RPI) and Wichita State (#21-RPI) and even North Texas will be very important. I think that OU can raise to the Top 16 to be able to host a regional. But to make it to the Top 8 is tough. I think a couple teams in the SEC and the Pac 12 need to finish strongly in the Top 2 spots with the others falling down the standings due to beating up each other for that to happen.
I can see this.
UCLA and Washington or Oregon as 1 and 2 in the PAC 12. Maybe #3 is in the Top 8.
Alabama and Florida as 1 and 2 in the SEC.
The ACC finishes with Duke and Va Tech or Florida State as 1 and 2.
Then you have OU and one of OSU and Texas as 1 and 2. OU will be there.
That is 11 teams that will most likely fill the Top 8 spots. The Top 2 in each conference is very important to get to the Top 8.
The best Big 10 teams will be in the mix for the Top 16, but not Top 8. Louisiana is not as good as people thought due to pitching this year. I doubt they host a regional.
The path is there for the Sooners to host both a regional and a Super regional and do so with 'full' stands. That would be nice. Very nice.
This post was edited by OUBeliever56 3 years ago
Posted on Mar 24th, 2021, 8:24 AM, , User Since 159 months ago, User Post Count: 8061
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A few years ago Minnesota was ranked top 3 in the polls all year. But because they play in the Big 10 their RPI was in the high 20’s. They got placed at #16 for the regionals.
The RPI is everything in softball. The people who determine the playoff rankings don’t even watch the games, they just pull out the RPI and use that. That’s how national championship OU teams started out #8 and #10 a few years ago.
And yes, the RPI rewards teams for losing games to certain teams instead of winning games. It starts with monumental bias for the SEC and PAC 10.
Posted on Mar 24th, 2021, 8:36 AM, , User Since 159 months ago, User Post Count: 8061
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OUBeliever56 said... (original post)There is good news in the RPI rankings however.I don't believe the Big 12 has started the Big 12 portion of their schedule with all 7 team...
OUB56, how does this scenario put OU hosting a Super Regional? It seems that 3-4 teams in the top 8 would have to lose their regional for OU to move up. If OU gets placed 11-16 then at least 3 teams in the top 8 would need to lose. Any Big 12 losses will send OU further back, and any wins won’t push them into the top 8.
This year feels like the years OU got sent to play Auburn and Alabama in Super Regionals. There is no “eye test” in softball. The committee has proven that the RPI is all that matters.
Posted on Mar 24th, 2021, 9:58 AM, , User Since 61 months ago, User Post Count: 8413
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If OU was seeded say #11. For them to host the super they have to beat the #6 team they play in the regional. Then the #3 team in the other half of the 16 team bracket would have to lose to the #14 team in their regional. Then OU would host the Super against the #14 team.
I think I got all the numbers right. I am on my phone in the bank.
Posted on Mar 24th, 2021, 3:04 PM, , User Since 258 months ago, User Post Count: 4033
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Not saying this will happen, but what if OU went undefeated and was Number 1 in all polls or lost a game or two but was ranked in the top three in the polls but only say 14 in the RPI... Would the committee actually put them outside of the top 8. I think OU has a little more pull than Minnesota, and for softball, its always good to have OU in the college world series for attendance purposes and for TV viewers.
Posted on Mar 24th, 2021, 3:14 PM, , User Since 61 months ago, User Post Count: 8413
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OUatty said... (original post)Not saying this will happen, but what if OU went undefeated and was Number 1 in all polls or lost a game or two but was ranked in the top three in th...
I am just commenting honestly here. The highlighted portion of your comment is what bothers most D1 coaches about OU and their program, especially the top ones. There is a significant jealously about Coach Gasso and the 'power' or 'following' she has in Oklahoma. The 'powers that be' do not appreciate or give Coach Gasso and her staff any credit for what they have built at OU. I was surprised that Coach Gasso received the honor of coaching one of the national "B" teams a couple summers ago. The team played well and was very well coached. I wonder if that will be repeated. There is no doubt in my mind that she could build a better Team USA than what has built so far for 2020/21. But I doubt she will get that chance due to what I describe.
I don't expect any favors at all from the committee or the rankings during the season.
Posted on Mar 24th, 2021, 3:38 PM, , User Since 258 months ago, User Post Count: 1224
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OUBeliever56 said... (original post)I am just commenting honestly here. The highlighted portion of your comment is what bothers most D1 coaches about OU and their program, especia...
I totally agree. She was not happy when the Sooners didn’t get a Super Regional in 2017 and she let everyone know.
Posted on Mar 24th, 2021, 8:44 PM, , User Since 159 months ago, User Post Count: 8061
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OUatty said... (original post)Not saying this will happen, but what if OU went undefeated and was Number 1 in all polls or lost a game or two but was ranked in the top three in th...
Yes, the committee would put them outside the top 8. They’ve done it before. That committee has no understanding of softball. The RPI is heavily weighted towards the SEC and PAC12 before the season starts, it doesn’t change during the season.
Posted on Mar 24th, 2021, 8:49 PM, , User Since 159 months ago, User Post Count: 8061
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OUBeliever56 said... (original post)If OU was seeded say #11. For them to host the super they have to beat the #6 team they play in the regional. Then the #3 team in the other hal...
I’m pretty sure that if one of the top 8 loses their regional, then #9 takes their place. If two of the top 8 loses then #9 and #10 take their place.
If OU was #9 and got jumped by the #11 team I would be very upset.
Posted on Mar 25th, 2021, 5:37 AM, , User Since 61 months ago, User Post Count: 8413
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SoonerJack80 said... (original post)I’m pretty sure that if one of the top 8 loses their regional, then #9 takes their place. If two of the top 8 loses then #9 and #10 take their ...
I could be incorrect about the scenario. We will see later in the season.
Posted on Mar 25th, 2021, 1:08 PM, , User Since 253 months ago, User Post Count: 4844
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Every Sport seems to have bias for SEC these days. I just watched Texas A&M women's basketball team mug Iowa st. out of a win...Iowa st star player was hacked 3 straight times on drives at the end allowing A&M to comeback and win. Announcers seemed to all but chant SEC SEC SEC all the game.
Posted on Mar 28th, 2021, 9:57 PM, , User Since 172 months ago, User Post Count: 27067
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billy33 said... (original post)Every Sport seems to have bias for SEC these days. I just watched Texas A&M women's basketball team mug Iowa st. out of a win...Iowa st sta...
Unfortunately, our society is driven by money. The SEC is marketed heavily by networks due to the large size of their fan bases in numerous sports and the population. A&M is their media darling for marketing in Texas. It is just the way it is.
The networks have taken the approach of marketing the entire SEC as a conference rather than individual teams. They want SEC fan eyeballs on other SEC teams all the time.
Posted on Mar 29th, 2021, 8:37 AM, , User Since 170 months ago, User Post Count: 22531
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I'm not sure what all goes into the RPI rankings but they're only as good as the program that is installed. Being ranked #1 by everyone and being the only undefeated team should go a long way in the RPI rankings but apparently those factors don't apply for some reason. There's no doubt that the RPI rankings need to be looked at and adjusted, especially when the consensus #1 team in the country is ranked #23.
Posted on Mar 29th, 2021, 9:08 AM, , User Since 170 months ago, User Post Count: 22531
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Here's how a few of the teams ranked higher than OU went this past weekend.
#1 Alabama lost to Kentucky 4-2
#7 Auburn lost to #18 Missouri 6-5
#9 Duke lost to #16 Clemson 4-1#10 Virgina Tech lost to Louisville 3-2
#20 Washington lost to Arizona St. 6-1.
#21 Wichita State lost to East Carolina 8-4Posted on Mar 29th, 2021, 9:15 AM, , User Since 159 months ago, User Post Count: 8061
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I’m pretty sure the RPI ignores scores. It only takes into account who won and who played. A 20 run loss to the #2 team is worth way more than a 20 run win against the #40 team. That’s why there are teams with 8-9 losses ahead of OU. Liberty has 9(!) losses, 2 of them to OU(!) but is 12 spots higher in RPI. Missouri has 6 losses, 2 of them to OU, but is 5 spots higher. If that doesn’t show how screwed up the RPI is nothing will.
The unfortunate thing is the RPI is heavily weighted on preseason ranking. Good news is Wichita State is ahead of OU in RPI so win or lose that game helps.
Posted on Mar 29th, 2021, 10:05 AM, , User Since 268 months ago, User Post Count: 17498
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SoonerJack80 said... (original post) .. SNIP .. The unfortunate thing is the RPI is heavily weighted on preseason ranking. Good news is Wichita State is ahead of OU in RPI so win ...
Just to clarify. Preseason rankings have NO impact on the RPI (Rating Percentage Index). There is NO preseason RPI. There are NO votes in the RPI. It is a mathematical formula. The RPI is ZERO for everybody until actual games are played. It is calculated based on:
25% .. Your team's winning percentage
50% .. The winning percentage of your team’s opponents
25% .. The winning percentage of the opposing team’s opponentsThese percentages are also known as:
25% .. Division I winning percentage
50% .. Strength of schedule
25% .. Opponents strength of scheduleYour RPI is helped the most when you play (and beat) teams that have a strong winning percentage. You are, in effect, penalized by playing teams with losing records.
In other words, the RPI ATTEMPTS to reward teams that play a stronger strength of schedule.
All that the Oklahoma Sooners can do is win as many games as possible. Many future opponents have good winning records, including Wichita State, Baylor, Texas, Georgia, and OSU.
*** EDIT *** In 2019, OU was #1 in the RPI. Also in 2019, OU was the #1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament. The #2 seeded UCLA team won the national championship in 2019.,
This post was edited by SoonerTraveler 3 years ago
Posted on Mar 29th, 2021, 11:18 AM, , User Since 159 months ago, User Post Count: 8061
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SoonerTraveler said... (original post)Just to clarify. Preseason rankings have NO impact on the RPI (Rating Percentage Index). There is NO preseason RPI. There are NO votes in the ...
Ok good to know. But much like football schedules that are planned decades in advance, a team can only play the schedule in front of them. It doesn’t appear that Bama and UCLA have played top ten packed schedules so far, but maybe the teams they’ve beaten beat other teams that beat other teams that beat other teams. Must be the reason Liberty is #12.
Posted on Mar 29th, 2021, 1:48 PM, , User Since 268 months ago, User Post Count: 17498
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I recommend Patience. Over time as more games are played, the RPI will look more reasonable.
On a somewhat related matter (not RPI), the following link provides interesting information. It shows each of the major human polls and the week-to-week changes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_NCAA_Division_I_softball_rankings
It is my understanding that the new polls should be out tomorrow.
Posted on Mar 29th, 2021, 2:18 PM, , User Since 61 months ago, User Post Count: 8413
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SoonerTraveler said... (original post)I recommend Patience. Over time as more games are played, the RPI will look more reasonable.On a somewhat related matter (not RPI), the follo...
That is interesting as the color codes add info very simply.
I also like to look at the composite of those four polls each week. Most of the time I post that here. I did not last week. I probably will this week because there will be some movement in the teams.
Posted on Mar 29th, 2021, 9:01 PM, , User Since 172 months ago, User Post Count: 27067
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SoonerJack80 said... (original post)I’m pretty sure the RPI ignores scores. It only takes into account who won and who played. A 20 run loss to the #2 team is worth way more than ...
RPI is a bit dumb in rewarding a "loss." Any team can lose. Losing should not be rewarded because literally any team, anywhere can lose. It tells you nothing about a team.
