RPI Argument Nonsense

I would like to take this opportunity to publicly state that I will never, ever root for Syracuse because some dork with a pocket protector contends that it helps Georgetown's RPI.  I don't care if Georgetown plays 29 games and 28 are against Syracuse University/Holding Cell/Juvenile Detention Center.  The whole RPI argument is poppycock and does not really matter in the end because if you have a good record in the Big East - you will make the NCAA Tournament regardless if your biggest rival, who you happen to play twice a year, defeats a ranked team at a neutral site in November. It is not like Georgetown plays in the Mountain Valley of the Sun Colonial East Conference, the Hoyas have plenty of opportunities to face good teams - and I hope Cuse is never considered good. 

The effect of the Cuse win last night on Georgetown's RPI is minuscule in the grand scheme of things.  The Cuse win increases Georgetown's opponent's winning percentage - which counts for 50% of Georgetown's RPI.  But the Cuse win also decreases Georgetown's opponent's opponent's winning percentage - since Cal plays Washington twice during the course of the Pac-10 season.

The same can be said when Cuse plays UNC tonight.  Cuse is Georgetown's direct opponent but UNC is an opponent of two Georgetown opponents - Rutgers (who Georgetown plays twice) and Duke.  At the end of the season - Cuse losing won't matter for Georgetown - but it will certainly make me happy.

So to all those "Hoyas" who cheered for Cuse or tried to convince me to cheer for Cuse last night - please go into hibernation until May, when the Washington Mystics season starts up again.  Rivalries are based on what happens on the court, not what happens in a spreadsheet.

Good talk.