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Hokies Early RPI in Very Good Shape
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

The Virginia Tech men's basketball team was expected to contend for a spot in the NCAA tournament this season, and Seth Greenberg built an out-of-conference schedule that would help bolster his team's RPI in hopes of making the Big Dance. Right now, Tech's RPI is looking strong.

For this week's TSLMail, we used information from RealTimeRPI.com. It's not an exact replica of the NCAA's RPI formula, but it's close. Right now the Hokies check in at #34 in the RPI, with a strength of schedule (SOS) rank of #19. Let's calculate how Virginia Tech has achieved such a high ranking this early in the season, when in most years the Hokies are hanging just outside the top 100 at this point, give or take a few spots.

When calculating a record for the RPI, it's not about total number of wins and losses. Wins and losses are calculated differently for home games, road games and neutral site games. Home wins count as 0.6 wins, while home losses count as 1.4 losses. Road wins are 1.4 wins, but a loss on the road is just 0.6 losses. A neutral court win is one win, while a loss is one loss. Also note that Tech's victory over West Florida doesn't count, because West Florida is a Division II team, so the 8-3 Hokies are judged on their 7-3 record against Division I competition.

Tech has won five home games this year. Each of those wins counts as 0.6 wins in the eyes of the RPI. That's a total of three wins from Tech home games. The Hokies have two wins on neutral courts, one against Montana and last night's win over Seton Hall. That's two more RPI wins, giving Tech "five" wins.

All three of Virginia Tech's losses have come in neutral site games. The Hokies lost to Western Michigan, Southern Illinois and George Washington on neutral courts, so the Hokies are 5-3 overall in the eyes of the RPI.

Tech's record has come against one of the ACC's tougher schedules thus far.

Let's take a look at a few interesting notes from some of the teams that the Hokies have played so far.

• Western Michigan is 4-7, but it isn't a bad 4-7. They have played the 8th toughest schedule in the country so far. They beat Virginia Tech, #45 San Diego State, and lost to Indiana by just eight on the road.
• Old Dominion has looked pretty good so far, and that could turn out to be a big win for the Hokies. Their only losses were to Tech, #85 Marist and #6 Clemson. ODU nearly beat the Tigers, losing by just four points. They have also defeated #67 Georgetown on the road, as well as #42 UAB.
• Appalachian State is #16 in the RPI, and they are currently the highest-rated opponent that the Hokies have played this year. They lost to Wake Forest by 10, and this week they really elevated their play with an 80-69 win over UVA, a 75-64 win over UCF, and an 87-79 overtime win over Vanderbilt to win the San Juan Shootout. Appalachian State has provided more of a boost to Tech's RPI than any other team on the schedule.

Although the Hokies have a good RPI rating nationally, they are still in the bottom half of the ACC. Here is how the ACC stacks up through all of last night's games.

The ACC is once again a deep and balanced conference. They currently rank as the top conference in the nation in the RPI. Once conference play starts for the Hokies, their strength of schedule won't be going down any. They'll need every advantage they can get in March.

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