C-USA Mirror Teams

Well, they were guaranteed Cincinnati, which was pretty nice in and of itself. As for the other two... Louisville is in a prime geographic spot, and C-USA wants to get more big games on ESPN, I'm sure.

 

Be careful what you wish for. Two years ago, Memphis was 22-9 and had an RPI of 69. This conference will kill you unless you get to play the "big boys" twice a year.

 

Agreed mike, the RPI isn't gonna help anyone except Louisville, who would seem to have the "traditional" tougher 3 mirror teams. It's only going to help IMO the midddle teams to perhaps secure that NIT bid. South Florida, Southern Mississippi, Texas Christian and Tulane are doing nothing but playing in a league of their own and for UAB to be an improving program, playing East Carolina, South Florida & Tulane will get them wins but do nothing for the RPI.

 

The RPI has pointed out the biggest flaw of CUSA. There are too many "bottom feeders". Half of the conference was ranked below #125 last year. That is horrible. I know you guys aren't big on the new set-up, but a good/decent National Division team would get screwed in the old set-up, since 4 of the 6 of those teams below #125 were National Division teams. I am happy that we get to play Louisville twice a year, and are guaranteed games with UNCC and Marquette...that should help; however, with the whole conference realignment thing, I wonder how long it will help for.

 

of course Sig ep, playing Christian Brothers ain't so good on your RPI either. right? Nor losing to Houston with an RPI of 200 in your final game helped.

 

Memphis kind of got shafted. Louisville is a good draw but TCU and So. Miss. are a slap in the face. I guess thats what happens when you coach doesnt know how to shut up.

 

We had a bad deal in the old 3 division setup too. Really, there's only one way to do it, play everyone once (and that could hurt the attendance and the likelyhood of winning depending on if it's a home or away game for you) like the women do or play twice, which give you too many games. I personally don't like the mirror concept, what happens when (IF) we end up with playing Cincy, Louisville and Marquette all on the road and get Alabama Birmingham, Southern Mississippi, Texas Christian as mirror teams at home. Not knocking those teams, just that it will do nothing for attendance nor your RPI.

 

Losing to Houston was pathetic, but understandable since our star player was injured...however, Christian Brothers didn't factor into the RPI. They aren't D1 and were scheduled as a gift since they are a small school in the city.

 

I hear ya that playing them is a non factor in rpi, but my point is that I have no sympathy for Memphis fans complaining about rpi when the night you played Christian Brothers, you could of sceduled a better team to help your rpi. Even losing to a top 30 rpi team is better than a "doesn't count" game with CB. I will admit that last year, yall did a MUCH better job of this.

 

In defense of playing Christian Brothers, the NCAA should allow you to actually play one or two games against someone like that and not have it count in any way. They were a team, and while still not the caliber of perhaps one of the traveling all-star squads it is a win/win for both schools. I'd much rather see us play, say Belmont Abbey, G-W, Queens (which might beat us) and it not count than a game against the Global All-Stars or a foreign club team.