Who to root for 2015

[BeKnighted]

This is the nearly-annual guide to who we want to win, even if sometimes it's hard to root for these teams for moral or other reasons.


As always, apply these rules in order. If you reach one that addresses the game in question, stop and don't go any further.

1. Rutgers (as if I need to tell you that).

2. Rutgers out of conference opponents.

3. If two OOC opponents are playing each other (only possible in the SEC and A-10):

a. In the SEC, root for LSU over Arkansas and Tennessee, and root for Arkansas over Tennessee.

b. In the A-10, root for St. Joseph's over Davidson



4. Within the Big Ten:

a. Root for Indiana, Michigan, and Maryland (the teams that play RU twice).



b. Root for the opponents of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern and Ohio State until they no longer can be ahead of Rutgers in the B1G standings (or Rutgers can't be ahead of them, but I prefer not to think of that).

c. Root for teams RU has beaten.


d. Root for the team with the higher RPI.


5. Root against any team within 10 spots of RU in RPI (currently 25 to 45).

6. Root for the team with the lower RPI.

7. Root against Baylor. (Although, actually, rule 6 should take care of this one if you get this far.)

 

[ea_1]

How is #7 relevant to RU?

 

[BeKnighted]

It's not so much relevant to RU as part of an annual ritual on my part. It used to be Baylor and Maryland, but we actually have reasons to want Maryland to win now.

 

[CPCU]

Originally posted by BeKnighted:
This is the nearly-annual guide to who we want to win, even if sometimes it's hard to root for these teams for moral or other reasons.



As always, apply these rules in order. If you reach one that addresses the game in question, stop and don't go any further.

1. Rutgers (as if I need to tell you that).

2. Rutgers out of conference opponents.

3. If two OOC opponents are playing each other (only possible in the SEC and A-10):

a. In the SEC, root for LSU over Arkansas and Tennessee, and root for Arkansas over Tennessee.

b. In the A-10, root for St. Joseph's over Davidson




4. Within the Big Ten:

a. Root for Indiana, Michigan, and Maryland (the teams that play RU twice).






b. Root for the opponents of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern and Ohio State until they no longer can be ahead of Rutgers in the B1G standings (or Rutgers can't be ahead of them, but I prefer not to think of that).


c. Root for teams RU has beaten.



d. Root for the team with the higher RPI.



5. Root against any team within 10 spots of RU in RPI (currently 25 to 45).

6. Root for the team with the lower RPI.

7. Root against Baylor. (Although, actually, rule 6 should take care of this one if you get this far.)

Thanks!!!
I will pin this list next to my computer while watching BTN2Go & ESPN360. It will surely put more meaning/interest into the games. LOL

 

[dmd78]

BeK: I think folks will need a cheat sheet for RPI... which site are you using?

 

[MC1974]

Originally posted by BeKnighted:
It's not so much relevant to RU as part of an annual ritual on my part. It used to be Baylor and Maryland, but we actually have reasons to want Maryland to win now.

I like your thinking, but the latter team will be tough to root for.. Maybe if i don't watch the live pregame nonsense from a coach who likes to be on camera, and look the other way when the camera pans her, it won't be as painful.

This time of the league season can be fun yet complicated. I long for the days when it was Rutgers and Uconn and sometimes Notre Dame. Lately we had to deal with Louisville, Syracuse, St. Johns, S. Florida, Depaul, and even Georgetown (not the Sugar-free version.)

Now, excluding Rutgers and Maryland, it seems to me that the BIG teams are much improved over the last several seasons. If we finish in second or third, and/or win the tournament, it will be considered a quality accomplishment.

 

[dmd78]

Originally posted by BeKnighted:
It's not so much relevant to RU as part of an annual ritual on my part. It used to be Baylor and Maryland, but we actually have reasons to want Maryland to win now.

When we were in the Big East, I think that it was actually easier for me to root for UConn than it is for me to root for Maryland now. :-)

 

[BeKnighted]

Originally posted by dmd78:
BeK: I think folks will need a cheat sheet for RPI... which site are you using?

I use WBBState, but if you don't have a subscription it's kind of a pain. Probably the best free site is WarrenNolan.com, which I've linked below. The NCAA does listings, but only once a week, while Warren Nolan updates daily.

Some people may remember me complaining about realtimerpi.com in the past, and it seems that they're up to their old tricks - they reported that UConn lost to Tulane, 50-49 yesterday. Apparently, that was the score in the Tulane men's game yesterday, but they weren't even playing the UConn men - it was Tulane-Cincinnati.

Warren Nolan RPI