trojansc
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Post by trojansc on Sept 16, 2024 17:20:17 GMT -5
Here comes my trolling. It seems like the number of B1G fans at VT increased by 3X with realignment. Observations: 1) Nebraska/Penn State fans seem to talk way less about the conference than every other fan of a team in the conference. 2) Nebraska/Penn State fans don't talk about RPI. Heck, those teams don't seem to care that much about RPI. Penn State used to never schedule with RPI on their minds - and Nebraska to a lesser extent. Those two programs seemed to only care about how to get their team to be playing their best by tournament time (or conference play). Texas was probably similar; except they were forced to schedule like heck in the non-conference because they weren't getting the same competition in conference play. 3) In terms of conference loyalty - we are soon going to get to B1G fans and everyone else. I am starting to get there. -Plenty of Nebraska fans talk about RPI. There's a lot of them though - so you might not always recognize it. You also may have missed some of the B1G fans, but there's plenty of fans who thought they deserved more bids last year. And an even larger amount of people who were disappointed with the Sun Belt getting four teams into the tournament last year. We have a sport where you can get an at-large bid if your magic RPI number looks good enough - and all you have to do is beat a team ranked ~#75 in RPI to get into the tournament. It makes sense to care alot about it (not that this is B1G specific) It's wild, but, if anyone cares about NCAA Tournament selection, placement/bracketing, and/or the amount of bids they get into the tournament, RPI is practically the only thing to pay attention to - and watching your conf. mates winning % + W/L percentage of your own opponents.
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trojansc
Legend
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Posts: 30,154
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Post by trojansc on Sept 16, 2024 17:24:00 GMT -5
Also like, re: Penn State not caring about RPI.
Penn State geographically doesn't need to focus on it much - feels like they play Fairfields/Princeton's/Yale's/etc every year that are always better to play on paper than those teams actually are re: competition level. They have RPI gems right next door, while others really have to work to seek them out.
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Post by Gladys Kravitz on Sept 16, 2024 17:27:38 GMT -5
I'm not sure if it was purposeful or not, but the Big 10 did itself a big favor by no team getting more than one home and away with Northwestern and Rutgers. USC goes to Maryland and Rutgers. I bet they drop one of these away match's. Pro athletes say the travel from west coast to east coast does impact them and their internal clock.
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Post by tablealgebra on Sept 16, 2024 17:38:53 GMT -5
I'm not sure if it was purposeful or not, but the Big 10 did itself a big favor by no team getting more than one home and away with Northwestern and Rutgers. USC goes to Maryland and Rutgers. I bet they drop one of these away match's. Pro athletes say the travel from west coast to east coast does impact them and their internal clock. There's a difference between being impacted and being thrown off enough to lose to Maryland or Rutgers. For the West Coast teams I think the overall impact of travel will hurt them more than any specific trip.
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trojansc
Legend
All-VolleyTalk 1st Team (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017), All-VolleyTalk 2nd Team (2016), 2021, 2019 Fantasy League Champion, 2020 Fantasy League Runner Up, 2022 2nd Runner Up
Posts: 30,154
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Post by trojansc on Sept 16, 2024 17:50:43 GMT -5
For the West Coast teams I think the overall impact of travel will hurt them more than any specific trip. USC's travel looks so do-able. at Nebraska (wk 1) at Oregon (Wed, wk 3) at Maryland/Rutgers (fri/sun wk 4) at UCLA (barely a road match) at Illinois/indiana (Fri/Sun wk 7) at Northwestern/Purdue (Thu/Sat wk 9) at Washington (Wed wk 10) I could see the 7-9-10 stretch behind a little rough, but, at least it's not Pullman. Regardless, USC is actually travelling less overall than they were the year prior when they had to go to Houston, Hawaii, Purdue, on top of normal travel.
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Post by Gladys Kravitz on Sept 16, 2024 17:52:30 GMT -5
USC goes to Maryland and Rutgers. I bet they drop one of these away match's. Pro athletes say the travel from west coast to east coast does impact them and their internal clock. There's a difference between being impacted and being thrown off enough to lose to Maryland or Rutgers. For the West Coast teams I think the overall impact of travel will hurt them more than any specific trip. Go ahead and pop off AFTER these 2 match's are over.
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Post by tablealgebra on Sept 16, 2024 18:22:21 GMT -5
For the West Coast teams I think the overall impact of travel will hurt them more than any specific trip. USC's travel looks so do-able. at Nebraska (wk 1) at Oregon (Wed, wk 3) at Maryland/Rutgers (fri/sun wk 4) at UCLA (barely a road match) at Illinois/indiana (Fri/Sun wk 7) at Northwestern/Purdue (Thu/Sat wk 9) at Washington (Wed wk 10) I could see the 7-9-10 stretch behind a little rough, but, at least it's not Pullman. Regardless, USC is actually travelling less overall than they were the year prior when they had to go to Houston, Hawaii, Purdue, on top of normal travel. It's fair to note that us midwesterners are not used to just how freaking far apart everything is on the west coast, it's not like Pac-12 travel was any picnic.
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Post by tablealgebra on Sept 16, 2024 18:23:18 GMT -5
There's a difference between being impacted and being thrown off enough to lose to Maryland or Rutgers. For the West Coast teams I think the overall impact of travel will hurt them more than any specific trip. Go ahead and pop off AFTER these 2 match's are over. I have no fear of stating the truth before it becomes true.
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bluepenquin
Hall of Fame
4-Time VolleyTalk Poster of the Year (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016), All-VolleyTalk 1st Team (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016) All-VolleyTalk 2nd Team 2023
Posts: 12,849
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Post by bluepenquin on Sept 17, 2024 9:31:10 GMT -5
Here comes my trolling. It seems like the number of B1G fans at VT increased by 3X with realignment. Observations: 1) Nebraska/Penn State fans seem to talk way less about the conference than every other fan of a team in the conference. 2) Nebraska/Penn State fans don't talk about RPI. Heck, those teams don't seem to care that much about RPI. Penn State used to never schedule with RPI on their minds - and Nebraska to a lesser extent. Those two programs seemed to only care about how to get their team to be playing their best by tournament time (or conference play). Texas was probably similar; except they were forced to schedule like heck in the non-conference because they weren't getting the same competition in conference play. 3) In terms of conference loyalty - we are soon going to get to B1G fans and everyone else. I am starting to get there. We have a sport where you can get an at-large bid if your magic RPI number looks good enough - and all you have to do is beat a team ranked ~#75 in RPI to get into the tournament. It makes sense to care alot about it (not that this is B1G specific) It's wild, but, if anyone cares about NCAA Tournament selection, placement/bracketing, and/or the amount of bids they get into the tournament, RPI is practically the only thing to pay attention to - and watching your conf. mates winning % + W/L percentage of your own opponents. I fully understand the relationship between RPI and tournament seeds and selection. I also understand the obsession that comes with RPI. I literally created RPI Futures because of this and wanting to know how it would impact my team. I have just come to the realization that this can be misdirected. I will talk about my team - Kansas - and my fandom and experiences over the last 10 years. By far the biggest event in my fandom was the 9th seed Kansas team beating #1 USC in Southern California in the Regional Finals in 2015. Kansas only had 2 losses the entire season and ended the year as Pablo #6 (one behind USC). I don't know that a 9th seed was 'bad' - it certainly could have been better had the RPI gods cooperated (or really, better scheduling). But it didn't matter - because being able to and succeeding in taking out the #1 team in the regional finals was way more important. I look at the complete heartache of losing at home in the 2nd round - in extra points in the 5th set to both Creighton in 2016 and then Penn State in 2023. It was great that Kansas was grinding the RPI game both years (they were a #5 seed in 2016), but in the end - the seed and RPI didn't really matter. Kansas did win the Big 12 outright over Texas in 2016 - and of course that did matter. Then you have the real excitement of the 2021 Kansas team that was able to beat Oregon and Creighton in Omaha while being unseeded. Then giving Nebraska everything they could handle in Lincoln, in the 2nd round in 2022 - also being unseeded. Those two seasons were every bit as satisfying as the two seasons mentioned above - and it didn't relate to RPI. And then we have the season - where they beat Texas (I believe), but had an RPI in the low 50's and missed out on making the tournament that year - RPI related. I don't think they were particularly deserving of making the tournament. I have no regrets that team didn't make it, it really didn't matter since that team wasn't going anywhere. So - I have 10 straight years of RPI obsession around my team's RPI - and looking back, I find it was mostly wasted energy. Things that matter more - winning conference and having a team that is good enough to compete with anyone in the tournament. I know that Kansas path this year would be easier based on the # of games they get to play at home (which is based on RPI). But what is really important - that they actually have the ability to beat any team anywhere. Don't know if that can happen with this team - but I am darn sure that RPI isn't going to change that.
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Post by Kearney Kingston on Sept 17, 2024 10:52:34 GMT -5
This most complete team I’ve ever seen from Kansas. Not huge, but very skilled and experienced. I believe mostly seniors in the KU lineup.
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Post by azsker on Sept 17, 2024 11:25:25 GMT -5
This most complete team I’ve ever seen from Kansas. Not huge, but very skilled and experienced. I believe mostly seniors in the KU lineup. I know Havili and Payne weren't--but yes I remember staying up late to watch that game. She was such a fun setter..
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Post by maigrey on Sept 17, 2024 21:23:21 GMT -5
Heyyy, it's Mac Podraza on the B1G show!
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Post by PeoriaBucky on Sept 17, 2024 21:57:21 GMT -5
Heyyy, it's Mac Podraza on the B1G show! Emily Ehman must be so excited!
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Post by pepperjack on Sept 17, 2024 22:38:51 GMT -5
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Post by Chewblocka on Sept 17, 2024 23:19:55 GMT -5
We have a sport where you can get an at-large bid if your magic RPI number looks good enough - and all you have to do is beat a team ranked ~#75 in RPI to get into the tournament. It makes sense to care alot about it (not that this is B1G specific) It's wild, but, if anyone cares about NCAA Tournament selection, placement/bracketing, and/or the amount of bids they get into the tournament, RPI is practically the only thing to pay attention to - and watching your conf. mates winning % + W/L percentage of your own opponents. I fully understand the relationship between RPI and tournament seeds and selection. I also understand the obsession that comes with RPI. I literally created RPI Futures because of this and wanting to know how it would impact my team. I have just come to the realization that this can be misdirected. I will talk about my team - Kansas - and my fandom and experiences over the last 10 years. By far the biggest event in my fandom was the 9th seed Kansas team beating #1 USC in Southern California in the Regional Finals in 2015. Kansas only had 2 losses the entire season and ended the year as Pablo #6 (one behind USC). I don't know that a 9th seed was 'bad' - it certainly could have been better had the RPI gods cooperated (or really, better scheduling). But it didn't matter - because being able to and succeeding in taking out the #1 team in the regional finals was way more important. I look at the complete heartache of losing at home in the 2nd round - in extra points in the 5th set to both Creighton in 2016 and then Penn State in 2023. It was great that Kansas was grinding the RPI game both years (they were a #5 seed in 2016), but in the end - the seed and RPI didn't really matter. Kansas did win the Big 12 outright over Texas in 2016 - and of course that did matter. Then you have the real excitement of the 2021 Kansas team that was able to beat Oregon and Creighton in Omaha while being unseeded. Then giving Nebraska everything they could handle in Lincoln, in the 2nd round in 2022 - also being unseeded. Those two seasons were every bit as satisfying as the two seasons mentioned above - and it didn't relate to RPI. And then we have the season - where they beat Texas (I believe), but had an RPI in the low 50's and missed out on making the tournament that year - RPI related. I don't think they were particularly deserving of making the tournament. I have no regrets that team didn't make it, it really didn't matter since that team wasn't going anywhere. So - I have 10 straight years of RPI obsession around my team's RPI - and looking back, I find it was mostly wasted energy. Things that matter more - winning conference and having a team that is good enough to compete with anyone in the tournament. I know that Kansas path this year would be easier based on the # of games they get to play at home (which is based on RPI). But what is really important - that they actually have the ability to beat any team anywhere. Don't know if that can happen with this team - but I am darn sure that RPI isn't going to change that. I love this, and honestly, I wish I understood RPI even half as well as you do! I’ve tried, but it’s like reading ancient hieroglyphics. That said, I’m totally with you—at the end of the day, RPI obsession feels like wasted energy. Your 2015 Kansas team didn’t need the “RPI gods” to take down USC, and those gritty, unseeded runs in 2021 and 2022? Way more memorable than any RPI ranking could ever be. RPI might help with seeding or home court, but it doesn’t guarantee a win. What matters is whether a team can hang with anyone, anywhere, and no magical ranking system can predict that. So yeah, I’m with you—RPI’s great and all, but it’s no match for a team with heart, talent and grit!
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