RPI Ramblings

Collegiate Basketball News puts together an unofficial RPI rankings (by subscription) each week beginning several weeks into the season and right up until the NCAA Championship Selection Special in March. Here are a few thoughts and observations on this week's rankings.

• America East is 21st of 32 conferences in RPI this week, which is the same ranking as the first RPI report last week as well as the final 2007-08 ranking. The league is 10th among non-FBS conferences.
  
• Hartford, as has been the case over the past few years, is the highest America East team in the RPI rankings at 58. The Hawks jumped up from 71 over the past week, despite a loss to #12 Louisville. It appears that playing Louisville actually increased their RPI ranking because it built up their strength of schedule (strength of schedule ranked 70th last week, 29th this week).
• The last time Hartford was not the top-rated team from the America East by the time the season was through? 2004. Maine finished the season at 59, Boston University was 96 and Hartford finished 150.
• Vermont fell from last week, but is still the second-ranked team from the conference at 104. UMBC follows at 128, and Boston U. at 163. Binghamton (232), Albany (291), Maine (293), Stony Brook (303) and New Hampshire (320) round out America East teams.
• America East ranks 20th among 32 conferences in strength of schedule
• Hartford and UMBC each have a win against a team from the RPI top 25. Hartford defeated Duke (16) on a neutral court, while UMBC topped Towson (22) at home. Those victories represent the conference's only top-100 wins.