LetsGoDU

RPI Problems

Currently DU is sitting 25th in the RPI Rankings and not too much better in the PWR Rankings. DU may be in real danger of making the NCAA tournament even if they win 22 games or finish up in 2nd place in the WCHA standings. The RPI is calculated by 25% teams winning percentage, 50% opponents winning percentage and 25% opponents-opponent winning percentage. It doesn't matter if you lose games to UAA, MSU-M and other teams with weak records. What matters is that you schedule nonconference games with teams with high winning percentages.

Sooner or later this RPI/PWR situation is going to deny a very good team from making the tournament (i.e. - CC two years ago). This might be the year. DU would probably be favored in a neutral site over Miami, St. Lawrence, Vermont and most other non-WCHA teams. DU still controls its own desiny, but will needs to beat some very good teams down the stretch (WI, UND, BC, MN & CC).

What has been the weakness in DU's schedule that has caused this "RPI problem?"

1). Scheduling non-conference games against Notre Dame, Princeton & Air Force. Winning these games 10-0 and you still regress in the RPI.

2). Scheduling and losing games against tough Hockey East Teams on the road (Maine & BU).

3). Not having non-conference games against highly ranked ECAC & CCHA teams such as Clarkson, Cornell, St. Laurence, Miami & the like at home.

The long and the short of it is that DU has put together a very competitive schedule with an attractive range of teams from the season ticket holders perspective. Also, we have heard that the coaches like to schedule the toughest Hockey East programs to prepare for WCHA play. That being said, it may be time to consider more games against the elite programs in the ECAC & CCHA, less road games against the Hockey East and certainly the elimination of games against Air Force and the like unless the NCAA adopts the KRACH method.

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The good news is that DU's remaining games have an opponents winning percentage of 0.5506. The bad news is some games which might look easy on paper (UAA on the road & MSU-M at home) are teams that DU has struggled against. If DU does manage to win 22 games they would probably end up with the 11th ranked RPI. Thats cutting things mighty thin and assuming that DU can win some very tough WCHA games.