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Top of the Arc - February 26, 2009

Feb. 26, 9 a.m.: Virginia Tech did the most last night to bolster its resume. The Hokies can now brag about road wins against Wake Forest and Clemson. Maryland’s loss to Duke was not particularly damaging, but it means Sunday’s game at North Carolina State is virtually a must-win situation. The Terrapins are the only team in the top 90 of the RPI with fewer than two road victories. If Maryland had scheduled a true road game in non-conference play, perhaps its resume would be stronger at this point.

Oklahoma State and Notre Dame beat bad teams. Kansas State and UNLV failed to take advantage of opportunities to improve their at-large hopes.

Each morning, I will post my last four teams in the field and my first teams out. As you can tell, it is very difficult to separate one team from another, and selection committee members often differ on which credentials they value most. (SOS means strength of schedule; all data courtesy of Jerry Palm’s Web site, www.collegerpi.com)

LAST FOUR IN
Virginia Tech (17-10, 7-6)
Pros: 5 road wins
Cons: 52 RPI

Penn State (19-9, 8-7)
Pros: 5-5 on road, 2 Top 25 wins
Cons: 61 RPI, 81 SOS

Oklahoma State (18-9, 7-6)
Pros: 15 SOS, 32 RPI
Cons: 2-8 vs. top 50

Maryland (17-10, 6-7)
Pros: two top five victories
Cons: 1-5 on road

FIRST TEAMS OUT

Notre Dame (16-11, 7-8)
Pros: pounded Louisville, 90-57
Cons: 73 RPI

Temple (17-9, 9-3)
Pros: RPI 36, 8 road wins
Cons: 1 top 50 win

Providence (17-11, 9-7)
Pros: 9-7 in Big East
Cons: 71 RPI, 2-6 vs. top 50

Cincinnati (17-10, 7-7)
Pros: Sweep of G-town, 20 SOS
Cons: 0-8 vs. top 25

Miami (16-10, 5-8)
Pros: 9 SOS
Cons: 5-8 in ACC, 2-7 vs. top 50

Texas A&M (20-8, 6-7)
Pros: 34 RPI
Cons: 0-3 vs. top 25, 6-7 in Big 12

Kansas State (19-9, 7-6)
Pros: 3-4 vs. top 50, 5-4 on road
Cons: 97 SOS, 77 RPI

Michigan (17-11, 7-8)
Pros: 18 SOS, 4 top 50 wins
Cons: 7-8 in Big Ten, 2 road wins

Southern California (16-10, 7-7)
Pros: 16 SOS
Cons: 2 road wins, 0 top 25 wins

Saint Mary’s (22-5, 8-4)
Pros: 6-3 road record
Cons: 143 SOS, 3-3 vs. top 100

San Diego State (18-8, 8-5)
Pros: Beat Utah, UNLV
Cons: 4-8 vs. top 100

Georgetown (14-12, 5-10)
Pros: 1 SOS, won at U-Conn.
Cons: 5-10 in Big East

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