SUN BELT vs SEC: Texas State and Coastal Carolina LEVERAGE Midweek Wins for RPI Surge
This episode of Locked On Sun Belt dives into the critical role midweek baseball games play in the Sun Belt Conference's RPI (Rating Percentage Index) rankings, contrasting sharply with the SEC's relative indifference to these contests. Host Dave Schultz emphasizes that for Sun Belt teams like Texas State and Coastal Carolina, midweek wins are essential for climbing the RPI ladder and securing NCAA tournament bids, while SEC programs use these games primarily for player rest and development. The episode highlights Texas State's recent seven-game winning streak and their upcoming matchups against top-ranked Texas, Georgia Southern, and Texas A&M as pivotal opportunities to boost their RPI and strength of schedule. Schultz also discusses Troy’s hiring of new head basketball coach Adam Howard, praising Howard’s humility, connection to the Sun Belt, and strategic vision for building home-court advantage. The episode concludes with a roundup of key midweek matchups across the Sun Belt, stressing the importance of wins for teams like Old Dominion, Monroe, and Georgia State to remain competitive in the RPI race.
Midweek games are crucial for Sun Belt teams to improve RPI and tournament chances, unlike the SEC where they’re often used for rest and development.
Texas State’s recent seven-game win streak and upcoming games against Texas, Georgia Southern, and A&M are pivotal for RPI and strength of schedule gains.
Coastal Carolina’s momentum after beating Clemson shows how a single midweek win can shift a team’s trajectory.
Adam Howard’s hiring as Troy’s head basketball coach is seen as a strong move, with emphasis on building home-court advantage and team culture.
RPI is a make-or-break metric in the Sun Belt, where even a loss to a lower-ranked team can hurt a team’s tournament hopes.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Sun Belt vs SEC: The RPI Divide
“The midweek ballgames are more important to the Sun Belt than they are to the SEC.”
Texas State’s RPI Surge Opportunity
“It's a huge opportunity for Texas State, but I believe they've already played once, right? They did. They lost 15-4.”
Coastal Carolina’s Momentum & RPI Impact
The episode highlights Coastal Carolina’s resurgence after their win over Clemson, noting how a single midweek victory can dramatically shift a team’s RPI and national perception. Schultz contrasts this with the SEC’s ability to absorb losses without major RPI consequences.
Troy Hires Adam Howard: A Sun Belt Connection
“He was a little nervous. All right? Me doing this right here. Not nervous. Put me in front of people, I'd be nervous.”
The Importance of Midweek Games Across the Sun Belt
Schultz reviews key midweek matchups, including Old Dominion vs. Virginia, Monroe vs. Louisiana Tech, and Georgia State vs. Georgia. He stresses that these games are not just about wins but about maintaining or improving RPI and conference standing.
“The midweek ballgames are more important to the Sun Belt than they are to the SEC.”
“It's a huge opportunity for Texas State, but I believe they've already played once, right? They did. They lost 15-4.”
“You only need 3,000 or 4,000 on a regular basis to have an impact. If you can draw 2,500 to 3,000 during the week and have four to 5,000 on the weekends, you got a home court advantage.”
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Sun Belt Conference
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SEC
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Dave Schultz
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Adam Howard
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Texas State
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Troy Trojans
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Coastal Carolina
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Texas Longhorns
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Cajuns
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Georgia State
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