I have been tracking the RPI and NCAA tournament selection process since the 1993-94 season. The RPI formula has undergone one major change since then, which came before the 2004-05 season. At that time, the secret adjustments were eliminated and the weighting for home and road performance was added. The tournament itself was expanded from 64 to 65 teams before the 2000-01 season, and then again to 68 teams prior to the 2010-11 season. With the expansion to 68 teams came the concept of four at-large teams having to try to play themselves into the round of 64.
Here are some fun facts about the RPI and the NCAA Selection process over the years. If you have any other categories you'd like to see on this page, contact me through the feedback box here.
Since 2005. The Big Six are the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC. Records include games against D-I opponents only.
Since the RPI formula changed in 2005....
Highest RPI ranking left out of the tournament:
• 21 - Missouri State (2006)
• 29 - Colorado State (2015)
• 30 - Hofstra (2006), Air Force (2007)
Among the Big Six:
• 40 - Cincinnati (2006)
• 41 - Florida State (2007)
• 45 - Clemson (2007)
• 49 - Missouri (2014) highest in 68-team tournament era
Lowest RPI to get an at-large bid:
• 67 - USC (2011)
• 64 - Marquette (2011)
• 63 - North Carolina State (2005), Stanford (2007)
Outside the Big Six:
• 50 - Air Force (2006)
• 49 - VCU (2011)
Fewest wins to get an at-large bid:
• 17 - Alabama (2006), Oklahoma State (2015)
Outside the Big Six:
• 19 - Colorado State (2012), Boise State (2013)
Number of teams with 20 or more wins to get left out: 308 (avg 28/year)
Among the Big Six: 52 (4.7/year)
Number of teams with 25 or more wins to get left out: 19
Most wins to get left out:
• 27 - Drexel, Oral Roberts (2012)
Among the Big Six:
• 23 - Florida (2009), Mississippi State, Virginia Tech (2010), Arizona (2012)
Most losses to get an at-large bid:
• 14 - Arizona (2008), Marquette, Michigan State, Penn State, Tennessee, USC (2011)
Outside the Big Six:
• 12 - St. Joseph's (2008), Xavier (2012)
Fewest losses to get left out:
• 4 - Stephen F. Austin (2013)
Among the Big Six:
• 8 - Virginia Tech (2010)
• 9 - six times, most recently Oregon (2012)
Worst winning percentage to get an at-large bid:
• .563 (18-14) -Arizona (2008), Michigan State (2011)
Outside the Big Six:
• .633 (19-11) - Colorado State (2012)
Best winning percentage left out:
• .852 (23-4) - Stephen F. Austin (2013)
Among the Big Six:
• .742 (23-8) - Virginia Tech (2010)
• .710 (22-9) - Oregon (2012)
Number of Big Six teams with .500 or better conference record to get left out: 98
Best: Washington (14-4, 2012) UW was the Pac-12 outright regular season champion.
Highest RPI for a team with a winning percentage below .500:
67 - Georgia Tech (2008)
Lowest RPI ranking to get a No. 1 seed: 11 - Kansas (2007)
Lowest RPI ranking to get a top 4 seed: 55 - Virginia (4-seed, 2007) next lowest is 26
Worst seed for the No. 1 team in the RPI: 3 - Kansas (2005)
Best RPI rating: .6878 - Kansas (2010)
Best non-conference strength of schedule: .6769 - Kansas (2005)
Worst non-conference SOS ranking to get an at-large bid: 323 - George Washington (2008)
As a 10-seed or lower: 273 - Air Force (2006)
