Sam Houston up to 74 in NCAA RPI
2/15/2010 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Bearkats stand 18-5 for the year and are unbeaten 10-0 in Southland Conference play. The only other teams in NCAA Division I men's basketball unbeaten in league action are Kansas (10-0 in the Big 12), Butler (16-0 in the Horizon League), Morgan State (10-0 in the Mid-Eastern Conference) and Murray State (15-0 in the Ohio Valley).
Sam Houston also produced non-conference victories over Auburn, Oral Roberts and Rider and played No. 4 Kentucky to within 10 points at Rupp Arena.
Sam Houston ranks immediately behind Saint John's of the Big East and Weber State of the Big Sky. Ranked behind the Kats are Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Northwestern and Notre Dame.
RPI stands for "Rating Percentage Index" and is an important figure used for selection to the NCAA tournament since it reflects a team's overall record and strength of schedule.
Sam Houston's highest final season RPI in its 23 years at the NCAA Division I level was No. 91 in 2003, the year the Bearkats last won the Southland Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA event.
With 16 victories and eight more regular season games to play, Sam Houston is zeroing in on its fourth 20-victory season in the last five years.
Sam Houston plays two road games this week at Lamar Wednesday and UTSA on Saturday before returning home to face McNeese State on Wednesday Feb. 24.
Out of the 317 teams in NCAA Division I men's basketball, only 66 universities have posted 20 or more wins three of the last four years. With an 84-39 record in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons, Sam Houston owns the 36th best winning percentage among those 66 squads.
Following the regular season, the top eight teams meet at Merrell Center in Katy for the annual Southland Conference tournament March 10-13 to decide the league's NCAA playoff representative. Sam Houston is the only team in the Southland that has already clinched a tournament berth.
Tickets for Bearkat basketball home games are on sale now on-line. Fans also may purchase tickets at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
Tournament ticket booklets for the annual State Farm Southland Conference Post-Season Classic March 9-13 at the Merrell Center in Katy are now on-sale for $75 online at SHSU Ticket Office or by calling 936-294-1729. The Sam Houston athletic ticket office is located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
