Iowa’s RPI improves, but the schedule toughens

IOWA CITY - Iowa's non-conference schedule was a major factor why the Hawkeyes missed an NCAA tournament spot two years ago.

The No. 25 Hawkeyes' 13 non-conference opponents entered that season with an average RPI (Ratings Performance Index) of 216.5. Only three opponents boasted an RPI better than 118. RPI - a strength-of-schedule component - calculates your wins and losses, your opponents' wins and losses and your opponents' opponents wins and losses.

Over the last two years, Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery shaved off most of the anchors weighing down his non-conference schedule. This year, Iowa's opponents' RPIs averaged 153.1. Five opponents ended last year with an RPI of at least 59, and that number may look better by Friday.

Iowa's upgrade in opponents is evident from its season opener against Hampton. Although Hampton's RPI was 213 last year, it also won 18 games and competed in a postseason tournament. Monday, Iowa beat North Dakota State, which had an RPI of 32 last year and won an NCAA tournament game. The Hawkeyes soared in both games by a combined 65 points.

But the RPI upgrade takes serious roots this week. Thursday, Iowa (2-0) faces No. 10 Texas (2-0) as part of the 2K Classic at New York's Madison Square Garden (6 p.m. ESPN2). The Longhorns, who won an NCAA tournament game last year, finished with an RPI of 41. Friday, Iowa plays either No. 24 Syracuse (2-0) or California (2-0), which ended last year with RPIs of 20 and 59, respectively.

'I just think it's important in the non-conference part of your schedule to play elite teams with great coaches and talent and kind of see where you are,” McCaffery said. 'We're learning a lot more about our team. We've challenged ourselves with two tougher opponents than maybe two years ago, for example.

'This will really define where we are, and it could accentuate some positives, but also it might accentuate some negatives that we have to address certainly prior to the rest of our non-conference schedule, which is also difficult, and obviously league play.”

Texas returns every player from last year's roster - 100 percent of its scoring - and features one of the nation's top recruits in 6-foot-11 freshman forward Myles Turner. The Longhorns are tenacious defensively, holding their first two opponents to 50 and 53 points, respectively, and an average of 28.6 percent shooting. Texas' rebounding margin was plus-19 for those two games.

Turner comes off the bench - so far - but averages 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocks a game. His size, along with other posts Prince Ibeh (6-10), Cameron Ridley (6-9) and Connor Lammart (6-9) have the potential to cause problems inside.

But Iowa's center tandem of Adam Woodbury (7-1) and Gabe Olaseni (6-10), along with forwards Aaron White (6-9) and Jarrod Uthoff (6-9) will provide their own edge as well.

'Texas may have a little bit more size along the front line as far not only height but strength and girth,” said North Dakota State Coach Dave Richman, whose Bison lost 85-50 at Texas and 87-56 at Iowa. 'I think Iowa can throw multiple shooters out on the court. It will be an exciting game.”

'They have a lot of highly touted big guys, but I feel as though we match up with them me, Woody, White, (Dominique) Uhl and Uthoff,” Olaseni said. 'We have a very versatile group of big guys. It will be a good match-up.”

SCHEDULE FACTS

2012-13 - Iowa's non-conference opponents had an average RPI of 216.5; eight opponents entered the season with an RPI worse than 275, three better than 118

2013-14 - Iowa's non-conference opponents had an average RPI of 193.8; six opponents entered the season an RPI worse than 275, five better than 118

2014-15 - Iowa's non-conference opponents had an average RPI of 153.1; three opponents entered the season with an RPI worse than 217, six better than 118

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