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The Rating Percentage Index (RPI) is a system used to rank basketball teams based on their performance and strength. It was first introduced in 1981 and has been updated several times since then to improve its effectiveness. The RPI takes into account a team's wins and losses, the strength of their schedule, and the performance of their opponents. While it is no longer used in the selection process for the Division I men's basketball tournament, it is still used by other basketball leagues and tournaments, such as the Ohio High School Athletic Association, which released its first RPI rankings in 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full form | Rating Percentage Index |
| Known as | RPI |
| Used by | NCAA men's basketball committee |
| Used since | 1981 |
| Used for | Ranking sports teams |
| Ranking based on | Team's wins and losses, strength of schedule |
| Replaced by | NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) |
| Component factors | Team's Division I winning percentage, opponents' winning percentage, winning percentage of opponents' opponents |
| Component factor percentage | 25%, 50%, 25% |
| WP factor update | 2004 |
| WP factor update reason | To account for differences in home, away, and neutral games |
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What You'll Learn
RPI is no longer used for Division I men's basketball
The Rating Percentage Index (RPI) was used by the NCAA men's basketball committee since 1981 and by the women's basketball committee since 1984. It was a quantity used to rank sports teams based on their wins and losses and the strength of their schedule.
However, in 2018, the NCAA announced that the RPI would no longer be used in the selection process for the Division I men's basketball tournament. This decision came into effect immediately and the RPI was replaced by the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET). The NET takes into account a team's winning percentage, their opponents' winning percentage, and the winning percentage of their opponents' opponents.
The decision to move away from RPI was based on statistical data that showed home teams in Division I basketball winning about two-thirds of the time. The RPI formula did not initially account for the differences in home, away, and neutral games, which could skew the results. While the formula was updated in 2004 to include these factors, the NCAA ultimately decided to replace the RPI with the NET to ensure a more accurate and fair ranking system.
It is worth noting that the NCAA still uses the RPI in some capacity, as it displays a Strength of Schedule ranking derived from the RPI on the team sheets used during the selection process. However, the RPI is no longer the primary metric for selecting and seeding teams in the Division I men's basketball tournament.
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NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) replaced RPI
The Rating Percentage Index, commonly known as the RPI, is a quantity used to rank sports teams based on their wins and losses and the strength of their schedule. It was used by the NCAA men's basketball committee since 1981 and officially by the women's basketball committee since 1984. The three factors that make up the RPI are:
- Team's Division I winning percentage (25% of the RPI)
- Opponents' winning percentage (50% of the RPI)
- Winning percentage of opponents' opponents (25% of the RPI)
However, the RPI has been criticised for its heavy emphasis on the strength of schedule, which some believe gives an unfair advantage to teams from major conferences. In 2018, the NCAA announced that the RPI would no longer be used in the Division I men's basketball selection process and would be replaced by the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET). The NET takes into account the following factors:
- Game results
- Strength of schedule
- Game location
- Scoring margin
- Net offensive and defensive efficiency
- Quality of wins and losses
The NET also includes a Team Value Index (TVI), which rewards teams for beating quality opponents, particularly away from home. Additionally, the NET model caps winning margins at 10 points to account for blowout scores. Game dates and order are not included in the NET, making early and late-season games equal in importance. The NCAA's senior vice president of basketball, Dan Gavitt, stated that the NET is a "contemporary method of looking at teams analytically" and will assist the Men's Basketball Committee in reviewing games throughout the season.
The NCAA has continued to monitor and make adjustments to the NET to increase its accuracy and simplicity. In 2020, the NCAA announced changes to the NET tool, reducing the number of components from five to two: the Team Value Index (TVI) and an adjusted net efficiency rating. The updated NET is now consistent with the women's basketball NET, which was revealed after the Division I Women's Basketball Committee evaluated women's basketball statistical data for a 10-year period.
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RPI is still used for other NCAA sports
The Rating Percentage Index (RPI) is a system used to rank sports teams based on their wins and losses and the strength of their schedule. It was used in NCAA Division I men's basketball from 1981 until 2018, when it was replaced by the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET).
However, RPI is still used for other NCAA sports, including baseball, softball, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and volleyball. In these sports, RPI is used to rank teams and determine tournament seeding. The formula for calculating RPI takes into account a team's winning percentage, their opponents' winning percentage, and the winning percentage of their opponents' opponents.
In college baseball, for example, RPI is a crucial factor in determining which teams qualify for the NCAA tournament. Teams within the top 55 RPI rankings are generally considered contenders. Strategies such as small-ball tactics, bunting, and stolen bases can help smaller programs improve their RPI ranking and compete with powerhouse programs. The formula for calculating RPI in baseball is slightly different from that of basketball, with adjustments made for home and road records. Each road victory is valued at 1.3, while each home win is valued at 0.7.
In other sports, such as softball, hockey, and lacrosse, RPI is also used to rank teams and determine tournament seeding. The specific calculations and weightings may vary depending on the sport and the unique considerations of scheduling and competition within that sport. While RPI has been replaced by NET in NCAA Division I men's basketball, it remains a valuable tool for ranking and evaluating teams in other NCAA sports.
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RPI was used to mitigate gambling manipulation
The Rating Percentage Index (RPI) is a quantity used to rank sports teams based on their wins and losses and the strength of their schedule. It was used in NCAA basketball to aid in the selection and seeding of teams for tournaments. The RPI comprises a team's winning percentage (25%), its opponents' winning percentage (50%), and the winning percentage of those opponents' opponents (25%).
While the RPI lacks theoretical justification from a statistical standpoint, it has been used to mitigate gambling manipulation. This is because the margin of victory has been manipulated in the past by teams or individuals in the context of gambling. By using the RPI, the motivation for such manipulation can be reduced.
The RPI takes into account the strength of a team's schedule, which some feel gives an unfair advantage to teams from major conferences. Teams from "majors" are allowed to pick many of their non-conference opponents, who are often weaker teams. On the other hand, teams from minor conferences may only get one or two such opponents on their schedules.
Additionally, some mid-major conferences may compel their member teams to schedule opponents ranked in the top half of the RPI, boosting the strength of that conference. An example of this is the Missouri Valley Conference, which has become one of the top-rated RPI conferences despite having few of its teams ranked in the national Top 25 polls.
In 2018, the NCAA announced that it would no longer use the RPI in the selection process for Division I men's basketball, replacing it with the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET). The NET takes into account the scoring margin, with no extra credit given for wins by more than 10 points. Overtime games are assigned a 1-point victory margin, regardless of the actual score.
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RPI was used from 1981 to 2018 for men's basketball
The Rating Percentage Index (RPI) was used as a selection tool for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament from 1981 to 2018. The RPI was a quantity used to rank sports teams based on their wins and losses and the strength of their schedule. It was one of the sports rating systems used to rank NCAA basketball, baseball, softball, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and volleyball teams.
The RPI was first introduced in 1981 to aid in the selection and seeding of teams for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. It was used as a supplemental tool to help evaluate the strength of the teams and determine their ranking. The RPI took into account a team's winning percentage, the winning percentage of their opponents, and the winning percentage of their opponents' opponents.
Over time, the RPI formula underwent several updates and adjustments. For example, in 2004, the RPI for Division I NCAA Men's basketball was updated to account for differences in home, away, and neutral games. A home win was weighted differently from a road win, and these adjustments were based on statistical data that showed home teams consistently winning more often.
However, the RPI also faced criticism and was seen as having several flaws. Some argued that the heavy emphasis on the strength of the schedule gave an unfair advantage to teams from major conferences. These teams had the ability to choose weaker non-conference opponents, which could artificially boost their RPI ranking.
In 2018, the NCAA announced that it would no longer use the RPI for the Division I men's basketball selection process. Instead, it introduced the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) as the new metric for ranking and selecting teams. The NET takes into account additional factors such as scoring margin, game date and order, and adjustments for home and road records.
The transition from RPI to NET as the primary sorting tool for Division I men's basketball marked a significant change in how teams were evaluated and ranked. The NET was designed to address some of the perceived flaws in the RPI and provide a more accurate and comprehensive evaluation of team performance.
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Frequently asked questions
The Rating Percentage Index (RPI) was used by the NCAA men's basketball committee from 1981 to 2018 and by the women's basketball committee from 1984 to 2020.
RPI, or Rating Percentage Index, is a quantity used to rank sports teams based on their wins and losses and the strength of their schedule.
The RPI formula comprises a team's winning percentage (25%), its opponents' winning percentage (50%), and the winning percentage of those opponents' opponents (25%).
No, RPI is no longer used in the Division I men's basketball selection process. In 2018, the NCAA replaced it with the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET).
The NCAA stopped using RPI because it gave an unfair advantage to teams from major conferences.
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