MAC Non-Conference Scorecard

So, each year, I take a look at how the MAC did against its non-conference opponents in hoops. Understanding that the bracket buster is still ahead, I wanted to compare the MAC's D1 out of conference winning % this year pre-MAC with the past three years.

The MAC is having a pretty good year in non-conference play.  For all my griping in previous years, the record is pointing up.  The MAC won 47% of its D1 non-conference games, up from 40% last year, as well as the 44% and 37.5% the years before that.  As always, there is always the disclaimer that the MAC often plays these games on the road, and the 47% needs to be considered with that in mind.

Based on the current RPI, the MAC is now 14th...last year #15 and the year before that #19.

Other notes:

• The MAC has one win over the Big East and one over the SEC, which are their only wins over a BCS conference.  We had 2 last year and only 1 the last two years. (See comments, thanks for the correction)
• We were 11-37 against the top 10 conferences, which is significantly better than last season.  (8-39 against the top 10 conferences).  Before that, it was 10-44 and 13-39, so we are doing better this year.
• Not counting those conferences with just one game contested, the best conference the MAC has a winning record against is #10 C-USA, which is much higher than normal.
• The MAC is 13-7 against the bottom six conferences.  I think the MAC has had more quality wins this year, but also more quality losses.  Two years ago, we only lost 1 game to a team from a bottom 6 conference.
• I have long called for a BG-Horizon challenge to help us get RPI points and good home games.  They are in the same regional footprint as the MAC, and I think we should be competitive in hoops.  This year, it would have been a good matchup, as MAC was 11-12 in these games.
• The second most common opponent is the A-10, but the MAC won  4 of 14 games against them
• The MAC's best win, as of this morning, with Temple beating Duke, is BG over Temple (#13).  Other top 50 wins includes OU over Lamar (#50) and @Northern Iowa (#21), KSU over @WVU (#25) and Miami and Buffalo over Dayton (#27) with the Bulls winning @Dayton (Thanks to commenter for the correction).   Note the three road wins for special emphasis.
• The MAC has 14 sub-200 losses, though no sub-300 losses.  The worst loss goes to UT @Texas State (#299).  Of those 14 losses, 12 were on the road.  Special note to BG losing to GW (#217) and Toledo losing to Loyola-Chicago (#262) at home.

1. Big Ten (0-9)
2. Big East (1-5)
3. Big 12 (0-1)
4. Mountain West (0-2)
5. Atlantic Coast (0-2)
6. Southeastern (1-2)
7. Atlantic 10 (4-10)
8. Missouri Valley (2-4)
9. PAC 12 (0-2)
10. Conference USA (3-0)
11. West Coast (2-3)
12. Summit League (4-2)
13. Horizon League (11-12)
14. Sun Belt (5-3)
15. Western Athletic (0-2)
16. Ivy League (2-1)
17. Metro Atlantic (4-1)
18. Atlantic Sun (3-1)
19. Colonial (3-1)
20. Big West (1-0)
21. Southern (1-0)
22. Ohio Valley (5-4)
23. Patriot League (0-1)
24. Big Sky (0-0)
25. Big South (2-0)
26. Northeast (0-1)
27. Southland (1-3)
28. MEAC (6-1)
29. Great West (3-1)
30. SWAC (3-1)
31. America East (0-0)
32. Independents (0-1)