Post by Whup Em All on Feb 22, 2024 10:19:31 GMT -6
After winning the series against Memphis, then dropping a midweeker to Samford, I got curious where the Gamecocks actually stood strengthwise, relative to other teams in the conference, in our state, and on our schedule.
Of course, as I type this, RPI rankings haven't been updated yet for the 2024 season, and in the age of collegiate free agency, this makes gauging relative strength pretty much an exercise in futility. But I'ma do it anyway. Mainly because I'd already collected most of the in-state rankings before realizing they were all from the end of last season. (dammit.)
Anyway, there IS some validity to this. While teams could rise or fall rapidly with a few transfers, a solid signing class, or a coaching change, we can get some idea of the relative strength of each program (and an idea of the rebuilding job Coach Bieser is facing) even by looking at last year's rankings. The big eye-opener for me was the nonconference schedule. We have some TOUGH teams ahead of us on the schedule, so any wins we can pull out are impressive, and winning the series against Memphis was huge.
So here goes:
IN-STATE SCHOOLS (teams on 2024 schedule in boldface; JSU is ranked 7th of 10 schools)
11 Bama
30 Auburn
39 troy state
62 Samford
126 Alabama State
141 USA
180 Jax State
190 UAB
273 UNA
291 AAMU
CUSA SCHOOLS (Including future members; JSU is ranked 9th of 11 schools)
13 DBU
74 Sam Houston State
97 Liberty
111 Delaware
130 La Tech
137 WKU
157 MTSU
163 Kennesaw State
180 Jax State
197 FIU
297 NMSU
2024 OOC OPPONENTS (Only including teams not listed above; Jax State is ranked 6th of 6 schools)
32 Iowa
48 Kent State
99 Ga State
135 Southern Illinois
142 Memphis
180 Jax State
MISC. REGIONAL SCHOOLS AND/OR CUSA CANDIDATES
17 Southern Miss (SBC)
82 Missouri State (MVC; candidate for 12th CUSA slot)
104 Ga Southern (SBC)
121 Mercer (SoCon)
177 EKU (ASUN; candidate for 12th CUSA slot)
180 Jax State
183 Tarleton State (WAC; candidate for 12th CUSA slot)
199 Austin Peay (ASUN)
207 SFA (WAC; candidate for 12th CUSA slot)
274 UMass (A10; candidate for 12th CUSA slot)
Of course, as I type this, RPI rankings haven't been updated yet for the 2024 season, and in the age of collegiate free agency, this makes gauging relative strength pretty much an exercise in futility. But I'ma do it anyway. Mainly because I'd already collected most of the in-state rankings before realizing they were all from the end of last season. (dammit.)
Anyway, there IS some validity to this. While teams could rise or fall rapidly with a few transfers, a solid signing class, or a coaching change, we can get some idea of the relative strength of each program (and an idea of the rebuilding job Coach Bieser is facing) even by looking at last year's rankings. The big eye-opener for me was the nonconference schedule. We have some TOUGH teams ahead of us on the schedule, so any wins we can pull out are impressive, and winning the series against Memphis was huge.
So here goes:
IN-STATE SCHOOLS (teams on 2024 schedule in boldface; JSU is ranked 7th of 10 schools)
11 Bama
30 Auburn
39 troy state
62 Samford
126 Alabama State
141 USA
180 Jax State
190 UAB
273 UNA
291 AAMU
CUSA SCHOOLS (Including future members; JSU is ranked 9th of 11 schools)
13 DBU
74 Sam Houston State
97 Liberty
111 Delaware
130 La Tech
137 WKU
157 MTSU
163 Kennesaw State
180 Jax State
197 FIU
297 NMSU
2024 OOC OPPONENTS (Only including teams not listed above; Jax State is ranked 6th of 6 schools)
32 Iowa
48 Kent State
99 Ga State
135 Southern Illinois
142 Memphis
180 Jax State
MISC. REGIONAL SCHOOLS AND/OR CUSA CANDIDATES
17 Southern Miss (SBC)
82 Missouri State (MVC; candidate for 12th CUSA slot)
104 Ga Southern (SBC)
121 Mercer (SoCon)
177 EKU (ASUN; candidate for 12th CUSA slot)
180 Jax State
183 Tarleton State (WAC; candidate for 12th CUSA slot)
199 Austin Peay (ASUN)
207 SFA (WAC; candidate for 12th CUSA slot)
274 UMass (A10; candidate for 12th CUSA slot)
