n CONFERENCE RPI is NOT based solely upon win-loss record. It’s calculated the same way team RPI is calculated, which puts more weight on SOS than on win-loss record. The formula is .250 winning percentage, .500 opponent’s winning percentage, and .250 opponent’s opponent’s winning percentage. Road wins are multiplied by 1.25 while home wins are multiplied by 0.75. Home losses are multiplied by 1.25, and road losses are multiplied by 0.75. The Big East (.816) has a better OOC winning percentage than the MWC (.770), but the MWC has the 4th best OOC SOS, while the Big East’s OOC SOS is ranked an abysmal 22nd. This is why the MWC has a better RPI than the Big East. Btw, UNM is 2-0 vs the Big East this season. I suggest people actually look at the statistical formula behind the RPI before they claim that the MWC doesn’t deserve its ranking. - RIDIC- DUKE CITY n MY SHOCK IS how (No. 12 UNM) be ranked that high. Forget the RPI ranking because it is the most useless poll out there, also the MWC being ranked #2 is over-rated because it only counts non-conference games played. The bpi at least includes point differentials and how the teams you played are doing. But the big question is if you look at the top 25 the following facts are in concrete. Of the teams ranked, the lobos are dead last, by 60 points in field goal %, 257th overall, 3rd worst in pts/gm-184th overall, 8th worst and 134th in reb/gm and to finish it off they are the 16th worst in asst/gm and 96th nationally. I hope the MWC gets 5 teams in because after looking at all the predictions for seedings they will be lucky to win two first-round games. Now is the time for the cream to rise to the top. We will all see in about two weeks who is right. - The Realist n THE MWC IS number one in RPI while the WCC is 16th; however, the MWC has only one team ranked in the coaches poll while the WCC has two. Of the eleven teams ranked ahead of UNM in the AP poll one has a better record, while three are equal and the other seven have worse records than UNM. Even more interesting is the fact that UNM has earned their record against an overall schedule that is rated more difficult than every team ahead of them in the AP poll with the lone exception of Duke. It appears to me that a lot of these voters are basing there votes on past performances and reputation instead of the here and now. If the MWC was one of the “big 6″ conferences it would most likely have 5 ranked teams instead of 1 and UNM would be in the top 2 or 3, however; the “good old boy” syndrome prevents it. - John R, Los Lunas n CONSIDERING THE injuries and disappointment suffered by Mary Decker, I, for one, will hope that Mary Cain IS NOT the new Mary Decker. - Donn, Placitas

— This article appeared on page D5 of the Albuquerque Journal