If West Virginia (20-9) misses the NCAA women’s basketball tournament despite winning 11 games in Big 12 play, a loss all the way back on Nov. 23 may prove to be the deciding factor that leaves the Mountaineers on the wrong side of the bubble.
An embarrassingly low non-conference strength of schedule is the biggest factor working against West Virginia’s at-large hopes. According to RPI guru Warren Nolan, WVU’s non-conference schedule ranks 328th in the country.
One team in particular places a heavy burden on the Mountaineers: Eastern Kentucky.
The Colonels (2-27) are one of the sorriest teams in the country with an overall RPI of 332.