A Closer Look at the 2009 Schedule

The MU Baseball office has posted the official 2009 schedule, which is remarkably similar to the 2009 schedule we've had posted here for a few weeks.

Now that it's official, we can take a look at that schedule and ask the question: How tough is MU's 2009 schedule?

Boyd Nation, at Boyd'sWorld.com, annually produces a list of Intended Schedule Strength, based on the final RPI or ISR numbers of each team on the upcoming schedule, averaged out to an intended average RPI.

Using that formula, and using the Boyd'sWorld.com final RPI numbers, I've compiled a list of the final 2008 RPIs of the teams on the tentative 2009 schedule, and averaged them out for an intended schedule strength of .541.

So what does that really mean, in terms we can understand?

Three teams (South Florida, Texas San-Antonio and New Mexico) finished 2009 with an RPI of .541, placing in a tie for 64th place in Division 1 of the NCAA out of a total 296 teams.

Tim Jamieson's Intended Schedule Strength has been moving slowly upward over the past few years, and this year's continues that steady rise, which is a good thing:

2009: .541
2008: .537
2007: .534
2006: .532
2005: .528
2004: .528

Part of that rise is due to the overall gradual strengthening of the Big XII conference from top to bottom. But it also reflects a willingness to schedule multiple contests against teams like Arizona State.

I have posted the details of the final 2008 RPIs for the teams on the 2009 schedule on Sheet 2 of the MU 2009 Tentative Schedule.