From the Mailbag...
Q: NCAA RPI and Coaches rankings were released (Friday Feb. 9) and there were a lot of big names missing on the RPI list (no Vincenzo Joseph, Isaiah Martinez, Alex Marinelli, Logan Massa or Richie Lewis at 165 in the RPI). I understand that in order to be on the RPI list you must have wrestled 17 matches, but if a wrestler does not get 17 matches by the Feb. 22 list (that is the basis for allocations) does the conference/weight class miss out on an automatic qualification spot for the NCAA Championships? Example: Kyle Snyder will not reach 17 matches by Feb. 22. Will the Big Ten lose out on an allocation for heavyweight? I am sure this does not happen often, but with what seems to be a trend of guys getting less matches in a season due to international competition, unforeseen injuries and resting matches during conference duals, will it play a factor in where allocations go?
-- Hylnder133
Foley: The automatic bid will be missing, though in the case of Big Ten wrestlers you might assume -- with some rationale -- the spot is being absorbed by another Big Ten wrestler otherwise nestled between 34-40 in the RPI.
I don't think an adjustment should be made for the international competitors, or those missing out due to injury or sitting out. The system isn't asking too much with 17 matches and those who do miss the auto-qualification should find it very easy to qualify in the allotment of their conference.
Certainly, a risk should they get injured in the tournament, but of no greater significance than the risk being taken by the wrestler who competed 17-plus times in a season.
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My comments: Am I missing something with T.R.'s response? Look at the underlined question and his response. There's very few cases, and none that I can remember, where RPI made a difference in allocations for any of the top-20 or top-25 guys. Wrestling fewer than 8 matches would, as that doesn't allow a wrestler to get to Silver Standard. In Snyder's case, he's wrestled 8, so he's in easily, no lost allocation.