The average RPI rank of UMass' nonconference opponents is 70.18, which indicates a difficult schedule. Fellow A-10 teams Xavier and St. Joseph's face similar challenges each year in their quests to reach the NCAA Tournament. But their strategy has been different. They've done it with a much easier nonconference slate. UMass swept the season series with Xavier.
Home games are also a factor.
The Musketeers played seven of 11 nonconference games at home, while the Hawks played four of 12 at home and six inside Philadelphia's city limits. The Minutemen, conversely, have played three of 11 at home, two against teams that have spent time ranked in the Associated Press top 25 and all three against NCAA Tournament-bound teams. In fairness, the success of Boston College and Providence, two teams that beat UMass at the Mullins Center, was not predicted this season. The issue is rooted in money as well. The Eagles played nine of 11 nonconference games at home.