Why isn the RPI and SOS updated until after game #7?
The RPI is primarily a measurement of strength of schedule and how the team did against that schedule and each season stands on its own. There are no preseason expectations – everyone starts at zero. Consequently, the numbers can really skewed early in the season because teams have played so few games. For example, a team can be 2-0, but its opponents haven’t played anyone else yet, so its strength of schedule is 0. That’s 75% of the formula, so the team won’t be rated very highly. After game #7, enough games have been played to start to give a realistic view of RPI and SOS.
