With football news dominating the TNIAAM headlines over the past few weeks, a few basketball related items slipped through the cracks. One of those was the NCAA's first release of the RPI, which had Syracuse ranked 14th out of 347 Division I programs.

The RPI, which we all know is a key tool in how the NCAA evaluates teams, came out before the Orange's victory over Providence. It also ranked Duke No. 1, while Kansas, Michigan, Arizona and Gonzaga rounded out the top 5, respectively.

For those curious, RealTimeRPI.com has the Orange at 12th overall.

Here's how some of Syracuse's non-conference opponents ranked in the RPI: San Diego State (No. 40), Canisius (85), Arkansas (94), Wagner (98) and Detroit (102)

When it comes to the Big East, Louisville snagged the highest RPI at No. 9.

The rest of the league ranked in the top 100 were: UConn (27), Marquette (31), Cincinnati (34), Notre Dame (37), Georgetown (38), Seton Hall (49), Rutgers (56), St. John's (64), Pittsburgh (71), South Florida (76) and Villanova (83).