Re: College Basketball 2008-2009

[Andy]

Seriously, who cares about polls in college basketball?

 

I thought no one.

Speaking as someone who's never rooted for an ND team ranked this high prior to 08-09, it's cool to be ranked high. I'm not too concerned with it though. The Big East is better than last year's version and we're going to lose too many league games to continue to be ranked as high as we are.

[UMFan83]

Seriously, who cares about polls in college basketball?

 

I thought no one.

 

It's just nice validation for up and coming programs. It probably doesn't matter to you because UCLA is always ranked and is always a lock for the Tourney lately. But for a team like Northwestern, who hasn't been ranked since 1969, I would think it would be a neat level of accomplishment for them and a sign that people are noticing.

 

Smaller things are cool about it as well. When they are showing score on ESPN during the week, your team shows up because they are ranked. A lot of the online sites for following games only have "Game Tracker" for games with a ranked team involved. Stupid stuff like that. I realize I took it on another tangent, but there is some value to the CBB rankings.

[Guest]

Seriously, who cares about polls in college basketball?

 

I thought no one.

 

It's just nice validation for up and coming programs. It probably doesn't matter to you because UCLA is always ranked and is always a lock for the Tourney lately. But for a team like Northwestern, who hasn't been ranked since 1969, I would think it would be a neat level of accomplishment for them and a sign that people are noticing.

 

Smaller things are cool about it as well. When they are showing score on ESPN during the week, your team shows up because they are ranked. A lot of the online sites for following games only have "Game Tracker" for games with a ranked team involved. Stupid stuff like that. I realize I took it on another tangent, but there is some value to the CBB rankings.

 

Well, I wasn't referring to actually being ranked vs. not (especially for a program like NU which has had so little basketball success and even "also receiving votes" is a huge accomplishment).

 

Northwestern and Purdue are in much different places and rankings shouldn't be much of a concern to a Purdue fan.

[Exile on Waveland]

Seriously, who cares about polls in college basketball?

 

I thought no one.

 

It's just nice validation for up and coming programs. It probably doesn't matter to you because UCLA is always ranked and is always a lock for the Tourney lately. But for a team like Northwestern, who hasn't been ranked since 1969, I would think it would be a neat level of accomplishment for them and a sign that people are noticing.

 

Smaller things are cool about it as well. When they are showing score on ESPN during the week, your team shows up because they are ranked. A lot of the online sites for following games only have "Game Tracker" for games with a ranked team involved. Stupid stuff like that. I realize I took it on another tangent, but there is some value to the CBB rankings.

 

I don't care one iota if UCLA is ranked.

[Guest]

Seriously, who cares about polls in college basketball?

 

I thought no one.

 

It's just nice validation for up and coming programs. It probably doesn't matter to you because UCLA is always ranked and is always a lock for the Tourney lately. But for a team like Northwestern, who hasn't been ranked since 1969, I would think it would be a neat level of accomplishment for them and a sign that people are noticing.

 

Smaller things are cool about it as well. When they are showing score on ESPN during the week, your team shows up because they are ranked. A lot of the online sites for following games only have "Game Tracker" for games with a ranked team involved. Stupid stuff like that. I realize I took it on another tangent, but there is some value to the CBB rankings.

 

I don't care one iota if UCLA is ranked.

 

I'm sure UMF just confused you and me. Consider it a compliment. :)

[Exile on Waveland]

Seriously, who cares about polls in college basketball?

 

I thought no one.

 

It's just nice validation for up and coming programs. It probably doesn't matter to you because UCLA is always ranked and is always a lock for the Tourney lately. But for a team like Northwestern, who hasn't been ranked since 1969, I would think it would be a neat level of accomplishment for them and a sign that people are noticing.

 

Smaller things are cool about it as well. When they are showing score on ESPN during the week, your team shows up because they are ranked. A lot of the online sites for following games only have "Game Tracker" for games with a ranked team involved. Stupid stuff like that. I realize I took it on another tangent, but there is some value to the CBB rankings.

 

I don't care one iota if UCLA is ranked.

 

I'm sure UMF just confused you and me. Consider it a compliment. :)

 

I've been confused for worse. I figured that was the case, but wanted it on record.

[CubbieBum]

Seriously, who cares about polls in college basketball?

 

I thought no one.

 

It's just nice validation for up and coming programs. It probably doesn't matter to you because UCLA is always ranked and is always a lock for the Tourney lately. But for a team like Northwestern, who hasn't been ranked since 1969, I would think it would be a neat level of accomplishment for them and a sign that people are noticing.

 

Smaller things are cool about it as well. When they are showing score on ESPN during the week, your team shows up because they are ranked. A lot of the online sites for following games only have "Game Tracker" for games with a ranked team involved. Stupid stuff like that. I realize I took it on another tangent, but there is some value to the CBB rankings.

 

Well, I wasn't referring to actually being ranked vs. not (especially for a program like NU which has had so little basketball success and even "also receiving votes" is a huge accomplishment).

 

Northwestern and Purdue are in much different places and rankings shouldn't be much of a concern to a Purdue fan.

 

I'm sure it doesn't matter to me quite as much as him but it still matters. People gripe about the rankings all over the country. I'm hardly in the minority in being annoyed with them. Andy griped sometimes last year about them and our roommate who is an IU fan did too. It's a sign of disrespect when you are ranked lower than you should be. Plus when it comes to rivalries I hate when I get told, "We a top 10 team and you not." Not necessarily that quote but something like it.

[TruffleShuffle]

Sorry about Syracuse, but that Cleveland State buzzer beater was awesome.

 

helllllllllllll yes

[rchap24]

Seriously, who cares about polls in college basketball?

 

I thought no one.

 

It's just nice validation for up and coming programs. It probably doesn't matter to you because UCLA is always ranked and is always a lock for the Tourney lately. But for a team like Northwestern, who hasn't been ranked since 1969, I would think it would be a neat level of accomplishment for them and a sign that people are noticing.

 

Smaller things are cool about it as well. When they are showing score on ESPN during the week, your team shows up because they are ranked. A lot of the online sites for following games only have "Game Tracker" for games with a ranked team involved. Stupid stuff like that. I realize I took it on another tangent, but there is some value to the CBB rankings.

 

Well, I wasn't referring to actually being ranked vs. not (especially for a program like NU which has had so little basketball success and even "also receiving votes" is a huge accomplishment).

 

Northwestern and Purdue are in much different places and rankings shouldn't be much of a concern to a Purdue fan.

 

I'm sure it doesn't matter to me quite as much as him but it still matters. People gripe about the rankings all over the country. I'm hardly in the minority in being annoyed with them. Andy griped sometimes last year about them and our roommate who is an IU fan did too. It's a sign of disrespect when you are ranked lower than you should be. Plus when it comes to rivalries I hate when I get told, "We a top 10 team and you not." Not necessarily that quote but something like it.

 

HA is that a picture of the new renovations there doing for Mackey? I actually did a news story on the local news about it. They look pretty awesome

[bukie]

The Big East now has seven teams in the top 15 in the coaches poll. Now, I'm not going to say that the Big East isn't the best conference in the country this year, but the Big East love in the polls is a little ridiculous.

 

At this point in the season I'd say the Big East is a good deal overrated as a conference, and the Big Ten is a touch underrated as a conference (Purdue, Ohio State, NW, Illinois more so than MSU or Wisconsin).

 

At this point in the season, I don't think Notre Dame, Villanova or Syracuse has any business being in the top 15 (this is before the Syracuse loss last night). Notre Dame is probably better than they've played, but in terms of how they've played they're more of a borderline top 25 team. Marquette also has no business being ranked. West Virginia is underrated, if anything right now.

 

Ohio State has probably looked the best of any Big Ten team at this point of the season, and Purdue is hurt from a horrible matchup (and subsequent drubbing) with Duke. I'd probably agree that these are likely the only top 25 teams from the Big Ten right now, but Illinois and even Northwestern deserve more consideration than they've gotten. Everybody's hung up on how poorly Wisconsin has looked, while at the same time convinced that Wisconsin has to be one of the 4 best teams in the Big Ten. As of right now, though, according to Pomeroy and Sagarin, they're more like the 7th or 8th best team in the conference (Ohio State, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, Northwestern, Michigan, even Iowa).

 

Heck, according to both Pomeroy and Sagarin, the ACC has been the best conference, with the Big East, Big Ten and Big Twelve close together for 2nd to 4th.

[UMFan83]

Why does no one count Michigan as a team that should be higher? I know they still have a lot to prove, but they probably have one of the top 3 resumes of any team in the Big 10 so far with wins over UCLA (on neutral court) and Duke (at home). Their 2 losses were to Duke (neutral court) and Maryland (road). Illinois lost to the only ranked team they've played this season (#25 Clemson) and their best win was probably over who...6-3 Vandy? But they get more respect because they've played and beaten 3 more cupcakes than Michigan?

[SouthSideRyan]

Why does no one count Michigan as a team that should be higher? I know they still have a lot to prove, but they probably have one of the top 3 resumes of any team in the Big 10 so far with wins over UCLA (on neutral court) and Duke (at home). Their 2 losses were to Duke (neutral court) and Maryland (road). Illinois lost to the only ranked team they've played this season (#25 Clemson) and their best win was probably over who...6-3 Vandy? But they get more respect because they've played and beaten 3 more cupcakes than Michigan?

 

That Savannah St. game is killing me.

[Guest]

Yes, Michigan should be ranked. Goes to show how worthless rankings are.

[bukie]

Why does no one count Michigan as a team that should be higher? I know they still have a lot to prove, but they probably have one of the top 3 resumes of any team in the Big 10 so far with wins over UCLA (on neutral court) and Duke (at home). Their 2 losses were to Duke (neutral court) and Maryland (road). Illinois lost to the only ranked team they've played this season (#25 Clemson) and their best win was probably over who...6-3 Vandy? But they get more respect because they've played and beaten 3 more cupcakes than Michigan?

Illinois has been much more efficient in their games defensively, and while Michigan has been more efficient offensively, Illinois has still been efficient on both ends of the court. In terms of predictive value and discussion on how good a team really is, things like offensive and defensive efficiency matter a lot more than who a team has beaten. Also, the team Illinois lost to, Clemson, rates really, really high right now (about as high as Duke, higher than UCLA and much higher than Maryland).

 

Michigan is already in the "also receiving votes" category in both polls, which is right about where they should be. Illinois and Northwestern are just barely starting to get vote consideration in the polls, which is why I think they should be a bit higher. Ohio State and Purdue are really the only top 25 teams right now in the Big Ten, but really, Illinois is right there on the cusp statistically, which is as surprising to me as anything, really. There are maybe 6 Big Ten teams between 26 and 50 right now (Illinois, MSU, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa), although Wisconsin and Iowa are borderline.

 

If the teams all play according to plan, with no upsets, which would match the standings I posted a couple pages back, there'd be a decent argument for 7 teams from the conference in the tourney. Only 4 are really getting consideration right now (MSU, Purdue, Wisconsin, OSU), but Michigan is probably getting the most pub of the rest.

[CubbieBum]

Seriously, who cares about polls in college basketball?

 

I thought no one.

 

It's just nice validation for up and coming programs. It probably doesn't matter to you because UCLA is always ranked and is always a lock for the Tourney lately. But for a team like Northwestern, who hasn't been ranked since 1969, I would think it would be a neat level of accomplishment for them and a sign that people are noticing.

 

Smaller things are cool about it as well. When they are showing score on ESPN during the week, your team shows up because they are ranked. A lot of the online sites for following games only have "Game Tracker" for games with a ranked team involved. Stupid stuff like that. I realize I took it on another tangent, but there is some value to the CBB rankings.

 

Well, I wasn't referring to actually being ranked vs. not (especially for a program like NU which has had so little basketball success and even "also receiving votes" is a huge accomplishment).

 

Northwestern and Purdue are in much different places and rankings shouldn't be much of a concern to a Purdue fan.

 

I'm sure it doesn't matter to me quite as much as him but it still matters. People gripe about the rankings all over the country. I'm hardly in the minority in being annoyed with them. Andy griped sometimes last year about them and our roommate who is an IU fan did too. It's a sign of disrespect when you are ranked lower than you should be. Plus when it comes to rivalries I hate when I get told, "We a top 10 team and you not." Not necessarily that quote but something like it.

 

HA is that a picture of the new renovations there doing for Mackey? I actually did a news story on the local news about it. They look pretty awesome

 

Yeah I wanted a non player photo because everyone has player photos. The renovations won't be here anytime soon but when they are done raising the money and getting it built it will be one of the best in the country. [expletive] ridiculous to look at the specs.

[rchap24]

Seriously, who cares about polls in college basketball?

 

I thought no one.

 

It's just nice validation for up and coming programs. It probably doesn't matter to you because UCLA is always ranked and is always a lock for the Tourney lately. But for a team like Northwestern, who hasn't been ranked since 1969, I would think it would be a neat level of accomplishment for them and a sign that people are noticing.

 

Smaller things are cool about it as well. When they are showing score on ESPN during the week, your team shows up because they are ranked. A lot of the online sites for following games only have "Game Tracker" for games with a ranked team involved. Stupid stuff like that. I realize I took it on another tangent, but there is some value to the CBB rankings.

 

Well, I wasn't referring to actually being ranked vs. not (especially for a program like NU which has had so little basketball success and even "also receiving votes" is a huge accomplishment).

 

Northwestern and Purdue are in much different places and rankings shouldn't be much of a concern to a Purdue fan.

 

I'm sure it doesn't matter to me quite as much as him but it still matters. People gripe about the rankings all over the country. I'm hardly in the minority in being annoyed with them. Andy griped sometimes last year about them and our roommate who is an IU fan did too. It's a sign of disrespect when you are ranked lower than you should be. Plus when it comes to rivalries I hate when I get told, "We a top 10 team and you not." Not necessarily that quote but something like it.

 

HA is that a picture of the new renovations there doing for Mackey? I actually did a news story on the local news about it. They look pretty awesome

 

Yeah I wanted a non player photo because everyone has player photos. The renovations won't be here anytime soon but when they are done raising the money and getting it built it will be one of the best in the country. I'm Overcompensating ridiculous to look at the specs.

 

I interviewed one of the higher athletic advisors there it's supposed to be like 72mil project

[hawkeyecub]

Pomeroy predictor is up now at kenpom.com

 

Current models would put Northwestern pretty safely in the tourney.(along with OSU, Purdue, and Illinois)

 

And today he has his individual stat ratings up.

 

Notables from Iowa:

Matt Gatens' offensive rating is 30th in the country, 3rd in the Big Ten behind Hummel and Craig Moore. He's also 37th nationally in EFG%, 2nd in the Big Ten behind Moore.

Cyrus Tate is 18th nationally in offensive rebound% and 1st in the Big Ten. He's 53rd in def. rebounding% and 2nd in the Big Ten behind Mike Davis. He also ranks 57th in EFG% and 3rd in the Big Ten.

[Hosak8]

Tennessee is in a good game with Marquette right now. Tennessee is doing a good job of keeping the ball out of the paint, where Marquette apparently wants to take the ball, though early on, half-court defense was killing Tennessee. So far, that and perimeter shooting have been UT's achilles heels.

 

And Tennessee really misses JP Prince. If he doesn't get healthy soon, they will lose at least two more games that they should not, a la Temple.

[SouthSideRyan]

This has been a pretty horrible stretch of homer officiating.

[Hosak8]

This has been a pretty horrible stretch of homer officiating.

 

Is it an SEC crew?

[SouthSideRyan]

This has been a pretty horrible stretch of homer officiating.

 

Is it an SEC crew?

 

I'm not sure, it was basically a home game. After that minute stretch, things seemed back to normal, but the run of the foul on the 3 pointer, followed by the Tennesee player falling down on the rebound, to be followed by the technical was brutal.

 

Tennessee should run away and hide with the SEC.

[bcl412]

So MSU is only beating the Citadel. by ten with 9 minutes to go at home. To put this in perspective Iowa beat the Citadel by 22 on the road.

[Guest]

So MSU is only beating the Citadel. by ten with 9 minutes to go at home. To put this in perspective Iowa beat the Citadel by 22 on the road.

 

UCD beat The Citadel by 18 in South Carolina.

[Magnetic Curses]

i hate tennessee, i hate those stupid headbands and i hope they lose the rest of their games. most of all i hate bruce pearl and i also hate tyler smith even though i hate iowa, too.

[hawkeyecub]

Surprise, surprise:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3777010