College Basketball 2013-2014

[HenryBlanco]

Wichita State has a legitimate chance to get through the regular season undefeated, since the MVC is down this year (mostly because Creighton isn't in it) and their non-con hasn't featured a single top 20 team (best team on their schedule is St. Louis).

 

So, when everyone is clamoring for them to get a 1 seed two months from now, keep that in mind.

I don't see it happening. Love to be wrong though.

 

They have beat 4 RPI Top 100 teams, hopefully those can become a couple Top 50's. Gone on the road and won 3 games. Have the #52 ranked schedule to this point. Really too bad the Valley is now so God awful (losing Creighton and adding Loyola). All they can do is keep winning games and see what happens.

 

I worry that people will look at Wichita's case as similar to Gonzaga being a number one seed in which they lost in the 2nd round(I refuse to call the round of 32 the 3rd round) and use that as reason to not award another good team from a smaller conference a one seed which ironically it was WSU that beat the Zags.

 

Regardless of seed Wichita has a legitimate top 10 squad that has as much potential as anybody to make another deep run in the tournament. I just wish the MVC could go about improving itself as there are some programs with potential but currently struggling financially. If there are any college basketball free agents in Chicago feel free to support Loyola as the MVC really is a fun league to watch in my opinion. :hello:

[illiniguy]

Wichita State has a legitimate chance to get through the regular season undefeated, since the MVC is down this year (mostly because Creighton isn't in it) and their non-con hasn't featured a single top 20 team (best team on their schedule is St. Louis).

 

So, when everyone is clamoring for them to get a 1 seed two months from now, keep that in mind.

I don't see it happening. Love to be wrong though.

 

They have beat 4 RPI Top 100 teams, hopefully those can become a couple Top 50's. Gone on the road and won 3 games. Have the #52 ranked schedule to this point. Really too bad the Valley is now so God awful (losing Creighton and adding Loyola). All they can do is keep winning games and see what happens.

 

I worry that people will look at Wichita's case as similar to Gonzaga being a number one seed in which they lost in the 2nd round(I refuse to call the round of 32 the 3rd round) and use that as reason to not award another good team from a smaller conference a one seed which ironically it was WSU that beat the Zags.

 

Regardless of seed Wichita has a legitimate top 10 squad that has as much potential as anybody to make another deep run in the tournament. I just wish the MVC could go about improving itself as there are some programs with potential but currently struggling financially. If there are any college basketball free agents in Chicago feel free to support Loyola as the MVC really is a fun league to watch in my opinion. :hello:

I'm still mad that Andrew Wiggins didn't have the balls to play with his title brother there. They're legit.

[illiniguy]

Mitch McGary having back surgery... out indefinitely.... I'm assuming for the year?

 

I would assume that. Nothing I read mentions any discussion of him returning this year. Really tough break right before Big Ten season. Tourney might be hard to make without him.

This is why you have to go pro if you're a lottery pick. That sucks.

[bukie]

Well, that was a good second half.

[Guest]

Nicely done Mizzou

[Bruno7481]

Freshman Luke Fischer leaving IU, quite an odd and unexpected development. He was far from a star, but seemed like a good bet to be a very productive 4 year guy.

 

Creates a huge front court hole if Vonleh departs after this year.

 

No idea what to expect in the game tomorrow. What are you Illinois supporters thinking?

[bukie]

Freshman Luke Fischer leaving IU, quite an odd and unexpected development. He was far from a star, but seemed like a good bet to be a very productive 4 year guy.

 

Creates a huge front court hole if Vonleh departs after this year.

 

No idea what to expect in the game tomorrow. What are you Illinois supporters thinking?

Great defense, avert your eyes offense.

[Exile on Waveland]

Freshman Luke Fischer leaving IU, quite an odd and unexpected development. He was far from a star, but seemed like a good bet to be a very productive 4 year guy.

 

Creates a huge front court hole if Vonleh departs after this year.

 

That is really, really disappointing. He showed a lot of potential (as you say, to be a solid four-year player). It's especially troublesome because IU lacked interior depth -- and may especially lack such depth next year if Vonleh leaves. Not good.

 

No idea what to expect in the game tomorrow. What are you Illinois supporters thinking?

 

I'm expecting basically what I'm expecting for every IU road game (at least against decent competition). Ugliness.

[rawaction]

Fischer was the odds on favorite to greatly improve this offseason. I thought he looked pretty skilled, but raw. But he looked like a guy that could put up 15-8 by his Junior year, especially once he could have the paint mostly to himself (no Vonleh).

 

Sucks.

[Sosa21MVP]

Sucks to hear Fischer is leaving. :( It will be interesting to see if any further details about the driving force behind his decision leaks out.

[bukie]

B1G predictions:

 

1. Michigan State 14-4

2. Ohio State 13-5

3. Wisconsin 13-5

4. Iowa 12-6

5. Michigan 11-7

6. Minnesota 9-9

7. Indiana 9-9

8. Illinois 8-10

9. Purdue 6-12

10. Penn State 6-12

11. Nebraska 5-13

12. Northwestern 2-16

[Cubswin11]

That looks about right, though I could see Wisconsin losing fewer games. They got lucky with the schedule (only get MSU and OSU once and both @ WIS).

[bukie]

As for Illinois, they're an odd beast this year, with only 3 players returning with any meaningful minutes in Egwu, Abrams and Bertrand. Two incoming transfers, Ray Rice and Jon Ekey, provide the bulk of the new minutes, and both have been the best offensive players the team has. Freshmen Kendrick Nunn, Malcolm Hill, Jaylon Tate, Austin Colbert and Maverick Morgan are gradually getting into the flow of play more, with Tate arguably already the best PG option on the team.

 

Guard-wise, Abrams feels like he has to lead, which leads to terrible shot selection for a player that just can't score. Rice and Ekey are the best outside shot options until Nunn gets going.

 

Front-court, it's all on Egwu until Colbert and Morgan step it up, and yes, those are the only three front court options on the team this season. As long as Egwu stays out of foul trouble, Illinois is fantastic. Soon as he goes down, their rebounding and post presence disappears completely, and they can be beaten by anyone.

[illiniguy]

As for Illinois, they're an odd beast this year, with only 3 players returning with any meaningful minutes in Egwu, Abrams and Bertrand. Two incoming transfers, Ray Rice and Jon Ekey, provide the bulk of the new minutes, and both have been the best offensive players the team has. Freshmen Kendrick Nunn, Malcolm Hill, Jaylon Tate, Austin Colbert and Maverick Morgan are gradually getting into the flow of play more, with Tate arguably already the best PG option on the team.

 

Guard-wise, Abrams feels like he has to lead, which leads to terrible shot selection for a player that just can't score. Rice and Ekey are the best outside shot options until Nunn gets going.

 

Front-court, it's all on Egwu until Colbert and Morgan step it up, and yes, those are the only three front court options on the team this season. As long as Egwu stays out of foul trouble, Illinois is fantastic. Soon as he goes down, their rebounding and post presence disappears completely, and they can be beaten by anyone.

Egwu is our third best rebounder according to rate stats behind Ekey and Rice. While we are better with him on the court, I don't think we lose a ton when Morgan plays.

[sneakypower]

B1G predictions:

 

1. Michigan State 14-4

2. Ohio State 13-5

3. Wisconsin 13-5

4. Iowa 12-6

5. Michigan 11-7

6. Minnesota 9-9

7. Indiana 9-9

8. Illinois 8-10

9. Purdue 6-12

10. Penn State 6-12

11. Nebraska 5-13

12. Northwestern 2-16

that'd be nice, but i think we do worse than 7 conference losses

[bukie]

Champion Baptist College is playing their fourth and final D1 opponent tonight, currently trailing 3-9 Southern U 99-10.

 

Southern set the NCAA record for unanswered points to start a game with 44.

[CubInOK]

Champion Baptist College is playing their fourth and final D1 opponent tonight, currently trailing 3-9 Southern U 99-10.

 

Southern set the NCAA record for unanswered points to start a game with 44.

CBC probably learned about the game of basketball from NBA Jam.

[Exile on Waveland]

B1G predictions:

 

1. Michigan State 14-4

2. Ohio State 13-5

3. Wisconsin 13-5

4. Iowa 12-6

5. Michigan 11-7

6. Minnesota 9-9

7. Indiana 9-9

8. Illinois 8-10

9. Purdue 6-12

10. Penn State 6-12

11. Nebraska 5-13

12. Northwestern 2-16

 

I'll got with mostly that, but a little worse for Michigan and Indiana, and Illinois ahead of Indiana and maybe Minnesota.

[UMFan83]

With McGary out, I could see 7 to 9 B1G wins for Michigan, but maybe they will surprise, Morgan and Horford will step up and play better. The conference looks really good again this year so it will be tough.

[hawkeyecub]

B1G predictions:

 

1. Michigan State 14-4

2. Ohio State 13-5

3. Wisconsin 13-5

4. Iowa 12-6

5. Michigan 11-7

6. Minnesota 9-9

7. Indiana 9-9

8. Illinois 8-10

9. Purdue 6-12

10. Penn State 6-12

11. Nebraska 5-13

12. Northwestern 2-16

 

Looks about right to me but I would have MSU down 1-2 wins. I think 13-5 ties for first this year.

[Guest]

Wow, it's remarkably easy to root for Ohio State in this game. Between the Boilers' godless chucking tendencies and the AWFUL crowd, I want West Lafayette to burn

[Sosa21MVP]

I think IU will go 8-10.

[SeldomSeen]

Illinois at -3 has to be the lock of the week, right?

[bukie]

Illinois at -3 has to be the lock of the week, right?

Only if the offense is clicking. Usually it'll keep any game close.

[scarey]

Wow, it's remarkably easy to root for Ohio State in this game. Between the Boilers' godless chucking tendencies and the AWFUL crowd, I want West Lafayette to burn

 

WTF? Godless chucking? Purdue shot 14 three pointers to Ohio State's 22. Purdue also shot a better percentage. I guess context may be the explanation here (wasn't able to watch), but based on the numbers, it seems to me that if anyone was chucking it was Ohio State.