College Basketball 2010-2011

[ilovebeer]

nice win for marquette today.

[owbc]

I think Michigan State still has a good shot thanks to Minnesota's horrific collapse. At 6-10 in conference and losers of 7 out of 8, the Gophers are out. Michigan State is 8-8 in conference with 2 winnable games left vs. Iowa and at Michigan. I guess there is the possibility that only 4 Big Ten teams could get in, but barring a big tourney run by Michigan or Penn State, Michigan state should get in since they have the best resume.

 

There are no easy wins in the Big Ten, and I think a few of the mediocre teams have been worn down by the long, hard schedule. On the other hand, Wisconsin just continues to get better.

 

By the way, I didn't realize that Gene Keady was helping out St. John's as an assistant--but I'm sure his advice is a big reason why SJU is one of the most dangerous teams in the country now.

[jjfanec]

I think Michigan State still has a good shot thanks to Minnesota's horrific collapse. At 6-10 in conference and losers of 7 out of 8, the Gophers are out. Michigan State is 8-8 in conference with 2 winnable games left vs. Iowa and at Michigan. I guess there is the possibility that only 4 Big Ten teams could get in, but barring a big tourney run by Michigan or Penn State, Michigan state should get in since they have the best resume.

I expect Michigan to beat MSU. That is a home game for Michigan and they beat MSU on the road already. They seem to be trending up whereas MSU is impossible to figure out. It is pretty close to an elimination game for both teams

[jhart05]

I love that the team actually managed to scare Jeter. That was pretty hilarious.

Yeah that was cool.

 

You can see a couple of the kids with a smerk on their face just before they jump him.

 

And Jeter jumping around with them.

 

[LouisEly]

Wisconsin got help by San Diego State getting swept by BYU. SDSU doesn't have any quality wins other than St. Mary's, so their loss should knock their seeding down below Wisconsin.

 

Marquette did their job, but with lots of top 25 teams losing this week to unranked teams that doesn't help Marquette. If they win their last two and finish 11-7 in the Big East, 20-11 overall with 9 of the 11 losses to top 25 teams I think they get in as a 9/10 seed.

[brwrsfan]

I think Marquette really only needs to win 1 more game to get in. Preferably over Cincinatti, but winning one of their last two, or winning a game in the Big East tournament will probably be enough. The bubble sucks (see the MSU argument above) and while Marquette has a lot of losses, none of them are in the "bad" category yet.

 

They also have some big wins that a lot of other bubble teams simply won't have: Georgetown, ND, Syracuse and at Connecticut.

 

As for the other teams, Wisconsin seems like a lock to be in the 3-5 range. A #2 isn't impossible but they'd have to likely beat OSU and make the conference finals. UWM still has it's work cut out for them, the top of the Horizon is very evenly matched in my opinion, though they do have the benefit of being at home. The nice thing about winning the title is that they are now in as the Horizon winner in all the projections. Almost all of them have them as a 14 or 15 seed.

[Hofbraunhaus]

[danzig6767]

Wisconsin got help by San Diego State getting swept by BYU. SDSU doesn't have any quality wins other than St. Mary's, so their loss should knock their seeding down below Wisconsin.

 

Marquette did their job, but with lots of top 25 teams losing this week to unranked teams that doesn't help Marquette. If they win their last two and finish 11-7 in the Big East, 20-11 overall with 9 of the 11 losses to top 25 teams I think they get in as a 9/10 seed.

I don't think it really matters much if Marquette ends up say a 9th seed or a 11th seed.

 

This year is probably the weakest crop of upper tier college basketball teams that i've seen in awhile. That said, once you get out of the top 8 teams or so, there are about 30 teams that are separated by not very much. So i tend to think we'll see an abnormal amount of socalled upsets this year even though the word upset really might not fit.

 

One bright spot i see for Marquette is that Cadougan and Otule are both playing their best ball of the year, improving on MU's biggest weaknesses, pont guard play and size inside. Buycks tries hard and can play some PG in limited minutes, but he was miscast as the main PG. He's to turnover prone and just lacks PG instincts. As for Otule, the kid is light years better now than early in the season. He actually has some form of a low post skill set and has developed into a pretty good shot blocker.

 

If Marquette can get past it's first round game in the NCAA Tournament, any 2 or 3 seed that would face them next will likely be in for a very tough game.

[LouisEly]

Actually, every team that Marquette has lost to is either ranked now or was ranked when Marquette played them. In fact, I believe the only team that Marquette lost to that is not ranked now is Gonzaga, and they are tied with Saint Mary's atop their conference at 11-3 in conference and 22-9 overall.

[Glennron]

If Marquette gets to 11-7 in conference, I don't see any way they're not a single-digit seed. Sure their non-conference SOS is pretty poor, but they'd have 5 wins against the top 30 or so teams in the country. That would be more than a lot of teams who are ranked highly.

 

Then again, seeding is usually pretty overrated in general, but when it comes to MU it really doesn't even matter. I wouldn't be surprised to see them knock off a top team to go to the Sweet 16, and I also wouldn't be surprised to see them lose their next 3 games and possibly head to the NIT.

[danzig6767]

If Marquette gets to 11-7 in conference, I don't see any way they're not a single-digit seed. Sure their non-conference SOS is pretty poor, but they'd have 5 wins against the top 30 or so teams in the country. That would be more than a lot of teams who are ranked highly.

 

Then again, seeding is usually pretty overrated in general, but when it comes to MU it really doesn't even matter. I wouldn't be surprised to see them knock off a top team to go to the Sweet 16, and I also wouldn't be surprised to see them lose their next 3 games and possibly head to the NIT.

The more i think about it, if i was Marquette, i'd almost rather be a 10th or 11th seed over a 8-9 seed.

 

If you're a 8-9 seed and win your first game, odds are very high that you have to face a number one seed in the next game. If though you're a 10-11 seed and win your first game, then you likely face a 2 or 3 seed in the next round.

 

Given how little seems to separate teams this year after say the top 6 teams or so, being an 11 or 10 seed likely wouldn't make your first round matchup much tougher than if you were instead a 9 seed facing a 8 seed in the first round. It would allow MU though to avoid having to face a one seed in the second round if they won their first game.

[Hammer]

Watching Duke vs Clemson without an emotional connection and hating how Duke is being favored on every call/non-call. Really quite a joke.

[jjfanec]

Is the Seton Hall game a must win for Marquette? No road game is easy but the big boys in the Big East have fed off those bottom five teams (Seton Hall, South Florida, DePaul, Providence, and Rutgers). Seton Hall has only beaten one good Big East team all year so it is a game Marquette should win. They were considered an 8-10 seed before tonight. Lunardi, Glockner, and Palm who seem pretty accurate most years had them at a 10.

 

A lot of the other bubble teams lost tonight though, so Marquette should be pretty good.

[danzig6767]

Is the Seton Hall game a must win for Marquette?

Not sure, but if they lose that game and the first game of the Big East Tournament, they may have to sweat out selection Sunday.

 

Watching the game tonight, two things came to mind for me

 

1. Cincinnati impressed me with their athletic ability, defense, and just flat out relentless effort. They kinda reminded me a bit of the old Bearcats teams under Huggins.

 

2. Marquette had struggles with the same things that have hurt them in most of their losses. Lack of a great ball handling PG and preventing offensive rebounds.

 

Part of the loss simply was via missing jumpers that they normally make at a higher percentage. The 3-15 from three really hurt, but in the first half, the Cinci press forced numerous turnovers that they then turned into easy transition points. I had hoped that Cadougan may have turned a corner and could become a guy that could be a reliable 30mpg PG, but he struggled vs the press. Plus, overall during the game, the Cincinnati pressure defense just disrupted Marquette from both getting the ball past half court and once past half court, to run smooth sets.

 

Marquette only finished with 11 turnovers, but it sure felt like more given the way Cincinnati at least got their hands on so many MU passes.

[patrickgpe]

that buzz video is awesome. i don't think marquette is in just yet. The committee says it doesn't consider conference affiliation but I don't know how it isn't in the back of their minds. For marquette to be the 11th team in, they are going to have to earn it. Beating Seton Hall and winning their first conference tourney game would make things alot less stressful for me on selection sunday.

[owbc]

Now that Brandon Davies is gone, BYU is going to plunge in the rankings. I won't comment on whether the expulsion was justified, but this certainly won't help BYU's recruiting. They certainly lost a #1 seed and have a good chance at falling below Wisconsin. The Badgers are in good position for a 3 seed if they survive Indiana and lose to Ohio State as expected. A 2 seed is still well within their reach, which would put them in great position for at least the Sweet 16. Matchups are most important though.

[jjfanec]

Now that Brandon Davies is gone, BYU is going to plunge in the rankings. I won't comment on whether the expulsion was justified, but this certainly won't help BYU's recruiting. They certainly lost a #1 seed and have a good chance at falling below Wisconsin. The Badgers are in good position for a 3 seed if they survive Indiana and lose to Ohio State as expected. A 2 seed is still well within their reach, which would put them in great position for at least the Sweet 16. Matchups are most important though.

Right now I just dont see how BYU and San Diego State would be ahead of the Badgers. San Diego State has lost their two biggest games and BYU just showed the tournament how good they were without Davies. All I care about is the Badgers getting a 3 seed. It is such an easier run than a 4 seed.

[rwa12]

They lost to them with Davies, as well. Not sure that game is indicative on the team performance going forward. New Mexico seems to have their number.

[dadofandrew]

A 2 and a 3 are basically the same thing. The 6/7 seed you play may not be tougher or easier, as a #6 may be slumping or a #7 may have won 10 in a row.

[owbc]

Yep it's most important to avoid a hot 6/7 seed. Looking at the 6/7 seeds in Bracketology, I would not want to see the Badgers against Xavier or George Mason. There is also a decent group of Big East teams that could meet the Badgers in the second round. Texas A&M or Temple wouldn't be too bad. It is certainly a difficult game and upsets are common.

 

I disagree with the 2 or 3 not being important. It could potentially be a huge advantage to get a 2 seed. The good news is that the fall of BYU and SDSU opens up Duke to take the last #1 seed and remove them as a potential Sweet 16 opponent. I would hate to see Duke in the Sweet 16 in a 2/3 game and getting a 2 seed would remove that possibility. The Badgers will not go in the same bracket as Purdue or Ohio State. That leaves Texas, SDSU, and BYU, or maybe a surprise Big East tourney winner like Louisville which would also be a tough draw.

 

Anything less than the Sweet 16 would be a major disappointment with this team peaking at the right time. Elite 8 or Final 4 is possible with the right bracket.

 

I guess we should worry about the Badgers beating Indiana tonight first though.

[GoudaBrew]

Jordan Taylor is AMAZING!

[jjkoestler]

Amazing game for Taylor. Ive been screaming at my TV for the last 5 minutes for Indiana to foul Taylor. Only 3 points shy.

[TooLiveBrew]

Jordan Taylor is AMAZING!

That was the best offensive performance by a Badger I've ever seen.

[Glennron]

Taking my homerism out of it, I don't see how Jordan Taylor isn't the best PG in the country. Obviously leads in A/T ratio, but 39 points in 55(!!) possessions is unheard of. Just goes to show when he's not distributing he can take over a game completely with his scoring, just like against OSU. The numbers he's putting up on a team that's literally the second slowest team in the country tempo-wise is ridiculous. Of course Nolan Smith will probably get the All American nod cause people will be all "He averages 20-5-5!" or whatever it is. Then again Taylor's pretty much doing that on a much slower team.

 

Anything

less than the Sweet 16 would be a major disappointment with this team

peaking at the right time. Elite 8 or Final 4 is possible with the right

bracket.

I want to believe this so bad. Every

year I believe that UW will make it further than everyone else seems to

think. If the consensus is knocked out in the second round, I think

they'll get to the Sweet 16. If people pick them to the Sweet 16, I

think they're making the Elite 8. I'm just so sick of them

overachieving in the regular season and then underachieving in the

postseason, that I'm going to try very hard to temper my expectations

this year. It will probably be impossible cause I honestly believe this

team might be better than their '07 team that won 30 some odd games.

Then again they had Jason 'J-Cheezy' Chappel so that gives that team the

slight edge.

 

All kidding aside, matchups are obviously the key. Has Wisconsin been

unlucky in their matchups all these years they've lost to lower-seeded

teams? Or do they just not perform as well in the tourney? Probably

more of the former. I just know that whatever 13/14/15 seeded team they

draw, I'll be paranoid of a Cornell-like 3 point barrage.

[TooLiveBrew]

Taking my homerism out of it, I don't see how Jordan Taylor isn't the best PG in the country.

 

I'm not trying to necessarily debate this by saying the following... Kemba Walker is pretty amazing, too. But it's looking like Taylor will be the Big Ten POTY, and who knows what other awards he could win.

 

I have to ask NDOGG, if he's around, if he still thinks Taylor isn't someone who might head for the NBA after this season/project well for the NBA. Not gloating or anything like that, just honestly wondering.