1. The Maniac is a terrible psychic. He's an even worse predictor of college basketball games.
2. That might be a little harsh, but the swing and miss on UNC has been noticed by a few readers. Touche'. And blow me.
3. The Big East is not head and shoulders better than everyone. The ACC is as strong through the top four, and the Big Ten has more balance first to last. Let's not forget there are 16 teams in the Big East when gratuitously shining their popsicle. That said, the Top 9 in the Big East are all Sweet 16 capable, and six have national title talent (Pitt, UConn, Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse, Georgetown).
4. There is not much difference between the #7 and #47 team in the country this year. Don't believe me? No SEC team is ranked currently. However, in the last two weeks Arkansas has beaten Texas and Oklahoma. Boston College has beaten UNC. Harvard has beaten Boston College. How do you like those apples?!?
5. We are not trying to predict the future or mirror the polls in Bracketeering. It's the Maniac's take on where teams stack up right now. The polls reward teams for A)being ranked high early, B) lack of parity in an already-respected conference C) playing no one and waiting for teams ahead of you to lose.
We don't do that. It is a fine mix between performance, quality of opponents, competitiveness of games (not just records and margins). For example, UCLA's two losses; a 3 point very-early nuetral court loss to Michigan and game that was tied into the final minute AT an excellent Texas team are not "bad" losses. Neither is a nine-point loss to Wake Forest by BYU a "bad loss." The game was tied with two minutes to go, and Wake might be the #1 team in the country. Gonzaga getting beat by Portland State, Xavier getting waxed by Duke, Davidson getting obliterated by Purdue; the thoroughness of defeat exposed those teams. Just as the valor of UCLA's early loss toughened them up to run of nine straight wins. Every W or L are not equal...
That said, let's feel free to agree, disagree or swear at us anytime. We are only an email or comment away...
Share on Facebook 
FINAL FOUR:
1. Pitt - The Panthers are the real deal. This team is big, solid in the back court and ferocious defensively. Things are good in the Steel City. The Steelers host the AFC Championship Sunday and the Panthers are #1 in the nation.
2. Wake Forest - Last night's Carolina game was an instant classic. It showed me two things: 1. Carolina is fallible, but still easily capable of cutting down the nets. 2. SO IS WAKE. Jeff Teague is the ACC POY right now, and was sensational against UNC. Wake is good defensively, excellent rebounding the basketball and has enough depth to survive a few rough spots.
3. Duke - I have seen both they and UNC play 4-5 times, and am starting to become convinced Duke is every bit as talented, and maybe a bit better offensviely (at least in a hlaf-court set). The ACC is going to be amazing.
4. North Carolina - What a difference a few weeks make huh? From "immortality" to "0-2" in conference play. The BC loss is tough to explain, other than saying that most every good team takes one (See: Duke/Michigan, OK/Ark, Gonzaga/Port St, Syracuse/Cleveland State...). The Wake loss? A terrific, well-played fantastic college basketball game that came down to a one possession loss on the road. I am not being stubborn. North Carolina is still better than Oklahoma, UConn, and Syracuse.
ELITE EIGHT:
5. UConn - The Huskies rebounded from an opening loss to Georgetown with wins over Rutgers and Cincinnati and Providence. The have two more should-wins before tussling with 'Nova and Notre Dame in two weeks.
6. Michigan State - How far back does that Carolina game seem now? Since the 35 point loss at Ford Field the Spartans have won nine in a row, including wins over Texas, Ohio State, Minnesota and Kansas. A trip back to Ford Field for redemption doesn't seem so unlikely as these young Spartans are growing up in a hurry.
7. Oklahoma - The original concern was that the Sooners were a one man gang. That is clearly not true. They are a Two Man Group. Willie Warren and Blake Griffin need some help. We will see if they get it tonight in a HUGE game against Texas at home. The winner tonight has a clear leg up in the Big 12.
8. UCLA - It's not their fault the Pac-10 seems down and that they play most of their games after 10PM EST. Collison and company are playing great ball, and won a tough cross-town rivalry game last night against USC to run their win streak to nine. Interesting week coming up with a Thursday visit from Arizona and a weekend trip to take on James Hardin and Arizona State.
Sweet and lurking: The next tier (in order)
9. Syracuse - If I were an AP voter, I'd have the Orange 7th. They've earned it. Johnny Flynn will get All-American consideration (but not a lock for first team all-conference...the Big East is THAT good.) They move into the Top Four if they win their next four: @ G'Town, Notre Dame, @ Pitt, Louisville. I suspect the Orange would be quietly content with a 2-2 split.
10.Clemson - OK, this is getting interesting now at 16-0. There ar quality wins; South Carolina, Miami, Illinois, Alabama, NC State. However their quest for respectability begins in earnest Wednesday with a visit from Wake Forest. Win that and they get to take one of two undefeated records in the nation to the Dean Dome and face the Heels.
Win both, and they have my vote for #1. Unless Syracuse wins all four...
11. Louisville - Yes, this might be a little higher than most polls, but their play of late suggests some early season focus-lapses might be behind them. The three straight wins over Villanova, Kentucky and Notre Dame are impressive. The WAY they won all three in gutty, nail biting fashion is invaluable experience for a team this rife with talent come March.
12. Texas - This is a good, solid ball club, though I imagine they will suffer a loss at Oklahoma tonight. It is OK, as long as they hold the rope until the rematch in Austin later in February.
13. Xavier - It is still hard to erase the memory of the Duke game with A-10 wins, but they way they have been winning them is impressive. This is a team that could very realistically have 28-30 wins heading into the Big Dance.
14. Georgetown - If we can forgive the Heels for being 0-2 in conference, surely we can give the Hoyas some slack for being 2-2. The road win at UConn remains as impressive as the road pummeling to Pitt was discouraging. The Big East is brutal. Georgetown is still in a group of 12-15 teams that have the talent to get to Detroit.
15. Minnesota - I feel uneasy putting them this high, with a daunting Wisconsin trip looming on Thursday. Regardless, Tubby's Gophers are off to a fantastic start, with their only loss coming at a really good Spartan squad.
16. Butler- I really don't like this pick, because there will not be a reason to move the Bulldogs UP the rest of the year. The only way they move up is by other teams falling DOWN. The AP will likely slide them into the Top 10 as teams ahead of them savage each other. We vow not to raise them until the beat SOMEONE else. Barring a bizarre schedule addition the Bulldogs will have to hope they are sharp when play again in the Tourney.
Closing In...
Marquette, Arkansas, BYU, Notre Dame, Arizona State, St. Mary's, Texas A&M, Villanova
Half Court Heaves: Long shots worth keeping an eye on
VMI, Illinois-Chicago, Drake, IUPUI, Siena, Davidson, Kentucky, San Diego State, George Mason
FINAL FOUR:
1. Pitt - The Panthers are the real deal. This team is big, solid in the back court and ferocious defensively. Things are good in the Steel City. The Steelers host the AFC Championship Sunday and the Panthers are #1 in the nation.
2. Wake Forest - Last night's Carolina game was an instant classic. It showed me two things: 1. Carolina is fallible, but still easily capable of cutting down the nets. 2. SO IS WAKE. Jeff Teague is the ACC POY right now, and was sensational against UNC. Wake is good defensively, excellent rebounding the basketball and has enough depth to survive a few rough spots.
3. Duke - I have seen both they and UNC play 4-5 times, and am starting to become convinced Duke is every bit as talented, and maybe a bit better offensviely (at least in a hlaf-court set). The ACC is going to be amazing.
4. North Carolina - What a difference a few weeks make huh? From "immortality" to "0-2" in conference play. The BC loss is tough to explain, other than saying that most every good team takes one (See: Duke/Michigan, OK/Ark, Gonzaga/Port St, Syracuse/Cleveland State...). The Wake loss? A terrific, well-played fantastic college basketball game that came down to a one possession loss on the road. I am not being stubborn. North Carolina is still better than Oklahoma, UConn, and Syracuse.
ELITE EIGHT:
5. UConn - The Huskies rebounded from an opening loss to Georgetown with wins over Rutgers and Cincinnati and Providence. The have two more should-wins before tussling with 'Nova and Notre Dame in two weeks.
6. Michigan State - How far back does that Carolina game seem now? Since the 35 point loss at Ford Field the Spartans have won nine in a row, including wins over Texas, Ohio State, Minnesota and Kansas. A trip back to Ford Field for redemption doesn't seem so unlikely as these young Spartans are growing up in a hurry.
7. Oklahoma - The original concern was that the Sooners were a one man gang. That is clearly not true. They are a Two Man Group. Willie Warren and Blake Griffin need some help. We will see if they get it tonight in a HUGE game against Texas at home. The winner tonight has a clear leg up in the Big 12.
8. UCLA - It's not their fault the Pac-10 seems down and that they play most of their games after 10PM EST. Collison and company are playing great ball, and won a tough cross-town rivalry game last night against USC to run their win streak to nine. Interesting week coming up with a Thursday visit from Arizona and a weekend trip to take on James Hardin and Arizona State.
Sweet and lurking: The next tier (in order)
9. Syracuse - If I were an AP voter, I'd have the Orange 7th. They've earned it. Johnny Flynn will get All-American consideration (but not a lock for first team all-conference...the Big East is THAT good.) They move into the Top Four if they win their next four: @ G'Town, Notre Dame, @ Pitt, Louisville. I suspect the Orange would be quietly content with a 2-2 split.
10.Clemson - OK, this is getting interesting now at 16-0. There ar quality wins; South Carolina, Miami, Illinois, Alabama, NC State. However their quest for respectability begins in earnest Wednesday with a visit from Wake Forest. Win that and they get to take one of two undefeated records in the nation to the Dean Dome and face the Heels.
Win both, and they have my vote for #1. Unless Syracuse wins all four...
11. Louisville - Yes, this might be a little higher than most polls, but their play of late suggests some early season focus-lapses might be behind them. The three straight wins over Villanova, Kentucky and Notre Dame are impressive. The WAY they won all three in gutty, nail biting fashion is invaluable experience for a team this rife with talent come March.
12. Texas - This is a good, solid ball club, though I imagine they will suffer a loss at Oklahoma tonight. It is OK, as long as they hold the rope until the rematch in Austin later in February.
13. Xavier - It is still hard to erase the memory of the Duke game with A-10 wins, but they way they have been winning them is impressive. This is a team that could very realistically have 28-30 wins heading into the Big Dance.
14. Georgetown - If we can forgive the Heels for being 0-2 in conference, surely we can give the Hoyas some slack for being 2-2. The road win at UConn remains as impressive as the road pummeling to Pitt was discouraging. The Big East is brutal. Georgetown is still in a group of 12-15 teams that have the talent to get to Detroit.
15. Minnesota - I feel uneasy putting them this high, with a daunting Wisconsin trip looming on Thursday. Regardless, Tubby's Gophers are off to a fantastic start, with their only loss coming at a really good Spartan squad.
16. Butler- I really don't like this pick, because there will not be a reason to move the Bulldogs UP the rest of the year. The only way they move up is by other teams falling DOWN. The AP will likely slide them into the Top 10 as teams ahead of them savage each other. We vow not to raise them until the beat SOMEONE else. Barring a bizarre schedule addition the Bulldogs will have to hope they are sharp when play again in the Tourney.
Closing In...
Marquette, Arkansas, BYU, Notre Dame, Arizona State, St. Mary's, Texas A&M, Villanova
Half Court Heaves: Long shots worth keeping an eye on
VMI, Illinois-Chicago, Drake, IUPUI, Siena, Davidson, Kentucky, San Diego State, George Mason
No comments:
Post a Comment