One of the things that makes college hoops difficult to decipher for the casual fan is the relative meaninglessness of a team's overall record. With over 340 Division I opponents and literally thousands of lower tier teams to possibly schedule, some gaudy records are built on solid foundations and others are sandcastles nervously waiting for the high tide of conference play.
With that in mind, let's take a look at ten teams with gaudy win totals and see how long they can stand up.
5. Iowa State (11-2) -- I can't blame the Cyclones for scheduling they way they have. In a Big Twelve league with seven teams substantially better than them, hoping for even .500 in league play is a reach. The strategy then becomes: fatten up on a dozen or so near-nobodies, hope to eek out eight wins in conference and dangle nervously in front of the selection committee as a 20-win team from a power conference.
I don't think it is going to work out that way for the Cyclones, but you can't really fault them for trying. The only two wins of any quality are three point wins over Creighton and Iowa. Their two losses are not appalling; Northern Iowa and Cal, both competitive games.
It's hard to see Iowa State getting more than five or six wins in conference play, leaving even the NIT an optimistic destanation.
Verdict: FRAUD
4. Boston College (10-3) -- The Eagles are a tough squad to figure out. They get beat at home by Yale. Then they turn around and beat Texas A&M, Cal, Indiana, Providence and open conference play with a road win at Maryland. Just when you are ready to grant the Eagles their mulligan for the Yale game, they lose to A-10 middle-of-the packer Rhode Island.
Boston College has the talent to be a top four or five team in the ACC, usually enough to earn a spot on the dance card though this year the ACC appears to be as poor as it has been in a long time. I wouldn't bet my life on BC making it to the tourney, but despite several curious losses they have amassed the best resume in the conference outside of Duke. .500 or better in the ACC should land the Eagles safely in the tournament.
Verdict: REAL
3. Belmont (9-3) -- The Bruins gained a small measure of national recognition after taking the Blue Devils to the final minute in their opening round tournament game three years ago.
Today, their close but not quite ability still seems in tact. I wouldn't take Belmont straight up, but against a top tier opponent, I take them with the points. They're gonna cover.
Two of their three losses this season are to Tennessee, each in games that were close until the final minute. Their other loss is a respectable nine point defeat at Vanderbilt. They don't have anything resembling a quality win on their resume and Atlantic Sun play won't afford them the opportunity to earn one. They have little to no shot at an at-large bid, but are definetly a team to watch out for in a 2/15 or even a 3/14 opening rounder.
Verdict: REAL
2. Richmond (10-3) -- The Spiders at time look like not only a tourney team, but one that could play beyond the opening weekend. Other times they look like NIT fodder at best. Coach Chris Mooney in his sixth year at Richmond has not just won a few games, he has built a program that can compete in the A-10 year in and year out, as well as compete on a national scale as well.
The Spiders knew they needed to play a more challenging schedule in order to merit at-large worth, and they have done just that in 2010-2011. The results have been a little mixed. They snagged good resume wins over Seton Hall, VCU and a great win over Purdue. They also have some lesser but still good wins over Arizona State, Wright State and Wake Forest. The losses are a little bit scattered; no harm done in a seven point road loss at Old Dominion but the losses to Georgia tech and Iona sting a little bit.
It outs the committee in a tough spot if the Spiders fail to finish in the top three in league play.
Fortunately for Richmond they are going to get a few chances to add some quality resume wins once league play starts, though not as many as one would think at first glance due to the unbalanced A-10 schedule. They'll get only one chance against Xavier, Temple and Dayton. the three most likely challengers. The Temple and Dayton games are on the road, while Xavier and Rhode Island make the trip to Virginia.
As long as the Spiders can split the above four and avoid more than two or three "bad" losses, I see the Spiders making a return trip to the tourney.
Verdict: REAL
1. Cincinnati (13-0) -- Hard to believe, but the Bearcats haven;t made the tournament since Bob Huggins was dismissed five seasons ago. Andy Kennedy had them close in his lone season at the helm, and Mick Cronin has yet to even have the Bearcats close enough to feel any drama heading into Selection Sunday.
This year they have raced out to a perfect 13-0 season, though their schedule to this point has not just been sub par, it's been downright embarrassing. Their lone impressive win was a 68-34 demolition of Dayton (that's a really good win). Aside from that? Oklahoma (possibly one of the five worst Power 6 conference teams), Wright State and Miami (OH) and they haven't even squared off against a team in shouting range of the Top 100.
Life in the Big East won't be so easy. The Bearcats have all the hallmarks of a perplexing selection day struggle. 8-10 in Big East play would get them to 21 wins. That makes this year's Crosstown Shootout with rival Xavier even more anticipated.
The question is, can the Bearcats notch eight, nine or even ten wins inside the top heavy Big East? Try this on for size, they could get six simply by beating DePaul twice, Rutgers, South Florida and Seton Hall all at home and by winning at Providence. That leaves them twelve opportunities to pick up two or three quality wins, including a home and home with St. John's.
The biggest misconception about the Big East is that it is a "deep" league. Yes, they have a ton of elite teams every year, but there are a whopping SIXTEEN teams in the league. The dregs of the BEast are every bit as bad as any other major conference, only with the huge number of teams everyone gets a few extra have-nots to fatten up on.
My gut feel - the Bearcats get into the tourney over perhaps a more deserving team like a Wichita State or a UAB.
Verdict: FRAUD
Tune in tomorrow as we explore five more teams, including a few big names out West!
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Showing posts with label Iowa St. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iowa St. Show all posts
New Year's Conference Resolutions: Big Twelve
Here's the second of ten conference installments of some New Year's Resolutions and Prognostications. As always, your dissension is welcomed...
BIG Twelve:
The Big Twelve came into the year as our Playboy Award candidate (conference heaviest up top with a lot of airbrushing below), with Kansas and Texas clearly being a notch above everyone else and quite possibly above the rest of the country.
Having two dominant superpowers rule the roost isn't necessarily a bad thing; see Duke and UNC in the ACC. However, the question loomed, is there any depth beyond the Big Two in this year's Big 12? So far this season, it has looked like there certainly is, and there might possibly be a few Sweet 16 caliber teams lurking around.
Kansas State has to be one of the most pleasant surprises in 2009, racing out to an impressive 12-1 start with wins over Xavier, UNLV, Dayton and Washington State. Baylor has also looked better than expected and should contend for a bid.
Oklahoma State and Texas Tech have amassed some early wins as well and should contend for a bid...though we're not quite ready to label them tourney bound just yet. The only glaring dissapointment thus far has been Oklahoma. We knew there would be an adjustment perios without Blake and Taylor Griffin, but felt confident Willie Warren would be able to hold the rope (particularly with "Tiny" Gallon anchoring it...) So far? Not so good. Not good at all.
Here's a quick look at the outlook for March for each team:
The Good:
Texas looks fantastic, and we have felt solid having them at the top spot in Bracketeering from the season's outset. The 76-70 sleep-walk today against TX-Corpus Christi is understandable; their two games prior were wins over UNC and Michigan State. A letdown was inevitable. Rick Barnes has a few weeks to get them geared up for back-to-backers at Kansas State and at UConn.
Kansas is good. OK, Kansas is real good. After watching them dismantle Temple on the road toady I'm ready to concede this is probably the best team in the country. They have no holes. Sherron Collins is distributing the ball and running the team flawlessly. Xavier Henry is truly playing the "Grant Hill 1991" role on this team. Watching his poise, intelligence fused with blinding athleticism and a feathery touch on the mid range jumper... to me the comparison is accurate and uncanny. Throw in the best back-to-the-basket center in the nation in Alderich and it isn't unreasonable to think they will be unbeaten when the Feb. 8th date with Texas comes rolling around.
Win that one? Yeah...it does get intriguing...
Kansas State is not just good. They are Sweet Sixteen caliber legit. It is tough to put them in a category with the two above, but they seem like tourney locks barring a complete collapse and deserve the separation from the pack..
The Unknown:
Here is where things get a little dicey in the Big 12. Early season performance would seem to merit five to seven (high side) bids come March. The above three are locks. Here's how The Maniac sees it playing out for the remaining bids.
I like the talent and chemistry Scott Drew has working down in Baylor. In 2007 they were the conference's darlings, making an improbable return to respectability and the NCAA tourney. Last year they disappointed under heightened expectations and we were forced to wonder just where this program truly stood. An 11-1 start with wins over Xavier, South Carolina and Arizona State is a good indication the ceiling is high. They have solid guard play with Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn and Udoh gives them a nice presence in the paint. I think Baylor returns to the dance, but it will be an interesting ride.
My conference sleeper is Missouri. Little was expected of the Tigers after losing DeMarre Carroll and three other starters from last year's Elite Eight squad. However, the Tigers are entering league play at 11-3 with some impressive wins under their belt: Old Dominion. Illinois by 13. Georgia by 28. Oregon by 37. Not just the wins, but the margins tell me that the Tigers frenetic style can still be effective, even with personal changes. They are a surprising threat to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Okahoma State and Texas Tech are the toughest reads. Both have very good records that would likely get them tourney consideration with .500 conference seasons. However, I just don't think either is quite good enough to get on the other side of the bubble. Texas Tech's best win is Washington. Their only other decent win is Stanford. They've lost to Wichita State by 2 and failed their big litmus test last week losing to New Mexico by 15. More troubling is the struggles they've had with team's they are supposed to beat; Oregon State by 4, Stephen F. Austin by 2, McNeese State by one... they just don't seem ready for Big 12 rigors to me.
Ditto for Oklahoma State. Their best win is a 1-pointer over Stanford and a win over a down Utah team. They've lost to the two best teams they've faced; Rhode Island and Tulsa. Exactly the teams they'll be on the Big Board against when the committee has to decide whether to invite a fifth or sixth Big 12 team or reward one of the "have-nots." Those losses tip the scales undeniably in the opposite direction for the 'Pokes.
If a sixth team does get in, I like Texas A&M. The Aggies have slipped off the radar the past few weeks after losses at Washington and New Mexico (by 3- no shame in that loss). They do already own wins over Clemson and Minnesota, two teams that could very likely find themselves in a similar spot come March; 18-19 wins, fifth or sixth place in a power league. Those are good chips in the Ag's favor. They get Texas only once this year and get to host that game in late February. A win over the Horns could punch their dance card.
Oklahoma stays in the "unknown" category, simply because it is still too early to completely write them off. Willie Warren has struggled and it appears as though Jeff Capel is struggling with what to do with the talented Soph. They got hammered on New Year's by Gonzaga in yet another no-show against a quality opponent. They got waxed by VCU, and have losses to UTEP, Houston and San Diego - each more difficult to explain in ascending order. The 1-point win over Northern Colorado and the squeaker with Utah don't inspire much confidence either.
So why are they still above the Maniac's cut line? They still have NBA-level talent; particularly in Warren. And because other than trips to Lawrence and Austin there isn't a game they can't win on that schedule. 10-6 in the Big 12 gets you dancing. It's possible for the Sooners. But they better get it together. And Soon...
Iowa State - Of all the teams near the bottom group, this one is the most disappointing. With Craig Brackens surprising draft experts and deciding to come back to school, some optimism that the Cyclones could return to the tourney for the first time since Tim Floyd had Marcus Fizer and Jamaal Tinsley (and one of the Maniac's faves, Paul Shirley) in uniform began to arise. Three losses in a row dampened things a bid, but when the smoke clears losing to Northwestern (by 2), Northern Iowa (by 3) and at Cal aren't terrible losses. The schedule gives them an opportunity for redemption with a trip to Cameron Indoor and the Dukies...but it is just as likely a stern national showing of how NIT-at-best the 'Clones are in 2010. For the same reason as above with the Sooners, they stay above the cut-line, but they are a distant 10th in my estimation - a true long shot.
The BAD:
Colorado has always seemed a sleeping giant to me. Unfortunately no one woke them up again this year. Perhaps Chauncey Billups has a year of eligibility hiding somewhere... They showed a little fight early, hanging real tough with Gonzaga and Arizona over in Maui. Since then they have been blasted by 15 by Colorado State and by 25 at Tulsa. There is a good chance they are no better than the third or fourth best team in a basketball-light state (Northen Colorado and Denver).
Nebraska seems to pile 10 or 11 non-conference wins up every year. Just enough to keep them in that "if they win 4 of their last 5 they have a bubble shot" discussion every year. We;re not falling for it. They have two solid wins; USC and Tulsa. As a matter of fact, glancing over their resume, I get the feeling if they could just squeeze eight wins out in conference play....
Ah, forget it.
Final Score:
Texas and Kansas are #1 seeds in March. I just can't see anyone closing the gap enough to push either of them out. Kansas State feels like a Top 4 seed as well, and definitely no worse than a solid tourney team. This is the only conference in the country with two legit national champion contenders (Yes, the Big Ten and Big East could. But No one in the stratosphere of KU and UT though.)
It will be a rocky ride on the bubble all year in the middle of the pack. Like many conferences of this high caliber, parity will smack around the pack. That said, I like Baylor, Missouri and A&M to dance. Oklahoma is still a quality sleeper to watch and Oklahoma State and Texas Tech should get in if the can stay north of .500. In doing that, they'd knock off one of the other's above.
The Big 12 should factor no worse than the 4th best RPI conference overall, and most likely Texas and Kansas should push them to #2 or #3. That should be good enough for 6 bids in March, though seven isn't out of the question.
BIG Twelve:
The Big Twelve came into the year as our Playboy Award candidate (conference heaviest up top with a lot of airbrushing below), with Kansas and Texas clearly being a notch above everyone else and quite possibly above the rest of the country.
Having two dominant superpowers rule the roost isn't necessarily a bad thing; see Duke and UNC in the ACC. However, the question loomed, is there any depth beyond the Big Two in this year's Big 12? So far this season, it has looked like there certainly is, and there might possibly be a few Sweet 16 caliber teams lurking around.
Kansas State has to be one of the most pleasant surprises in 2009, racing out to an impressive 12-1 start with wins over Xavier, UNLV, Dayton and Washington State. Baylor has also looked better than expected and should contend for a bid.
Oklahoma State and Texas Tech have amassed some early wins as well and should contend for a bid...though we're not quite ready to label them tourney bound just yet. The only glaring dissapointment thus far has been Oklahoma. We knew there would be an adjustment perios without Blake and Taylor Griffin, but felt confident Willie Warren would be able to hold the rope (particularly with "Tiny" Gallon anchoring it...) So far? Not so good. Not good at all.
Here's a quick look at the outlook for March for each team:
The Good:
Texas looks fantastic, and we have felt solid having them at the top spot in Bracketeering from the season's outset. The 76-70 sleep-walk today against TX-Corpus Christi is understandable; their two games prior were wins over UNC and Michigan State. A letdown was inevitable. Rick Barnes has a few weeks to get them geared up for back-to-backers at Kansas State and at UConn.
Kansas is good. OK, Kansas is real good. After watching them dismantle Temple on the road toady I'm ready to concede this is probably the best team in the country. They have no holes. Sherron Collins is distributing the ball and running the team flawlessly. Xavier Henry is truly playing the "Grant Hill 1991" role on this team. Watching his poise, intelligence fused with blinding athleticism and a feathery touch on the mid range jumper... to me the comparison is accurate and uncanny. Throw in the best back-to-the-basket center in the nation in Alderich and it isn't unreasonable to think they will be unbeaten when the Feb. 8th date with Texas comes rolling around.
Win that one? Yeah...it does get intriguing...
Kansas State is not just good. They are Sweet Sixteen caliber legit. It is tough to put them in a category with the two above, but they seem like tourney locks barring a complete collapse and deserve the separation from the pack..
The Unknown:
Here is where things get a little dicey in the Big 12. Early season performance would seem to merit five to seven (high side) bids come March. The above three are locks. Here's how The Maniac sees it playing out for the remaining bids.
I like the talent and chemistry Scott Drew has working down in Baylor. In 2007 they were the conference's darlings, making an improbable return to respectability and the NCAA tourney. Last year they disappointed under heightened expectations and we were forced to wonder just where this program truly stood. An 11-1 start with wins over Xavier, South Carolina and Arizona State is a good indication the ceiling is high. They have solid guard play with Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn and Udoh gives them a nice presence in the paint. I think Baylor returns to the dance, but it will be an interesting ride.
My conference sleeper is Missouri. Little was expected of the Tigers after losing DeMarre Carroll and three other starters from last year's Elite Eight squad. However, the Tigers are entering league play at 11-3 with some impressive wins under their belt: Old Dominion. Illinois by 13. Georgia by 28. Oregon by 37. Not just the wins, but the margins tell me that the Tigers frenetic style can still be effective, even with personal changes. They are a surprising threat to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Okahoma State and Texas Tech are the toughest reads. Both have very good records that would likely get them tourney consideration with .500 conference seasons. However, I just don't think either is quite good enough to get on the other side of the bubble. Texas Tech's best win is Washington. Their only other decent win is Stanford. They've lost to Wichita State by 2 and failed their big litmus test last week losing to New Mexico by 15. More troubling is the struggles they've had with team's they are supposed to beat; Oregon State by 4, Stephen F. Austin by 2, McNeese State by one... they just don't seem ready for Big 12 rigors to me.
Ditto for Oklahoma State. Their best win is a 1-pointer over Stanford and a win over a down Utah team. They've lost to the two best teams they've faced; Rhode Island and Tulsa. Exactly the teams they'll be on the Big Board against when the committee has to decide whether to invite a fifth or sixth Big 12 team or reward one of the "have-nots." Those losses tip the scales undeniably in the opposite direction for the 'Pokes.
If a sixth team does get in, I like Texas A&M. The Aggies have slipped off the radar the past few weeks after losses at Washington and New Mexico (by 3- no shame in that loss). They do already own wins over Clemson and Minnesota, two teams that could very likely find themselves in a similar spot come March; 18-19 wins, fifth or sixth place in a power league. Those are good chips in the Ag's favor. They get Texas only once this year and get to host that game in late February. A win over the Horns could punch their dance card.
Oklahoma stays in the "unknown" category, simply because it is still too early to completely write them off. Willie Warren has struggled and it appears as though Jeff Capel is struggling with what to do with the talented Soph. They got hammered on New Year's by Gonzaga in yet another no-show against a quality opponent. They got waxed by VCU, and have losses to UTEP, Houston and San Diego - each more difficult to explain in ascending order. The 1-point win over Northern Colorado and the squeaker with Utah don't inspire much confidence either.
So why are they still above the Maniac's cut line? They still have NBA-level talent; particularly in Warren. And because other than trips to Lawrence and Austin there isn't a game they can't win on that schedule. 10-6 in the Big 12 gets you dancing. It's possible for the Sooners. But they better get it together. And Soon...
Iowa State - Of all the teams near the bottom group, this one is the most disappointing. With Craig Brackens surprising draft experts and deciding to come back to school, some optimism that the Cyclones could return to the tourney for the first time since Tim Floyd had Marcus Fizer and Jamaal Tinsley (and one of the Maniac's faves, Paul Shirley) in uniform began to arise. Three losses in a row dampened things a bid, but when the smoke clears losing to Northwestern (by 2), Northern Iowa (by 3) and at Cal aren't terrible losses. The schedule gives them an opportunity for redemption with a trip to Cameron Indoor and the Dukies...but it is just as likely a stern national showing of how NIT-at-best the 'Clones are in 2010. For the same reason as above with the Sooners, they stay above the cut-line, but they are a distant 10th in my estimation - a true long shot.
The BAD:
Colorado has always seemed a sleeping giant to me. Unfortunately no one woke them up again this year. Perhaps Chauncey Billups has a year of eligibility hiding somewhere... They showed a little fight early, hanging real tough with Gonzaga and Arizona over in Maui. Since then they have been blasted by 15 by Colorado State and by 25 at Tulsa. There is a good chance they are no better than the third or fourth best team in a basketball-light state (Northen Colorado and Denver).
Nebraska seems to pile 10 or 11 non-conference wins up every year. Just enough to keep them in that "if they win 4 of their last 5 they have a bubble shot" discussion every year. We;re not falling for it. They have two solid wins; USC and Tulsa. As a matter of fact, glancing over their resume, I get the feeling if they could just squeeze eight wins out in conference play....
Ah, forget it.
Final Score:
Texas and Kansas are #1 seeds in March. I just can't see anyone closing the gap enough to push either of them out. Kansas State feels like a Top 4 seed as well, and definitely no worse than a solid tourney team. This is the only conference in the country with two legit national champion contenders (Yes, the Big Ten and Big East could. But No one in the stratosphere of KU and UT though.)
It will be a rocky ride on the bubble all year in the middle of the pack. Like many conferences of this high caliber, parity will smack around the pack. That said, I like Baylor, Missouri and A&M to dance. Oklahoma is still a quality sleeper to watch and Oklahoma State and Texas Tech should get in if the can stay north of .500. In doing that, they'd knock off one of the other's above.
The Big 12 should factor no worse than the 4th best RPI conference overall, and most likely Texas and Kansas should push them to #2 or #3. That should be good enough for 6 bids in March, though seven isn't out of the question.
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Big Tuesday Slate
A big day of college hoops and a first real look at a couple national title contenders:
8PM: Gonzaga @ Michigan State
The Zags mantra of anyone, anytime takes living form tonight as they essentially "open" their season at #2 Sparty. State returns All-American PG Kalin Lucas and a healthy supporting cast. The Zags lost a ton, including leading scorers Jeremy Pargo, Josh Heytvelt and budding star Austin Daye (who made a huge mistake leaving early...but that's another column. William Avery thinks he needed more college for crying out loud...)
That said, two things remain consistent in East Lansing. Izzo's clubs will fight you for 40 minutes, and they are always better in March than they are in November. I think they win tonight, but that Boldin and Co. keep the Zags hanging around long into the second half.
Maniac's Pick: Gonzaga +11
10 PM: Memphis @ #1 Kansas
The Tigers are in an interestingly unfamiliar position in 09-10, the hunter rather than the hunted. The rematch of the title game from two years ago bears absolutly zero resemblance. Only two "real" contributors remain (both Aldrich and Collins played supporting roles for the Jayhawks). However this Jayhawk squad might actually be more talented than the group that cut down the nets 20 months ago.
Memphis is not only unranked, most pundits have them second in a less-than-stellar C-USA. (The Maniac disagrees - Memphis wins the league again this year). Gone is Calipari. So too the bevy of NBA caliber recruits. In comes Josh Pastner, a 31 year old baby-faced rookie coach. The Tigers will be different in 09, but don't sleep on the athleticism of this club. Early in the season when teams struggle with shot selection and finding fluidity in their offenses, defense tends to rule.
The addition of Xavier Henry makes Kansas an early season title fave.
Memphis is better than most expect and could very likely be a first round favorite come March. However they won't be tonight. Expect an experienced Jayhawk squad to force a ton of turnovers and bad shots from the young Tigers and win with relative ease in a game that will look more impressive in March than it does tonight.
Maniac's Pick: Kansas -9.5
Duquesne @ Iowa (9PM): To the casual fan, this is another early season patsy...and it might be. Only for the Dukes rather than the Hawkeyes. Iowa will be a punching bag in the loaded Big Ten this year. Get used to it Hawkeye fans. A loss at home tonight to the A-10 sleeper Duquesne is a tougher-than-advertised way to start
Maniac's Pick: Duquesne -2
Other Picks:
Georgetown -8 over Temple
Duke -17 over Charlotte
Iowa State -1 over Drake
8PM: Gonzaga @ Michigan State
The Zags mantra of anyone, anytime takes living form tonight as they essentially "open" their season at #2 Sparty. State returns All-American PG Kalin Lucas and a healthy supporting cast. The Zags lost a ton, including leading scorers Jeremy Pargo, Josh Heytvelt and budding star Austin Daye (who made a huge mistake leaving early...but that's another column. William Avery thinks he needed more college for crying out loud...)
That said, two things remain consistent in East Lansing. Izzo's clubs will fight you for 40 minutes, and they are always better in March than they are in November. I think they win tonight, but that Boldin and Co. keep the Zags hanging around long into the second half.
Maniac's Pick: Gonzaga +11
10 PM: Memphis @ #1 Kansas
The Tigers are in an interestingly unfamiliar position in 09-10, the hunter rather than the hunted. The rematch of the title game from two years ago bears absolutly zero resemblance. Only two "real" contributors remain (both Aldrich and Collins played supporting roles for the Jayhawks). However this Jayhawk squad might actually be more talented than the group that cut down the nets 20 months ago.
Memphis is not only unranked, most pundits have them second in a less-than-stellar C-USA. (The Maniac disagrees - Memphis wins the league again this year). Gone is Calipari. So too the bevy of NBA caliber recruits. In comes Josh Pastner, a 31 year old baby-faced rookie coach. The Tigers will be different in 09, but don't sleep on the athleticism of this club. Early in the season when teams struggle with shot selection and finding fluidity in their offenses, defense tends to rule.
The addition of Xavier Henry makes Kansas an early season title fave.Memphis is better than most expect and could very likely be a first round favorite come March. However they won't be tonight. Expect an experienced Jayhawk squad to force a ton of turnovers and bad shots from the young Tigers and win with relative ease in a game that will look more impressive in March than it does tonight.
Maniac's Pick: Kansas -9.5
Other Game of Note:
Duquesne @ Iowa (9PM): To the casual fan, this is another early season patsy...and it might be. Only for the Dukes rather than the Hawkeyes. Iowa will be a punching bag in the loaded Big Ten this year. Get used to it Hawkeye fans. A loss at home tonight to the A-10 sleeper Duquesne is a tougher-than-advertised way to start
Maniac's Pick: Duquesne -2
Other Picks:
Georgetown -8 over Temple
Duke -17 over Charlotte
Iowa State -1 over Drake
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Conference Christmas Report Card: Big 12
Conference Recap: Big 12
The Big 12 has always had a Playboy physique: immense on top, and trim at the bottom.
This year doesn't seem to be a notable exception, but the meat in the middle is a bit of a surprise. Baylor has been steady as the conference's 3rd best team, suffering their only loss of the season to unbeaten Wake Forest. Texas A&M and Missouri have been pleasant early season surprises, while Kansas has performed admirably reloading after the mass departures from their championship squad.
When you think about it, not a BAD build at all...
The strength of this conference is definitely at the top. Oklahoma looks like one of a small handful of challengers to North Carolina and Blake Griffin has to be the leader for the Naismith Award at the turn. Texas has played a daunting schedule, but has performed well in MOST tests, and looks to be no worse than a second weekend NCAA Tourney team.
The bottom of the conference is not outstanding, but is not terrible either. Oklahoma St and Kansas St. will win some ballgames and look like possible NIT teams. Texas Tech has been disappointing, but even Nebraska, Iowa State and Colorado are not as bad as some leagues bottoms (Big East, Pac-10).
All in all, it's been a pretty good start to the season for the Big 12. Missouri's latest loss to Illinois notwithstanding they still have two elite teams, three more likely tourney teams, and two or three who could make it interesting. That makes the Big 12 one of the deepest conferences in the country.
"Pre" Season Grade: A- (click for game details)
Tourney Outlook:
Locks: Oklahoma, Texas, Baylor
Likely: Kansas, Texas A&M
Hopeful: Missouri
Longshot: Oklahoma St, Texas Tech, Nebraska
Nope: Kansas St, Colorado, Iowa St.
The Big 12 has always had a Playboy physique: immense on top, and trim at the bottom.
This year doesn't seem to be a notable exception, but the meat in the middle is a bit of a surprise. Baylor has been steady as the conference's 3rd best team, suffering their only loss of the season to unbeaten Wake Forest. Texas A&M and Missouri have been pleasant early season surprises, while Kansas has performed admirably reloading after the mass departures from their championship squad.
When you think about it, not a BAD build at all...The strength of this conference is definitely at the top. Oklahoma looks like one of a small handful of challengers to North Carolina and Blake Griffin has to be the leader for the Naismith Award at the turn. Texas has played a daunting schedule, but has performed well in MOST tests, and looks to be no worse than a second weekend NCAA Tourney team.
The bottom of the conference is not outstanding, but is not terrible either. Oklahoma St and Kansas St. will win some ballgames and look like possible NIT teams. Texas Tech has been disappointing, but even Nebraska, Iowa State and Colorado are not as bad as some leagues bottoms (Big East, Pac-10).
All in all, it's been a pretty good start to the season for the Big 12. Missouri's latest loss to Illinois notwithstanding they still have two elite teams, three more likely tourney teams, and two or three who could make it interesting. That makes the Big 12 one of the deepest conferences in the country.
"Pre" Season Grade: A- (click for game details)Tourney Outlook:
Locks: Oklahoma, Texas, Baylor
Likely: Kansas, Texas A&M
Hopeful: Missouri
Longshot: Oklahoma St, Texas Tech, Nebraska
Nope: Kansas St, Colorado, Iowa St.
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