NCAA Basketball 2012-2013 Season Catch-All

Jimmy Dykes is ruining this game for me. Such a f*cking idiot.

Kansas held on on beat Temple 69-62 yesterday in a great game at Allen Fieldhouse. I knew Temple would bring their A game and it would be tight. It was a great way for the Jayhawks to roll nto league play.

Kansas is also one of the best states to watch basketball this year. Indiana is still outpacing them, though.

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/07...

Kansas’ basketball stock is peaking.

All three of the state’s NCAA Division I schools are ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since the 1964-65 preseason poll. No. 3 Wichita State led the way that season, followed by No. 8 Kansas State and No. 18 Kansas.

On Monday, the No. 23 Shockers, 14-1, joined No. 6 Kansas, 12-1, and No. 18 Kansas State, 12-2, in week 10 of the current poll.

Indiana — with No. 5 Indiana, No. 14 Butler and No. 17 Notre Dame — also has three schools ranked.

Even being declared the best basketball state wouldn't get me cheering for Kentucky to be back in the rankings.

It's fun watching their fans talk about recruiting more than the actual season. "Just wait til next year, twins, blah blah..." It's the funniest I've ever seen defending champions act, as if they know that have zero chance to win anything this year.

So, as we enter conference play, a look at the KenPom rankings is in order.

You can look at this article from a Louisville site if you want, but I'll summarize:

Since KenPom has done the rankings (02-03), the NCAA Champion has been in the top 20 in both Offense (AdjO) and Defense (AdjD), every year. If the mid-season numbers hold through conference play, then that leaves us with 7 contenders for the title right now: Duke (6/7), Indiana(4/5), Louisville(13/2), Kansas(10/6), Minnesota(11/19), Florida(5/10) and Ohio St.(19/13)

A few other ranked teams are close. Michigan (1/39). Arizona (16/29). Syracuse (24/1). They are very close. Michigan State (32/18).

Most of the top 25 poll is in the top 20 in one or the other ranking, but some are really really bad at the other. Cincinnati (81/9) just lost 2 games so may end up not ranked if they can't right the ship and find a way to score. Georgetown (157/11). No surprise here they lack offense with that 38-37 game a couple weeks ago. Notre Dame (2/139). Yikes. Can score with anyone but can't stop them. San Diego St. (72/20). Solid defense, but a long way to go on the other side. Missouri, (18/53). Couldn't stop Louisville at all. Gave up 89 in regulation in that game they could have easily won at UCLA. Gonzaga (3/62). Lighting up the scoreboard but not there on defense.

Anyway, just an interesting stat to see midway through. It will be much more interesting as we enter tournament week. Should have a short list of teams that you can choose to fill out as champion of your bracket. Thankfully for me and Jayhawker it looks like our teams will be on that short list.

I'm not excited that ISU starts off Big XII play @ Kansas, but it will be good to get it out of the way. I hope The Mayor has the new set of transfers ready for conference play because it's a long winter when the team is bad.

Jucofett wrote:

I'm not excited that ISU starts off Big XII play @ Kansas, but it will be good to get it out of the way. I hope The Mayor has the new set of transfers ready for conference play because it's a long winter when the team is bad.

ISU is always that team that plays Kansas tough regardless. But I think the Jayhawks are building one hell of a special team this season.

The fact that Temple played them so close on Sunday didn't do you guys any favors. If they had rolled, you might get a team looking past ISU. Instead you get a team that just fought down to the wire to win. I'm guessing it will get ugly for ISU tonight.

Louisville at Seton Hall tonight. A little celebration going on with Cardinal fans today since our run last year began with Seton Hall in the Big East Tournament. Big East Champs. Final Four run. 13-1 this year. That was the game we turned it on, and we haven't turned it off since, despite losing a couple of starting seniors from last year. Feels like we're still on that run that started last March, with a 21-2 streak going. :cooL:

And it's a chance for Pitino to beat another of his former assistants tonight, SH Coach Kevin Willard.

From a Dec article
Former Assistants: 29-9

3-0 vs. Ralph Willard
7-5 vs. Tubby Smith
7-0 vs. Billy Donovan
5-4 vs. Mick Cronin
1-0 vs. Scott Davenport
1-0 vs. Marvin Menzies
4-0 vs. Kevin Willard
1-0 vs. Steve Masiello

Former Players: 12-1

3-1 vs. Travis Ford
2-0 vs. John Pelphrey
7-0 vs. Billy Donovan

That was the night he played his son though, so add one more win and one more name to the former assistants record. 30-9

It's nice that the Gophers are getting some hype from the press the week that they're likely to go 0-3. They're at Illinois tonight and at Indiana on Saturday. Then they have a home game with Michigan next week. They usually get screwed over at Illinois (it's usually the second worst arena for home cooking in the Big Ten behind Wisconsin) so I'm not very optimistic about that one. I think they match up pretty well with Indiana but it's unlikely they'll beat them on the road and Michigan is the only team in the Big Ten that I don't think they can beat. It really doesn't stop there. After that, they have road games at Northwestern and Wisconsin. Northwestern is terrible but the Gophers always play poorly there and games at Wisconsin are always annoying because the officials are always in Ryan's pocket by the second half because he's such a whiney Female Doggo. I really wish the media would just ignore them so that they can't embarrass themselves.

Jayhawker wrote:

ISU is always that team that plays Kansas tough regardless. But I think the Jayhawks are building one hell of a special team this season.

The fact that Temple played them so close on Sunday didn't do you guys any favors. If they had rolled, you might get a team looking past ISU. Instead you get a team that just fought down to the wire to win. I'm guessing it will get ugly for ISU tonight.

They're hanging in so far. I can't remember a team that I got more nervous watching KU play in Allen Fieldhouse than Iowa State.

This UL-SH game is ridiculous. Jim Burr and crew "keeping it close" with some terrible calls. 21 FTs for SH in the first half. 12 for UL.

Seton Hall averages 19 FT attempts per game this season, so they're already over that at the half. What a joke.

Things not looking good for Kansas against Hoiberg's School for Wayward Boys.

Jayhawker, you breathing still over there? Nice 3 to send it to OT!

Huh I guess so. Kansas up 11, on a 14-0 run now.

Louisville won by 15 despite my earlier outrage. Just never should have been so close in the 1st half. Oh well.

It's only 4-1 and I've already turned off the Minnesota-Illinois game. I've seen this story before. The officials are letting Illinois get away with everything. I hate the sh*tass officials in this league.

Brandon Paul got called for a charge on a dunk and they still gave him the points. What?

Boudreaux wrote:

They're hanging in so far. I can't remember a team that I got more nervous watching KU play in Allen Fieldhouse than Iowa State.

DEAR GOD I ALMOST JINXED IT.

Boudreaux wrote:
Boudreaux wrote:

They're hanging in so far. I can't remember a team that I got more nervous watching KU play in Allen Fieldhouse than Iowa State.

DEAR GOD I ALMOST JINXED IT.

Nah, that was me jinxing it by predicting a blowout when I clearly knew better. But yeah, how 'bout that freshman?

iaintgotnopants wrote:

It's only 4-1 and I've already turned off the Minnesota-Illinois game.

I hope you turned it back on. Tubby has his boys up 11 with 7:09 left.

Stele wrote:
iaintgotnopants wrote:

It's only 4-1 and I've already turned off the Minnesota-Illinois game.

I hope you turned it back on. Tubby has his boys up 11 with 7:09 left.

Yeah, I watched the second half. The officiating ended up not being as bad as it usually is there. I really can't stand watching games at Illinois, Wisconsin or Indiana because of the home cooking. It's not nearly as bad everywhere else in the conference. I'm still mad about this though.

That was a weird game offensively for the Gophers. A lot of threes (including a crazy heave on an inbound play with a couple seconds on the sot clock that banked in) which isn't normal. They only had seven offensive rebounds when they average over 16 and they had zero bench points. It's odd to say since they scored 84 points but the only reason they won was because Illinois was only 3-24 from three.

At least they won't go 0-3 during this stretch.

Stele wrote:

Jayhawker, you breathing still over there? Nice 3 to send it to OT!

I got home from work with 1:40 left in regulation and I had to do a double take at the score. I thought we would walk out of there with the win until that 3 banked in and then I knew it was over. Ah well, there's plenty of basketball left in the season.

iaintgotnopants wrote:

I really can't stand watching games at Illinois, Wisconsin or Indiana because of the home cooking.

Last season didn't Minnesota hand Indiana it's first and only home loss of the season?

Kentucky has the be the only team that gets "home calls" on the road. What a joke.

Clear shot clock violation with 17 sec left, and they counted it, and refused to check the replay for it. Vandy loses by 2. Ugh.

Also, Arizona goes down to Oregon, so one less undefeated team. Of course they already "lost" to Colorado last week, but the refs screwed that one up too. :p

SI power rankings again

Another appearance of the Russ Smith Turnometer.

And Withey and Kansas are still keeping possession on 72% of blocks. :shocK:

UNC fan is starting to panic. Roy likes to have a speedy point guard, a mobile big guy and some wing players who can shoot.

Roy has McAdoo and a collection of spare parts. He's dadgummed screwed is what he is.

Duke-NC St. is close. Looks like the Wolfpack might pull off the win though.

Minn is getting pounded at Indiana. Sorry, nopants.

Syracuse was in a tight one with Villanova, but seems to have broken open a double digit lead the last couple minutes.

Stele wrote:

Minn is getting pounded at Indiana. Sorry, nopants. :(

40 to 15 free throw disadvantage and they still almost beat those assholes. Zeller didn't get called for a foul until the last minute.

Some are saying that was the biggest regular-season win in Aggie basketball history. I wore my Texas A&M Basketball shirt today, and my father has requested I wear it again on Thursday (home vs Florida).

Senior Elston Turned had 40 points:

Announcer 1: "He thinks he's Johnny Manziel right now!"

Announcer 2: "Elston Hoops?"

Great day.

Louisville beat USF 64-38, and held the Bulls to their all-time lowest score in basketball.

Peyton Siva scored his 1,000th career point, and then some. Louisville has 64 all-time 1,000 point scorers, just a couple behind UNC still.

Kentucky loses at home to Texas A&M 83-71. A&M wins in football @Alabama and in basketball @UK in their first year in the SEC. Impressive feats.

Go Buckeyes. Beat Michigan tomorrow. Louisville wants to be #1.

Although the ESPN crew today pointed out that Louisville should be anyway. Only loss without Gorgui. And Louisville's SoS is 57 in both Sagarin and KenPom, while Michigan's is 131 and 193 respectively.

Well done, Buckeyes. Louisville will be #1 tomorrow.

Louisville #1 in both polls.

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Big Monday @UConn tonight.

And I think Kansas is the 2nd game.

This might be the year... trying to remain calm, but I really believe this Louisville team has all the pieces.