#11 AP

[BuzzSucksSucks]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankingsindex

[NavinRJohnson]

I relaize it is very close and that is doesn't mean a thing, but someone explain to me why Butler is ranked higher than us in both polls.

[Sir Lawrence]

Butler?  I don't particularly agree with their ranking either, BUT a case can be made:

1.  2 fewer losses than MU

2.  #8 in Sagarin's ratings vs. #20 for MU

3.  #18 in Pomeroy's ratings (through Sat. games) vs. #26 for MU

Our RPI, through Saturday as well, is higher at #15 vs. Butler at #23

[77ncaachamps]

I can live Butler's ranking. Although, a loss hurts more for them than one for us.

[Mayor McCheese]

Im amazed how we can't manage to crack the top 10, MU is one of the best teams playing right now imho

[mosarsour]

I'm fine with a #11 ranking.  It seems that everytime we crack the top 10, something goes wrong, like a home loss to ND State.  I'd rather keep winning at #11 than take another loss like that at #8 or #10.

[tonyreeder]

It would be nice to see SIU knock off Butler in the Bracket Buster because I'd be shocked if they lose the rest of the way in the Horizon or the Horizon Tourney.   If they win out, what's the seed?   You'd think a #3 or #4.

[spiral97]

I'm fine with a #11 ranking as well.. we keep progressing up between 1 and 3 spots each poll per the long slow climb at we'll be sitting really good come ncaa selection sunday. (only 4 more poll days before that).

We just need to take care of each game, one game at a time.  If we do that, we'll get our respect in the polls when everything is all said and done.  Before then, the polls are fairly meaningless except as a relative watermark.

[TVDirector]

only 5 votes out of a jillion separate Butwipe, er, Butler and MU in the AP...
espn poll, MU would have to gather merely 18 votes to leapfrog Nevada (NEVADA????), then chase Memphis to get behind Butler... much more spacing in the 2nd poll.

2 wins this week, and we're taking care of our own biznezz.

[spiral97]

2 wins this week, and we're taking care of our own biznezz.

Though, having pitt lose at WVU on wednesday would be nice.. then we can truly control our own destiny towards winning the conference title outright.

It would suck to beat em twice but still have to share the title with them.

[Marquette84]

It would be nice to see SIU knock off Butler in the Bracket Buster because I'd be shocked if they lose the rest of the way in the Horizon or the Horizon Tourney.   If they win out, what's the seed?   You'd think a #3 or #4.

I don't think the committee would ever put Butler that high. Similar performances by mid-majors over the past few year show that UWM was a 12 seed.  George Mason an 11 IIRC.   Bucknell was a 9.

Butler did a nice job in their NIT run--but those wins came over teams who are now exposing their flaws--Gonzaga is way down this season, Tennessee is looking like an NIT team, ND is no longer looking like a Big East contender and Indiana is separated by a long way from the cream of the Big Ten.  Butler's two losses were to 100+ RPI teams. 

I'm guessing a 5 seed if they win out. The NIT was a long time ago, and ND, Tennessee, Gonzaga and Indiana are viewed as being down this year.

 

[TallTitan34]

It would suck to beat em twice but still have to share the title with them.

We would own it single handedly as we would own the tie-breaker: head to head record.

[spiral97]

It would suck to beat em twice but still have to share the title with them.

We would own it single handedly as we would own the tie-breaker: head to head record.

I believe the only thing the determines regular season championship is in-conference record.  If there is a tie there then the teams in the tie share it - there is no tie-breaker.

[herboturbo]

I'm pretty sure the way the way the Big East works things out is that we would be co-champs if MU and Pitt were to finish both 14-2, but we would receive the number 1 seed in the tournament due to our head to head record.


And as far as Butler go none of the other you posted 84 had as few losses or as many good non-con wins as Butler does this season.  ND, Indiana, Gonzaga, and Tennessee are all top 40 teams that will make the tourney and well as a win over Purdue who still might be a tourney team. Do they have a couple of bad losses, yea, but so do we.  Is no. 9 a little high for them, probably.  But if they win out they will be a protected four seed this season.  At 31-2 with all those non-con wins plus a win over Southern in the Bracket Busters would equal at least a 4 with a really good shot at a 3 seed. 

[tower912]

As well as we have played for the last month, the fact remains that we are the second highest ranked 4-loss team, behind Kansas.  NDSU and playing without a healthy Jerel or Wes for a week have left us out of the top 10.   If we go 5-2 down the stretch, we will end up about where we are now.   12-4 in the BE equals 10-12 and a 3 seed.   

[Marquette84]

And as far as Butler go none of the other you posted 84 had as few losses or as many good non-con wins as Butler does this season.  ND, Indiana, Gonzaga, and Tennessee are all top 40 teams that will make the tourney and well as a win over Purdue who still might be a tourney team. Do they have a couple of bad losses, yea, but so do we.  Is no. 9 a little high for them, probably.  But if they win out they will be a protected four seed this season.  At 31-2 with all those non-con wins plus a win over Southern in the Bracket Busters would equal at least a 4 with a really good shot at a 3 seed. 

You're right that Butler has better wins than UWM did, but I'd argue that Bucknell's win over Syracuse (BE tourney champ, #17 RPI) last season is at least as impressive as Butler beating Indiana or ND this year.  And everyone knows Gonzaga is down this year.

Factor in that three of Bucknell's losses were to top 25 RPI teams--including #1 Duke and #2 Villanova--against one bad loss (#184 Santa Clara).  Butler right now has 2 bad losses (#108 Indiana State and #191 UIC).   

Finally, Butler's RPI right now (23) would justify the NCAA giving them a 6 seed. 

So the precedent is there--Butler's body of work is easily comparable to Bucknell last year, and a 5, 6 or 7 seed would represent a significant improvement over what the Bison received--and fully supported by Buter's RPI. 

BTW, I don't think Tennessee is a tourney team. 3-5 in conference with six losses in their last eight games, they would need a turnaround of historic proportions (or the conference tournament automatic bid) to make it.