So....What are we ranked on Monday - 1/6/2025?

[Scoop Snoop]

Actually, I adjusted it to 6th after Creighton lost.  My rationale was most voters (1) are not "in tune" (diplomatic term) with quality wins and poor losses and have a tendency to focus merely on overall record, (2) there is an inherent bias toward Duke, and (3) yes, my fellow scoopers, Marquette may not get the recognition it deserves.

At least I showed my work and rationale.

Cute.

Your doubling down reminds me of someone who does that all the time.

[warriorfred]

It's not "doubling-down" when you admit you are wrong.  I provided my prediction and rationale - primarily based on the voting habits (see Jeff Neiburg above).

I was off; it happens on the internet.

[Scoop Snoop]

It's not "doubling-down" when you admit you are wrong.  I provided my prediction and rationale - primarily based on the voting habits (see Jeff Neiburg above).

I was off; it happens on the internet.

That's fair. I take it back.

[dajudge]

Coaches also at 3

https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/basketball/cbk/coaches-poll

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/bracketology/ncaa-bracketology-2024-march-madness-men-field-predictions

[StillAWarrior]

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/bracketology/ncaa-bracketology-2024-march-madness-men-field-predictions

Two No. 1 seeds for the Big East. I like it.

[THRILLHO]

The metrics that I am using via Barttovik are showing that Marquette isn't an underdog until January 30th @ Nova. Metrics also show they are predicted to just lost 3 more regular season games. @Nova, @Uconn and @Creighton all by less than 5 points

Subtle distinction, but we are predicted to lose seven more games, but currently favored in all but three.

[Jay Bee]

Subtle distinction, but we are predicted to lose seven more games, but currently favored in all but three.

HUGE distinction and valid for you to point out here.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Subtle distinction, but we are predicted to lose seven more games, but currently favored in all but three.

#COLE

[MU82]

The Athletic has us #4 in its first power rankings of the season, behind Purdue, UConn and Arizona.

Marquette's triplets — Tyler Kolek, Kam Jones, and Oso Ighodoro — are the best trio in America, but they'll have to be historically good offensively to compensate for their team's larger rebounding woes. But first, the good news: Marquette's offense is magnificent, the closest thing to a League Pass team in college hoops. The Golden Eagles are seventh in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency rankings, as well as EyanMiya's offensive BPR (Bayesian Performance Rating).

The sum is something, but the parts are pretty special, too. Kolek? Probably the best point guard in the country. He's averaging an absurd 13.9 points, 5.1 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game, all while shooting 52.4 percent from 3 (!!) and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line. The crazy thing is that Jones, who was on the All-Big East second team last season, is in full-on breakout mode — sacrilegious as it sounds, he might even be hotter than Kolek right now. Per CBB Analytics, Jones is straddling a near-impossible line; the 6-foot-5 junior is in the 99th percentile nationally in assist-to-turnover rate, the 98th percentile in points per 40 minutes, and the 97th percentile in turnover percentage. So, yeah. Not a shocker that Shaka Smart's squad is so solid. (Say that 10 times fast...)

Now the less-good news: Marquette is currently sub-240 nationally in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate, per KenPom; they're the 15th-worst high-major team in America in terms of defensive boards. That is ... not great. You have to go back a decade to find a championship team that struggled with rebounding to a similar extent: 2014 UConn. Those Huskies were also sub-200 in both categories — finishing 210th in offensive rebounding rate and 248th in the defensive equivalent, per KenPom — but made it for it with human supernova Shabazz Napier. One of Kolek or Jones may have to go on a similar postseason heater for Marquette to meet its lofty potential — but not many teams have two dudes capable of that.

[TallTitan34]

I'll give our resume the nod over everyone except Purdue.

[FairWeatherEagle]

I think we need a reality check. Kolek is good but "the best in the country" comes from last year not this...lots of work to do.
And no. 3/4? Think about the end season resume of a 1-line team. 4 losses max.

Having said that we can be that team and kolek that guy. But it's a mountain to climb.

[Its DJOver]

There's almost too much there wrong to comment on.

[PGsHeroes32]

There's almost too much there wrong to comment on.

No joke my exact thought

I was going to respond then just figured it was such a disaster not worth.

[Its DJOver]

No joke my exact thought

I was going to respond then just figured it was such a disaster not worth.

That's me most of the time, but that cleared the (extremely high) bar of bad takes. For me at least.

[IL Warrior]

I think we need a reality check. Kolek is good but "the best in the country" comes from last year not this...lots of work to do.
And no. 3/4? Think about the end season resume of a 1-line team. 4 losses max.

Having said that we can be that team and kolek that guy. But it's a mountain to climb.

I know this isn't the main point of your post, but you may want to review the resumes of recent 1 seeds. Considering only power conference teams:
2023: 5-loss Alabama, 5-loss Purdue, 7-loss Kansas (0/3 meet your criteria)
2022: 6-loss Baylor, 6-loss Kansas, 3-loss Arizona (1/3 meet your criteria)
2021: 4-loss Michigan, 2-loss Baylor, 6-loss Illinois (2/3 meet your criteria, but they each played 22 regular season games instead of 31, so a full schedule probably gives one or both 5+ losses)
2020: No tournament.
2019: 5-loss Duke, 3-loss Virginia, 6-loss North Carolina (1/3 meet your criteria)

We can assume 2021 Michigan does not go 9-0 in the missing regular season games, so they get >4 losses. I'll allow Baylor at 7-2 or better, but that's not even a given since they avoided a gauntlet: neutral-site vs Gonzaga (1-seed), home vs Texas (3-seed), home vs West Virginia (3-seed), away vs West Virginia (3-seed), home vs Oklahoma State (4-seed), home vs Texas Tech (6-seed), away vs Oklahoma (8-seed), home vs TCU, and home vs Tarleton State. So I'm adjusting 2021 to 1/3 power conference #1 seeds having 4 or fewer losses.

That means the last 4 tournaments have had 12 P6 teams as 1 seeds. 9 of the 12 had 5+ losses. Far from "4 losses max" to get a 1 seed.

Marquette could finish the season with losses vs Purdue, at Creighton, at Connecticut, at Villanova, and BET vs Creighton/Connecticut/Villanova and be a lock for a 1 seed.

[StillAWarrior]

I know this isn't the main point of your post, but you may want to review the resumes of recent 1 seeds. Considering only power conference teams:
2023: 5-loss Alabama, 5-loss Purdue, 7-loss Kansas (0/3 meet your criteria)
2022: 6-loss Baylor, 6-loss Kansas, 3-loss Arizona (1/3 meet your criteria)
2021: 4-loss Michigan, 2-loss Baylor, 6-loss Illinois (2/3 meet your criteria, but they each played 22 regular season games instead of 31, so a full schedule probably gives one or both 5+ losses)
2020: No tournament.
2019: 5-loss Duke, 3-loss Virginia, 6-loss North Carolina (1/3 meet your criteria)

We can assume 2021 Michigan does not go 9-0 in the missing regular season games, so they get >4 losses. I'll allow Baylor at 7-2 or better, but that's not even a given since they avoided a gauntlet: neutral-site vs Gonzaga (1-seed), home vs Texas (3-seed), home vs West Virginia (3-seed), away vs West Virginia (3-seed), home vs Oklahoma State (4-seed), home vs Texas Tech (6-seed), away vs Oklahoma (8-seed), home vs TCU, and home vs Tarleton State. So I'm adjusting 2021 to 1/3 power conference #1 seeds having 4 or fewer losses.

That means the last 4 tournaments have had 12 P6 teams as 1 seeds. 9 of the 12 had 5+ losses. Far from "4 losses max" to get a 1 seed.

Marquette could finish the season with losses vs Purdue, at Creighton, at Connecticut, at Villanova, and BET vs Creighton/Connecticut/Villanova and be a lock for a 1 seed.

Get out of here with your facts and logic. Those have no place in a Scoop debate.

[TallTitan34]

#1 Purdue and #4 UConn taking losses tonight.

[Carl]

One In-state game away from jumping Purdue I'd imagine

[Newsdreams]

26

[Lennys Tap]

Love this team, looking forward to a great season and being in the hunt for years to come.

But really, what does it matter if we're ranked 1, 3, 5, 7, etc., in late November or early December? Enjoy, what will be will be.

[DoctorV]

Love this team, looking forward to a great season and being in the hunt for years to come.

But really, what does it matter if we're ranked 1, 3, 5, 7, etc., in late November or early December? Enjoy, what will be will be.

Some said the same when we were 23, 20, 17, 13 etc.

We aren't Kansas or Duke, not yet, and this is uncharted territory in many of our lives or in over 3 decades and that matters.

Being in the top 5 matters, managing to get to #1 would matter, even in December.
So let's win tomorrow and get there.

If nothing else it's fun af and it means Marquette is winning and that much closer to a 1 seed, which makes the ultimate road easier.
Also, more people will start to ask is Marquette in Michigan.

[NCMUFan]

Let's take care of business in Madison.

[willie warrior]

I'll give our resume the nod over everyone except Purdue.

Not so much anymore. Lowly Nortwestern just took down Purdue. Again a scramble on top 10 rankings

[Goose]

Lenny

Only thing I disagree with is being ranked #1 at any point in the season. That is an accomplishment that stays forever. If not #1, it does not mean a great deal, especially when it is obvious MU is a very, very good team.

[HowardsWorld]

If Marquette wins today there is a very realistic chance we are #1 in two weeks. Zona plays Wisconsin, Purdue, Alabama and fau in the next two weeks. I can't see them winning all of those.