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

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Texas is a fine team, but it's not like their metrics are vastly superior to ours. They're 10 in the NET right now and we're 13. They do have the benefit of having a ton of Q1 opportunities in the Big12, but it's not like their winning % in such contests is vastly superior. We did lose an OT game to a mediocre Wisconsin team, but they lost an OT game to a mediocre Illinois team.

As much as the committee likes to suggest seeding is a strict science, they aren't giving UT a 2 seed if they flame out down the stretch and I'll be mighty surprised if we win out and are placed on the 3 line. The NET says SMC and UConn are both two seeds, but at some point human common sense overrides the computer logic.

It's not just NET that Texas has us beat. It's every category that the selection committee officially considers other than overall record which is one of the last things taken into account. I actually somewhat buy your premise that the selection committee members are human and consider things not in the official criteria...to a point. But not when one team beats the other in every official measure but one.

And c'mon, comparing their loss to Illinois to our loss to Wisconsin? One was on a neutral court to the #34 NET team. The other was at home to the #70 NET team. Hell our second worst loss (#39 Mississippi State on a neutral court) is worse than that their worst loss.

[PointWarrior]

WHEN we return to #1, it will be the longest drought between #1 rankings in AP poll history, over 45 years. (Ohio State had a 45 year streak between '62 and '07)

This needs context.  How many teams have ever even made it to #1?   Much less twice? 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If Marquette wins out through the BET, they will be an iron clad lock for a two-seed. They'll even get some minor attention as an oddball one-seed candidate. Feel free to pin this post up on your local community bulletin board for accountability.

I know this hard for some to accept, but when it comes to a 2-seed, we don't control our own destiny. We will need some good teams to lose to some bad teams if we want to move up another seed line.

With UCLA beating Colorado today, I think we are down to two remote chances at a 2 seed. We need one of Arizona/UCLA to lose their next three games (they play each other on March 4, whoever wins will be locked in for a 2 seed). Or we need Baylor to lose their next 3. For either option, we need Kansas State to lose at least one of their next two games and it would be helpful if Tennessee lost at least one more (but maybe not necessary). All that happens, and maybe a trip to the BET finals (win or lose) is enough to grab the last 2 seed.

[Heisenberg]

This is all too confusing.

First, let's win out through the BET and they we can have this conversation.

[Pepe Sylvia]

I'm going 8th.

[Tyler COLEk]

I know this hard for some to accept, but when it comes to a 2-seed, we don't control our own destiny. We will need some good teams to lose to some bad teams if we want to move up another seed line.

With UCLA beating Colorado today, I think we are down to two remote chances at a 2 seed. We need one of Arizona/UCLA to lose their next three games (they play each other on March 4, whoever wins will be locked in for a 2 seed). Or we need Baylor to lose their next 3. For either option, we need Kansas State to lose at least one of their next two games and it would be helpful if Tennessee lost at least one more (but maybe not necessary). All that happens, and maybe a trip to the BET finals (win or lose) is enough to grab the last 2 seed.

I'm don't agree that those are our only paths in the event we win out, but I think more importantly you underrate the likelihood of those possibilities.

[1SE]

Berman up to 5 (from 10)

Borges up to 6 (from 12)

Winning and losing matters.

[brewcity77]

I'm not knocking us. I'm not saying Texas is a better team. But by this point in the season the resumes are 93% complete and the things that really move the needle are wins against Q1 opponents or losses against Q3/Q4 opponents. Texas only has Q1 opportunities left meaning they can only go up. Marquette only has Q2/Q3 opportunities left meaning we can only go down.

This isn't exactly accurate. In terms of what Marquette controls, yes, all they can do is add a Q2 and Q3 win. But there are things outside their control that could change things significantly. Villanova (#78 NET) and Seton Hall (#80) NET are just outside the magic top-75 number. Currently, Marquette's sweep of those teams gives them two Q2 and two Q3 wins. But if those teams moved into the top-75, those would become two Q1 and two Q2 wins, effectively moving two Q3 wins to Q1 wins.

And while it's not Texas, Colorado (#73) and Washington State (#75) are just inside that cutline, meaning it would have a similar negative impact on 2-seeds Arizona and UCLA if Villanova and Seton Hall replaced them in the top-75. A lot of significant movement can happen at that cutline even though none of those teams are really on the bubble right now.

[SaveOD238]

This needs context.  How many teams have ever even made it to #1?   Much less twice?

61 teams have ever been ranked #1

Of those 61, 54 have been ranked #1 for at least two weeks (Wisconsin is one of the 7 to have exactly one week at #1)

We've been #1 for three weeks.

Somehow, DePaul has been ranked #1 for 15 weeks.

https://www.collegepollarchive.com/mbasketball/ap/app_total.cfm?sort=num1app&from=1949&to=2023#.Y_yZj-xME0E

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Berman up to 5 (from 10)

Borges up to 6 (from 12)

Winning and losing matters.

Jerry Carino puts us at 5 too.  I think 7 is our floor this week.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

This isn't exactly accurate. In terms of what Marquette controls, yes, all they can do is add a Q2 and Q3 win. But there are things outside their control that could change things significantly. Villanova (#78 NET) and Seton Hall (#80) NET are just outside the magic top-75 number. Currently, Marquette's sweep of those teams gives them two Q2 and two Q3 wins. But if those teams moved into the top-75, those would become two Q1 and two Q2 wins, effectively moving two Q3 wins to Q1 wins.

And while it's not Texas, Colorado (#73) and Washington State (#75) are just inside that cutline, meaning it would have a similar negative impact on 2-seeds Arizona and UCLA if Villanova and Seton Hall replaced them in the top-75. A lot of significant movement can happen at that cutline even though none of those teams are really on the bubble right now.

Also, if the premise of the hypo is us winning the BET, we presumably pick up two more 2 Q1 wins against UConn and X/PC/CU.

[Goose]

I am going with #7 this week.

[MuggsyB]

I am going with #7 this week.

#7 is acceptable. 

[Goose]

Muggsy

To be ranked #7 going into March is a great accomplishment for the program.

[1SE]

Muggsy

To be ranked #7 going into March is a great accomplishment for the program.

Highest AP ranking ever for about half the board's readers. Pretty amazing for a year two coach with a roster that contains a couple fringe 4*s.

[mugrad_89]

11 in the ESPN power rankings.  😳

[1SE]

11 in the ESPN power rankings.  😳

F*ck em

[wadesworld]

11 in the ESPN power rankings.  😳

That was updated 7 days ago.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

That was updated 7 days ago.

F*ck 'em anyway.

[mugrad_89]

That was updated 7 days ago.

I think it's current because it has Nova as team of the week and moved Indiana up and Purdue down based on their Saturday game.

[Jay Bee]

When is the last time Butler beat a #7??

[MuggsyB]

Muggsy

To be ranked #7 going into March is a great accomplishment for the program.

No doubt.  Goose, I'm thinking about sustained greatness for this program.  I don't think I'm being greedy or irrational believing that MU will be a top 15 program (and top 4 seed) for a decade under Shaka.  Granted, this is very difficult.  Any given year there are variables that could lead to an off season.  Regardless, I feel strongly that we're on the path to a resounding resurgence that bodes very well for MU. 

[PointWarrior]

No doubt.  Goose, I'm thinking about sustained greatness for this program.  I don't think I'm being greedy or irrational believing that MU will be a top 15 program (and top 4 seed) for a decade under Shaka.  Granted, this is very difficult.  Any given year there are variables that could lead to an off season.  Regardless, I feel strongly that we're on the path to a resounding resurgence that bodes very well for MU.

At least until Shaka leaves for Madison, cause you know he was born there....

[MuggsyB]

At least until Shaka leaves for Madison, cause you know we was born there....

LOL

[mugrad_89]

At least until Shaka leaves for Madison, cause you know we was born there....

#donedeal?  👀