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

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I went back a few decades and couldn't find an example of a 1 loss team being ranked #2 (or #1) this early in the season. So 2 would be unprecedented (though I think it would be accurate).

There are a few examples of 1 loss teams at #3 at this point in the season. Gonzaga two seasons ago is the most recent example.

I think it is 3 or 4. We should be 3, but I could see voters believing that they need to move UConn above us because we lost and they're still undefeated.

[THRILLHO]

I went back a few decades and couldn't find an example of a 1 loss team being ranked #2 (or #1) this early in the season. So 2 would be unprecedented (though I think it would be accurate).

There are a few examples of 1 loss teams at #3 at this point in the season. Gonzaga two seasons ago is the most recent example.

I think it is 3 or 4. We should be 3, but I could see voters believing that they need to move UConn above us because we lost and they're still undefeated.

It's also not crazy to just think UConn is a little better. I disagree as a fan but they look pretty damn good so far.

[The Lens]

Smart voters = 2

Actual poll = 3

[brewcity77]

It's also not crazy to just think UConn is a little better. I disagree as a fan but they look pretty damn good so far.

They do look good, though playing against the #338 schedule so far per kenpom will make a lot of teams look pretty damn good.

[Scoop Snoop]

I went back a few decades and couldn't find an example of a 1 loss team being ranked #2 (or #1) this early in the season. So 2 would be unprecedented (though I think it would be accurate).

There are a few examples of 1 loss teams at #3 at this point in the season. Gonzaga two seasons ago is the most recent example.

I think it is 3 or 4. We should be 3, but I could see voters believing that they need to move UConn above us because we lost and they're still undefeated.

"Believing" is a kind way of putting it.  I think too many voters feel compelled to punish any team that loses, no matter what the overall picture is.

[oldwarrior81]

I'm going with a top five of:  Purdue, Arizona and UConn, followed by MU, as the top ranked one-loss team, then Houston.

UConn does have a couple nice wins over one-loss teams in Texas (+10) and Indiana (+20).
A lot of their non-conference resume comes over the next week @ Kansas and vs UNC.  With Gonzaga on the horizon.

Espn/Borzello calls the MU victory over Kansas the best single game performance of the season.

[Shooter McGavin]

I went back a few decades and couldn't find an example of a 1 loss team being ranked #2 (or #1) this early in the season. So 2 would be unprecedented (though I think it would be accurate).

There are a few examples of 1 loss teams at #3 at this point in the season. Gonzaga two seasons ago is the most recent example.

I think it is 3 or 4. We should be 3, but I could see voters believing that they need to move UConn above us because we lost and they're still undefeated.

It's unprecedented but so is MUs schedule for the most part other than Loyola Chicago in the 60s.  You are correct in saying it's warranted.  We'll see what the voters think shortly but 2 is not out of the realm of possibility.

[Goose]

Shooter


I have never followed Kenpom and hope I am reading it correctly, but it looks like MU's SOS is #5 and the defense ranking of opponents is #1. As I mentioned last week, I wanted #1 and whatever they are ranked this week is fine by me because there are plenty of chances for very good wins coming up. Win the next five and MU does not leave the top five. If so, it will be about 15 straight weeks ranked in the top ten.

[Shooter McGavin]

Shooter


I have never followed Kenpom and hope I am reading it correctly, but it looks like MU's SOS is #5 and the defense ranking of opponents is #1. As I mentioned last week, I wanted #1 and whatever they are ranked this week is fine by me because there are plenty of chances for very good wins coming up. Win the next five and MU does not leave the top five. If so, it will be about 15 straight weeks ranked in the top ten.

Yep,  many of the voters are sophisticated enough to understand this.  In the end your top ten all year scenario and possibly top five all year scenario are great problems to have no matter what we are ranked within that range.  Fun times!

[MU82]

The Athletic's CJ Moore actually moved Marquette up from 3 to 2 after the loss. Arizona, UConn and Kansas round out his top 5.

Here's what he said about Purdue (with lots of MU in it) and Marquette:

1. Purdue
It's hard enough trying to keep Zach Edey from scoring, but simply trying to guard him without fouling is proving just as difficult. Edey leads college basketball in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (10.4) — up from 7.0 per 40 last season. He shot 47 free throws in the last four games, all against high-major programs. Edey's ability to get opposing big men in foul trouble was one main reason Purdue beat Marquette in the Maui Invitational championship game. Oso Ighodaro was limited to 26 minutes because of fouls; Marquette outscored Purdue by 10 points with him on the floor but was minus-23 in his 14 minutes on the bench.

In Purdue's four games against high-majors, the opposing starting center has committed 18 fouls in 76 minutes. That's 9.5 fouls per 40 minutes. If you combine the minutes played for those four centers for the rest of their season, they're fouling 3.6 times per 40 minutes. The game is drastically different when you're playing Purdue.

2. Marquette
The floater is one of the least efficient shots in basketball. Former Belmont coach Rick Byrd even forbid his players from taking them. Byrd likely would have lifted that rule if he had coached Ighodaro. Marquette's starting center is already a unicorn with everything else he does. In addition to being able to initiate offense as a point center, he's also mastered a running push shot in the lane that is unguardable. It's not really a floater since he's 6-foot-11 and doesn't have to float it over anyone because his release point is so high. Ighodaro was good at that shot last season (54.5 percent) and is even better so far this year. He made 5-of-6 runners against Purdue and is 9 of 14 (64.2 percent) on shots categorized as runners by Synergy so far this year. That's 1.29 points per possession. That's efficiency!

[Uncle Rico]

The Athletic's CJ Moore actually moved Marquette up from 3 to 2 after the loss. Arizona, UConn and Kansas round out his top 5.

Here's what he said about Purdue (with lots of MU in it) and Marquette:

1. Purdue
It's hard enough trying to keep Zach Edey from scoring, but simply trying to guard him without fouling is proving just as difficult. Edey leads college basketball in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (10.4) — up from 7.0 per 40 last season. He shot 47 free throws in the last four games, all against high-major programs. Edey's ability to get opposing big men in foul trouble was one main reason Purdue beat Marquette in the Maui Invitational championship game. Oso Ighodaro was limited to 26 minutes because of fouls; Marquette outscored Purdue by 10 points with him on the floor but was minus-23 in his 14 minutes on the bench.

In Purdue's four games against high-majors, the opposing starting center has committed 18 fouls in 76 minutes. That's 9.5 fouls per 40 minutes. If you combine the minutes played for those four centers for the rest of their season, they're fouling 3.6 times per 40 minutes. The game is drastically different when you're playing Purdue.

2. Marquette
The floater is one of the least efficient shots in basketball. Former Belmont coach Rick Byrd even forbid his players from taking them. Byrd likely would have lifted that rule if he had coached Ighodaro. Marquette's starting center is already a unicorn with everything else he does. In addition to being able to initiate offense as a point center, he's also mastered a running push shot in the lane that is unguardable. It's not really a floater since he's 6-foot-11 and doesn't have to float it over anyone because his release point is so high. Ighodaro was good at that shot last season (54.5 percent) and is even better so far this year. He made 5-of-6 runners against Purdue and is 9 of 14 (64.2 percent) on shots categorized as runners by Synergy so far this year. That's 1.29 points per possession. That's efficiency!

Oh, great.  Using advanced analytics.  Why even play the games

[PointWarrior]

Exactly, combine this thread and the "Holiday Tourney" thread and just have a KenPom Invitational where no games are actually played. 

Oh, great.  Using advanced analytics.  Why even play the games

[JakeBarnes]

Luke DeCock has us at 8...behind Creighton, Kansas and Villanova.

[GoldenEagles03]

Luke DeCock has us at 8...behind Creighton, Kansas and Villanova.

A lot of 4s trickling in too. Thought we'd move to 2 or 3, but staying at 4 seems more likely. Either way...oh well!

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Luke DeCock has us at 8...behind Creighton, Kansas and Villanova.

This guy's vote should be rescinded immediately.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Luke DeCock has us at 8...behind Creighton, Kansas and Villanova.

What an abomination!  A reminder that some voters aren't even paying attention.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It's unprecedented but so is MUs schedule for the most part other than Loyola Chicago in the 60s.  You are correct in saying it's warranted.  We'll see what the voters think shortly but 2 is not out of the realm of possibility.

Our schedule is crazy and I could maybe see us getting the 2 if Arizona hadn't played anyone,  but a road win over #2 Duke and a neutral court win over Michigan St (who started #3) is at least comparable to a neutral court win over #1 Kansas and a road win over top 25 Illinois. We have the UCLA win on them but they have being undefeated on us.

Purdue and Arizona play each other in a few weeks so if we keep winning,  were guarenteed to pass one of them!

[4everwarriors]

Luke DeCock has us at 8...behind Creighton, Kansas and Villanova.

Who, hey?

If ever there was a name change screamin' ta bee changed, aina?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Luke DeCock has us at 8...behind Creighton, Kansas and Villanova.

Looks like hes been down on us compared to others.  He had us 8 going into Maui so he didn't move us down (or up). He had us pass Tennessee and get passed by Villanova. He dropped Kansas from 1 to 5 and Creighton from 3 to 7

[mugrad_89]

ESPN power rankings have us at 4 - they called the win over Kansas the best single game performance of the season.

[MU82]

Our schedule is crazy and I could maybe see us getting the 2 if Arizona hadn't played anyone,  but a road win over #2 Duke and a neutral court win over Michigan St (who started #3) is at least comparable to a neutral court win over #1 Kansas and a road win over top 25 Illinois. We have the UCLA win on them but they have being undefeated on us.

Purdue and Arizona play each other in a few weeks so if we keep winning,  were guarenteed to pass one of them!

This makes sense.

Luke DeCock has us at 8...behind Creighton, Kansas and Villanova.

This doesn't. That's what happens when The Cock has a vote.

[jfp61]

Oh, great.  Using advanced analytics.  Why even play the games

Sidenote. I believe their is most an advance analytics have Marquette currently 6th ish.

KenPom 6, Evanmiya 6, Haslametrics 7, Torvik 9. Warren Nolan is at 2 with an ELO based ranking. Shotquality has us 3rd.

[Heisenberg]

I went back a few decades and couldn't find an example of a 1 loss team being ranked #2 (or #1) this early in the season. So 2 would be unprecedented (though I think it would be accurate).

There are a few examples of 1 loss teams at #3 at this point in the season. Gonzaga two seasons ago is the most recent example.

I think it is 3 or 4. We should be 3, but I could see voters believing that they need to move UConn above us because we lost and they're still undefeated.

Which is more significant?

Beating the number 1 team in the nation? Or,
Losing to the number 2 team in the nation.

My take is the win matters more as it was the more unlikely outcome.

MU #2 

And while that might make us the highest 1-loss team at this point, in the last 50 years, no one else played (and beat) #1 and then had to play #2 the next night (lost but covered the 3.5-point spread).

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

The guy is probably to drive up his engagement. Don't give that article a click.

[MuggsyB]

This makes sense.

This doesn't. That's what happens when The Cock has a vote.

This person has ZERO business voting in the top 25 poll.