Marquee NIT Watch

[Tugg Speedman]

Still early December and things may dramatically changed by March, but, as on now, the NIT must really be excited as a number of Marquee teams are on their radar.

Kentucky (6-3)
UNC (7-2)
Boston College (4-5)
Wake Forest (4-5)
UCLA (6-3)
Wisconsin (6-4)
Purdue (4-5)
Texas (5-4)
West Virginia (4-3)
Villanova (5-4)
USC (3-5)

Comments/who should also be on this list? (and no MU should not now be on this list at 7-2)

[The Process]

(and no MU should not now be on this list at 7-2)

So why is UNC on the list, then?

[chapman]

So we're saying things are setting up for another weak bubble this year, mmm?

[Tugg Speedman]

So why is UNC on the list, then?

I'll answer seriously ....

Because they have played exactly two good teams (Butler and IU) and were crushed by both.

Their seven victories were by teams that were collectively so bad they could blow out an all-star team of them
(seven wins; Gardner-Webb, Florida Atlantic, Long Beach State, Miss State, Chaminade, UAB, East Tenn State and East Carolina).

MU lost to Butler on a lucky shot and handily beat Bucky.  That means they have done way more than UNC to date.

[PGsHeroes32]

I am willing to bet right now any amount of money. Unc and Uk may the NCAAA tourney without question. It is the way it goes.

[brewcity77]

Comments/who should also be on this list? (and no MU should not now be on this list at 7-2)

Marquette isn't 7-2. We're 6-2. And I said yesterday (and honestly believed then and now) that next week's game against Savannah State is more dangerous than today's game against Wisconsin. With games against SSU, UWGB, and LSU coming up, we are not out of the woods in terms of non-con play.

[Tugg Speedman]

I am willing to bet right now any amount of money. Unc and Uk may the NCAAA tourney without question. It is the way it goes.

Do not disagree, but as of early December they both look like NIT teams, not pre-season top 10s as they started.

Remember UNC started this way two years ago and finished 16-16, barely making the NIT.

[bilsu]

You have to look at what conference each of those teams are in. What helps them is that most of their conferences get a significant number of bids. If any of those teams Go .500 in conference they probably make the NCAA. Based on UW's first half yesterday they are close to the worse team in the Big 10 and not even an NIT team. The first half of yesterday's game made me a believer in MU again. The second half took away my belief. It was actually very similar to the Butler game. We dominated Butler early and then gave the game away. The difference between Butler and UW game is that Butler is a better team than UW and we were playing at home.

[MU82]

Still early December and things may dramatically changed by March, but, as on now, the NIT must really be excited as a number of Marquee teams are on their radar.

Kentucky (6-3)
UNC (7-2)
Boston College (4-5)
Wake Forest (4-5)
UCLA (6-3)
Wisconsin (6-4)
Purdue (4-5)
Texas (5-4)
West Virginia (4-3)
Villanova (5-4)
USC (3-5)

Comments/who should also be on this list? (and no MU should not now be on this list at 7-2)

Almost every Kentucky, UNC or UCLA fan would put Marquette on this list and take his/her team off of it.

[Tugg Speedman]

Almost every Kentucky, UNC or UCLA fan would put Marquette on this list and take his/her team off of it.

Disagree

If you a knowledgeable fan of these schools they would say AS OF NOW, they agree their teams are playing NIT caliber basketball.  But, they think they will turn it around by March.

[Eye]

Still early December and things may dramatically changed by March, but, as on now, the NIT must really be excited as a number of Marquee teams are on their radar.

Kentucky (6-3)
UNC (7-2)
Boston College (4-5)
Wake Forest (4-5)
UCLA (6-3)
Wisconsin (6-4)
Purdue (4-5)
Texas (5-4)
West Virginia (4-3)
Villanova (5-4)
USC (3-5)

Comments/who should also be on this list? (and no MU should not now be on this list at 7-2)

I'd actually argue there are very few NIT teams on this list.

In NC2A's - UK, UNC, UCLA, Rodents (will have a very nice RPI despite a middling record)

NIT - Texas (I think they'll get their act together to some degree when their point guard comes back), West Virginia (not much guard play, surprised they beat Va Tech yesterday)

Probably not - Purdue (5 non-conference losses already, at least one more probable with ND and WV in non-conference games, so would have to go .500 in their league to be over .500 this year, and with the 7 teams ahead of them in the league, don't see it happening), nova (surprised they've fallen to where they are)

Nowhere close to NIT - BC, Wake (might be two worst teams in ACC), USC (can't score at all a lot of the time, already 6 losses, were historically bad last year along with Utah and Arizona St, they're better, but not that much better)

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

Still early December and things may dramatically changed by March, but, as on now, the NIT must really be excited as a number of Marquee teams are on their radar.

Kentucky (6-3)
UNC (7-2)
Boston College (4-5)
Wake Forest (4-5)
UCLA (6-3)
Wisconsin (6-4)
Purdue (4-5)
Texas (5-4)
West Virginia (4-3)
Villanova (5-4)
USC (3-5)

Comments/who should also be on this list? (and no MU should not now be on this list at 7-2)

Don't hold your breath. UNC and Kentucky have missed the tournament in the same year only 8 times since World War II. And it hasn't happened since 1974. They'll dance.

[Tugg Speedman]

Keep in mind that Kentucky and UCLA already set world records in the last week.

(yes I agree they will probably turn it around by March but they should be concerned, very concerned, in Lexington and Los Angeles)

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=34641.msg424524#msg424524

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http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8705884/kentucky-wildcats-take-biggest-plunge-ap-top-25-history

Kentucky went from 8 to unranked in one week.  The poll was expanded to 25 in 1990 and this was the biggest one week drop ever.

Here are the four week largest one week declines.


Kentucky    8th    This Week
Missouri    9th    Jan. 10, 2011
UCLA    11th    Last Week
Indiana    11th    Dec. 29, 1994

Note that the third largest weekly decline ever was also this week, UCLA went from 11 to unranked.

[The Equalizer]

Keep in mind that Kentucky and UCLA already set world records in the last week.

(yes I agree they will probably turn it around by March but they should be concerned, very concerned, in Lexington and Los Angeles)

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=34641.msg424524#msg424524

----------------------------------------------------

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8705884/kentucky-wildcats-take-biggest-plunge-ap-top-25-history

Kentucky went from 8 to unranked in one week.  The poll was expanded to 25 in 1990 and this was the biggest one week drop ever.

Here are the four week largest one week declines.


Kentucky    8th    This Week
Missouri    9th    Jan. 10, 2011
UCLA    11th    Last Week
Indiana    11th    Dec. 29, 1994

Note that the third largest weekly decline ever was also this week, UCLA went from 11 to unranked.

Keep in mind that there there's a whole lot of room between 25 and 68.  Just because UK dropped out of the top 25 doesn't mean they dropped out of NCAA tournament . . .yet.  Yes, they have some work to do in conference play--but that's no different than MU right now. 

Meanwhile, if you truly believe that Wisconsin is an NIT-level team, then you can't turn around and point to our win over them as being overly impressive. You don't build your resume' on beating NIT teams--I think we've got to have at least one win over an NCAA-bound team under our belts.   

[robmufan]

Keep in mind that there there's a whole lot of room between 25 and 68.  Just because UK dropped out of the top 25 doesn't mean they dropped out of NCAA tournament . . .yet.  Yes, they have some work to do in conference play--but that's no different than MU right now. 

Meanwhile, if you truly believe that Wisconsin is an NIT-level team, then you can't turn around and point to our win over them as being overly impressive. You don't build your resume' on beating NIT teams--I think we've got to have at least one win over an NCAA-bound team under our belts.   

Cincinnati has tried the crappy schedule to rack up wins...and then a .500 conference schedule

[GoldenZebra]

Cincinnati has tried the crappy schedule to rack up wins...and then a .500 conference schedule

Seriously, I dont know how they get away with it. They are good, but I dont know if they are a top 15 team...

[Eye]

A month later, gotta give some credit to Another. NC did indeed belong on this list.

[Benny B]

A month later, gotta give some credit to Another. NC did indeed belong on this list.

No credit for the guy who predicted the Rodents with a "very nice RPI"?

[setyoursightsnorth]

Yesterday should have strengthened Kentucky's position in the NIT. They got away with a win in a game that was once again decided by the officials (just like the Arizona/Colorado game a few weeks back on the buzzer-beater that wasn't). Kentucky got away with somehow scoring when they committed a shot-clock violation (the ball was still in Noel's hand when the clock stuck 0). The game ended as a 60-58 win for kentucky. Questionable at best.

UNC lost to Miami (OH), 0-2 in ACC.

You may still be right!

[MerrittsMustache]

Yesterday should have strengthened Kentucky's position in the NIT. They got away with a win in a game that was once again decided by the officials (just like the Arizona/Colorado game a few weeks back on the buzzer-beater that wasn't). Kentucky got away with somehow scoring when they committed a shot-clock violation (the ball was still in Noel's hand when the clock stuck 0). The game ended as a 60-58 win for kentucky. Questionable at best.

UNC lost to Miami (OH), 0-2 in ACC.

You may still be right!

That UK-Vandy game was different than Zona/Colorado. Noel's shot wasn't a game-winning shot as the clock expired. It put Kentucky up 5 with 17 seconds to play. If that shot gets waved off (as it should have been), that changes the way that the last 17 seconds play out. The officials couldn't look at a replay of that shot to try to correct it.

In the Arizona game, Colorado's shot that won the game should have counted. The refs looked at it and somehow waved it off despite visual evidence to the contrary.

[setyoursightsnorth]

That UK-Vandy game was different than Zona/Colorado. Noel's shot wasn't a game-winning shot as the clock expired. It put Kentucky up 5 with 17 seconds to play. If that shot gets waved off (as it should have been), that changes the way that the last 17 seconds play out. The officials couldn't look at a replay of that shot to try to correct it.

In the Arizona game, Colorado's shot that won the game should have counted. The refs looked at it and somehow waved it off despite visual evidence to the contrary.

While the game was different, you can say that it was a game decided by the officials. Vandy called time-out for their coach to state his case, but the play wasn't reviewed. And that Arizona call was disgusting. That Kentucky basket should have not counted. Would it have changed the game? Maybe. Vandy would still have to go for the 3 to tie.

You could argue that Noel's was the game winner, as it ended up being the difference between a win and overtime. Just wasn't a buzzer beater.