Kansas it is (NIT)

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Per Jon Rothstein.

Tennessee gets Louisville. 

[barfolomew]

As suspected, ESPN trying to set up the KU-Tenn final.
Little do they know...

[MUBigDance]

Feel like we have to win the first. A Loss and LV win just won't be satisfying. Otherwise will run the table on the rest of the noncon.

[Mr. Nielsen]

As suspected, ESPN trying to set up the KU-Tenn final.
Little do they know...

I think they are setting up a Kansas-Louisville Final. UL turns the needle!

[Benny B]

I think they are setting up a Kansas-Louisville Final. UL turns the needle!

Imagine their surprise when it's MU and Tenn in the final.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Imagine their surprise when it's MU and Tenn in the final.

Going for the Kevin O'Neill story line obviously

[Nukem2]

I think they are setting up a Kansas-Louisville Final. UL turns the needle!

Doubt that Louisville can beat TN.  Cards are somewhat down this season.

[dgies9156]

Imagine their surprise when it's MU and Tenn in the final.

Sorry Vol fans.  Your footballl team is terrible and your basketball team, well.... when you lose to Marquette, life will be good again.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Last time MU, Kansas and Tenn were in a tournament together, Wojo broke the whiteboard. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Excited for the matchup. I think either Kansas or Kentucky will be the best team in the country next season. Don't see us winning this one but if we do....could mean great things for the rest of the season.

[barfolomew]

We could face the following in the non-con:
(Projected T-Rank)

1   Kansas
12  Tenn
22  Wisc
24  Indiana
25  Kansas St.

Or at worst, sub #46 Louisville for #12 Tenn.
Opportunities will be there for signature wins.

[MU82]

Feel like we have to win the first. A Loss and LV win just won't be satisfying. Otherwise will run the table on the rest of the noncon.

Whether we get LV after beating Kansas or after losing to Kansas, if we beat LV, it will be very satisfying for me.

We are not such a great program that we should be dissatisfied with victories. Indeed, no program is so great that it should look down at beating a blueblood - even a blueblood in a down year.

Go Marquette! It will be fun to beat Kansas and Kansas State in a 10-day span!

[rocket surgeon]

  ya'll writing off vermont? 
 about that same time, in nassau, (nov. 19, 2017) they gave kentucky a little diarrhea, only losing 73-69

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

  ya'll writing off vermont? 
 about that same time, in nassau, (nov. 19, 2017) they gave kentucky a little diarrhea, only losing 73-69

Vermont is one of the on campus teams. They don't play in the tournament in NYC.

[MuMark]

Whether we get LV after beating Kansas or after losing to Kansas, if we beat LV, it will be very satisfying for me.

We are not such a great program that we should be dissatisfied with victories. Indeed, no program is so great that it should look down at beating a blueblood - even a blueblood in a down year.

Go Marquette! It will be fun to beat Kansas and Kansas State in a 10-day span!

Agree.... expectations already getting out of hand when beating the preseason number 1 on a neutral court is considered imperative......lol.

Go 1-1 and I will be happy .......no matter who it is against.

[Benny B]

I wouldn’t be surprised if KU had it written in their contract something along the lines of “if KU projected in top 10, then first round matchup will be against next highest projected team.”  In other words, it’s an RPI play to ensure that they get the best RPI bump they can from the tournament, results notwithstanding.

It’s the reason UNC never plays Chaminade in Maui. They don’t want the win, they want the RPI. 

[Dr. Blackheart]

Just win, baby!

[jutaw22mu]

We could face the following in the non-con:
(Projected T-Rank)

1   Kansas
12  Tenn
22  Wisc
24  Indiana
25  Kansas St.

Or at worst, sub #46 Louisville for #12 Tenn.
Opportunities will be there for signature wins.

Wisconsin really is ranked this year?!?!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wisconsin really is ranked this year?!?!

Personally think 22 is generous but they should be safely in the tournament this season. If they aren't, could mean Gard isn't the answer in Madison

[barfolomew]

Wisconsin really is ranked this year?!?!

Those rankings are using T-Rank's 2019 projections:

http://www.barttorvik.com

I also think that is a little high for them.
Their number might be a bit skewed just because they return almost 94% of their minutes.

[Nukem2]

Well they do also get King and Trice back.

[brewcity77]

Personally think 22 is generous but they should be safely in the tournament this season. If they aren't, could mean Gard isn't the answer in Madison

I think safely in is generous. They weren't good with King & Trice early on, and look like a bubble team to me, especially as a team that wasn't even in the NIT last year.

[GooooMarquette]

We got this.

[Nukem2]

I think safely in is generous. They weren't good with King & Trice early on, and look like a bubble team to me, especially as a team that wasn't even in the NIT last year.

True, but these guys are also a year older.  We’ll see.

[brewcity77]

True, but these guys are also a year older.  We’ll see.

They are. I just think it's more likely they go from outside the NIT to bubble rather than outside the NIT to safely in or top-25 as some pundits are saying.

[Nukem2]

They are. I just think it's more likely they go from outside the NIT to bubble rather than outside the NIT to safely in or top-25 as some pundits are saying.

Yeah, don’t know that they are safely in.  Though they should probably be a  First Four team at least.  They did look good down the stretch and in the conference tourney this past season.

[Herman Cain]

I think they are setting up a Kansas-Louisville Final. UL turns the needle!

Does UL turn the needle, or does UL with Pitino coaching  turn the needle? Time will tell.

[MU82]

Yeah, don’t know that they are safely in.  Though they should probably be a  First Four team at least.  They did look good down the stretch and in the conference tourney this past season.

Screw F%cky, especially Floppy McFlopperson.

[bilsu]

I wouldn’t be surprised if KU had it written in their contract something along the lines of “if KU projected in top 10, then first round matchup will be against next highest projected team.”  In other words, it’s an RPI play to ensure that they get the best RPI bump they can from the tournament, results notwithstanding.

It’s the reason UNC never plays Chaminade in Maui. They don’t want the win, they want the RPI.

I suspect that Kansas is not worried about their RPI.

[1SE]

Well done - this is a no-lose situation. Chance for a top-10 program history win and a boost to the RPI no matter what.

[MU62]

What is a t ranking?

[brewcity77]

What is a t ranking?

http://www.barttorvik.com/

[Benny B]

I suspect that Kansas is not worried about their RPI.

Probably not... especially since most don't start to worry about RPI until early March.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Does UL turn the needle, or does UL with Pitino coaching  turn the needle? Time will tell.

I would say Louisville. The needle was turning with Denny Crum as coach. I think Chris Mack will win at UL. Strong local base as they are the only show in town.

[Nukem2]

I would say Louisville. The needle was turning with Denny Crum as coach. I think Chris Mack will win at UL. Strong local base as they are the only show in town.

Yes, Louisville fans do travel welll and Mack will do well.  Just not this upcoming season, though.

[Hubert Davis]

A lot of great opportunities this season...

Just win, baby!!!

[Babybluejeans]

Some folks had talked earlier about how our non-con is kinda weak because the cupcakes are too cupcakey. Does this change that outlook? Is non-con schedule going to possibly hold us back like it did a couple years ago?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Some folks had talked earlier about how our non-con is kinda weak because the cupcakes are too cupcakey. Does this change that outlook? Is non-con schedule going to possibly hold us back like it did a couple years ago?

There is a worst case scenario where we go 2-4 or worse against the 6 big time opponents and because of the cupcakes we have to do some major work in conference to make the tournament. I don't think it will come to that.

[MuMark]

Some folks had talked earlier about how our non-con is kinda weak because the cupcakes are too cupcakey. Does this change that outlook? Is non-con schedule going to possibly hold us back like it did a couple years ago?

Just add some context.......according to Pomeroy our non conference schedule the year you are talking about( Henry's only season) was ranked 342. RPI had it at 326. We won 20 games that season and still had an RPI of 113. We only played 2 top 50 RPI teams and 2 others in the top 100(barely....LSU was 95 and Belmont was 97) that season.

There is no version of this years schedule as being in that universe.

Our schedule is fine assuming we win our share of games.......which is all you can ask.

[Benny B]

Just add some context.......according to Pomeroy our non conference schedule the year you are talking about( Henry's only season) was ranked 342. RPI had it at 326. We won 20 games that season and still had an RPI of 113. We only played 2 top 50 RPI teams and 2 others in the top 100(barely....LSU was 95 and Belmont was 97) that season.

There is no version of this years schedule as being in that universe.

Our schedule is fine assuming we win our share of games.......which is all you can ask.

This.

Consider that how much frosting a cupcake has on it does not change the fact that it's still a cupcake.  So much attention is paid to the overall non-conference schedule strength that we tend to overlook the individual opportunities.  For example.... consider the following scenario.

Team A's non-con opponents included two Quadrant I games, three QII, two QIII and ten QIV. 
Team B's non-con opponents included zero QI, three QII, twelve QIII and three QIV.

Overall, Teams A and B may have a very similar non-con SOS, but the individual matchups tell a completely different story.  Sure, Team A got fat on ten (QIV) cupcakes, but they also have an opportunity for five quality wins, two of which could solidify a resume.  Although Team B played less than a third of the cupcakes as Team A, they only had an opportunity for three quality wins, none of which would be considered signature or elite in front of the committee.

In other words, don't judge a buffet by the dessert bar... look at the marbling in the prime rib before grabbing a plate.

[The Equalizer]

As suspected, ESPN trying to set up the KU-Tenn final.
Little do they know...

I wouldn’t be surprised if KU had it written in their contract something along the lines of “if KU projected in top 10, then first round matchup will be against next highest projected team.”  In other words, it’s an RPI play to ensure that they get the best RPI bump they can from the tournament, results notwithstanding.

It’s the reason UNC never plays Chaminade in Maui. They don’t want the win, they want the RPI.

Really? UNC never plays Chaminade in Maui? 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Maui_Invitational_Tournament
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Maui_Invitational_Tournament

More to the point, I don't get this thinking that there's some scheming by ether Kansas or ESPN to set up a Kansas/Tennessee final. 

By all accounts, the're the two highest ranked teams.  So it's only natural that they would not face each other in the first round.

If ESPN truly thought a profit maximizing matchup was Kansas and Tennessee, they would have tried to make that a first round game--because that's the only way to guarantee that game happens.

[bilsu]

Some folks had talked earlier about how our non-con is kinda weak because the cupcakes are too cupcakey. Does this change that outlook? Is non-con schedule going to possibly hold us back like it did a couple years ago?

Non-conference schedule is fine if we can go 10-3 or better, which means we got at least two quality wins.

[MU82]

Non-conference schedule is fine if we can go 10-3 or better, which means we got at least two quality wins.

So 13-0 would be kinda good, right?

[Benny B]

Really? UNC never plays Chaminade in Maui? 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Maui_Invitational_Tournament
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Maui_Invitational_Tournament

My mistake.  It’s actually UK that won’t play Chaminade.

[brewcity77]

Some folks had talked earlier about how our non-con is kinda weak because the cupcakes are too cupcakey. Does this change that outlook? Is non-con schedule going to possibly hold us back like it did a couple years ago?

I think people might be underestimating some of our cupcakes. Especially Presbyterian.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I think people might be underestimating some of our cupcakes. Especially Presbyterian.

To be fair, Presbyterian is easy to underestimate.

I am guessing they won't have another freshman year Desean Murray.  That dude was a beast against us a few years back.   

[Nukem2]

To be fair, Presbyterian is easy to underestimate.

Especially coming off an 11-21 season while losing its top two scorers (one of which was the PG).

[bilsu]

So 13-0 would be kinda good, right?

Your so wrong.
It would be superb.

[Jay Bee]

Your so wrong.

<cringe>

[brewcity77]

To be fair, Presbyterian is easy to underestimate.

I am guessing they won't have another freshman year Desean Murray.  That dude was a beast against us a few years back.

I know people think "ehh, they just filled a date with Presbyterian." I disagree. I think for a late add, that was a home run and this will be the best D1 team Presbyterian has ever fielded. Granted, that's not the highest of bars, but I think top-250 is highly likely and top-200 very possible.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I know people think "ehh, they just filled a date with Presbyterian." I disagree. I think for a late add, that was a home run and this will be the best D1 team Presbyterian has ever fielded. Granted, that's not the highest of bars, but I think top-250 is highly likely and top-200 very possible.

I am sure you've covered this before somewhere, but why exactly do you feel that way?

[brewcity77]

I am sure you've covered this before somewhere, but why exactly do you feel that way?

I actually haven't covered it too much yet. I'm working on non-con previews for Cracked Sidewalks that will start coming out shortly that elaborates why I am more bullish than most on Presbyterian.

[Benny B]

I am sure you've covered this before somewhere, but why exactly do you feel that way?

Brew already said it's a low bar...

[warriorjoe]

This is Ethan Happ's contract year to show he can play in The Lig (apologies to Hubie Brown). Go Warriors!

[MU82]

This is Ethan Happ's contract year to show he can play in The Lig (apologies to Hubie Brown). Go Warriors!

He can't.

The Lig is over slow, back-to-the basket big men with a 4-foot shooting range.

Unless he unveils a consistent 3-point stroke this season - ha! - he yam what he yam.

Doesn't mean he won't destroy us (though I don't think he will), it just means he's a real long shot for the NBA because he has no ability to hit the long shot!

[The Lens]

I'm surprised this news still isn't official.  Not really sure what PNIT / ESPN is waiting for.

[warriorjoe]

Kansas and Kentucky will be good, but Duke will win it all.

Go Warriors!

[wadesworld]

Kansas and Kentucky will be good, but Duke will win it all.

Go Warriors!

Nope.

[Lennys Tap]

I actually haven't covered it too much yet. I'm working on non-con previews for Cracked Sidewalks that will start coming out shortly that elaborates why I am more bullish than most on Presbyterian.

Less bearish works better than more bullish.

[LoudMouth]

I'm surprised this news still isn't official.  Not really sure what PNIT / ESPN is waiting for.

Has this been officially announced yet? Is it not strange that they still haven't said anything?

[Archies Bat]

FYI, tickets are now available through Ticketmaster.

[brewcity77]

Less bearish works better than more bullish.

For what it's worth, no it doesn't. You can see my Presbyterian preview up now with additional comments added in the thread on here. I think Presbyterian has the potential to be a Norfolk State 2012 type opponent. Maybe not with the 15/2 NCAA win, but playing competitively with high-majors and in the running for the conference title.