Kansas it is (NIT)

[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.