2023-2024 College Basketball Thread

[CountryRoads]

I didn't see most of the game but I have to agree about that FT disparity.  If Wisky gets  crazy home cooking Purdue will have some probs for sure.  That team doesn't have much depth.

Hate to say it, but if Providence somehow pulls off the upset and Badgers win Sunday they would have my vote for #1.

[MuggsyB]

Hate to say it, but if Providence somehow pulls off the upset and Badgers win Sunday they would have my vote for #1.

They're unfortunately good.  I think there are 7 teams that can win it, including Marquette and Wisconsin.   If Houston beats Kansas they'll be #1. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Beat Georgetown and Kentucky will not be ahead of us in either poll

[MU82]

Is there any ranking higher than #1. If so, I'm so concerned that Madison will get it! It's so worrisome! All I can think about, day and night, is what Madison is ranked!

[MuggsyB]

Is there any ranking higher than #1. If so, I'm so concerned that Madison will get it! It's so worrisome! All I can think about, day and night, is what Madison is ranked!

They'll lose to Nebraska. 

[HowardsWorld]

They'll lose to Nebraska.

I would say there’s a greater chance they lose tomorrow than Sunday. For some reason Nebraska shoots almost 50% from 3 at home. Would not be shocked if they won tomorrow. According to the spread the line is actually a pick ‘em

[MuggsyB]

UCONN is completely out of sorts.

[Judge Smails]

UCONN is completely out of sorts.

they will win

[MuggsyB]

46 fouls.  Jeesh. 

[TallTitan34]

46 fouls.  Jeesh.

I believe 48 by the end.

[rocket surgeon]

Chris Collins…my man!!

  loved the guy as a player!  hope we don't somehow run into them in the dance. 

his exit spoke volumes!  46-8 free throw gap??  largest in big ten over the past 25 years??  ya mean that was beat this year nonetheless?  yup NE 51-9 over old dominion last december.  was that breeder guy there too?  buie never got to line?? 

hope those refs ain't in the tourney any where

[1SE]

I would say there’s a greater chance they lose tomorrow than Sunday. For some reason Nebraska shoots almost 50% from 3 at home. Would not be shocked if they won tomorrow. According to the spread the line is actually a pick ‘em

I want UW to be good - very good - but I just want us to beat them always and everywhere.

No badger tears would be sweeter than those rolling down the eyes that watch us cut down the nets in front of them. True disappointment can only stem from true hope. You'll never see a DePaul fan cry. 

[lawdog77]

I want UW to be good - very good - but I just want us to beat them always and everywhere.

No badger tears would be sweeter than those rolling down the eyes that watch us cut down the nets in front of them. True disappointment can only stem from true hope. You'll never see a the DePaul fan cry.

FIFY

[wisblue]

Beat Georgetown and Kentucky will not be ahead of us in either poll

In the ranking that really matters (the NCAA seed list) Marquette is already ahead of Kentucky in the opinions of the bracketologists that I follow and trust, such as brewcity and Bracketville Dave.

If MU can win the 7 remaining games in which they should be favored they will be in great position for a solid NCAA seed.

[MU82]

From Yahoo Sports, a pretty incredible story about a guy coaching both the men's team and the women's team at his NAIA school:

Only a few months ago, LSU Shreveport athletic director Lucas Morgan approached his men's basketball coach with an audacious plea. Morgan asked Kyle Blankenship if he'd be willing to take on the challenge of also coaching the school's women's basketball team this season.

That wasn't a request Morgan ever expected to make, but these were desperate circumstances. LSU Shreveport's previous women's basketball coach had just abruptly resigned a little over two weeks before the team's Oct. 27 season opener to tend to a family situation.

Morgan didn't think he had time to conduct an external search for a replacement, nor did he feel the team's 27-year-old assistant coach was ready to take over. As a result, he turned to Blankenship, the trusted men's coach who had guided LSU Shreveport to the NAIA national tournament in each of his first 11 seasons.

At first, Blankenship was hesitant. He wanted to help the women's players whose coach had just abandoned them, but he worried that he'd miss too many practices and games as a result of scheduling conflicts. He didn't see how he could coach two teams at the same time without leaving at least one feeling shortchanged.

Blankenship began to reconsider after Morgan returned with printouts of both teams' 2023-24 schedules. Morgan showed him there was only one day when the men's and women's teams played simultaneously in different states and an assistant would have to coach the women in Blankenship's absence.

Blankenship, 40, called his wife Alexis to get her opinion. "Let's do it," she told him. "I trust you, and I know you're capable."

The three-and-a-half months since Blankenship took on double duty have been some of the most taxing yet rewarding of his coaching career. Fueled by a mix of stubborn determination, encouragement from loved ones and excessive caffeine, Blankenship is thriving in a dual role few other college coaches have ever attempted.

‌The results so far: The women's team is 17-2 and sits atop the Red River Athletic Conference. The men's team is 15-4 and one of four teams still in striking distance of an RRAC title.

What he's saying: "I had a lot of people tell me I was crazy when I did this, and I would say they're probably right," Blankenship told Yahoo Sports. "But any challenge that is put in front of me, I want to always try to do my best, have fun while I'm doing it and never quit. That's the mindset I've tried to take."

I love the first part of that quote. All in all, an awesome accomplishment by this coach.

[tower912]

I did a minor league version of that when my daughter was in 8th grade.  My friend and I co-coached the boys and girls teams.  Held practices back to back.   During games, I was the boss for the girls games, he ran the boys games.   Fun year.

[HowardsWorld]

I don't know what it is but I am not sold on Purdue. I still think they are a sweet 16 team at best. If the refs actually call a fair game they can be beaten by a lot of teams. Just going based on ESPN Bracketology I would pick #4 Auburn to beat them in the sweet 16.

[mugrad_89]

I don't know what it is but I am not sold on Purdue. I still think they are a sweet 16 team at best. If the refs actually call a fair game they can be beaten by a lot of teams. Just going based on ESPN Bracketology I would pick #4 Auburn to beat them in the sweet 16.

It truly does come down to how the game is called.  If Purdue gets the free throw disparity we saw last nite, they’ll always be in their games.  Conversely, if Edey gets called for his constant elbows, they’re in trouble.

[WhiteTrash]

Kentucky laid an egg last night. The "great" Ivisic with 1 point in 6 minutes. 

[The Lens]

11 straight (NAIA) tourneys and he's still at the same school?  That's impressive / interesting / unusual...

[brewcity77]

Tennessee lost to a much better team even though it was on their home floor.

Ehh, one night sample size. Did Marquette lose to a much better team when Butler got us on our home floor? Tennessee has a much better resume than South Carolina, regardless of the events of a single game in a 30-34 game pre-NCAA season.

[SaveOD238]

Ehh, one night sample size. Did Marquette lose to a much better team when Butler got us on our home floor? Tennessee has a much better resume than South Carolina, regardless of the events of a single game in a 30-34 game pre-NCAA season.

I think they were saying that Tennessee lost to a better team (South Carolina) than UNC did (Georgia Tech).  Having not seen either before last night, I don't really have an opinion.

[JWags85]

I think they were saying that Tennessee lost to a better team (South Carolina) than UNC did (Georgia Tech).  Having not seen either before last night, I don't really have an opinion.

USC is clearly a better team, but their record is inflated cause they played a really weak non con.  Until the last week beating UK and UT (which is incredibly impressive don’t get me wrong) they hadn’t had single notable win and lost by 25+ to Bama 2 weeks ago.  There was a reason they weren’t ranked this week before the UT game despite being 17-3 and just beating #6 UK.

 That being said, record aside, pretty impressive what Damon Stoudamire has done so far at GT.  Pastner left a middling mess that hadn’t won more than 6 ACC games in a few years.  Stoudamire only returned 1 of the top 5 min getters from last year. The other 3 main contributors are a transfer who couldn’t get min for an NIT Florida team and 2 freshman, one who was barely top 200 and the other whose other offer was from Sam Houston State.
And still they’ve already beaten Duke and UNC and have a road win at Clemson.

[Viper]

Is there any ranking higher than #1. If so, I'm so concerned that Madison will get it! It's so worrisome! All I can think about, day and night, is what Madison is ranked!

if you lived in WI, you’d feel differently. UW is gum on the sole of your new shoes.

[Scoop Snoop]

if you lived in WI, you’d feel differently. UW is gum on the sole of your new shoes.

I get that Viper. Friends, family, coworkers, neighbors who are UW alum or just UW fans who act as if it was a pro team love to remind you that their team beat Marquette. There's not much you can do to fight back unless, like last year, UW goes to the NIT. Even then, it's not the same as being able to remind them "we won!" because we didn't.