College Basketball thoughts

[pvfan]

Well, were near the end of the year. Most teams are finishing up their out of conference schedule and getting ready for league play. Nothing really has shocked me so far, I'm currently sitting here watchint UNC barely beat St. Louis. It's at St. Louis though, and St. Louis is a good team, I think UNC will win but it's not going to be a blowout. You go on the road and you can lose, I dont care who you are. Below is the current RPI ratings, I show these because honestly I think the selection committee uses this more than the polls to determine seeding and who gets in.

RPI Top 25 (Courtesy of kenpom.com)
1 Arizona P10 9-1 .7221
2 Duke ACC 11-1 .7078
3 UCLA P10 9-0 .6921
4 Butler Horz 10-1 .6879
5 Drexel CAA 6-2 .6584
6 Clemson ACC 11-0 .6542
7 Pittsburgh BE 10-2 .6529
8 Oklahoma St. B12 12-1 .6434
9 North Carolina ACC 9-1 .6431
10 Wisconsin B10 11-1 .6429
11 Maryland ACC 10-2 .6429
12 Villanova BE 7-2 .6401
13 Alabama SEC 10-1 .6400
14 Nevada Las Vegas MWC 9-2 .6356
15 Gonzaga WCC 9-4 .6355
16 Oregon P10 10-0 .6342
17 Kentucky SEC 8-3 .6323
18 Appalachian St. SC 7-3 .6320
19 Florida St. ACC 10-2 .6306
20 Wichita St. MVC 8-0 .6302
21 Southern Methodist CUSA 7-1 .6263
22 Southern Illinois MVC 7-2 .6254
23 Tennessee SEC 9-2 .6249
24 Memphis CUSA 8-3 .6242
25 Ohio St. B10 10-1 .6222

Some shocking teams in that mix, and normally at this time of year it starts to shake out. I honestly dont think CLemson is the 5th best team in the country but after the performances UVA, Wake, and NC. St. have put up it wouldn't suprise me to see them make a push for the dance. Appy State has jumped through the roof after winning that tournament down in Puerto Rico, and UVA fell off the charts. Once again, the ACC is the highest rated conference in the country. However, once again I think they'll end up being left out on selection Sunday. The Mid-Majors benefit so much by the RPI it's beyond belief, the Witchita St.'s of the world (who I think is a pretty solid team) play the Indiana St.'s while others are traveling to some of the hardest places to play in the nation. In the end I'd say you'll see more mid-majors than ever in the big dance. If you stop and look there are so many mid majors with seniors it's going to be hard for them to lose games and with the rpi set up they will end up with pretty high seeds. It wouldn't suprise me at all to have another mid major in the final four again this year. Here is my top 10 as we go into the new year.

1. UCLA: Big time wins over UK and Ga. Tech already.
2. North Carolina: Their bench can beat most teams
3. Ohio St.: Oden's back now but I dont see them winning it all not enough big game expierence.
4. Duke: They cant throw a ball in an ocean but their opponents cant either. Duke wins on defense this year.
5.Wisconsin: Yawn, Bo Ryan's style is boring but it wins. Tucker and company could win the Big Ten.
6.Florida: Defending champs are being hit by the injury bug. Come tournament time they'll be pretty good.
7.Arizona: Play the UVA game any other time and this team is undefeated.
8.Pittsburgh: Tough game against Oklahoma St, not sure Jameson Curry can be on fire like that every night. Pitt will be tough to handle in the Big East and are my pick to win the conference.
9.Alabama: The Tide's future is in basketball not football, never thought that would be the case. Once Steele gets healthy they can make a serious run. I cant wait to see Bama lock up with the Gators.
10.Witicha St: You go on the road and beat two of last years final four and your in the top ten. Throw in a road win at Syracuse and the Shockers might just shock the world.

[Ironlung]

Don't know if you heard or not D.D., but Jordan Howell broke his shooting hand. He's out for 6-8 weeks.

[pvfan]

When this happen?

[Ironlung]

Against OSU. He hurt it in the offseason, broke it in that game.

[gcdevil22]

thats the same Appy State team VT beat 69-37

lol, VT. Perinnial NIT Powerhouse lol

[pvfan]

Haha, you want me to get on here and point out Maryland's wins and loses? Maryland beat Michigan State and Illinois, and there loses are to Notre Dame and Boston College. Virginia Tech fans on the other hand point out Appy St. as a big win. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Sorry had to do it, you still going to get me some free grub for that Maryland game next month?