College basketball

[billy.pilgrim]

https://www.si.com/college/auburn/baske ... -to-auburn

“ According to 247Sports, Dybantsa is a 5-star recruit with a 1.000 composite rating. He is the top-ranked player nationally, the top-ranked small forward and the top-ranked player in the state of California.

Other than Auburn, several top programs are in the running to land Dybantsa's talents. These programs include Baylor, Kentucky, North Carolina and USC.”

[billy.pilgrim]

I thought that the KenPom was a respected computer ranking system.
My biggest complaint with the ap and even more so with the Coaches Poll is these individual voters can’t be up on enough teams to make a well informed assessment. Maybe that’s what you meant by “historical” - they’re mainly watching the legacy schools. But that doesn’t explain Duke. Maybe they’re watching too closely.

idk - it’s basketball

I'm sure the writers, who also may rely somewhat on various computer rankings, have variable levels of info and intelligence, but I still like the idea of a group product. If someone proves to me that any one computer ranking, which is necessarily limited by the subjective judgements of the programmer, consistently is a superior predictor of outcomes over the years I will start paying more attention.

By "Historically, the SEC other than KY and FL has neither deserved nor gotten basketball respect," I was mostly referring to MM results, not the biases of AP poll writers.

Re Championships

I would put more importance on being consistently in the top eight as a mark of a good bball school over a single championship game.
I think that Auburn is becoming a basketball school, but I don’t think that had the ref made the right call and sent us to the Championship Game would have qualified us as a basketball school. On the other hand, if we start making the Elite Eight and the Final Four more often than not, Championship or no championship, I’d call us a basketball school.

Fair enough, but that's too complicated with so many teams for me to make the comparisons If you know of someone that's calculated and compared Elite Eight and Final Four appearances for every team, I'm all ears.

Anyhow, I've not opined on whether WDE is "a basketball school." I merely expressed some understanding for why the SEC besides KY and FL doesn't get the respect from sportswriters that you think it deserves. Win more and that will change.

Maybe you and I are both a bit behind in our thinking about Auburn basketball.
If there’s anyone on top of where the best teams are - this California guy knows more than all of us.
Dybantsa is a 5-star recruit with a 1.000 composite rating. He is the top-ranked player nationally.
His choice for the best basketball schools boils down to two SEC schools including Auburn, one ACC includes North Carolina, one Big 12 and one home state Big 10 school.


Then this popped up on my news feed yesterday. Maybe the SEC does have a good basketball reputation among at least some sports writers.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... es-2023-24

“some conclusions on the major men's Division I conferences and where they rank in 2024 -- particularly before one of them disappears in a few months.

To put those conclusions on the record at the very beginning of the calendar year, ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi and John Gasaway sat down and ranked the major conferences. Balancing measures of top-to-bottom strength like KenPom with less comprehensive metrics like AP rankings and projected seeds, they came up with their very own combined rankings. Here's how they see the power conferences shaping up, counting down from No. 6 all the way to No. 1.”

1. Big 12
2. SEC
3. Big Ten
4. Big East
5. ACC
6. Pac 12

It looks like the SEC looks pretty good to these guys too.

[Vrede too]

Maybe you and I are both a bit behind in our thinking about Auburn basketball.
If there’s anyone on top of where the best teams are - this California guy knows more than all of us.
Dybantsa is a 5-star recruit with a 1.000 composite rating. He is the top-ranked player nationally.
His choice for the best basketball schools boils down to two SEC schools including Auburn, one ACC includes North Carolina, one Big 12 and one home state Big 10 school.


Then this popped up on my news feed yesterday. Maybe the SEC does have a good basketball reputation among at least some sports writers.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... es-2023-24

“some conclusions on the major men's Division I conferences and where they rank in 2024 -- particularly before one of them disappears in a few months.

To put those conclusions on the record at the very beginning of the calendar year, ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi and John Gasaway sat down and ranked the major conferences. Balancing measures of top-to-bottom strength like KenPom with less comprehensive metrics like AP rankings and projected seeds, they came up with their very own combined rankings. Here's how they see the power conferences shaping up, counting down from No. 6 all the way to No. 1.”

1. Big 12
2. SEC
3. Big Ten
4. Big East
5. ACC
6. Pac 12

It looks like the SEC looks pretty good to these guys too.

Cool, but remember that I said all along, "Historically, the SEC other than KY and FL has neither deserved nor gotten basketball respect."

I'm not able to read past "6. Pac 12" because of the paywall, so I'm ignorant about the rationale offered, but I wonder if SEC minus KY and FL would still get that #2 ranking.

Aside:
"6. Pac 12" - Could be. AZ is sometimes good and UCLA has memories of glory.
"5. ACC" - VA, UNC and Duke should hang their heads in shame.
"4. Big East" - UConn has often dominated. Others like Georgetown and Xavier have often had killer years.

[billy.pilgrim]

Maybe you and I are both a bit behind in our thinking about Auburn basketball.
If there’s anyone on top of where the best teams are - this California guy knows more than all of us.
Dybantsa is a 5-star recruit with a 1.000 composite rating. He is the top-ranked player nationally.
His choice for the best basketball schools boils down to two SEC schools including Auburn, one ACC includes North Carolina, one Big 12 and one home state Big 10 school.


Then this popped up on my news feed yesterday. Maybe the SEC does have a good basketball reputation among at least some sports writers.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... es-2023-24

“some conclusions on the major men's Division I conferences and where they rank in 2024 -- particularly before one of them disappears in a few months.

To put those conclusions on the record at the very beginning of the calendar year, ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi and John Gasaway sat down and ranked the major conferences. Balancing measures of top-to-bottom strength like KenPom with less comprehensive metrics like AP rankings and projected seeds, they came up with their very own combined rankings. Here's how they see the power conferences shaping up, counting down from No. 6 all the way to No. 1.”

1. Big 12
2. SEC
3. Big Ten
4. Big East
5. ACC
6. Pac 12

It looks like the SEC looks pretty good to these guys too.

Cool, but remember that I said all along, "Historically, the SEC other than KY and FL has neither deserved nor gotten basketball respect."

I'm not able to read past "6. Pac 12" because of the paywall, so I'm ignorant about the rationale offered, but I wonder if SEC minus KY and FL would still get that #2 ranking.

Aside:
"6. Pac 12" - Could be. AZ is sometimes good and UCLA has memories of glory.
"5. ACC" - VA, UNC and Duke should hang their heads in shame.
"4. Big East" - UConn has often dominated. Others like Georgetown and Xavier have often had killer years.

Weird - no paywall when I read it, but now there’s a paywall.

This article is somewhat similar with the SEC at third.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/100 ... -23-season

I’m glad to see that more than two SEC schools have decided to become seriously competitive in basketball.

[billy.pilgrim]

I know it’s Chattanooga, but not bad shooting

Jaylin Williams 9/9 includes two 3 point shots plus 1/1 at the foul line had 0 fouls in his 19 minutes of play against Chattanooga

[billy.pilgrim]

https://nypost.com/2024/01/04/sports/th ... -here/amp/

“The now common stomping and humiliation of mismatched college and high school basketball teams — the Grambling women’s team this week defeated the College of Biblical Studies by an unholy 159-18.”

Remember Mel could, or should become a thing.
“Mel Feldman was the upstate New York girls high school basketball coach whose kids were being mercilessly mauled”
At halftime he told his team “that if winning by as many points as possible is so important to the opposing coach, his kids might help him out by scoring into their own basket.”
And they loved it.

“That opposing coach got it. He never again instructed his kids, annually blessed with superior talent, to humiliate an opponent.”

[Vrede too]

Remember Mel!

Weird - no paywall when I read it, but now there’s a paywall.

This article is somewhat similar with the SEC at third.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/100 ... -23-season

I’m glad to see that more than two SEC schools have decided to become seriously competitive in basketball.

Dead Weight: South Carolina

Metaphor for the nation.

I know it’s Chattanooga, but not bad shooting

Jaylin Williams 9/9 includes two 3 point shots plus 1/1 at the foul line had 0 fouls in his 19 minutes of play against Chattanooga

Congrats?

[billy.pilgrim]

I was worried. All the hype was for the piggies. They were supposed to be indestructible in their arena in front of their crowd. They started strong with an early six point lead, before we beat them by 32 for their biggest loss ever from their arena.
WDE 83 - 51

[billy.pilgrim]

UCF took down Kansas. They’re almost as bad as bammer. Kinda almost barely makes me like Mickey’s team

[Vrede too]

Marty Blazer, college hoops bribery informant, dies at 53

... Police in Findlay Township wrote in an email that Louis Martin "Marty" Blazer III, 53, died of natural causes but declined to provide further information....

... According to filings in federal court, Blazer agreed to work with the FBI to dig further into the world of financial advisers, agents, apparel companies and coaches steering athletes to particular schools, firms or brands through bribes.

Blazer's information, cooperation and testimony in the investigation helped the government secure 10 convictions for crimes related to arranging for and paying bribes to college athletes, their relatives or associates, and coaches. It landed an Adidas executive and two associates in prison, along with convictions of four assistant coaches, two of whom received short prison sentences.

The criminal investigation also prompted a wide-ranging NCAA investigation of about a dozen Division I programs and directly or indirectly led to the firing or discipline of multiple coaches, including LSU's Will Wade, Arizona's Sean Miller and Louisville's Rick Pitino, and sanctions against various schools....

Conspiracy theorists, you're up.

[Vrede too]

I was worried. All the hype was for the piggies. They were supposed to be indestructible in their arena in front of their crowd. They started strong with an early six point lead, before we beat them by 32 for their biggest loss ever from their arena.
WDE 83 - 51

The now 9-5 Swine weren't ranked and hadn't even received any AP votes.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... asontype/2
Then, you stomped TAMU, not ranked but had received votes. Congrats! Auburn has now jumped up 9 to #16. CONGRATS!! Next up, voteless LSU and Vandy, easy-peasy
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... asontype/2

UCF took down Kansas. They’re almost as bad as bammer.

Unranked voteless (for now) Mickey Mouse 65, #3 Kansas 60

Kinda almost barely makes me like Mickey’s team

It gets even better:

UCF's win over Kansas caps 2-day takedown of all top-three teams

After his team bounced back from a 16-point deficit in the first half to secure a 65-60 win over No. 3 Kansas on Wednesday, UCF coach Johnny Dawkins couldn't get through the crowd. With every step he took, there were handshakes and high fives to congratulate him on his team snapping an eight-game losing streak against ranked teams.

But another historic moment also unfolded in that win: For just the fourth time in college basketball history and the first time in 20 years, the top three teams in the Associated Press poll have all lost to unranked opponents in a two-day span, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Jayhawks' loss Wednesday followed Purdue's 88-72 loss at Nebraska and Houston's 57-53 loss at Iowa State, both of which unfolded Tuesday. Tennessee, ranked No. 5, also lost 77-72 at Mississippi State on Wednesday.

This is the first time in the history of the Associated Press poll that four top-five teams have lost to unranked teams in a two-day span, per ESPN Stats & Info....

UNC #7
Duke #11
San Diego State #19

[billy.pilgrim]

Arkansas at Arkansas is pretty damn special

[billy.pilgrim]

This one looked like it was going to be even more specialer.
Our 28 point half time lead and Mr Mo disappeared early in the second half after they hit four unanswered 3s. They further cut our lead to 8 with about ten minutes remaining.
Final
Auburn - 93
Corn Dogs - 78

[billy.pilgrim]

https://www.si.com/college/auburn/baske ... in-the-nba


Kessler is third in the NBA when it comes to blocks per game, averaging 2.6 behind this year's number-one pick, Victor Wembanyama (3.2), and veteran Brook Lopez (2.9).

“On the season, Kessler is averaging 8.8 points per game and 7.7 rebounds in 24 minutes per game.”

[Vrede too]

This one looked like it was going to be even more specialer.
Our 28 point half time lead and Mr Mo disappeared early in the second half after they hit four unanswered 3s. They further cut our lead to 8 with about ten minutes remaining.
Final
Auburn - 93
Corn Dogs - 78

Congrats, should move up from #16. 14-2 1st in SEC, 9 in a row, 15-1 (lost to 13-4 App St ) since losing to now #14 Baylor in the season opener

https://www.si.com/college/auburn/baske ... in-the-nba

Kessler is third in the NBA when it comes to blocks per game, averaging 2.6 behind this year's number-one pick, Victor Wembanyama (3.2), and veteran Brook Lopez (2.9).

“On the season, Kessler is averaging 8.8 points per game and 7.7 rebounds in 24 minutes per game.”

His younger brothers, Runner and Jumper, are even better

(Unranked 12-5, 1-3) Auburn upsets No. 7 LSU, ends Tigers' 16-game win streak

[billy.pilgrim]

I was worried. All the hype was for the piggies. They were supposed to be indestructible in their arena in front of their crowd. They started strong with an early six point lead, before we beat them by 32 for their biggest loss ever from their arena.
WDE 83 - 51

The now 9-5 Swine weren't ranked and hadn't even received any AP votes.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... asontype/2
Then, you stomped TAMU, not ranked but had received votes. Congrats! Auburn has now jumped up 9 to #16. CONGRATS!! Next up, voteless LSU and Vandy, easy-peasy
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... asontype/2

UCF took down Kansas. They’re almost as bad as bammer.

Unranked voteless (for now) Mickey Mouse 65, #3 Kansas 60

Kinda almost barely makes me like Mickey’s team

It gets even better:

UCF's win over Kansas caps 2-day takedown of all top-three teams

After his team bounced back from a 16-point deficit in the first half to secure a 65-60 win over No. 3 Kansas on Wednesday, UCF coach Johnny Dawkins couldn't get through the crowd. With every step he took, there were handshakes and high fives to congratulate him on his team snapping an eight-game losing streak against ranked teams.

But another historic moment also unfolded in that win: For just the fourth time in college basketball history and the first time in 20 years, the top three teams in the Associated Press poll have all lost to unranked opponents in a two-day span, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Jayhawks' loss Wednesday followed Purdue's 88-72 loss at Nebraska and Houston's 57-53 loss at Iowa State, both of which unfolded Tuesday. Tennessee, ranked No. 5, also lost 77-72 at Mississippi State on Wednesday.

This is the first time in the history of the Associated Press poll that four top-five teams have lost to unranked teams in a two-day span, per ESPN Stats & Info....

UNC #7
Duke #11
San Diego State #19

Explaining away stupid moves

https://www.si.com/college/arkansas/hog ... urn-mazara

squealing piggie on why he pushed Auburn player who was running circles around him

who says piggies aren’t funny

“Arkansas Razorbacks fans finally have an explanation as to why guard Davonte Davis flattened Auburn's Chad Baker-Mazara with a powerful shove out of nowhere during the second half of the Hogs' loss to the Tigers at Bud Walton Arena.

Davonte “says” that Chad “was hitting Davis over and over” and after “he took a shot to the face and asked a nearby referee to go to the monitor and review what happened.” He says that the referee was “right there and [Mazara] pushed me then slapped me in my face,"
The bad ol’ ref “acted like he didn't see it” and refused to look at the replay.

This left him no other option than to take matters into his own hands after his appeal to the referee “on behalf of the rules of college basketball regarding reviews.”
“I said it's above the shoulders," Davis said. "Anything above the shoulders you're supposed to review. He said he couldn't do it. I told [the ref] 'Go look at this!'"
It was then that a poor frustrated scoreless Davis losing as his team never had and in their own arena no less “laid into an unsuspecting Baker-Mazara with his full force behind a shove that sent his presumed tormenter crashing to the floor. This time, as rules require, the referee went to the monitor to review what happened, then assessed a flagrant foul.”

Poor Devonte
2 points total in 25 minutes of play - both were foul shots (just maybe the refs were watching)
He did have 3 fouls called against him

Chad scored 16 points in 21 minutes and was 4/4 on foul shots, but then, maybe the scorekeeper was also wrong because according to Devonte, “They only got an extra point. I think he made one, miss one or whatever.”

[Vrede too]

AP Top 25
(1st place votes)

1 UConn(39) 15-2 up3, 1st #1 since 2009

4 North Carolina(1) 13-3 up3 GoO ReallyGo!

7 Duke 13-3 up4

13 Auburn 14-2 up3 Congrats!

(27) San Diego State, down from #19
(35) Oregon

[billy.pilgrim]

Remember Mel!

Weird - no paywall when I read it, but now there’s a paywall.

This article is somewhat similar with the SEC at third.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/100 ... -23-season

I’m glad to see that more than two SEC schools have decided to become seriously competitive in basketball.

Dead Weight: South Carolina

Metaphor for the nation.

I know it’s Chattanooga, but not bad shooting

Jaylin Williams 9/9 includes two 3 point shots plus 1/1 at the foul line had 0 fouls in his 19 minutes of play against Chattanooga

Congrats?

Jaylin does it again against Vandy

7 of 7 includes 2 of 2 from outside the 3 point mark and 2 of 2 foul shots.

WDE

[O Really]

(27) San Diego State, down from #19

Aztecs getting no respect this year for a team that went to the finals last season. Sure they got thumped in the final, but they earned their chance.

Must be Bammer voters.

[Vrede too]

Congrats, billy.pilgrim.

(27) San Diego State, down from #19

Aztecs getting no respect this year for a team that went to the finals last season. Sure they got thumped in the final, but they earned their chance.

Must be Bammer voters.

They even beat #1 Alabama in the Sweet Sixteen. Won 71-59 vs Nevada last night. Congrats. Next ranked opponent is vs 16 Utah State on Feb 3 and @Utah State again on Feb 20, no other ranked opponent. Pretty tough to advance that way. Gonna have to be another insane Cinderella run again this year