Road to Selection Sunday (Week 3)

[SelectionSunday]

RPI's listed are through Sunday's games and are courtesy of CollegeRPI.com.

This Week in the Big 10
Monday
Wofford at Illinois (Las Vegas Invitational)
Iowa vs. Texas (CBE Classic)
Purdue vs. Tennessee (Paradise Jam)
Wisconsin vs. Arizona (Maui Invitational)

Tuesday
Iowa vs. Pitt or Wichita State (CBE Classic)
Liberty at Northwestern (Chicago Challenge)
Lipscomb at Ohio State
Wisconsin vs. Colorado or Gonzaga (Maui Invitational)

Wednesday
Sacred Heart at Penn State
Wisconsin vs. Chaminade, Cincinnati, Maryland or Vanderbilt (Maui Invitational)

Thursday
Michigan vs. Creighton (Old Spice Classic)
Minnesota vs. Butler (76 Classic)

Friday
Illinois vs. Utah (Las Vegas Invitational)
Michigan vs. Marquette or Xavier (Old Spice Classic)
Michigan State vs. Florida (Legends Classic)
Minnesota vs. Portland or UCLA (76 Classic)
Northwestern vs. Notre Dame (Chicago Challenge)

Saturday
Illinois vs. Bradley or Oklahoma State (Las Vegas Invitational)
Northwestern State at Indiana
North Carolina Central at Iowa
Michigan State vs. Massachusetts or Rutgers (Legends Classic)
Northwestern vs. Iowa State or Saint Louis (Chicago Challenge)
St. Francis (Pa.) at Ohio State

Sunday
Michigan vs. Alabama, Baylor, Florida State or Iona (Old Spice Classic)
Minnesota vs. Clemson, Long Beach State, Texas A&M or West Virginia (76 Classic)

Worth Keeping An Eye On (non-Big 10)
Monday
Boston College vs. Northern Iowa (Paradise Jam)
Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt (Maui Invitational)

Tuesday
Cleveland State vs. Kentucky (Cancun Challenge)
Cornell at Syracuse
Florida State at Florida
Morgan State at Arkansas (Hall of Fame Showcase)

Wednesday
Arizona State vs. Duke (NIT Season Tip-Off)
Connecticut vs. LSU (NIT Season Tip-Off)
San Diego State at Pacific

Thursday
Clemson vs. Texas A&M (76 Classic)
Houston vs. Oklahoma (Great Alaska Shootout)
Marquette vs. Xavier (Old Spice Classic)
Portland vs. UCLA (76 Classic)

Friday
Mississippi State vs. Richmond (South Padre Island Invitational)
Missouri vs. Old Dominion (South Padre Island Invitational)
Nevada at VCU
St. John's vs. Siena (Philly Classic)
Temple vs Virginia Tech (Philly Classic)

Saturday
LaSalle at Villanova
Louisville at UNLV
St. John's vs. Temple (Philly Classic)
Tulsa at Missouri State
Wright State at Northeastern

Sunday
St. Bonaventure at Illinois State (Basketball Travelers Tournament)

Upset Special (0-2): Portland over UCLA (Thursday). Last week I missed on LaSalle over South Carolina; the Gamecocks won 78-68.

Bits & Pieces
(1) #1 in the RPI as of this morning is UNLV (2-0).

(2) Title-game picks for "Feast Week" tournaments. ... Clemson over Minnesota (76 Classic); Kentucky over Virginia (Cancun Challenge); Iowa State over Notre Dame (Chicago Challenge); Texas over Wichita State (CBE Classic); Oklahoma over Washington State (Great Alaska Shootout); Illinois over Oklahoma State (Las Vegas Invitational); Michigan State over Rutgers (Legends Classic); Gonzaga over Maryland (Maui Invitational); Michigan over Florida State (Old Spice Classic); and Old Dominion over Mississippi State (South Padre Island Invitational).

(3) Tournament winners from this past week. ... future Gopher opponent Miami-Florida (Charleston Classic); Syracuse (Coaches vs. Cancer); NC State (Glenn Wilkes Classic); and Villanova (Puerto Rico Tip-Off).

(4) The Big East isn't quite ready to give up its title as the best conference in college basketball. The Big East was 41-0 before finally losing a game at about 9:30 p.m. November 20, 11 days into the season. For the record, Providence fell at Alabama.

(5) Don't pencil in Iowa for 11th place in the Big 10 quite yet. After watching Indiana go 0-3 at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, I think the Hoosiers can give the Hawkeyes a run for their money.

(6) Perhaps the most surprising undefeated team to this point is 5-0 Northern Colorado, formerly of the Division II North Central Conference and now of the Big Sky. All five of the Bears' wins have come away from home, three at neutral sites and two true road games. UNC stays on the road this week, going to Grand Forks to play D-I newbie North Dakota on Friday.

(7) Perhaps the Gophers' game vs. Morgan State (December 8) will still be in the balance at the second TV timeout of the second half? The Bears gave Louisville a tussle before falling, 90-81.

(8) Here's an idea for ESPN. They should start collecting dunks compiled this season by the Gophers' Rodney Williams and Michigan State's Durrell Summers. By the end of the season I'd be willing to bet they'd have a jaw-dropping "top 10" rivaling the other 345 college basketball teams combined.

(9) Early observation: Purdue will have to get A TON of production out of its starters if it wants to supplant MSU as the Big 10 (regular season) champs. Robbie Hummel looks healthy (glad to see it), but to this point it appears the Boilers have nowhere near the quality of depth as Sparty.

(10) A month ago you couldn't have convinced me the Big 10 was going to lose the ACC/Big 10 Challenge (again). Now, a couple weeks into the season and after taking another look-see at the pairings, I see the Big 10 once again coming out on the losing end. The very first game next Monday will be very important in setting the tone, Penn State @ Virginia. The Nitts, thoroughly unimpressive at the Charleston Classic while providing little help for Talor Battle, need to get that one for the Big 10. I'm seeing 7-4 or 6-5 in favor of the ACC.

The "Staples"
Non-BCS over BCS (Week 2 results in italic)
1. Boston U over Indiana
2. Butler over Northwestern
3. Cal State Fullerton over UCLA
4. Cornell over Alabama
5. Dayton over Georgia Tech
6. Duquesne over Iowa
7. George Mason over Indiana
8. Loyola Marymount over USC
9. North Carolina-Wilmington over Penn State
10. Oral Roberts over Stanford
11. Portland over Oregon
12. Rider over Mississippi State
13. Sacramento State over Oregon State
14. Saint Joseph's over Boston College
15. Saint Louis over Nebraska
16. San Diego over Stanford
17. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi over Oregon State
18. Texas-San Antonio over Iowa
19. Tulane over Penn State
20. UAB over Georgia
21. Vermont over Rutgers
22. VCU over Oklahoma
23. Wofford over Georgia

Week 2 Resume Builders? (not listed above)
1. Georgetown over Temple
2. Kansas State over Dayton
3. Miami-Florida over South Carolina
4. Northeastern over Utah State
5. St. Mary's over San Diego State
6. Seton Hall over Cornell
7. Siena over Northeastern
8. South Carolina over LaSalle
9. Temple over Siena
10. UNLV over Nevada
11. Vanderbilt over St. Mary's

Week 2 Most Stunning Result
Boston University 71, Indiana 67 -- I know the Hoosiers are rebuilding, but this loss is inexcusable, as is getting outrebounded 52-32 by a team from the America East Conference. I'm giving Oregon State a break by not giving the Beavers the dubious title for the second consecutive week (see Sacramento State 65, Oregon State 63).

SS's Fantastic 5 (alphabetical order)
1. Kansas (still the team to beat despite shaky win over Memphis)
2. Michigan State (this team has more than 3 players; Sparty's depth is sick)
3. Syracuse (it's safe to say the Le Moyne loss has been put to bed)
4. Texas (yet to be tested and may not be at CBE Classic, either)
5. Villanova (win Puerto Rico Tip-Off without two key players)

SS's Big 10 Power Rankings
1. Michigan State (4-0)
2. Purdue (3-0)
3. Ohio State (3-1)
4. Michigan (1-0)
5. Minnesota (3-0)
6. Illinois (3-0)
7. Wisconsin (2-0)
8. Penn State (3-2)
9. Northwestern (2-1)
10. Indiana (2-3)
11. Iowa (1-2)

Big 10 in the RPI
12. Purdue
18. Minnesota
120. Ohio State
T150. Michigan State
193. Illinois
223. Northwestern
237. Wisconsin
T300. Michigan
307. Penn State
309. Iowa
310. Indiana

Gophers' Nonconference Opponents in the RPI
14. Butler (3-0)
41. South Dakota State (1-2)
66. Miami-Florida (4-0)
68. Morgan State (3-1)
106. Saint Joseph's (3-1)
114. Brown (2-3)
T163. Stephen F. Austin (1-1)
176. Tennessee Tech (2-2)
293. Utah Valley (1-2)
308. Northern Illinois (1-3)

BCS Conferences Head to Head
Week 2 Results
Alabama 84, Providence 75
Louisville 96, Arkansas 66
Miami-Florida 85, South Carolina 70
North Carolina 77, Ohio State 73
NC State 60, Auburn 58
Ohio State 76, Cal 70
Ole Miss 89, Indiana 71
Ole Miss 86, Kansas State 74
South Carolina 68, South Florida 62
South Florida 66, Virginia 49
Syracuse 95, Cal 73
Syracuse 87, North Carolina 71
Tennessee 57, DePaul 53
Villanova 79, Ole Miss 67

Standings
1. Big East (5-3)
2. ACC (3-2)
3. SEC (5-4)
4. Big 12 (1-1)
5. Big 10 (1-2)
6. Pac 10 (0-3)

Next RTSS: Monday, November 30

 

[mnboiler]

SS, I'm just going to say that so far Painter hasn't needed alot out of his starter's due to blowouts, tomato cans, etc. So players who won't being playing alot in the B10 are getting some serious PT. Wohlford is the best example of this. Tonight vs. Tennessee look for the startets to get B10 type minutes tonight. I'm not sure but this has to be the first match-up of top 10 teams this season. I'm looking forward to a good one tonight.

BTW who do you like tonight SS?

 

[SelectionSunday]

I really, really like the Boilers' starting 5, even without Jackson. But getting my first look at them last night, man, their bench is young. The good news is the studs (Hummel, Moore, Johnson, Kramer, etc.) have been around and can carry a team a long ways. Plus, their defense never takes a night off.

I like the Boilers tonight. Vols are deeper, but I think the Boilers will out-tough 'em.

 

[Gopherholefan]

I know you didn't ask me boiler, but I like Purdue tonight... Tennessee was not impressive last night against DePaul. Tennessee's lack of discipline with the ball will bite them tonight as I see Purdue benefiting from 15-20 Tennessee TO's in a 10 point win.
SS, well done again...one question with the RPI, is it all based on Wins and Losses at this point?

 

[SelectionSunday]

RPI is based on the usual. ... who you've played, who you've beat, who you've lost to, where you played, who your opponents have played, etc.

 

[GVBadger]

I think you are underrating the Badgers, but I am biased.

We will know a lot more about them in 10 days.

Will also know a lot more about them in about 10 hours.

Love the updates.

Thanks.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Thanks GV. Not really much to judge the Gophers or Badgers by to this point. Neither team has played anybody. Hunch is next week is when the Big 10 power rankings will start fluctuating a lot more. Pretty safe bet that 8 through 11 will always be the same teams.

 

[coolhandgopher]

I haven't been able to watch any games thus far this season, so this is more of a question than an opinion. Obviously it's been a great start to the season for Syracuse, but how much of their blow out of North Carolina had to do with the Tar Heels backcourt? It really seems that for all the strength on their front line, the Tar Heels are going to struggle with their backcourt this season. Thoughts?

 

[SelectionSunday]

I didn't see much of the UNC-Syracuse game, so I'm not sure what happened. I know the Heels had a lot of turnovers.

How good would Wesley Johnson & Craig Brackins look in the same frontcourt right now? We didn't get to see that tandem when the Gophers played at ISU two years ago.