Road to SS: Beastly B1G Living Up To Its Billing, But Expect A Tight ACC Challenge

[GopherHole Staff]

Road to Selection Sunday: Beastly B1G Living Up To Its Billing, But Expect A Tight ACC Challenge
By SelectionSunday

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/196986?referrer_id=331171

This week we're going heavy on last week's results, predictions, lists, and our first real look at some RPI numbers courtesy of Jerry Palm at CBSSports.com. With 19 of the 21 notable exempt tournaments now concluded, the RPI is gradually taking shape. RPI rankings will make even more sense next week, after the ACC/Big Ten and Big East/SEC have completed their conference challenges.

On to the notebook. ...

The Unconquered
There are 33 unbeaten teams through November 25th. Still seeking perfection are: Alabama, Arizona, Cal, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Colorado, Colorado State, Creighton, Duke, East Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Florida, Gonzaga, Houston, Illinois, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, New Mexico, Northwestern, Ohio, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Santa Clara, Southern Miss, Stephen F. Austin, Syracuse, Temple, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Wichita State, Wyoming.

No Time for Losers, We are the Champions
We've completed 19 notable exempt tournaments, with just two remaining (the Diamond Head and Las Vegas classics), both at Christmastime. The Big Ten has lived up to its early-season billing, capturing five tournament titles. A who's who list of teams/conferences feeling good about bringing home championship hardware.

Big 10 (5): Illinois (Maui), Indiana (Legends), Michigan (NIT), Northwestern (South Padre Island), Ohio State (Hall of Fame)
ACC (2): Duke (Battle 4 Atlantis), Florida State (Coaches vs. Cancer)
Big 12 (2): Kansas (CBE), Oklahoma State (Puerto Rico)
Missouri Valley (2): Creighton (Las Vegas Invitational), Wichita State (Cancun)
Pac 12 (2): Cal (Anaheim), Colorado (Charleston)
SEC (2): Alabama (2K Sports), South Carolina (Hoops for Hope)
Atlantic 10 (1): Charlotte (Great Alaska)
Big East (1): Cincinnati (Global Sports)
Mountain West (1): New Mexico (Paradise Jam)
West Coast (1): Gonzaga (Old Spice)

The RPI Top 25 from Jerry Palm (through Nov. 25)
1. Duke (6-0)
2. Colorado (5-0)
3. UConn (5-1)
4. Michigan (4-0)
5. New Mexico (6-0)
6. Butler (3-2)
T-7. Colorado State (3-0)
T-7. Illinois (6-0)
9. Indiana (6-0)
10. Oklahoma State (5-0)
11. Florida (5-0)
12. Syracuse (4-0)
13. Stephen F. Austin (2-0)
14. NC State (4-1)
15. Alabama (4-0)
16. Air Force (3-1)
17. Ohio State (4-0)
18. Washington (2-3)
19. Oregon (5-1)
20. Creighton (6-0)
21. Saint Louis (3-2)
22. Gonzaga (6-0)
23. Cal (6-0)
24. Vermont (3-1)
25. Northwestern (6-0)

The B1G in the RPI
4. Michigan (4-0)
T-7. Illinois (6-0)
9. Indiana (6-0)
17. Ohio State (4-0)
25. Northwestern (6-0)
28. GOPHERS (6-1)
34. Michigan State (5-1)
T-70. Iowa (5-1)
80. Nebraska (4-1)
93. Wisconsin (4-2)
108. Penn State (3-2)
T-215. Purdue (2-3)

ACC/Big Ten Challenge Predictions
I see three games I absolutely expect the Big Ten to come out on top. ... Indiana over North Carolina, Michigan over NC State, and Wisconsin over Virginia. The other nine games I can see going either way. Expect the Challenge to be much more tightly contested this year, as most of the matchups look pretty even. The picks?

Boston College over Penn State
Clemson over Purdue
Duke over Ohio State
Florida State over Gophers
Illinois over Georgia Tech
Indiana over North Carolina
Iowa over Virginia Tech
Miami over Michigan State
Michigan over NC State
Northwestern over Maryland
Wake Forest over Nebraska
Wisconsin over Virginia
Final Tally: 6 wins apiece

Mamo-a-Mano Report: Top 8 Conferences (Nov. 19-25)
The Big Ten isn't just flexing its muscles in in-season tournaments, as it has climbed to the top spot in our report. We'll know much more about the Big Ten, for better or worse, after the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Last week's results of the top conferences going head to head: Arizona State over Arkansas; Boston College over Auburn; Butler over Marquette; Butler over North Carolina; Cal over Georgia Tech; Cincinnati over Iowa State; Cincinnati over Oregon; Colorado over Air Force; Colorado State over Washington; Duke over Louisville; Duke over Minnesota; Duke over VCU; Georgetown over UCLA; Illinois over Butler; Illinois over USC; Indiana over Georgetown; Indiana over Georgia; Kansas over Saint Louis; Kansas over Wazzu; LaSalle over Villanova; Louisville over Mizzou; Marquette over Mississippi State; Marquette over USC; Michigan over Kansas State; Michigan over Pitt; Michigan State over Boise State; Minnesota over Stanford; Mizzou over Stanford; Mizzou over VCU; New Mexico over UConn; North Carolina over Mississippi State; Northwestern over TCU; Notre Dame over George Washington; Oklahoma over West Virginia (both are Big 12); Oregon over UNLV; Rhode Island over Auburn; Saint Louis over Texas A&M; San Diego State over USC; Texas over Mississippi State; Texas A&M over Wazzu; UCLA over Georgia; UNLV over Iowa State; USC over Texas; Wisconsin over Arkansas.

Standings
1. Big Ten (15-6, 71.4%)
2. ACC (10-7, 58.8%)
3. Big East (14-12, 53.8%)
4. Big 12 (9-8, 52.9%)
5. Pac 12 (11-12, 47.8%)
6. Mountain West (4-5, 44.4%)
7. Atlantic 10 (10-16, 38.5%)
8. SEC (8-15, 34.8%)

Upset Special
Record: 0-3
Last Week: Texas A&M over Saint Louis (L, Billikens in a rout, 70-49)
This Week: Saint Joseph's over Creighton (Saturday)

 

[Go4]

ss, good stuff. a couple of questions

your st. louis item reminded about majerus. is he retired forever or is he planning on coming back next year?

do you think both memphis and stanford will be top 50 rpi wins at the end of the year? will richmond be a top 100 rpi win?

 

[El Amin Fan]

Does the Selection Committee give any credence to a neutral site game win?

 

[stocker08]

ss, good stuff. a couple of questions

your st. louis item reminded about majerus. is he retired forever or is he planning on coming back next year?

do you think both memphis and stanford will be top 50 rpi wins at the end of the year? will richmond be a top 100 rpi win?

Memphis I assume will be a top 50 rpi win. Richmond, playing in the A10 should be a top 100 rpi win. Stanford is a question mark.

 

[PeanutButterGopherTime]

Great write-up. Thanks for continuing to do these.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Does the Selection Committee give any credence to a neutral site game win?

I would answer that by saying a neutral-site win is more impressive than a home win (over the same team), but a true road win is much more impressive than both (home or neutral).

 

[SelectionSunday]

ss, good stuff. a couple of questions

your st. louis item reminded about majerus. is he retired forever or is he planning on coming back next year?

do you think both memphis and stanford will be top 50 rpi wins at the end of the year? will richmond be a top 100 rpi win?

My understanding is Majerus is done for good, and that was SLU's wishes, not necessarily his. Understandable decision by the school considering Majerus' constant health issues.

Memphis probably will be because they have a solid nonconference schedule and they should rip through Conference USA like they always do. I would expect Stanford and Richmond at worst to be top-100 wins, Stanford moreso than Richmond. I still think Richmond will compete pretty well in the A-10, but they got ripped a new one by Ohio (one of the elite mid-majors), 73-48. That's given me a little pause about the Spiders.

 

[Holy Man]

My understanding is Majerus is done for good, and that was SLU's wishes, not necessarily his. Understandable decision by the school considering Majerus' constant health issues.

Memphis probably will be because they have a solid nonconference schedule and they should rip through Conference USA like they always do. I would expect Stanford and Richmond at worst to be top-100 wins, Stanford moreso than Richmond. I still think Richmond will compete pretty well in the A-10, but they got ripped a new one by Ohio (one of the elite mid-majors), 73-48. That's given me a little pause about the Spiders.

Stanford is a pretty good team, and play B1G like defense which will keep them in a lot of games. Not sure how good Pac 12 is, but Stanford as a top 3 there should get them into top 75-50 range. That Stanford win is bigger than many people may think. It was a great effort by the Gophers who did not play great, but found a way to win with contributions from a lot of guys.

 

[march madness]

Stanford and the pac-12

Stanford is a pretty good team, and play B1G like defense which will keep them in a lot of games. Not sure how good Pac 12 is, but Stanford as a top 3 there should get them into top 75-50 range. That Stanford win is bigger than many people may think. It was a great effort by the Gophers who did not play great, but found a way to win with contributions from a lot of guys.

The pac-12 should be vastly improved. Arizona has top 10 talent. UCLA top 5. The freshmen will take time to jell for sure though. I see those 2 teams at the end of the year finishing on top. Colorado is a dark horse that could suprise them however. If stanford can get their guards healthy i would say 4th challenging California for that spot. Oregon has suprisingly looked solid as well.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Pac 12

Pac 12 is much stronger this year, as mentioned above. Unlike last year, the Pac 12 is picking up some quality wins outside of the conference.

I would expect Arizona, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Stanford, and UCLA all to legitimately compete for NCAA berths. And at least early on, Arizona State and USC look significantly improved, though I know that's not saying much. This is not last season's Pac 12 by any stretch.