The Holy Land of Hoops

Hey everyone, had an issue with my password on my original account (adoraz11), so I made a new one.

Anyways, I made this topic last year. In 2013-14 I believe we started with just Marquette ranked. They dropped out quickly and fortunately Nova really stepped up by taking out Kansas and Iowa State (both ranked) in their tournament. By conference play Creighton and Nova were ranked and it remained that way by the end of the season.

So, here is my opinion on what needs to be done this year. It is critical to have at least one ranked team, and should really be expecting 2-3 by conference play with the excellent recruiting classes. Anything less than 2 ranked teams by end of December I think would be a failure, but I believe it'll be done.

Butler- nice win today, needs to win the next two and then winning the November 26 tournament game vs #6 UNC should get them some votes and into the 20s. May need to win this game to be ranked before conference play starts up.
Creighton- interesting team this year and like some of what I saw last year. Can surprise people. Winning vs #19 Oklahoma on November 19 would be a huge boost and may get the attention of some voters, though doubt they would be ranked. Their tournament Thanksgiving week probably won't be too hard either. At #21 Nebraska December 7 another chance.
DePaul- will likely be another rough year especially after squeaking by last night. Also have an easy OOC schedule so will need to win out to be ranked.
#43 AP/ #42 CP Georgetown- love what I saw from the freshmen in the opener today. I think they will be the next team ranked. Will need to take care of business next two games and win vs. #7 Florida in their tournament Thanksgiving week (and maybe the game after that as well). #10 Kansas on December 10 another opportunity.
#40 CP Providence- the obvious game here is @ #1 UK on November 30, but their OOC schedule isn't bad and think if they win the games before that they'll be ranked (FSU and ND in a tournament).
Marquette- great chance on November 18 @ #20 Ohio State to get some attention. If they win the next 5 (the last game of those being vs #6 Wisconsin) they will without a doubt be ranked especially with the Wojo and freshmen hype.
Seton Hall- not a tough OOC schedule. If they win the first 5 and then @ Wichita State they'll definitely be getting some votes, especially with the freshmen hype.
St. John's- good opening win. If they win the next couple and knock off Minnesota and Gonzaga (Thanksgiving week) to win the NIT I think they'll be ranked. If they lose a game, at Cuse (#23) on December 6 is another opportunity.
Xavier- great opening night and certainly a solid chance at the top 25. However, their schedule is pretty easy so may need to go undefeated before conference play to get any votes.

And the teams that need to worry about hanging on.... (already in the top 25)

#12 AP/ #12 CP Villanova- Fortunately held on in the opener against Lehigh but definitely gave me a bit of a scare. Hopefully not a similar situation to Marquette last year but I doubt it. Not a very tough OOC schedule, if they lose a game in the next couple weeks will drop into the late teens. Just need to take care of business and beating Cuse and/or VCU would be great.

New polls out today, so I'll update commentary and fix a few typos.

Butler- nice opening win, needs to win the next two and then winning the November 26 tournament game vs #6 UNC should get them some votes and into the 20s. May need to win this game to be ranked before conference play starts up.
Creighton- winning vs #18 Oklahoma on November 19 would be a huge boost and would get the attention of some voters. Probably won't be ranked but wouldn't be far off. Their tournament Thanksgiving week probably won't be too hard either. @ #21 Nebraska December 7 another chance.
DePaul- will likely be another rough year especially after squeaking by in the opener. Also have an easy OOC schedule so will need to win out to be ranked.
#49 AP (-6)/ #41 CP (+1) Georgetown- solid opener, vote movement doesn't mean anything at this point. Still think they will be the next team ranked. Will need to take care of business next two games and win vs. #7 Florida in their tournament Thanksgiving week (and maybe the game after that as well). #5 Kansas on December 10 another opportunity.
No votes (formerly #40 CP) Providence- lost the coaches vote after an unimpressive win, but a win is a win and they have a big week coming up to regain votes. Will the very tough to win 4 games this week (2 of them tournament vs FSU and ND), but it's possible and they'd definitely be getting votes if they do and I could see them being ranked. The next obvious game here is @ #1 UK on November 30
Marquette- great chance on November 18 @ #20 Ohio State to get some votes. If they win the next 5 (the last game of those being vs #3 Wisconsin) they will without a doubt be ranked especially with the Wojo and freshmen hype.
Seton Hall- very solid opener and not a tough OOC schedule. If they win the first 5 and then @ #11 Wichita State they'll definitely be getting some votes, especially with the freshmen hype.
St. John's- good opening win. If they win the next couple and knock off Minnesota and Gonzaga (#13) (Thanksgiving week) to win the NIT I think they'll be ranked. If they lose a game, @ Cuse (#23) on December 6 is another opportunity.
Xavier- great opening night and certainly a solid chance at the top 25. However, their schedule is pretty easy so may need to go undefeated before conference play to get any votes.

And the teams that need to worry about hanging on.... (already in the top 25)

#12 AP/ #12 CP Villanova- Fortunately held on in the opener against Lehigh but definitely gave me a bit of a scare. Hopefully not a similar situation to Marquette last year but I doubt it. Not a very tough OOC schedule, if they lose a game in the next couple weeks will drop into the late teens. Lose a second in the next few weeks and they'll likely be knocked out. Just need to take care of business and beating #23 Cuse and/or #15 VCU would solidify their status.

Everyone else feel free to critique. I think we're on the verge of another team or two joining Nova in November.

we don't have a chance this week- not with the schedule that we have. 2 weeks from now maybe.

I think SJ would need more than just beating Minnesota and Gonzaga. I think we'd have to go undefeated and beat Duke/Cuse as well (whoever we play first) to be ranked. Being undefeated and beating Minnesota then Gonzaga would probably get us in the 30's in the "Receiving Votes" section.

SJHooper wrote:I think SJ would need more than just beating Minnesota and Gonzaga. I think we'd have to go undefeated and beat Duke/Cuse as well (whoever we play first) to be ranked. Being undefeated and beating Minnesota then Gonzaga would probably get us in the 30's in the "Receiving Votes" section.

Gonzaga destroying St. Joes I think they'll be top 10 if we play them. That said, I'd be shocked if we win the NIT with how we're playing.


Anyone think Creighton will be ranked next week?

adoraz wrote:

SJHooper wrote:I think SJ would need more than just beating Minnesota and Gonzaga. I think we'd have to go undefeated and beat Duke/Cuse as well (whoever we play first) to be ranked. Being undefeated and beating Minnesota then Gonzaga would probably get us in the 30's in the "Receiving Votes" section.

Gonzaga destroying St. Joes I think they'll be top 10 if we play them. That said, I'd be shocked if we win the NIT with how we're playing.


Anyone think Creighton will be ranked next week?[/quote


LIU out rebounded us 44-39, also had 21 offensive rebounbds to our 8. That's LIU.

Lets see what Minnesota and zaga does.

adoraz wrote:Anyone think Creighton will be ranked next week?

Assuming we don't dump the game on Sunday, I think we make it into the "others receiving votes" part of the polls.

I doubt that we will get more than a few stray votes if any - we are too far off the radar.

We would have to stay perfect thru Cincinnati to get a meaningful vote total. Then if we win in Lincoln we would make it.

Just the slimmest of possibilities for CU...but you never know. There is precedence for such a jump.

It largely depends on the media love for OU. Do they drop OU out of the Top 25? That says their judgement(s) are wrong and could call into question many of their media picks (as I tend to do). Harvard was dropped out this week as they were considered a novelty. If there is strong media support for OU, the pollsters could elevate the Jays, while maintaining OU's relative position. After all - "many are touting Oklahoma as a potential FF candidate".

This was done last year to support media darling Michigan (2 early losses). AP pollsters boosted Iowa St after the Moos beat Michigan. Moo U came from the hinterlands to #21 in the AP. ISU was elevated also to the bottom tier of the ARV in the Coach's poll.

2 years ago the coaches poll elevated a ND team they had previously booted (after the loss to St Joe's) when the leprechauns beat a struggling (3 early losses) Kentucky team. By reinstating ND to #25, they further stalled the eventual demise of the collapsing UK team. For whatever reason, the media poll dropped KU after the ND loss, and no love for the Irish.

Both Iowa St. (last season) and ND (2 yrs ago) were successful enough to remain in the polls. ND collapsed during the BE reg season. It is easier for pollsters to continue pumping sunshine for their preseason darlings and add a surprise team or 2, than to revamp the poll when the preseason picks start dropping like flies. If the surprise addition loses shortly thereafter they get the "Harvard" treatment.

don't know that I would call Harvard a novelty. Pretty much whoever is #25 if they lose will be out of the polls that next week. I don't care who you are..