looking at the league a third of the way in

[stever20]

Penn state is not a bad loss. It can eventually be, but that's true for basically any loss.

I'd be pretty surprised if that didn't turn out to be a bad loss.

just looking- they're projected right now at 7-11 in Big Ten play(ahead of Purdue, Nebraska, and Northwestern)- and 17-14 overall. If those numbers come true- their projected RPI is about 79. That's not classified a bad loss at all.

[Westbrook36]

So the Nova win over the Jayhawks isn't looking as great as it once was, but it's still Kansas and they still have 2 or 3 lottery picks on that team. Also, when was the last time a win over Kansas wasn't considered good in March? Nova still has the Iowa win(plus Atlantis title) and that 30 pt. curb stomping of St. Joe's on Hawk Hill. You know, the place Creighton barely escaped with a win.

Btw I have lived like 45 minutes from State College for over 20 years and seen many a Penn St. hoop team(most of them really crappy). This is one of the top 3 or so PSU teams of the last 20 years, they'll be a borderline bubble team this year. Probably won't make the NCAA, but it would not shock me to see this team win 8-10 games in the B1G. Frazier & Newbill are a good backcourt and a threat to steal almost any game on their schedule.

[jays911]

I am aware of the St. Joe's differential. I already deferred to you, Nova (although we shall see, especially at the CLINK), but it is Bimbo. Great dentist and great former Jay player.

[adoraz11]

And remember, Nova went from average BE team to leader of the conference in less than 24 hours. SJU is one of the few teams that still a chance to do something similar before conference play.

Penn state is not a bad loss. It can eventually be, but that's true for basically any loss.

Nova fans would beg to differ from this line of thinking. After watching us grow last year from a young, raw team who lost to Columbia on our home court to one that knocked off 3 top 5 teams (including the eventual NC and a 2nd FF team), we all expected that we would be one of the top teams in the BE this year. The wins didn't take us from an average team to the top of the league, it just validated what we already knew about this team. Now if a Xavier or a SJU or a Prov were to knock off a Top 5 and another Top 25 team in the same week then I think it would be an "average" BE team becoming a "leader.".

Okay, but you know this goes both ways. As a sju fan, I believe the pundits are wrong and we are not a sixth place BE top but a top three. We'll have a chance to prove this on Sunday. A win over cuse would be most impressive in the conference.

[stever20]

So the Nova win over the Jayhawks isn't looking as great as it once was, but it's still Kansas and they still have 2 or 3 lottery picks on that team. Also, when was the last time a win over Kansas wasn't considered good in March? Nova still has the Iowa win(plus Atlantis title) and that 30 pt. curb stomping of St. Joe's on Hawk Hill. You know, the place Creighton barely escaped with a win.

Btw I have lived like 45 minutes from State College for over 20 years and seen many a Penn St. hoop team(most of them really crappy). This is one of the top 3 or so PSU teams of the last 20 years, they'll be a borderline bubble team this year. Probably won't make the NCAA, but it would not shock me to see this team win 8-10 games in the B1G. Frazier & Newbill are a good backcourt and a threat to steal almost any game on their schedule.

I think your win over Kansas should be ok, unless they turn into Kentucky last year- which would just turn the win into a top 50 win instead of a top 5 win. Just something doesn't feel right with them.

[GumbyDamnit!]

I think your win over Kansas should be ok, unless they turn into Kentucky last year- which would just turn the win into a top 50 win instead of a top 5 win. Just something doesn't feel right with them.

That may be true but it's hard to call last night's loss to a very talented Florida team, on their home court, a questionable one. You've got to give it up to KU for their OOC slate: @ Colo, @Florida, SD State, Gtwn, Nova, Duke-N (may be missing one). Not sure if there are many teams in the country that would survive that unscathed. A miracle buzzer beater away at a pretty good Colo team and a loss at a team that may end up Top10 themselves is not terrible. I don't think it takes any luster off the Nova win yet. I expect KU to be up there by season's end.

[butlerguy03]

As a Butler fan, I think the Bulldogs have looked better than expected by national pundits. Most of us BU fans can agree that we're kind of used to that. Butler could turn into a bubble team, but right now I think experience means more than making the NCAA and losing in round 1, so the NIT sounds good for a few tournament wins. If the freshmen continue to perform and improve, this class may end up being a surprise class like Mack/Hayward/Nored.

[Lavinwood]

This Cuse game will show fans what SJ is. I really think it's either we get blown out (as we have been vs. Cuse at home like a tradition) or we play them very tight and end up losing on a buzzer beater/OT or get the 2 pt win. Past history tells me we are on our way to a 20 pt loss and a major let down. My heart tells me there is a real chance. We shall see. I'm very nervous.

[Bluejay]

I think your win over Kansas should be ok, unless they turn into Kentucky last year- which would just turn the win into a top 50 win instead of a top 5 win. Just something doesn't feel right with them.

That may be true but it's hard to call last night's loss to a very talented Florida team, on their home court, a questionable one. You've got to give it up to KU for their OOC slate: @ Colo, @Florida, SD State, Gtwn, Nova, Duke-N (may be missing one). Not sure if there are many teams in the country that would survive that unscathed. A miracle buzzer beater away at a pretty good Colo team and a loss at a team that may end up Top10 themselves is not terrible. I don't think it takes any luster off the Nova win yet. I expect KU to be up there by season's end.

Certainly have to credit KU for putting together such a quality noncon schedule. That being said, KU seems like they were pretty overrated. I agree with the poster above who said that, right now, there seems to be something not quite right about this KU team. They may get it figured out by the end of the season, or maybe everyone underestimated how much talent they lost from last year's team.

[Lavinwood]

I think your win over Kansas should be ok, unless they turn into Kentucky last year- which would just turn the win into a top 50 win instead of a top 5 win. Just something doesn't feel right with them.

That may be true but it's hard to call last night's loss to a very talented Florida team, on their home court, a questionable one. You've got to give it up to KU for their OOC slate: @ Colo, @Florida, SD State, Gtwn, Nova, Duke-N (may be missing one). Not sure if there are many teams in the country that would survive that unscathed. A miracle buzzer beater away at a pretty good Colo team and a loss at a team that may end up Top10 themselves is not terrible. I don't think it takes any luster off the Nova win yet. I expect KU to be up there by season's end.

Certainly have to credit KU for putting together such a quality noncon schedule. That being said, KU seems like they were pretty overrated. I agree with the poster above who said that, right now, there seems to be something not quite right about this KU team. They may get it figured out by the end of the season, or maybe everyone underestimated how much talent they lost from last year's team.

I think Wiggins is being overrated too. He is ESPN's poster boy. ESPN NY gushes over him saying he's the next Durant. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player but the media made him out to be the next Curry or Rose. No doubt his ceiling is high, but in terms of his performance right now he just isn't matching the hype. That's partly the media's fault for inflating him. Part of being a player at these name brand schools like Duke, Kansas, UNC, Cuse, etc. means you will almost always be hyped up above your actual results. Whenever they have freshman of the year candidates it's really just a popularity contest. For example, in terms of pure results Jon Severe would be in the running (despite his 1-21 performance against us at MSG). But because he plays for Fordham, he flies under the radar. If he was doing the same at Duke, ESPN would soak their panties over him.