College Basketball Countdown

[SJHooper]

The only two huge names nationally to come out of CU are Korver and McDermott. Everyone else is not relevant nationally to the common fan. CU fans are like Yankees fans who lose all their players from the dynasty era and stop making the playoffs but still have the expectations of the dynasty era. It goes in cycles guys. The golden age of CU was the last 4 years most recently. They will likely go in a mediocre cycle now. Again, if they somehow win at least 17 this year it will prove a lot and shut me up for sure. Respect in the Big East isn't granted, it's earned. No one here cares what you did in a mid major conference with Bradley. You had a great first year although disappointing in the tourney. Now let's see what you can do losing a ton of studs. People seem to think I'm rooting against CU…I'm not. I'm just a stone cold realist. When you lose that much you are not expected to pickup where you left off.

[marquette]

Marquette in at 64 and NIT berth. I'd be pretty happy with that, given everything that's happened.

[Bluejay]

The only two huge names nationally to come out of CU are Korver and McDermott. Everyone else is not relevant nationally to the common fan. CU fans are like Yankees fans who lose all their players from the dynasty era and stop making the playoffs but still have the expectations of the dynasty era. It goes in cycles guys. The golden age of CU was the last 4 years most recently. They will likely go in a mediocre cycle now. Again, if they somehow win at least 17 this year it will prove a lot and shut me up for sure. Respect in the Big East isn't granted, it's earned. No one here cares what you did in a mid major conference with Bradley. You had a great first year although disappointing in the tourney. Now let's see what you can do losing a ton of studs. People seem to think I'm rooting against CU…I'm not. I'm just a stone cold realist. When you lose that much you are not expected to pickup where you left off.

I say obsessed may be a better adjective to describe you.

[stever20]

Marquette in at 64 and NIT berth. I'd be pretty happy with that, given everything that's happened.

yeah about what 15 spots better than where Marquette realistically finished last year.

[marquette]

Marquette in at 64 and NIT berth. I'd be pretty happy with that, given everything that's happened.

yeah about what 15 spots better than where Marquette realistically finished last year.

Yep. There are some posters on our own board predicting a below .500 season. I'd be satisfied if Wojo gets us the same record we had last year. It's a rebuilding year so if the above prediction wound up happening, and we made the NIT, I'd be absolutely ecstatic.

[stever20]

So with 61 to go now...
A10-most recent GW #63 6th
BE- most recent Marquette #64 6th
P12- most recent Washington #65 7th
MW- most recent New Mexico #67 3rd
ACC- most recent NC State #70 10th
WCC- most recent San Francisco #71 3rd
AAC- most recent Temple #72 6th
MVC- most recent Illinois St #74 3rd
B12- most recent Kansas St #79 8th
SEC- most recent LSU #80 7th
B10- most recent Purdue #105 11th

19 1 bid conferences already announced- only 2 left not on list are Ivy and WAC.

La Tech was #62 and CUSA champ. 61 teams left- 13 conference champions, 36 at large picks. 12 teams left to be picked not in tourney.

right now-
4th 4 out- GW, Marquette, Washington, Charlotte

[stever20]

Northern Iowa picked #61 and #2 in the MVC. So MVC another 1 bid conference. All 36 at large bids now predicted to be in 10 conferences(and could depending on MWC or WCC be in 9 or even 8 conferences I suppose). Just shows in a lot of ways how consolidated things have gotten in the last few years... Before you'd have like 11 or maybe even 12 conferences getting at larges.

[Gibbsyonemoreyear!]

I for one am happy with the low expectations on Creighton. They've always thrived in that scenario and I have no reason to believe this year will be any different. I have total faith in Coach Mac's ability to make his system work and get the most from his guys. This is where I feel Butler and Creighton are very similar. And on that note I'm looking forward to seeing some folks here shocked when Butler finishes top half this year. Back to Creighton. Will the Jays be outclassed athletically by other teams in the league at times? Sure, most likely. However at this level that can still be overcame by fundamental basketball and good shooting. Man, how much longer till the first game. I hope this is a big year for the Big East!

[hoyahooligan]

Rather than looking just at this one count down, here's a look at the conference break down's posted by Dan Hanner over at RealGM.

ACC: 7 potential top 25 teams, 4 other potential NCAA Teams
SEC: 3 potential top 25 teams, 8 other potential NCAA Teams
P12: 4 potential top 25 teams, 4 other potential NCAA Teams


BE: 2 Potential top 25 teams, 4 other potential NCAA Teams
A-10: 2 potential top 25 teams, 4 other potential NCAA Teams
MWC: 1 potential top 25 team, 6 other potential NCAA Teams
AAC: 2 potential top 25 teams, 3 other potential NCAA Teams

WCC: 1 potential top 25 team, 2 other potential NCAA Teams

hasn't done Big 10 or Big 12 yet.

[Xudash]

Rather than looking just at this one count down, here's a look at the conference break down's posted by Dan Hanner over at RealGM.

ACC: 7 potential top 25 teams, 4 other potential NCAA Teams
SEC: 3 potential top 25 teams, 8 other potential NCAA Teams
P12: 4 potential top 25 teams, 4 other potential NCAA Teams


BE: 2 Potential top 25 teams, 4 other potential NCAA Teams
A-10: 2 potential top 25 teams, 4 other potential NCAA Teams
MWC: 1 potential top 25 team, 6 other potential NCAA Teams
AAC: 2 potential top 25 teams, 3 other potential NCAA Teams

WCC: 1 potential top 25 team, 2 other potential NCAA Teams

hasn't done Big 10 or Big 12 yet.

Your post caused me to consider the go-forward nature of the Tournament, with respect to whether the Big5 conferences will muck it up or not.

In counting the teams you've noted above, the total number comes to 55, and it obviously does not include B1G and B12 teams at this point. So, beyond the Big5 conferences, you've identified the BE, A10, MWC, AAC and WCC as potential participants. This isn't aerospace, but it isn't hard to see that the Big5 conferences understand that they don't have to split away completely for basketball: they're at 30 out of that 55 count with more to come from the B1G and B12. Trim down some of the lower conference participants and open up some more at large spots and off you go. The current NCAA Tournament model will still feel inclusive and have its David/Goliath feel during the first weekend, but it just might mean that Belmont and Cornell fans, as two examples are pissed off at home, rather than everyone not associated with a Big5 conference school being pissed off for being left out.

Now back to your regularly scheduled College Basketball Countdown...