Kansas Crimson

and we are absolutely on the list of teams that can win 6 in a row. to say otherwise is pure nonsense.

I just don't think we are ( and I believe the stats would be in my favor for that argument ) but I do believe we are on a list of teams that can win 6 in a row.

pdub wrote: ↑Sun Mar 12, 2023 1:00 pm We are 9th in Kenpom and NCAA NET score and 12th in Bartorvik.

I’d put us in that 5-10 range which is obviously good enough to win a title with the right matchups and some luck.

We just aren’t a clear top 4 team though.

Perfectly stated.

And to try and use 2008 as an example/counter argument is silly.
That team was one of the best on paper and eye test.
It went 31-3 with a 1 point loss @ OSU, a 9 point loss @ 22 ranked ksu and a 3 point loss @ 11 ranked Texas.

It was full of stars, was better than our team right now defensively, had a fantastic inside out game and stocked full of 3 point shooters.

It finished 2nd in AdjO and 1st in AdjD.

this team absolutely has warts. but so do they all. how many times has the #1 spot changed hands.

i wrote that ku loss on losing mccullar. he's the glue guy in many ways.

I do think exhaustion from 21 games of grab a hawk played into some of the off nights. That was an exhausted team yesterday. I know it is money driven, but these back to back to back games on a team without a lot of depth are killers. Tennessee was a similar struggle. Nothing in the tank.

I think McCullar is, at worst, our 3rd best player, and I wouldn't argue if you put him ahead of Dick. I don't think Texas is 20 points better than we are by any means.

km brings it every night. gd is too spotty.

pdub wrote: ↑Sun Mar 12, 2023 1:08 pm And to try and use 2008 as an example/counter argument is silly.
That team was one of the best on paper and eye test.
It went 31-3 with a 1 point loss @ OSU, a 9 point loss @ 22 ranked ksu and a 3 point loss @ 11 ranked Texas.

It was full of stars, was better than our team right now defensively, had a fantastic inside out game and stocked full of 3 point shooters.

It finished 2nd in AdjO and 1st in AdjD.

All true. But it wasn't the favorite on paper. Most people ranked us 3rd or 4th out of the #1s leading up to the final 4. Vegas had us as underdogs in both games.

The AdjO and AdjD numbers AFTER the final 4 games is irrelevant.



The entire point is that this team doesn't need to be the best on paper. And even the "best teams on paper" this year sort of suck in relation to best teams of the past. This is a weak year of CBB.

pdub wrote: ↑Sun Mar 12, 2023 1:16 pm I think McCullar is, at worst, our 3rd best player, and I wouldn't argue if you put him ahead of Dick. I don't think Texas is 20 points better than we are by any means.

I'd rank our guys:

JW
DH
KM
GD
KJ
Udeh
Yes
Bobby
Zuby
Rice
Clemence

We are 150th in 3 point %.
109th in Offensive Efficiency.
77th in EFG%.
99th in True Shooting %.

We aren't very good rebounders, particularly on the offensive glass.

We are hounds on defense and have good length and speed to contest shots.
We have a 1st team AA and, not as recently but still in skillset, a true sharpshooter.

My argument again isn't that we didn't deserve a top 4 seed, we do, it's just not one of our better of the 1 seeds we've had, and I don't think we are a top 4 team honestly. That doesn't mean I don't think we suck nor does it mean I don't think we can, with some luck, win six in a row. It'll just take more good luck ( and no bad luck ) than better teams in the past.

I'd rank them:

JW

KM ( his defense, 1st team defense B12 gives him the edge )
DH ( B12 DPOY )
GD

KJ

Udeh


Bobby
Yes
Zuby
Rice
Clemence

But that 2-4 is just so close. I can see why someone would put Gradey up there. I think he's a defensive liability and has dropped off on being automatic with his jumper. Could also see why you'd put the floor leader Harris 2nd as he's come on very strong in B12 play.

It always takes luck.

And belief.

"It'll just take more good luck ( and no bad luck ) than better teams in the past."

Seeding and location helps in March. But it is often how you match up against a given team that makes the difference.

Bottom line - if you want to be national champions you have to beat whoever they put in front of you wherever you play them.

Whoever. Wherever.

I like it.

We were not the best team last season either

Correct.
We can absolutely win this tournament.
So could, I dunno, Creighton.

There’s just teams that’d need more luck than others.

That player ranking is pretty good. Everyone knows jalen is clearly our best player. Id argue mccullar then dajuan are clearly 2nd and 3rd

Grady can be awesome, his shooting is unreal, but hes still a freshman in a lot of ways. Hes our 4th best player. This isn't a knock on him, those other 3 guys have played a lotttt of high level college basketball already