Kansas Crimson

NewtonHawk11 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:21 pm The poll is super frustrating because of what people thought in the summer.

I heard something today somewhere, maybe twitter, that the pollsters should get the MIB flash to erase their memory and vote based off of what has happened this season, and if they did that Kansas would be top 15 pretty easily.

If they are a Top 15 caliber team then they will win this weekend and if they win this weekend then they will enter the rankings. Three straight home games vs Duke, ISU and TCU to prove whether or not Kansas is a ranked team or just an excited up and comer with potential that teams didn't have enough film on to start the season.

Duke is likely not all that good.
But Iowa State and TCU could possibly both be top 35 teams.
You have it all set up in front of you Kansas.

The case for KU being ranked is pretty strong. That pair of road wins in back to back weeks is as good as any team of our caliber could have hoped for: a road win versus a conference opponent and a road win against a preseason top 25 team that, yes, was probably overrated.

But if I remember right, KU tried really hard to buy their way out of that Houston game and Houston didn't budge, banking on that being an easy win. Whoops.

We root for Houston to go win their conference now.

Agreed. To pull out an old Mangino saying, the team just needs to 'keep sawing wood'.

Conflicted a little, because I don't know that I would rank KU yet (given the history and roster), but they probably do have a Top 25 resume at this early point of the season.

I would say 20 is probably the highest I would go.

I consider Houston a P5 due to their impending move to Big 12 next year. 2 P5 wins on the road. One in dominating fashion. And in both of those wins, you went on something like a 40-10 run.

Impressive.

NewtonHawk11 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 9:46 am I would say 20 is probably the highest I would go.

I consider Houston a P5 due to their impending move to Big 12 next year. 2 P5 wins on the road. One in dominating fashion. And in both of those wins, you went on something like a 40-10 run.

Impressive.

Pretty much word-for-word what my thoughts are.

Plus, it's a weekly ranking, so, as you said, stop anchoring to preseason polls. I haven't looked but I highly doubt there are 25 better resumes.

I think there are two general lines of thinking when it comes to the top 25 poll.

1. If you believe the top 25 is a snapshot of where the teams stand at that moment in time, then yes, KU should certainly be ranked.

2. If you believe that the top 25 is supposed to be predictive of where the teams end up and weigh in their preseasons expectations, then I guess you wouldn't rank KU.

There are far more voters in the second camp.

Agree with that second take. The Big XII is such a gauntlet that any other conference is an easier path. No gimmes the rest of the way. I am anxious for expansion.

UnholyLivingDead wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:04 am2. If you believe that the top 25 is supposed to be predictive of where the teams end up and weigh in their preseasons expectations, then I guess you wouldn't rank KU.

There are far more voters in the second camp.

But what always gets me is that it's literally a week-to-week ranking. There are metrics, Sagarin, etc. out there that can guide the line of "predictive" thinking. The polls are supposed to be a snapshot of how the teams are playing week-to-week, and yes, with some acknowledgement of season performance, but not entirely.

Preseason polls, fine, the second line of thinking makes sense.

This is also why I have always had an issue with Jesse Newell's AP hoops ranking. I get that it's each voter's poll and they can do what they want, but in some ways, it's not living up to the intended spirit of the polls.

I think KU is right where they belong, mid 30’s. Beat Duke and I think 20ish is about right.

UnholyLivingDead wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:04 am I think there are two general lines of thinking when it comes to the top 25 poll.

1. If you believe the top 25 is a snapshot of where the teams stand at that moment in time, then yes, KU should certainly be ranked.

2. If you believe that the top 25 is supposed to be predictive of where the teams end up and weigh in their preseasons expectations, then I guess you wouldn't rank KU.

There are far more voters in the second camp.

I agree that the polls are designed to be a snapshot of the ranking of the current resumes and performances of each team and not some sort of predictive measure. Some voters just don't seem to be impressed with who KU has beaten yet and KU has not done themselves any favors by starting each of their last 2 games looking like their old, terrible selves in digging quick 14-0 holes. Yes the comebacks are impressive but I get why voters might be a bit hesitant to move them in to the Top 25 yet as both West Virginia and Houston have not been otherwise successful outside of their games vs. KU. But if Kansas wins this Saturday then there is no good reason to continue to keep them out and I would fully expect them to enter the rankings if they are able to win.

I could be wrong, but I don't think KU being unranked has anything to do with the 0-14 holes.

I think it's much more because of the last 12 seasons. And, admittedly, it's hard to blame the voters on that.

I think where KU is, getting votes, is where they should be at this point.
There are a few other 3-0 teams who could also gripe they aren't top 25 - including Florida State.
I agree, if we beat Duke, another 3-0 team, we should be at the bottom of the top 25, i'm guessing right there at 25.

Actually a slow entry to national ranking is preferred by all of us. They are going to play tight for a while--which explains the slow starts the past two weks IMHO

Sparko wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:11 am Actually a slow entry to national ranking is preferred by all of us. They are going to play tight for a while--which explains the slow starts the past two weks IMHO

Kotelnicki really embraces and excels after adjusting for what the defense throws at him. I don't have the stats in front of me, but it seems like the offense just gets stronger as the game goes on.

I can't stop saying how impressed I am with him. So much so that I'm already thinking he might be our next HC, if we're fortunate. Before Leipold came over, a big question among those that knew Buffalo's program was whether Coach K was coming with as it seemed essential for Leipold to bring him.

CrimsonNBlue wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:25 am

Sparko wrote: ↑Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:11 am Actually a slow entry to national ranking is preferred by all of us. They are going to play tight for a while--which explains the slow starts the past two weks IMHO

Kotelnicki really embraces and excels after adjusting for what the defense throws at him. I don't have the stats in front of me, but it seems like the offense just gets stronger as the game goes on.

I can't stop saying how impressed I am with him. So much so that I'm already thinking he might be our next HC, if we're fortunate. Before Leipold came over, a big question among those that knew Buffalo's program was whether Coach K was coming with as it seemed essential for Leipold to bring him.

I agree about the growing strength as the game goes on. Saw comments in numerous places about how this is also starting to highlight the fact that for the first time in a long time, KU actually has some quality depth.

I know we added some guys, but the offensive line development has still been quicker than I ever imagined since the regime change.

40,000 tickets accounted for and heading towards more for game on Saturday. 10,000 have been sold since Houston. Absolutely massive.

Having zero visitors in is going to kill the number a bit compared if an OU, oSu or Texas was playing. But still should be a solid 43,000+ in the stands.