Power ranking B12 MBB ...

[surly]

I can't talk football here for risk of being banned, so just to get some league chatter started and without a lot of data, here's a shot a ranking the conference today.

1. Texas - what they did to the Zags was scary
2. Baylor - I know, but one loss doesn't matter this early/just beat UCLA
3. Ku - smallish for Self

4. TxT - based only on history
5. ISU - good start
6. TCU - early injuries
7. WVU - new pieces, old story

8. K-State - better than last
9. oSu - all show, no blow
10. OU - never understood the hire

 

[Cyinthenorth]

I'm in agreement with top 5. I don't think 5 is where Iowa State finishes, but so far the results back it up. Did not play well yesterday, they are showing early on that if they're not hitting shots they are susceptible to lose to just about anyone. The effort yesterday against a quality opponent and not Milwaukee would have resulted in a loss. Their first two games were really good. Hoping Tre King can bring an offensive spark after 12/18.

I'd probably put WVU at 6 over TCU, and even slot K-State above them too, for now...injuries/suspensions or not, they have looked pretty bad and in a weekly power ranking, you have to rank them based on what they've done recently, not where they're projected to be. K-State hasn't really played anyone. Fine with where you ranked OSU and OU. OU especially appears to be ripe for a rotten year.

 

[KCClone1]

It’s way too early for this. ISU hasn’t played anyone with a pulse. After this weekend might be a better time to rank.

 

[ClonesFTW]

It’s way too early for this. ISU hasn’t played anyone with a pulse. After this weekend might be a better time to rank.

Agree - KU/Texas/Baylor all have a quality win but next Monday is the perfect day for a real assessment of how the rest of the conference looks.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

I played along Surly. I love basketball season. Maybe more this year than in a long time, given the struggles on the gridiron and building off of a good year in bball.

 

[surly]

I played along Surly. I love basketball season. Maybe more this year than in a long time, given the struggles on the gridiron and building off of a good year in bball.

It's easy for you, hard for me for obvious reasons. I wish basketball started in December.

 

[ISUcyclones11]

Man we really need to start adding some better games to our early schedule going forward. I get the whole tournament thing and whatever but i feel left out not getting to watch meaningful games early in the season.

 

[surly]

I'd love to see the B12 tournament in December, rather than after the season when the winner gets a token trophy to the regular season champions. A pre-season tourney would jump start the season and be a ratings hit.

 

[BCClone]

Man we really need to start adding some better games to our early schedule going forward. I get the whole tournament thing and whatever but i feel left out not getting to watch meaningful games early in the season.

I think when TJ has had 3-4 seasons to get his feet situated, then you will probably see that. BB is scheduled out a year or two, unlike football, and I think they didn't want to bury Tj and give him time to build confidence.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Man we really need to start adding some better games to our early schedule going forward. I get the whole tournament thing and whatever but i feel left out not getting to watch meaningful games early in the season.

I'm ok with the current set up. Especially if we're gonna be starting each season with 5+ new faces every year. We are only waiting a week or so longer than others to play quality opponents.

 

[isucy86]

I am eager to see Tre King play. I have high expectations that he can take ISU to another level. He is a physical, athletic guy who will give ISU a different skill set at PF. Maybe even play some traditional SF.

King shot 34% on 56 three pointers his last year at EKU. If he can hit that rate or improve a bit that would give ISU another jump shooter. But at a minimum we will have a PF that can put the ball on the floor and slash to basket & finish.

 

[BCClone]

I am eager to see Tre King play. I have high expectations that he can take ISU to another level. He is a physical, athletic guy who will give ISU a different skill set at PF. Maybe even play some traditional SF.

King shot 34% on 56 three pointers his last year at EKU. If he can hit that rate or improve a bit that would give ISU another jump shooter. But at a minimum we will have a PF that can put the ball on the floor and slash to basket & finish.

He should have had plenty of time to work on it since he is about the only player not to get a waiver.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I don't know why people get so mad at you, @surly.

Yeah, you're K-State homer, but I've never seen you be anything but friendly and polite. When you get into disagreements with people, you're civil and generally factual with your arguments.

Some people just need something to hate when their football team isn't doing well. K-State is having the exact sort of season we were hoping to have with efficiency metrics that aren't much better than Iowa State outside of turnovers, special teams, and red zone offense (which are obviously very high-leverage factors, duh) so maybe that just makes you a convenient target out of some sort of envy.

 

[CloniesForLife]

I can't talk football here for risk of being banned, so just to get some league chatter started and without a lot of data, here's a shot a ranking the conference today.

1. Texas - what they did to the Zags was scary
2. Baylor - I know, but one loss doesn't matter this early/just beat UK
3. Ku - smallish for Self

4. TxT - based only on history
5. ISU - good start
6. TCU - early injuries
7. WVU - new pieces, old story

8. K-State - better than last
9. oSu - all show, no blow
10. OU - never understood the hire

It will be interesting to see if ISU, KSU, OSU or WVU can separate from the others in that group. I think Tech and TCU will eventually be in a middle tier between the top 3 and the rest but I think this is a fair ranking for now. After this weekend we should know a lot more . Need some of these teams to play tougher competition to get a feel for where they are at

 

[Halincandenza]

I wouldn't put ISU 5th. I would probably put them 7th or 8th.

 

[CloniesForLife]

Also good observation on KU @surly I noticed when watching them that they look really small for a KU team. Will be interesting to see if ISU might be able to do some damage on the offensive glass against them

 

[clonehome]

Man we really need to start adding some better games to our early schedule going forward. I get the whole tournament thing and whatever but i feel left out not getting to watch meaningful games early in the season.

Beat Nova on Thxgiving Day then we get North Carolina. That’s pretty meaningful. Until TJ gets the cupboard full (could be next year) I think opening with a few cupcakes is a good approach. Surly’s Wildcats built a football program with that strategy. Got off the mat in the old Big 8 playing at home vs the worst 4 teams he could find in D 1A and 1AA. That guaranteed 4-0 start every season built momentum.

 

[Jkclone15]

I don't know why people get so mad at you, @surly.

Yeah, you're K-State homer, but I've never seen you be anything but friendly and polite. When you get into disagreements with people, you're civil and generally factual with your arguments.

Some people just need something to hate when their football team isn't doing well. K-State is having the exact sort of season we were hoping to have with efficiency metrics that aren't much better than Iowa State outside of turnovers, special teams, and red zone offense (which are obviously very high-leverage factors, duh) so maybe that just makes you a convenient target out of some sort of envy.

There are some people on this board who irrationally hate any fan of another team who posts here, and even more who are happy to turn on them the moment they say something uncomplimentary of ISU.

It's sad, but you look at how annoying interlopers get on other boards that don't police themselves as hard and I kind of get it.

 

[Halincandenza]

Also good observation on KU @surly I noticed when watching them that they look really small for a KU team. Will be interesting to see if ISU might be able to do some damage on the offensive glass against them

Their starting 5 man is small, but that is pretty much it. the rest of their starters are Wilson, ****, McCullar and Harris and they go 6-8, 6-8, 6'6. 6'1.

Adams has been their starting 5 at 6'7 but they have Udeh, 6'11, Clemence 6'10, and Ejiofor 6'9 as the other bigs they use.

 

[isucy86]

Man we really need to start adding some better games to our early schedule going forward. I get the whole tournament thing and whatever but i feel left out not getting to watch meaningful games early in the season.

A lot of the meaningful early season games are made for TV where ESPN or Fox pick the teams. So until ISU is a consistent top 20 program (like the Hoiberg years) those games won't be available.

I would love for the Clones to have played more games the last few weeks, but practice time is probably good for a new group like this year's team. Go play in a tough T-Giving Tournament and then we play 2x a week the first 3 weeks of December.

If I have one complaint about this year's schedule, I would like to see 2 games for Tre King to play before we face Baylor. But with the Big12/SEC challenge game in late January- that limits some flexibility in the non-con schedule.