Picking up a road win @KU or @OSU (or both) would go a long way toward bolstering our position in the polls (and in the conference race). Huge opportunities coming up.
1/27 Ranking Predictions
- Thread starter hobbsfan27
- Start date
It's easy. Michigan has won @Michigan State, @Wisconsin and @Minnesota. All three are Top 25 RPI teams. That's more Top 25 RPI road wins than ISU has TOTAL road wins on the season. Road wins are the toughest to get, the most impressive to have and they carry the most heft on a resume. It's the only reason Iowa State is ranked below Iowa. Iowa is ahead solely because of their win @Ohio State. Gotta win on the road!
I see what you guys are saying about big road wins and what have you done for me lately. However, the problem with that logic is that if we win at KU and against a ranked OU team, then the tables will have totally turned and we will then deserve to be ranked Top 8 or better. But that would require a correction that generally doesn't occur this late in the year.
We are always ranked too low from the get-go and then it takes forever to move up so that we never end up where we should be ranked. Our 2000 team would have been a #1 seed if it hadn't taken forever to get ranked. If Royce White's team had been ranked at the end of the year (talk about what have you done for me lately), then we would have gotten a higher seed and wouldn't have had to face KU in Lexington. We NEVER get ranked where we should and it ends up getting us screwed in the tourney seedings.
We are always ranked too low from the get-go and then it takes forever to move up so that we never end up where we should be ranked. Our 2000 team would have been a #1 seed if it hadn't taken forever to get ranked. If Royce White's team had been ranked at the end of the year (talk about what have you done for me lately), then we would have gotten a higher seed and wouldn't have had to face KU in Lexington. We NEVER get ranked where we should and it ends up getting us screwed in the tourney seedings.
Hard to argue SDSU and Florida being above KU as they both beat KU. Besides that, the only thing keeping KU from a top 3 ranking is that Florida, Wichita St, and SDSU play such easy schedules. WS and SDSU don't have a single ranked opponent left on thier schedules, while Florida has only Kentucky.
The only team that I'd less happy about to see in my team's tournament bracket is Arizona. And that's close.
The only team that I'd less happy about to see in my team's tournament bracket is Arizona. And that's close.
Losing @ KU won't hurt us if we take care of business VS OU. In that scenario, I would predict that we stay right at #16 next week.
Beat both KU and OU, and we're back in the top 10.
Beat both KU and OU, and we're back in the top 10.
About the same as Duke and Kentucky moving back up while not beating anyone worth a damn.
I'd bet that we won't be top 10 if we beat KU and OU this week. If we are, I'll have much more faith in the polls, but I bet we won't.
Actually I bet ISU would be top 10 by winning the next two, assuming a couple of other teams in the teens lose. Look at Michigans jump in one week by just beating Iowa and a banged up MSU team. Beating KU at the fog would be more impressinve than either of those two wins IMO and I am guessing nationally.
I am happy with 16 right now. It put's ISU in good position to stay in the top 25 through these next 3 tough games and then let the wins pile up as the schedule eases a bit and ISU will be in good position for ranking/seeding come tourney time.
I don't think ISU being at 16 is too egregious. Losing 3 in a row(Albeit two road games against tourney quality teams and at home to some high NBA draft picks) hurt.
Kentucky's ranking is a total joke however. Look at their schedule. They've beaten nobody, lost to one really good team(MSU) lost to two mediocre teams who are falling way behind in their respective conferences(Baylor, UNC) and lost against a crappy Arkansas team.
If ISU had that resume they would be nowhere near the top 25 right now.
Kentucky's ranking is a total joke however. Look at their schedule. They've beaten nobody, lost to one really good team(MSU) lost to two mediocre teams who are falling way behind in their respective conferences(Baylor, UNC) and lost against a crappy Arkansas team.
If ISU had that resume they would be nowhere near the top 25 right now.
We beat a top 25 team in our only game this past week and we DROP in the coaches poll, the same poll that ranks Iowa 6 spots ahead of us. What a joke.
The good thing I think is that ISU picked up votes in both polls. Just keep winning and the polls will come around. Don't forget this team is 1-3 in its last 4 games. It will take some wins and time to overcome that.
Technically rankings should have nothing to do with seeding, but it does help teams get on the radar I'm guessing. I remember one year a while back where UNLV was ranked in the teens and didn't even make the tourney.
Even before the win against KSU, Lunardi had ISU as the 2nd 3 seed, ahead of Okie St. and Wisconsin. I have a lot more respect for what he produces than the polls.
