The Trap's Conference Rankings...

#3
#3
There are no BCS leagues in basketball, just sayin...
They're the BCS leagues in softball, volleyball, water polo, and Rifle. Listen to the C-USA coaches at media days. That's how everyone divides the leagues.
 
#4
#4
5. SEC. A tale of two divisions. The East could easily place five teams in the NCAA Tournament. In fact, it will be a surprise if they don’t. South Carolina appears to be the only ugly duckling in the bunch. If that’s all there was to evaluate, the SEC could make a case for the second spot. Alas, the West is part of the league. Mississippi State should be good, but will have to adjust to personnel additions on the fly. Ole Miss appears to be poised to break through and make the NCAA field, but that’s been the case the previous three seasons. Alabama and Arkansas figure to show marginal improvement. LSU will be better, but only because they’ve got no other direction to go. Auburn will be as bad as any team in a BCS league.


It is hard to argue with any of this. The strange thing is though, if you agree with me that Auburn will be worse but that everyone else will be better in the West, who do you think will be the RPI suck that makes the SEC 5th? You call South Carolina an ugly duckling so I am guessing we probably disagree that entering league play South Carolina will have more wins this season with a team that is not missing its whole starting front court due to injury.

I think you have in Ole Miss, Miss State and 5 SEC East teams a group of 7 teams that matches up favorably with the 7 Big 10 teams that you are so high on.

If the OOC plays out as I think it will, the computers should agree with me as well.

Good writing even in the parts where we have divergent opinions.
I think we both like Missouri a good deal. I wonder if you feel they should focus more on halfcourt defense?
 
#5
#5
They're the BCS leagues in softball, volleyball, water polo, and Rifle. Listen to the C-USA coaches at media days. That's how everyone divides the leagues.

I really just patronizing you. The BCS is a farce anyway.
 
#6
#6
I agree, 2, 3, and 4 are a coin flip when you evaluate the entire conference from top to bottom.

On a side note, you should be ashamed for labeling DePaul in such a way.
 
#8
#8
I agree, but the money and TV time it affords its leagues in all sports is pretty much the line between the haves and the have nots.

Yea, and we remain in the have nots category for multiple reasons. The main reason being an inept AD but our geography doesnt help.
 
#9
#9
I think you have in Ole Miss, Miss State and 5 SEC East teams a group of 7 teams that matches up favorably with the 7 Big 10 teams that you are so high on.

Perhaps. If those 7 finished a round robin tourney, I think the Big 10 comes out on top of that one. They may match up well, but I'm not seeing a scenario where the SEC wins that matchup.
 
#11
#11
Purdue is not the same without Hummell. TN is better than we were last year when we barely lost to them.

I agree about Hummell, but you can't be sure about your statement just yet. Purdue returns a couple other players that could be playing somewhere else right now. Either way, that 2 team analysis means very little to the other 6 teams from each conference, hence the round robin.
 
#13
#13
I agree about Hummell, but you can't be sure about your statement just yet. Purdue returns a couple other players that could be playing somewhere else right now. Either way, that 2 team analysis means very little to the other 6 teams from each conference, hence the round robin.

Ha! I wonder if I think UK will be better than you do.

I probably think Florida will be better than most of the people on this board.

Is Michigan State lots better than the Florida team that beat them last year? Florida is.

Illinois definitely looks better.

Wisconsin always manages to win with extremely good coaching although I hate watching the grind/beat one another/fest that is Wisconsin basketball. They also lose their starting backcourt.

"A whopping 42 of 55 starters return this season and as I scan through the standings, schedules and national scene, I think that as many as eight teams from this 11-team league could find their way into the NCAA Tournament. Further, four teams – Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio State and Illinois – are legitimate Final Four threats and I feel that is more than any other conference in the country."

From another write up. I agree with his concerns about Michigan State having two players with recent knees scoped and Kalin Lucas trying to come back from an injury you usually do not come all the way back from.

Lighty, Deibler, Buford and J Sullinger? I am not scared of Ohio State. Would love to get them in the tournament.


Take the teams in February (before Bost and Sidney are back, Miss State does not win) and give me

Kentucky v. Michigan State
Tennessee v. Ohio State
Florida v. Purdue
Miss. State v. Illinois
Vandy v. Wisconsin
Ole Miss v. Northwestern
and Georgia v. Penn State

and I take the SEC.

There are enough great OOC matchups that this debate will be alot more fun by January.
 
#14
#14
Perhaps. If those 7 finished a round robin tourney, I think the Big 10 comes out on top of that one. They may match up well, but I'm not seeing a scenario where the SEC wins that matchup.
There are four teams in the Big Ten who could win the SEC. The only team in the SEC that would have a shot at winning the Big Ten is Kentucky with Kanter.
 
#21
#21
No love for NC State yet you think Roy will have the tarheels at the top of the ACC standings. I can see that, although I could just as easily see the Wolfpack surprise a lot of people and claim the #2 OA seed in ACC tourney play. FSU never plays to their ability and have had more talent in previous years with little success so I completely agree there. Seth will have the Hokies finishing with one of the best seasons the school has seen in a long, long time IMO. They play smart, tough defense, and have a few capable scorers. They are relentless on the offensive glass as well.

I think the A-10 is stronger and deeper than the PAC 10 by far. The A-10 could see as many as 4-5 teams in the field depending on how bad the PAC 10 as a whole, and SEC West fare come March. I know it is never a surprise to see the Flyers in the field, but given consecutive absences from the tourney that matters, I see this experienced team as a lock this season. They can score in bunches and as usual will have staunch defense.

Hat,

I really appreciate all the effort and analysis you put into the trap. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions on teams, coaches, and players and I just want to let you know that while I disagree with you a good deal of the time regarding UT basketball and Coach Pearl, I have a tremendous amount of respect for the work you put into keeping the masses updated on happenings not only in our program, but the SEC and college basketball as a whole. I have felt disjointed and alone at times in being such a huge supporter of UT basketball and while I LOVE football, there is nothing like college basketball season and the rollercoaster that is MARCH MADNESS!!!

Go Vols!
:cheers: to an excellent season of college basketball that begins to unfold for us tonight
 
#22
#22
Hat,

I would like your input on another conference that wasn't discussed at all, but have been very solid in recent years and with heavy attrition at most schools, I have become unfamiliar with the landscape in the Missou Valley Conf. How do you see the conference faring as a whole this season and any breakout players to look for?

Appreciated,
 
#23
#23
There are four teams in the Big Ten who could win the SEC. The only team in the SEC that would have a shot at winning the Big Ten is Kentucky with Kanter.

Come on Hat, MHF has everyone convinced that the SEC is the top conference and will likely have 8-10 teams in the tournament.
 
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