AAC = Pillow Soft

[Degaz-RU]

Take this for what it’s worth, but the KenPom rankings of the teams in the AAC are pretty awful. Yes, Houston is #5, but the next highest team is Memphis at #40. In contrast, the B1G has 9 teams in the top 36.

5 - Houston
40 - Memphis
56 - SMU
72 - Wichita St.
98 - UCF
117 - Cincy
121 - Tulsa
139 - Temple
147 - Tulane
161 - ECU
175 - USF

The AAC is the very definition of a mid-major conference, with one dominant team, a few decent teams, and then a bunch of poor or just plain bad teams. Houston FEASTED on a really bad conference.

Now this doesn’t mean Houston is a pushover, but what it does mean is that Houston’s STATS must be viewed with a grain of salt. They are a talented team, no doubt, and they deserve a 2 seed. But would they have shot 36% from 3-pt range, or averaged 41 rebounds (including 13.8 offensive rebounds), averaged 77 points per game, or gave up only 58 points per game, playing a more difficult schedule?

Highly unlikely. It doesn’t mean this game won’t be extremely difficult to win, but it puts things into perspective.

Food for thought.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Just for comparison’s sake, here are the B1G KenPom rankings:

2 - Illinois
3 - Michigan
6 - Iowa
9 - OSU
10 - Wisconsin
22 - Purdue
31 - Maryland
34 - Rutgers
36 - PSU
45 - Indiana
57 - Minnesota
58 - MSU
75 - NW
96 - Nebraska

 

[DHajekRC84]

Take this for what it’s worth, but the KenPom rankings of the teams in the AAC are pretty awful. Yes, Houston is #5, but the next highest team is Memphis at #40. In contrast, the B1G has 9 teams in the top 36.

5 - Houston
40 - Memphis
56 - SMU
72 - Wichita St.
98 - UCF
117 - Cincy
121 - Tulsa
139 - Temple
147 - Tulane
161 - ECU
175 - USF

The AAC is the very definition of a mid-major conference, with one dominant team, a few decent teams, and then a bunch of poor or just plain bad teams. Houston FEASTED on a really bad conference.

Now this doesn’t mean Houston is a pushover, but what it does mean is that Houston’s STATS must be viewed with a grain of salt. They are a talented team, no doubt, and they deserve a 2 seed. But would they have shot 36% from 3-pt range, or averaged 41 rebounds (including 13.8 offensive rebounds), averaged 77 points per game, or gave up only 58 points per game, playing a more difficult schedule?

Highly unlikely. It doesn’t mean this game won’t be extremely difficult to win, but it puts things into perspective.

Food for thought.

they still looked pretty darn fast and athletic. And we only play them not the AAC. BUT, I understand you're point. We just have to get back to Rutgers Basketball like our 2nd half and hope Myles is ok.

 

[Joey Bags]

I’ll bet they play up to their NET ranking, and that’s all that matters

 

[ScarletDave]

Forgot Witchita State joined the AAC in all sports besides football.

Anyway

Houston is no slouch. Their coach Sampson - former Indiana Hoosiers legend - just tied John Wooden of UCLA on the all-time wins list. This will be a very tough coaching matchup for Pike. If Pike out coaches this legend and wins the game he will get some serious offers.

Houston had 6 scorers in double figures. That doesn’t include their starting point guard who went out 1 min into the game with hip. D player of the year in the AAC. If he’s back on Sunday, it could get ugly. Not sure where the argument for UH being weak 2 seed comes from. They could be a 1, honestly would pick them over Illinois. We will have to bring 100% focus and hit our shots to have a shot

 

[BigLou]

Just for comparison’s sake, here are the B1G KenPom rankings:

2 - Illinois
3 - Michigan
6 - Iowa
9 - OSU
10 - Wisconsin
22 - Purdue
31 - Maryland
34 - Rutgers
36 - PSU
45 - Indiana
57 - Minnesota
58 - MSU
75 - NW
96 - Nebraska

2 things make me question the validity of the Big Ten rankings

1) PSU at #36
2) First round tournament losses

 

[Degaz-RU]

2 things make me question the validity of the Big Ten rankings

1) PSU at #36
2) First round tournament losses

On your first point, you have to understand what KenPom is. It’s not a ranking like the AP poll. It’s pure efficiency rankings. It’s offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions) minus defensive efficiency (points given up per 100 possessions). The teams are simply ranked in order of this “spread”. And PSU was a pretty decent team that lost their coach before the season, record notwithstanding.

On your second point, it’s March. I don’t think you can draw overall conclusions about the conference from a one game (per team) sample size. Now, if the B1G continues to crap the bed, that trend would be more indicative. Let’s see how the tournament plays out.

 

[RU#1fan]

2 things make me question the validity of the Big Ten rankings

1) PSU at #36
2) First round tournament losses

This. The B1G ranked teams #9,#22, #58 are already gone.

 

[RUSK97]

On your first point, you have to understand what KenPom is. It’s not a ranking like the AP poll. It’s pure efficiency rankings. It’s offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions) minus defensive efficiency (points given up per 100 possessions). The teams are simply ranked in order of this “spread”. And PSU was a pretty decent team that lost their coach before the season, record notwithstanding.

On your second point, it’s March. I don’t think you can draw overall conclusions about the conference from a one game (per team) sample size. Now, if the B1G continues to crap the bed, that trend would be more indicative. Let’s see how the tournament plays out.

Yeah it’s March, but when two top-4 seeds drop in the first round...Michigan State’s a different story. Not really an upset despite all our fans’ positing that the PAC12 is weak.

 

[bitnez]

Simply because good teams lost to the best team in a mid major conference doesn’t mean that the rankings are wrong. We are playing the best team in AAC. They absolutely could beat us. But, the OP’s point still stands — on balance the AAC isn’t in the same league as the B1G.

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

This. The B1G ranked teams #9,#22, #58 are already gone.

Remind again how many AAC teams are dancing?
Btw, no mention of the super-soft ACC.

 

[theRU]

The question ultimately comes down to match ups. We shouldn't fear them. Pressure off. Play loose and stop hesitating when the open shots are there.

Ron and geo passed up open looks many time last night only to be forced into a bad shot with shot clock running down. If ur open take it

 

[IL Lusciato]

This. The B1G ranked teams #9,#22, #58 are already gone.

Maybe the ranking doesn't matter at all then, including Houston. Not being argumentative, and the big doesn't look good right now, but still a valid way to look at it. I also think the BIG takes care of business today.

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

The question ultimately comes down to match ups. We shouldn't fear them. Pressure off. Play loose and stop hesitating when the open shots are there.

Ron and geo passed up open looks many time last night only to be forced into a bad shot with shot clock running down. If ur open take it

That seems to be a running theme with the two of them of late. Got to have a killer mentality in the tournament.

 

[Goku]

How many wins would Houston have in the B1G this year? How many teams have we played this year that are on Houston’s level?

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

Maybe the ranking doesn't matter at all then, including Houston. Not being argumentative, and the big doesn't look good right now, but still a valid way to look at it. I also think the BIG takes care of business today.

I still think without B1G refs, Rutgers beats Ohio State. I'm not convinced that Ohio State is as good as its record. Purdue was this year's March Madness casualty of an upstart playing the perfect game. Michigan State was not a good team, and they played out of their mind to get into the dance. Once they came back to earth, UCLA exposed them.

 

[IL Lusciato]

I still think without B1G refs, Rutgers beats Ohio State. I'm not convinced that Ohio State is as good as its record. Purdue was this year's March Madness casualty of an upstart playing the perfect game. Michigan State was not a good team, and they played out of their mind to get into the dance. Once they came back to earth, UCLA exposed them.

Completely agree on all points.

 

[bethlehemfan]

Ohio state had a horrific shooting game. I think it was an outlier.

 

[cicero grimes]

Houston is a tough team to evaluate. They did beat Texas Tech early and had a game against Bama cancelled. The rest of their wins are pretty pedestrian and their league was lucky to get a second bid. That being said I did watch them in the AAC tourney and they are very athletic.

To win we need to be efficient on offense and not turn the ball over. Memphis would have beaten them in the AAC tourney if they did not have a bunch of 1st half turnovers. If we keep the game in the 60's and play with B1G toughness we have a decent shot for the upset.

 

[Shelby65]

So by that OP logic Gonzaga ain’t that good either ?

 

[Doctor Worm]

2 things make me question the validity of the Big Ten rankings

1) PSU at #36
2) First round tournament losses

#2 is irrelevant. The rankings are backward facing, not forward. They are not predictive.

 

[Degaz-RU]

So by that OP logic Gonzaga ain’t that good either ?

Did you even read the post, or just the thread title?

 

[bac2therac]

Houston has losses to East Carolina and Tulsa

East Carolina went 2-10 in the AAC

 

[kapyoche]

Rutgers has to play a disciplined ball. They look very erratic at times.
Rutgers must avoid the threes. There is no point in taking threes if you are averaging just 23%. It is better to drive the ball and get a basket or foul. It is a high percentage play.

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

Houston has losses to East Carolina and Tulsa

East Carolina went 2-10 in the AAC

bac
Why would you post facts? You know Houston is unbeatable, according to a lot of posters here. These are 18-22 y/o kids who can have a WTF game when you least expect it and lose a game.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Ohio state had a horrific shooting game. I think it was an outlier.

Did they get a fair shake from the officials like they got when they played us?

 

[bethlehemfan]

Did they get a fair shake from the officials like they got when they played us?

Not sure about that.

 

[CERU00]

The question ultimately comes down to match ups. We shouldn't fear them. Pressure off. Play loose and stop hesitating when the open shots are there.

Ron and geo passed up open looks many time last night only to be forced into a bad shot with shot clock running down. If ur open take it

You don't think Ron took enough shots? Seriously?

 

[rob kight]

You don't think Ron took enough shots? Seriously?

Andy Katz said today that OSU was overseeded. But overall B1G was very good and predicted Conference would be 6&3 at the end of today

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Also missing Kyle Young.

 

[JerseyShoreKnight]

I know this is the basketball board but I always found it hilarious that the AAC had P6 on their first down chains. They were trying to persuade the NCAA to add them as the sixth power conference. That ain’t happening lol.

 

[Westcoast]

OSU just got really tight and missed a ton of open shots. And I think their intensity was lacking on defense. Mr Roberts just wanted it more.

 

[theRU]

You don't think Ron took enough shots? Seriously?

He took the wrong shots. Did you watch I saw him hesitate on the open shot only to take the contested shot a few seconds later under pressure and clock winding down.

 

[Degaz-RU]

So by that OP logic Gonzaga ain’t that good either ?

FYI, Gonzaga is 5-0 against P5 OOC opponents, Kansas, Auburn, West Virginia, Iowa, and UVA, and they also beat NCAA tournament team BYU three times, so 8-0 against high major opponents.

Houston’s best wins are against Texas Tech, Boise State, Memphis, South Carolina, and Wichita State.

Again, none of this means that Houston ISN’T a really (really) good team, but their schedule puts things in perspective.

 

[RU#1fan]

Rutgers has to play a disciplined ball. They look very erratic at times.
Rutgers must avoid the threes. There is no point in taking threes if you are averaging just 23%. It is better to drive the ball and get a basket or foul. It is a high percentage play.

‘This.
We do look totally out of control and very sloppy at times.. the disciplined RU Team needs to show up tonight.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

We got our guts blown out by Nebraska on a given day and It’s true we were mostly not competitive with Illinois in the BIG tourney. We could easily crap out and prove the Vegas experts wrong.

However, I see a team on paper who split with Wichita (winning by 7 in the win) and beating TT by 11 forever ago (November). The next best team they played, Memphis 2x) came to the final possession both games. Every game is different obviously - but I think we’re at least as good as Wichita and Memphis so I will be very disappointed if we look like we did vs the Illini. Regardless of them being a 2 seed. Let’s see what happens.