~60% of the way through the season

[tzznandrew]

I first posted this on November 25. And then an update on December 20.

NET

7. Houston
---
29. Cincy
35. UCF
---
54. Temple
67. Memphis
87. UConn
89. USF
104. Tulsa
122. SMU
128. Wichita State
---
233. ECU
305. Tulane

Sagarin

23. Houston
25. Cincy
36. UCF
---
70. Temple
74. Memphis
85. UConn
100. SMU
115. Wichita
124. Tulsa
147. USF
---
230. ECU
257. Tulane

KenPom

21. Houston
27. Cincy
45. UCF
---
74. UConn
75. Temple
89. Memphis
---
113. USF
123. SMU
135. Tulsa
140. Wichita
---
250. ECU
300. Tulane

BPI

21. Houston
22. Cincy
40. UCF
---
64. Temple
86. UConn
88. SMU
99. Memphis
---
134. USF
135. Tulsa
138. Wichita
---
259. ECU
293. Tulane

Massey

11. Houston
---
30. Cincy
42. UCF
47. Temple
---
98. Memphis
106. Tulsa
112. USF
116. UConn
132. Wichita
142. SMU
---
228. East Carolina
313. Tulane

 

[whaler11]

*youstin

 

[Matrim55]

What's clear, by both the numbers and the eye test is that we are 1) much better than the last two years, and 2) still pretty far from being "good."

Hope they make the NIT and make a good long run. The kids on this roster need as many games as possible.

 

[tzznandrew]

Just a quick comparison to back up Matrim's point.

UConn, last year at this time (11-9) in all these but NET (which didn't exist)

Sagarin: 108
KenPom: 151

I couldn't get the WayBack to give the right date from BPI or Massey. Closest I could get was 2/13.

BPI: 170
Massey: 128

The record at this point is only 1 game better, but the fundamentals at roughly the same time suggest a pretty large improvement.

108 in Sagarin right now is DePaul
151 in KemPom is UC Santa Barbara
170 in BPI is Louisiana
128 in Massey is also UC Santa Barbara

We've made strides from last year, but we certainly have a way to go.

 

[Hi-Low]

Last year we lost 8 games by 20+ points and were completely humiliated & we lost another 5 games by 9+ points..........................that's 13 of our 17 loses last year we really had little chance of winning.

This year we still have too many loses but only 2 games lost by 19+ pts (Iowa & Nova) & the other 6 loses were by an average of 6.5 points and were mostly all within the realm of winnable.

We obviously still have chances for bad loses with at least 12 games left but this team is able to compete with teams that will be in tourney and that's a big step forward.

NIT should be the minimum goal at this point & if we pull off a few upsets in the next 6 weeks who knows.

 

[Jaker]

We certainly looked much improved last night.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Can’t believe the team I watched last night is the same team who lost to USF and Tulsa.

 

[Jaker]

I think the difference the past 2 games has been because Carlton has played like a man giving us an inside presence.

 

[UconnFanDC]

Can’t believe the team I watched last night is the same team who lost to USF and Tulsa.

If you look at USF and the games they played against AAC competition they are doing much better then anyone predicted they've had some pretty close games on better teams home floors. Tulsa is just always one of those type of teams that will loose to the worse and be close to or win a game against better opponents.

 

[imno1]

I think the difference the past 2 games has been because Carlton has played like a man giving us an inside presence.

Plus we made shots especially every time WS looked to be cutting into the lead. And the guys were committed to defense for most of the game. There was a lot to like about last night. We were hitting on all cylinders and our opponent wasn’t up for the challenge

 

[Chuck]

This year: We’re beating bad teams easily. We’re losing to good teams, mostly respectfully (I’m going to pretend Nova got cancelled).

Last year:we barely beat bad teams, and lost a bunch. We got crushed by the good teams, usually from the tip.

Definite improvement, although I’ll sdmit I hoped for a few games better at this point.

 

[Rico444]

Plus we made shots especially every time WS looked to be cutting into the lead. And the guys were committed to defense for most of the game. There was a lot to like about last night. We were hitting on all cylinders and our opponent wasn’t up for the challenge

Yup. There was a stretch after Alterique left where Jalen was getting a breather and Wichita cut the lead to 12. Jalen came back in and immediately hit a show, and before you knew it we were up 18 and it was never close again. Great to see that killer mentality.

 

[AfgHusky15]

I first posted this on November 25. And then an update on December 20.

NET

7. Houston
---
29. Cincy
35. UCF
---
54. Temple
67. Memphis
87. UConn
89. USF
104. Tulsa
122. SMU
128. Wichita State
---
233. ECU
305. Tulane

Sagarin

23. Houston
25. Cincy
36. UCF
---
70. Temple
74. Memphis
85. UConn
100. SMU
115. Wichita
124. Tulsa
147. USF
---
230. ECU
257. Tulane

KenPom

21. Houston
27. Cincy
45. UCF
---
74. UConn
75. Temple
89. Memphis
---
113. USF
123. SMU
135. Tulsa
140. Wichita
---
250. ECU
300. Tulane

BPI

21. Houston
22. Cincy
40. UCF
---
64. Temple
86. UConn
88. SMU
99. Memphis
---
134. USF
135. Tulsa
138. Wichita
---
259. ECU
293. Tulane

Massey

11. Houston
---
30. Cincy
42. UCF
47. Temple
---
98. Memphis
106. Tulsa
112. USF
116. UConn
132. Wichita
142. SMU
---
228. East Carolina
313. Tulane

After the win against Wichita St. UConn moved up 9 spots in the BPI rankings and is currently ranked 77.

The Net ranking as of this morning has not been updated to include the Wichita St. win but it should see a similar bump once it’s updated.

The UCF game is going to be a real big game. A win against them on the road would not only put UConn firmly in the NIT but would also put them back in the NCAA bubble.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Last year we lost 8 games by 20+ points and were completely humiliated & we lost another 5 games by 9+ points......that's 13 of our 17 loses last year we really had little chance of winning.

This year we still have too many loses but only 2 games lost by 19+ pts (Iowa & Nova) & the other 6 loses were by an average of 6.5 points and were mostly all within the realm of winnable.

We obviously still have chances for bad loses with at least 12 games left but this team is able to compete with teams that will be in tourney and that's a big step forward.

NIT should be the minimum goal at this point & if we pull off a few upsets in the next 6 weeks who knows.

The conference was better last year.

 

[Hi-Low]

The conference was better last year.

WSU, Cincy & Tulsa were better last year.

Houston, Memphis, UCF, Temple, UConn are better this year I think.

Let's see where the conference is in March but I think the depth of the AAC is better this year.

 

[tzznandrew]

The conference was better last year.

Whether or not it is or isn't, the stats are all (except NET) adjusted for competition.

So, ultimately, this UConn team is a good deal better than last years.

And Hi-Low is right: last year Cincy and WSU were really good; Cincy is still pretty decent while WSU is garbage. All the other teams besides Tulane and SMU are better.

 

[3rdbass]

Yup. There was a stretch after Alterique left where Jalen was getting a breather and Wichita cut the lead to 12. Jalen came back in and immediately hit a show, and before you knew it we were up 18 and it was never close again. Great to see that killer mentality.

Yeah Jalen stepped up when we needed someone to in the second half without AG in there. Nice to see that killer instinct in there from him as a lot of posters have said it is missing in his game.

 

[intlzncster]

Whether or not it is or isn't, the stats are all (except NET) adjusted for competition.

So, ultimately, this UConn team is a good deal better than last years.

And Hi-Low is right: last year Cincy and WSU were really good; Cincy is still pretty decent while WSU is garbage. All the other teams besides Tulane and SMU are better.

I feel like we have to point this out every time this discussion comes up.

 

[tzznandrew]

I feel like we have to point this out every time this discussion comes up.

Agreed. The team can be and has been frustrating at moments. And they aren't as good as some people wanted. Hell, I think there are a few games they absolutely should have won that they didn't. But last year's team is almost certainly the worst UConn team in my lifetime, and this year's team is probably something more like the bad by UConn standards (but not by D1 standards) teams that missed the tournament periodically throughout Calhoun's time.

 

[intlzncster]

Agreed. The team can be and has been frustrating at moments. And they aren't as good as some people wanted. Hell, I think there are a few games they absolutely should have won that they didn't. But last year's team is almost certainly the worst UConn team in my lifetime, and this year's team is probably something more like the bad by UConn standards (but not by D1 standards) teams that missed the tournament periodically throughout Calhoun's time.

Programs that have been where ours has been the last few years need to learn how to win again. It's a process. You could even say that winning's a skill in a way.

 

[HawkHusky]

Up to #78 in NET. Plus 9 after the Wichita win.

 

[Storrs South]

Moved ahead of Providence and Temple in KenPom

 

[ucawn]

Nice to see back in the high 70’s trending the right way throughout most of them.

 

[Ewekon]

After the win against Wichita St. UConn moved up 9 spots in the BPI rankings and is currently ranked 77.

The Net ranking as of this morning has not been updated to include the Wichita St. win but it should see a similar bump once it’s updated.

The UCF game is going to be a real big game. A win against them on the road would not only put UConn firmly in the NIT but would also put them back in the NCAA bubble.

This team will never be on the NCAA bubble. AAC tourney champs is it. Sorry. But NIT surely within reason.

 

[AntG168]

This team will never be on the NCAA bubble. AAC tourney champs is it. Sorry. But NIT surely within reason.

That’s false. Say the finish at 19-12. They’d be right there on the bubble