9th in the AP Poll (1/6)

[gsmooth]

That Colorado loss is gonna end up being pretty gross

When I was in Maui that was the loss that bugged me the most. I wanted the Memphis game, but I knew that game was going to be tough game and it was UConn's first game against a real opponent, not the sub 300 ranked cupcakes they played before that.

The Dayton game was close until about the 6 minute mark and then it unraveled, but at no point in that game did I think UConn was the better team and Dayton played well in their losses to UNC and Iowa State.

But when I was watching that Colorado in the stands, I was getting annoyed that UConn didn't extend their lead and it was all because of their lousy defense. I watched all 4 Monday 1st round games in person and saw how Michigan State dismantled Colorado so I was expecting a comfortable win for UConn against Colorado. Also throw in the fact that Iowa State defeated Colorado by 28 in the 5th place game, oof.

 

[bendm]

Men's Bracketology: How the Fighting Illini pulled off a surprise reboot

No one expected much from Illinois this year. But the Illini could have a shot at a No. 1 seed.

www.espn.com

lunardi has KU listed as a 3 seed in two regions. i think one should be A&M. we're still a 4, how did we not get the last 3 seed instead of Oregon??

1s: Auburn/Tenn/ISU/DUke
2s: UK/Bama/Marquette/UF
3s: KU/A&M/Illinois/Oregon
4s: Miss St/UConn/Houston/Memphis

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Yes, Syracuse has a chance to become an American team if Canada becomes the 51st state.

I don't see Canada becoming the 51st state. It would end up being four to six states once we annex it.

At that point intercollegiate curling will be a major sport.

 

[HooperScooper]

Tier 2: On the doorstep​

UConn (12-3): UConn, like Kentucky, has to play better defense if it wants to win the National Title for the third year in a row. Even in Sunday's dramatic, comeback win over Providence, UConn's point-of-attack defense was shredded by the Friars' guards. UConn does not have that elite defensive perimeter weapon like it had with Stephon Castle or Andre Jackson, but this offense is still good enough to go supernova and carry them for multiple games in March. Alex Karaban, Solo Ball and Liam McNeeley are three on-the-move, shot-makers that few teams have. This team has also made major strides since November. Imagine what it could look like in March.

Midseason national title contender tiers: The no-brainers, teams on the doorstep and March Madness dark horses

Nearing the midway point of the 2024-25 season, these teams have the best chances to cut down the nets in April.

www.cbssports.com

 

[CL82]

I don't see Canada becoming the 51st state. It would end up being four to six states once we annex it.

At that point intercollegiate curling will be a major sport.

I have to say, curling is oddly watchable.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Tier 2: On the doorstep​

UConn (12-3): UConn, like Kentucky, has to play better defense if it wants to win the National Title for the third year in a row. Even in Sunday's dramatic, comeback win over Providence, UConn's point-of-attack defense was shredded by the Friars' guards.

Midseason national title contender tiers: The no-brainers, teams on the doorstep and March Madness dark horses

Nearing the midway point of the 2024-25 season, these teams have the best chances to cut down the nets in April.

www.cbssports.com

Funny how anyone who mentioned this got shredded in the reaction thread.

 

[SubbaBub]

The March backcourt rotation is going to be Diarra, Ball, and whomever the best on-ball defender is. It is an open question and there are several guys who can grab it if they are paying attention.

The front court is going to be harder to crack for guys not named Johnson, Reed, Karaban or McNeeley. There will be one guy to spell the non-center spots for an 8 man rotation.

If you're not one of the top 6, there are minutes to be had. We can win again with Ball as our weakest defender, he's no worse than Spencer was probably a bit better one on one. We need a guy to stop their best guard if that guy has size on Diarra. Either way it's a tough ask for him to be the lead ball handker and lead defender. None of our championship PGs had to do both.

 

[businesslawyer]

Funny how anyone who mentioned this got shredded in the reaction thread.

I think we have different definitions of “shredded.” I haven’t seen much posting that disagrees with the fact that we’re not playing defense nearly well enough to threepeat. What I’ve seen is tons of posts thinking that “shredding” a team that is two time defending national champion and in the Top Ten as we speak is a bit much.

So I’ll be clear with my opinion FWIW. We are not playing defense nearly well enough to win another championship. I think we can play defense better than we have been, but I don’t think we have the personnel to play defense anywhere near the level that we’ve played it the last few years. And the level at which we’re playing it would make a threepeat unlikely. That having been said, the Team has been winning through a string of minor and mid—level injuries, and at the moment is doing what it should be doing in January, which is competing for a conference championship and putting ourselves in a position to get to the second weekend of the tourney. Beyond that, with the roster we have, anything will be gravy.

So just because some posters believe that the attitude of these posts is howling at the moon does not mean that they disagree with the fact that we’re not playing defense at an adequate level to win a championship.

 

[SubbaBub]

I would add developing depth to the currently doing list. Even if Hurley can find someone to defend the ball for 5-10 minutes a game when the matchup is going horribly wrong for might be worth advancing an extra round or two in March.

Cut the duration of these lapses in half and at critical moments and you may be able to make up the difference to win close when last year we just won huge.

 

[Scrutineer]

So you’re saying Syracuse has a chance.

Right up there with their former Big East brethren BCU, Miami and Va Tech............

 

[jibsey]

This is why I hate these stupid polls. We lose a buzzer game at Nova without our best player and we will plunge in the polls probably 5 spots.

 

[RuffRuff]

This is why I hate these stupid polls. We lose a buzzer game at Nova without our best player and we will plunge in the polls probably 5 spots.

It’s the same reason you move up - all relative. Don’t worry about the polls for now.

 

[bendm]

Men's Bracketology: How the Fighting Illini pulled off a surprise reboot

No one expected much from Illinois this year. But the Illini could have a shot at a No. 1 seed.

www.espn.com

oof 5 seed in Seattle, is that close to providence?

 

[RuffRuff]

That bracket is a nightmare scenario. A 5 in the west with Auburn as the 1 and a very good UM as the 5 would be tragic, especially when the East is set up so perfect. We will have to earn the East though, in Feb and March. We want a 3 in the East.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Part of me thinks there’s no way the committee doesn’t put us in Providence. Do they want to sell out arenas or not? We might have a path similar to 2023. West regional but starting in the northeast. Hopefully we can get a top 4 seed to guarantee that but unlikely if lose too many during the McNeeley absence.

 

[bendm]

Part of me thinks there’s no way the committee doesn’t put us in Providence. Do they want to sell out arenas or not? We might have a path similar to 2023. West regional but starting in the northeast. Hopefully we can get a top 4 seed to guarantee that but unlikely if lose too many during the McNeeley absence.

exactly. in '23 we played in Albany before going to the vegas regional so hopefully we're in Providence for the first two rounds before having to travel.

 

[king conn]

Part of me thinks there’s no way the committee doesn’t put us in Providence. Do they want to sell out arenas or not? We might have a path similar to 2023. West regional but starting in the northeast. Hopefully we can get a top 4 seed to guarantee that but unlikely if lose too many during the McNeeley absence.

It's already sold out. They only seat 12,000. Now if they had a dome to fill different story.

Don't know why they keep awarding these to Providence every few years, it is by far their smallest venue they use. Perhaps Val trades our tourney bids for it.