Week 14 preview (Feb. 7-13)

[Plebe]

Temporary or rest of season?

Mackenzie Holmes getting closer to a stretch-run return for IU women

It sounds like “when” rather than “if” as it relates to center Mackenzie Holmes’ return to the IU women’s basketball team this season. The team’s leading s…

www.thedailyhoosier.com

 

[Vowelguy]

Hot Pink and neon yellow for the Ia_md game. It’s like an 80s fitness center.

 

[Plebe]

Hot Pink and neon yellow for the Ia_md game. It’s like an 80s fitness center.

Did you say 80s fitness?

 

[TheFarmFan]

Did you say 80s fitness?

Dude, I want whatever those Jazzercisers were on. I don't think I've felt that high on life since I was in college.

 

[Plebe]

Dude, I want whatever those Jazzercisers were on. I don't think I've felt that high on life since I was in college.

Since college? I don't think I've ever been that enthused about anything my entire life.

With the possible exception of those killer jokes by Alan Thicke (starts at 5:30).

 

[undersized]

That might help explain tonight, but it doesn't help explain how the #5 team in the country had one road win against a team in the top 70 and none against top 25 teams.

They beat Ohio State, on the road, by 22.

Everyone knew Indiana isn't actually the #5 team in the country without Mackenzie Holmes. But it hardly would have been fair to drop them in the rankings until they actually lost a game that they "should" have won. Totally fair for them to drop a bit now.

 

[undersized]

Prior to tonight, they lost to the NET 2, 3, and 15, beat the NET 16 in OT at home, beat the team they just lost to at home, and beat NET 28 Ohio St on the road. That's the extent of their Top 70 matchups, let alone wins. Mackenzie played in all of the games just mentioned. That sound like a top 5 team to you? Not to me.

And for context, prior to tonight Massey had them at 12 and NET at 14.

Mackenzie did not play in the Michigan game so you're wrong about that. And as I said, "Everyone knew Indiana isn't actually the #5 team in the country without Mackenzie Holmes." So where exactly did I claim they were a "top 5 team"? I said they had remained at #5 because they hadn't suffered a bad loss in her absence. And that's how the polls work. Can't really penalize a team too much until they actually start losing.

BTW I believe they deserve some credit for the quality of their losses to Stanford and NC State. They were both essentially tie games the entire way and could have gone either way in the end. Indiana ultimately got outplayed in both, but it's a very different type of loss than getting blown out of the water.

 

[Plebe]

Mackenzie did not play in the Michigan game so you're wrong about that. And as I said, "Everyone knew Indiana isn't actually the #5 team in the country without Mackenzie Holmes." So where exactly did I claim they were a "top 5 team"? I said they had remained at #5 because they hadn't suffered a bad loss in her absence. And that's how the polls work. Can't really penalize a team too much until they actually start losing.

BTW I believe they deserve some credit for the quality of their losses to Stanford and NC State. They were both essentially tie games the entire way and could have gone either way in the end. Indiana ultimately got outplayed in both, but it's a very different type of loss than getting blown out of the water.

It's valid to point out that Indiana's resume is light on high-quality wins, and having no wins over the committee's top 16 is an eye-opener to me. But they also deserve some credit for doing something (at least until last night) that very few teams have done this season — namely, holding serve against the teams they're "supposed" to beat. No losses to the Missouris or South Floridas of the world. (And while last night's loss is unseemly, Nebraska is on pace for a 6 seed in the NCAAT.)

The other issue is that it's all too easy to throw darts against this or that team as being "over-ranked" ... but it's a lot harder to identify the "under-ranked" teams who should take their place. After the top 4 teams, who else has made a consistently compelling case that they are top 10? Up until 2-3 weeks ago, Tennessee had appeared to do so but turned out to be all smoke and mirrors. Who else?

 

[undersized]

It's valid to point out that Indiana's resume is light on high-quality wins, and having no wins over the committee's top 16 is an eye-opener to me. But they also deserve some credit for doing something (at least until last night) that very few teams have done this season — namely, holding serve against the teams they're "supposed" to beat. No losses to the Missouris or South Floridas of the world. (And while last night's loss is unseemly, Nebraska is on pace for a 6 seed in the NCAAT.)

The other issue is that it's all too easy to throw darts against this or that team as being "over-ranked" ... but it's a lot harder to identify the "under-ranked" teams who should take their place. After the top 4 teams, who else has made a consistently compelling case that they are top 10? Up until 2-3 weeks ago, Tennessee had appeared to do so but turned out to be all smoke and mirrors. Who else?

Good points. I would add though that IU has a win over a full strength Maryland team who is currently slated as a 4 seed, according to Charlie Creme, after beating Iowa last night.

 

[DefenseBB]

So…when are we revisiting everyone’s pre season ACC predictions or more specific a certain food loving and lovable colleague of ours who’s Mayonnaise is named after his school?

Just asking for a friend….

 

[DefenseBB]

— Georgia Tech narrowly averted what would've been a horrible loss to bottom-feeder Clemson, in overtime. I'd say that keeps alive GT's hopes of hosting first weekend.
….

I would think given the amount of glee that Clemson has allowed to have and generate to those of us on this board you might be just a tad more kind towards them-

You will notice that it is Clemson that is putting the whooping onto our dearly misunderstood MM….

 

[Vowelguy]

So…when are we revisiting everyone’s pre season ACC predictions or more specific a certain food loving and lovable colleague of ours who’s Mayonnaise is named after his school?

Just asking for a friend….

I thought the school was named after the mayonnaise?

 

[triaddukefan]

So…when are we revisiting everyone’s pre season ACC predictions or more specific a certain food loving and lovable colleague of ours who’s Mayonnaise is named after his school?

Just asking for a friend….

2026 works for me

 

[triaddukefan]

Think I may need to delete some old posts

 

[Plebe]

I would think given the amount of glee that Clemson has allowed to have and generate to those of us on this board you might be just a tad more kind towards them-
You will notice that it is Clemson that is putting the whooping onto our dearly misunderstood MM….

Well stated. Other teams from the Palmetto State had their chances to earn cred again ND but IIRC blew them all. It was Clemson who prompted the "players coach" to blubber uncontrollably on both sideline and presser dais, throw her players emphatically under the bus, and then serve as a role model for women on how to quit when the going gets rough. Long live Clemson.

 

[Plebe]

Mississippi State led Kentucky by 15 with 7 minutes to go and then proceeded to be outscored 24-2 the rest of the way. I believe that's an even worse 4th quarter collapse than Texas's vs. Tennessee and Louisville's vs. NC State.

Dre'una Edwards might not be Kentucky's best player, but she is IMO their most valuable player. In those last 7 minutes alone, she had 11 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal.

Tough loss for an MSU squad that is on the bubble.