Week 17 preview (Feb. 28–Mar. 6)

[Plebe]

Yeah I actually think they were reasonably in the conversation if only because everyone else around them has accumulated a lot of bad losses lately (lookin' at you, Arizona). But their sky high NET ranking has irked me all season because it bears no semblance to the reality of the team being at best top 15-20 type team.

Also, in comparing resumes around the hosting bubble. Indiana was #15 in the latest reveal and their resume is only ever so slightly better than UNC's. Indiana's best win is at home over Maryland (not as good a win as UNC's over Louisville) but they also have a road win at Ohio State and a home win over Nebraska (teams that are likely 6 seeds, maybe OSU is a 5). Both UNC and IU are similar in that they have no truly bad losses (worst losses are to Georgia Tech / Nebraska).

 

[Sluconn Husky]

South Carolina shooting 34% but winning handily against Arkansas in another example of why it will be so hard to knock them off. They have 15 offensive rebounds through 3 quarters.

 

[TheFarmFan]

South Carolina shooting 34% but winning handily against Arkansas in another example of why it will be so hard to knock them off. They have 15 offensive rebounds through 3 quarters.

Well in fairness, offensive rebounds go hand in hand with low shooting percentages. If you shoot lights out there won't be 15 o-boards to grab!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Well in fairness, offensive rebounds go hand in hand with low shooting percentages. If you shoot lights out there won't be 15 o-boards to grab!

Right, but they could just as easily not grab such a high percentage of their misses and today isn't even a great game for them on the boards.

 

[southie]

Gutsy effort by Virginia Tech in their OT win over UNC. Down Cayla King, they lose ACC POY Elizabeth Kitley in the 2nd quarter with a shoulder injury, overcomes a 10-point deficit and wins.

Virginia Tech scores 18 points in the 5-minute OT period. In each 10-minute quarter, they scored 15, 16, 19, and 19 points.

 

[BRS24]

It will be interesting to see how this news impacts the Ole Miss (4) vs. Florida (5) (3:30p, SECN) today.

 

[cancontent]

It will be interesting to see how this news impacts the Ole Miss (4) vs. Florida (5) (3:30p, SECN) today.

Damn............heart sank when I saw her go down. Didn't need to see the replays of what happened though.

 

[CompSci87]

Arizona really took the conference solidarity thing too far, wanting to make sure Colorado made the tournament

Arizona will still be a 4 seed. They'll take Reese's injury into account if she's expected back.

I had heard she could have been back as soon as the Pac-12 tournament final on Sunday if Arizona could get that far without her.

 

[CompSci87]

Yeah, the Big 12 is the only P5 conference which holds its women's basketball tournament in conjunction with their men's tournament in Kansas City. It wasn't always that way; most times in different cities; and a couple of times one week prior to the men's tourney.

Pac-12 tried that. I went to the joint tournament in LA one year, with most games in the cavernous Staples Center and some overflow in USC's nice facility. It was fun, but I do think separate tourneys are better overall. The fan bases certainly have overlap, but aren't the same.

 

[triaddukefan]

VPI joined the league in 2004. Tomorrow will be their first appearance on Semi-Final Saturday. The only remaining school that has never appeared in the semi-finals is Pittsburgh, a member since 2013-14.

Damn............heart sank when I saw her go down. Didn't need to see the replays of what happened though.

I saw you said you softened your stance on her? What did she say to accomplish such an impossible feat?

I dunno... she displayed a great sense of humor, kinda charming, I can see why her players and recruits like her. Plus she said good things about the tournament and the city.

I still aint gonna root for her though

 

[triaddukefan]

Dear NC State: Please put a Louisville-over-Notre Dame-style beatdown on Florida State to make it abundantly clear to the committee that they do not deserve an at-large bid.

After seeing this, I've decided against mailing Plebe those pair of ACC sunglasses I won at the ACC tournament a few years ago.

 

[cancontent]

Okay - with Indiana knocking out Maryland just now, how exactly can they be considered to be overrated?

Maryland's shooting today was definitely not what I expected. Don't think I had Benzan going 0-3 or Bibby gong 2-10. Wow.

 

[triaddukefan]

Okay - with Indiana knocking out Maryland just now, how exactly can they be considered to be overrated?

Maryland's shooting today was definitely not what I expected. Don't think I had Benzan going 0-3 or Bibby gong 2-10. Wow.

Maryland's overrated ???

 

[Plebe]

After seeing this, I've decided against mailing Plebe those pair of ACC sunglasses I won at the ACC tournament a few years ago.

Just because I'm rooting for NC State to excel? Seems harsh.

 

[Plebe]

Okay - with Indiana knocking out Maryland just now, how exactly can they be considered to be overrated?

Maryland's shooting today was definitely not what I expected. Don't think I had Benzan going 0-3 or Bibby gong 2-10. Wow.

Indiana heard Charlie Creme talking trash about them and took it personal. Gotta think this clinches a hosting spot for them. And since Maryland was #12 and with other teams losing to lesser teams, gotta think Maryland's still gonna host as well.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Okay - with Indiana knocking out Maryland just now, how exactly can they be considered to be overrated?

Well, put it this way. Before today, Maryland was the only top 20 team they beat. After today, Maryland is still the only top 20 team they beat.

 

[southie]

Think I saw where Maryland was like 3-7 in Q1 wins, IIRC, as of the reveal; shocked the committee had them so high . . .

 

[Plebe]

Think I saw where Maryland was like 3-7 in Q1 wins, IIRC, as of the reveal; shocked the committee had them so high . . .

But this is what I'm saying. Who deserves to be higher? It's a comparison game and the resumes outside the top 10 are all very flawed or weak in one way or another. (Even some of the top 10 resumes are problematic, as you know.)

Maryland at least has a win over Baylor (now a top 5 team) and they don't have any bad losses. I sure as heck like their resume better than Tennessee's or any of the other teams that might be considered to move ahead of them. Arizona was deservedly ahead of them until they lost to like 4 bubble teams in a row.

 

[Plebe]

Well, put it this way. Before today, Maryland was the only top 20 team they beat. After today, Maryland is still the only top 20 team they beat.

But to their credit, they doubled their number of top 20 wins in one day! Pretty impressive when you think of it that way.

 

[cancontent]

Maryland's overrated ???

I was referring to Indiana. Should have been clearer.

Well, put it this way. Before today, Maryland was the only top 30 team they beat. After today, Maryland is still the only top 30 team they beat.

I see your point, to an extent, however all of the top 5 teams in the BIG10 this season have blemishes on their records this season. Also, losing Holmes for several weeks didn't help them as they don't have much depth at that position.

 

[LETTERL]

 

[Plebe]

NC State heeded my request! Hope FSU enjoys playing in the WNIT this year.

Seriously, when NC State puts it all together there isn't a team out there they can't beat. Nobody, including the UConn fans, better underestimate them.

 

[triaddukefan]

Just because I'm rooting for NC State to excel? Seems harsh.

Ok, I shall reconsider.

 

[Plebe]

To be clear, I actually don't care as much about blemishes as I do about good wins -- especially good road wins. I'm on the record as caring much more about good wins than bad losses, because I think good wins, and especially good road wins, says much more about a team's potential to make a post-season run. Anyone can have an off night (SCAR at Missouri) or a bad matchup (Stanford losing to Texas at home). Not anyone can beat great teams away from home in different time zones and unfamiliar and hostile environments.

In that sense, I would rank the B1G Ten as follows:
Michigan: wins include neutral vs. Baylor; home vs. Maryland, Iowa, and Indiana; at Ohio St and Maryland
Iowa: wins include vs. Michigan, Indiana, Nebraska, UCF; at Indiana and Nebraska
Maryland: wins include home vs. Baylor, Indiana, Nebraska; away at Iowa
Indiana: wins include neutral vs. Maryland; home vs. Maryland and Nebraska; away at Ohio St

And your rankings come pretty darn close to the committee's, except they had Maryland ahead of Iowa (as of 5 days ago). And that'd be completely logical if the losses are ignored. But Iowa frankly looked anemic for the first half-plus of the season, including getting blown out by Duke and a loss to IUPUI. Bad losses have to count for something.

 

[GoChips20]

Maryland has had a really interesting year. I know they had some injuries but they’re a far cry from the Terps team of 20-21 that a handful of folks had pegged as a title favorite before Vic Schaefer did his thing.

With the talent and potential on their roster, they’ll always be a team you don’t want to see on your side of the bracket, but the offense isn’t what it was. They’ve added back Reese, who has been by far their best player all season long, but the results haven’t been there. (The B1G is, to be fair, significantly more competitive this year).

I like Brenda and her team and they could still make a Final Four and I wouldn’t be shocked.