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IMO They would have to fall flat on their face the rest of the season in order for them not to make the tournament. They would have to lose at least 3 regular-season games and lose in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. If they do not do those things and do not make the NCAA there should be an investigation..To be honest, OSU has not had many resume wins this season. They do need to win almost all of the rest of their regular season games to lock up a tourney bid.
We're 14 in kenpom. We're 14 in Sagarin. We're 12 in BPI. We're 18-6, and 7-4 in a strong league. Our case right now is a hell of a lot stronger than you apparently would like to think.
Of course we need to stay on track. Any team wanting to get to the Dance can say the same thing. But your view that we're little more than a bubble team doesn't really have much to back it up.
We disagree on so many things.But again, seeding goes back to who you beat, not where you rate in RPI or whatever ranking is out there. If the Bucks end up with just the 3 wins they have now against tourney teams over the course of the season, then yes they will be on the bubble. You know OSU had only 2 wins (with a lot of losses) against tournament teams in 2008, that is why they got left out as much as anything. I know we're not used to seeing teams with good records from the B1G being left out, but the B1G isn't historically strong this year like it has been. Teams can get left out with good records if they don't have enough quality wins, that is reality I'm sorry you want to believe teams get in based on good record, and February 11 rankings from Kenpom, Sagarin and BPI.
Well look at that. Didn't exactly call the games correctly, but there is the 5-1 stretch I called. Team took care of the games they should have and needed to take care of. Again, it wasn't difficult, but this team was at a crossroads before this set of games. Maybe like when Meyer recognized a brotherhood/bond forming in East Lansing a couple years ago for the football squad, the extra rest and close game at Northwestern- in which Russell owned the night- may have been a switch for this team.Ok. Back off the edge a little bit...
The next 6 games are huge for the Buckeyes. There should be some winnable games:
An extended break until they play again Thursday-
@NW
IU
Maryland
@Purdue
@Rutgers
Penn State
If they want to get things back on track it starts on Thursday. That could be a 5-1 stretch if they can split one at home between IU/Maryland. I would love to see it.
Then again, I'm a big proponent of "past results indicate future outcomes" and nothing shows this team can compete consistently. They could struggle to go 3-3.
Something has to click with these extra days off.
We disagree on so many things.
You can continue to be as pessimistic as you like, but it's a Chicken Little approach.
- You claim whether you get in and where you're seeded has only to do with whom you've beaten. Yet past tournaments prove that is not the case. One's BPI, Sagarin, RPI and Kenpom rankings matter a great deal. I don't claim that a team's win roster isn't extremely important, as obviously it is, but it's not the be-all, end-all.
- If we lose at MSU and at home to the Badgers but win the remaining 4, our regular season record will be 23-8, we'll finish second in the B1G, and we'll still have only two wins against clear tournament teams. If you think that puts us on the bubble you're crazy. Our wins against Maryland, Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota are pretty good wins compared to the field.
- The B1G isn't as strong this season as it's been the past several, but it's still one of the top three in the nation. The second-place team in the B1G is just not on the bubble.
While I agree in principle with what you are saying, I would substitute Scott for Thompson in your scenario. I do not think that Scott is bringing very much to the table, including free-throw shooting, this season. I also do not think I would give that many minutes to KDB until he shows his wares against a quality opponent and that does not include Rutgers or PSU.Well, it appears he has been stuck behind Loving and Tate. I wish Matta would find some more minutes for him, but we've seen before where some talented freshmen just have not been able to get off the bench due to more experienced players being ahead of them on the pecking order. William Buford for instance didn't play regularly as a freshman (even though he went on to average double-digits in points that season) until after Lighty got injured, clearly WB was talented enough to contribute but was not getting off the bench due to the more experienced players being ahead of him. Bates-Diop to me is somewhat similar, clearly he has talent and can contribute but Matta is content to play his more experienced players. I don't like it, but what can you do as a fan. Personally I would not play Sam Thompson 40 minutes or anything close to that, the guy has gone 3-21 from 3 over the course of 11 B1G games this season, and it's not like opposing teams are making it real hard for him to get open shots. Thompson is also limited in production aside from not being a shooter, doesn't contribute a lot in any other statistical category other than a modest points per 40 total.
My thinking is your team's upside is higher living with mistakes that KBD makes and anticipating improvement, as opposed to going back to playing Thompson 40 minutes when you know what you'll get and it's not all that great. I would like to see KBD getting at least 15-20 minutes per game (20 without Loving, 15 with Loving). I feel that the more the seniors play, the lower the upside of this team, and the more the freshmen play, the higher the upside. It can still be a team that makes a run in the tournament, but not without a heavy dose of freshman.
While I agree in principle with what you are saying, I would substitute Scott for Thompson in your scenario. I do not think that Scott is bringing very much to the table, including free-throw shooting, this season. I also do not think I would give that many minutes to KDB until he shows his wares against a quality opponent and that does not include Rutgers or PSU.
it certainly was a well-timed post because Thompson had his best game of the season against the guys from Happy Valley
We disagree on so many things.
- You claim whether you get in and where you're seeded has only to do with whom you've beaten. Yet past tournaments prove that is not the case. One's BPI, Sagarin, RPI and Kenpom rankings matter a great deal. I don't claim that a team's win roster isn't extremely important, as obviously it is, but it's not the be-all, end-all.
- If we lose at MSU and at home to the Badgers but win the remaining 4, our regular season record will be 23-8, we'll finish second in the B1G, and we'll still have only two wins against clear tournament teams. If you think that puts us on the bubble you're crazy. Our wins against Maryland, Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota are pretty good wins compared to the field.
- The B1G isn't as strong this season as it's been the past several, but it's still one of the top three in the nation. The second-place team in the B1G is just not on the bubble.
I have also seen Shannon for 4 years along with Thompson and if I can have one on the court at any given time I will take Sam. I do not understand how you can talk about Scott and assists when it is his job as PG to distribute the ball and I will also put Thompson up against Shannon when it comes to defense and rebounding. Thompson probably scores more points in most games with just his dunks off of inbounds plays than Shannon does the entire game. Also, as an added incentive, who do you want at the free-throw line at the end of the game or even during the gameYes, interesting timing for Thompson's career high.
While Sam had a strong performance yesterday, we have all seen him for four years and we know that him resembling being that productive is very unusual. I personally value Scott higher than Thompson, I like how Scott contributes in areas of the game such as assists, steals, rebounds even when he doesn't score. Thompson, it's kind of the opposite, if he's not scoring he's not putting much up on the statsheet typically. Doesn't board. Doesn't assist much. Doesn't handle the ball. Gets steals sometimes but the steals he gets aren't as difficult to get as the ones Scott often makes. I just don't see the things Thompson that does on a regular basis as things that are so difficult for a replacement to provide that you can't take him out of the game 10-15 minutes. Scott may be more replaceable in the lineup at times this year since Russell is taking over, but he still has skills that you only have one guy on the team other than Scott that can fit that role. Thompson, you could pick any one of 3 or 4 other guys to put in that spot and typically get basically the same production over the span of 10-15 minutes a game.
I have also seen Shannon for 4 years along with Thompson and if I can have one on the court at any given time I will take Sam. I do not understand how you can talk about Scott and assists when it is his job as PG to distribute the ball and I will also put Thompson up against Shannon when it comes to defense and rebounding. Thompson probably scores more points in most games with just his dunks off of inbounds plays than Shannon does the entire game. Also, as an added incentive, who do you want at the free-throw line at the end of the game or even during the game
I will take Russell at PG and 4 other guys including Thompson and you can have Shannon and four other guys(including Russell) but not Thompson. You tell me who you would rather have on the floor.
Of all things, I don't really care what OSU's seed is as long as they are not an 8/9. That is a tough 1st round game, and then obviously a very difficult 2nd round game. Even if they end up as a 7/10, I would not be scared at all of a #2 seed. Just avoid Duke/Kentucky/Virginia for as long as possible, and this OSU team has a chance to make a run with the ball in D'Angelo's hands.