This week's picks!
Ok, here we go.
Game 1: #5 Kansas at Texas Tech
As much as Bobby Knight gets the most out of his players and usually has a very good gameplan of how to win most games, these tend to be the games that never really come together for him. Games where his team is obviously outmatched seem to be the bane for Knight. At the same time, Self's teams, while always stocked with talent, always seem to underachieve to a very frustrating level(if only Kansas and Illinois could do an exchange program every 3 years ago between Weber and Self. They'd both be stocked with talent from Self that Weber could coach up.)
Overall, the pick here is Kansas.
Game 2: #22 Maryland at #25 Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech has been awesome as of late. They've totally earned their top 25 ranking by shaking up the ACC with some big wins. However--no one's going to overlook them now, and I can't see them keeping this up when they can't play the "underdog" card. Maryland has a better points per shot rate, shoots better, scores more points overall and rebounds the ball more per game. Some of this may simply indicate a faster pace, but overall, I've still got to go with Maryland to pick up a big win on the road in the ACC.
Game 3: Indiana at Illinois
The Big 10 game of the week. Indiana has been very good under Sampson so far. IU is currently 4-1 and tied for 2nd in the Big 10 behind only #3 ranked Wisconsin. Illinois has struggled and are 2-3 in the league(not counting the game against Wisconsin as I type this).
Illinois does have the home court though and they rarely lose there. They're looking rather good against Wisconsin, although they trail at the half. With the home court, I'm going with my team this time and taking Illinois to defend their home court against Indiana.
Game 4: #16 Clemson at #17 Duke
I look at Clemson's schedule and I wonder...
HOW THE HELL IS THIS TEAM 16TH IN THE NATION?
Their marquee non-conference win: Mississippi State(home game) - 56th in the Sagarins, 77th in the RPI. The 77th best team is a marquee win, right?
They've faced two ranked teams in the ACC in Maryland and North Carolina and lost to both of them. Their only real marquee win is another home game over Georgia Tech, who they beat by 1. Georgia Tech is 34th in the RPI. Now, Clemson somehow is ranked 11th in the RPI, so I guess if I'm going by the RPI, I can't completely rip them, but I can't imagine Clemson will be anywhere near that high by the end of the season.
The pick here is Duke, who as much as they're struggling, still only has 3 losses and still has one of the best basketball coaches in the country(NBA included)
The recap!
It's a bad week for "Techs" who I'm calling to go 0-2. It's a good week for the traditional powerhouses of the last few years. All four winners have been strong programs for the last several years, while the losers have all been either traditionally weak in basketball or in the case of Indiana, just down the last few years.
Kansas over Texas Tech
Maryland over Virginia Tech
Illinois over Indiana
Duke over Clemson
Can I go over .500?
Game 1: #5 Kansas at Texas Tech
As much as Bobby Knight gets the most out of his players and usually has a very good gameplan of how to win most games, these tend to be the games that never really come together for him. Games where his team is obviously outmatched seem to be the bane for Knight. At the same time, Self's teams, while always stocked with talent, always seem to underachieve to a very frustrating level(if only Kansas and Illinois could do an exchange program every 3 years ago between Weber and Self. They'd both be stocked with talent from Self that Weber could coach up.)
Overall, the pick here is Kansas.
Game 2: #22 Maryland at #25 Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech has been awesome as of late. They've totally earned their top 25 ranking by shaking up the ACC with some big wins. However--no one's going to overlook them now, and I can't see them keeping this up when they can't play the "underdog" card. Maryland has a better points per shot rate, shoots better, scores more points overall and rebounds the ball more per game. Some of this may simply indicate a faster pace, but overall, I've still got to go with Maryland to pick up a big win on the road in the ACC.
Game 3: Indiana at Illinois
The Big 10 game of the week. Indiana has been very good under Sampson so far. IU is currently 4-1 and tied for 2nd in the Big 10 behind only #3 ranked Wisconsin. Illinois has struggled and are 2-3 in the league(not counting the game against Wisconsin as I type this).
Illinois does have the home court though and they rarely lose there. They're looking rather good against Wisconsin, although they trail at the half. With the home court, I'm going with my team this time and taking Illinois to defend their home court against Indiana.
Game 4: #16 Clemson at #17 Duke
I look at Clemson's schedule and I wonder...
HOW THE HELL IS THIS TEAM 16TH IN THE NATION?
Their marquee non-conference win: Mississippi State(home game) - 56th in the Sagarins, 77th in the RPI. The 77th best team is a marquee win, right?
They've faced two ranked teams in the ACC in Maryland and North Carolina and lost to both of them. Their only real marquee win is another home game over Georgia Tech, who they beat by 1. Georgia Tech is 34th in the RPI. Now, Clemson somehow is ranked 11th in the RPI, so I guess if I'm going by the RPI, I can't completely rip them, but I can't imagine Clemson will be anywhere near that high by the end of the season.
The pick here is Duke, who as much as they're struggling, still only has 3 losses and still has one of the best basketball coaches in the country(NBA included)
The recap!
It's a bad week for "Techs" who I'm calling to go 0-2. It's a good week for the traditional powerhouses of the last few years. All four winners have been strong programs for the last several years, while the losers have all been either traditionally weak in basketball or in the case of Indiana, just down the last few years.
Kansas over Texas Tech
Maryland over Virginia Tech
Illinois over Indiana
Duke over Clemson
Can I go over .500?
posted by Matt at 1:45 PM
1 Comments:
Kansas over Texas Tech
Virgina Tech over Maryland
Indiana trounces an NIT bound Illinois
Clemson sucks, Duke Wins
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