2023-2024 College Basketball general discussion

[GoBearcats31]

Don't look now, but USF is 9-1 in AAC play -- a half game ahead of FAU for first place. USF is 16-5 and hovering around Top 100 in the metrics.

Feel good for their fans and players, but the odds of first year head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim sticking around = not good

[GoBearcats31]

Another random observation:

Last year, Dennis Gates (formerly of Cleveland State, was mentioned in the 2021 coaching search) led Missouri to a #7 seed and second round NCAA Tournament appearance.

This year, Missouri is currently 8-15, including an 0-10 SEC record. Not sure what the situation is -- looks like they lost a couple players to the NBA, not sure how their recruiting/portaling was last year. But the Tigers are the only winless power conference team besides, of course, DePaul.

[GoBearcats31]

Paywalled, but UD bid to host First Four games in 2027 and 2028, plus some first and second round games https://www.daytondailynews.com/spor...LEKCO4QLR5KUQ/

Would be a shame if they ever move the First Four from Dayton in the current tournament format

[GoBearcats31]

Detroit Mercy won its first game of the year tonight

[bearcatbret]

The Mouseketeers lost tonight by 18 points.

[Rufus]

Mouseketeers lol I like that. Ro.or has it that the main mouseketeer is on the list to coach THE school in the middle of Ohio

[GoBearcats31]

RIP Lefty Driesell

[Lobot]

Detroit Mercy won its first game of the year tonight

If you haven't caught the video at the end of the game, look for it. There was one single solitary court stormer.

[GoBearcats31]

Big postgame fight last night between Incarnate Word and Texas A&M Commerce, the latter being the team of famed former Bearcat Rob Banks (who barely plays). Rob is #21 and is like a foot away from things when it starts and he calmly turns around and avoids any involvement. I suppose you could make an argument for protecting your teammates/trying to hold his guys back, but probably not a bad thing to just walk away. Well, I guess his playing time likely will see a bump after the inevitable suspensions.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...game-handshake

[GoBearcats31]

Numbers guy Evan Miyakawa (aka Evan Miya) put together a rating of all the freshmen and has Jizzle James as the #13 freshman in the country https://twitter.com/EvanMiya/status/1759998035973812302

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

Numbers guy Evan Miyakawa (aka Evan Miya) put together a rating of all the freshmen and has Jizzle James as the #13 freshman in the country https://twitter.com/EvanMiya/status/1759998035973812302

Interesting that Collier is #24.

[sedz]

Matt Norlander at CBS Sports makes a case for Ken Pomeroy in the Hall of Fame.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/court-report-auburns-bruce-pearl-could-be-coaching-carousel-target-ken-pomeroy-should-be-in-hall-of-fame/

Pomeroy changed our perception of basketball. His influence across the sport for 15-plus years (and counting) is undeniable. KenPom.com has made everyone attached to college basketball — coaches, media, fans, agents, athletic directors, etc. — smarter about the game. Pomeroy widened the discussion by popularizing the Four Factors and allowed us to better comprehend why efficiency explains/distinguishes the teams that are really good from the ones that are merely ... good.

More than any other major American team sport, college hoops thrives on the "styles make fights" credo. KenPom illustrates why that's the case and how teams that average 60 points can be just as good or better than the ones putting up 80 per night. His new-age data made traditional statistics look basic, if not sometimes incomplete. Pomeroy didn't invent the concept of tempo-free stats (Dean Oliver, you deserve your honors as well), but he brought it into the mainstream.

When your name becomes shorthand in any culture, you're ubiquitous. You're Hall of Fame-worthy. That's KenPom. It's not that hard to understand. His influence and legacy deserves permanent recognition and inclusion in Springfield, Massachusetts.

[red_n_black_attack]

Interesting that Collier is #24.

USC has had a lot of troubles playing as a team

[Carthage World]

Mason Madsen was given his second start of the season for Boston College on February 10th against Duke. He has started every game since then. Here are his stats:

5 games (2-3 record)
30.6 minutes/game
17.2 points/game
4.6 rebounds/game
2.2 assists/game
56.6% from the field (30/53)
51.4% from 3 (18/35)

He is also a perfect 29/29 from the free throw line on the season.

[sedz]

Bret Bloomquist of the El Paso Times voted 14-14 Arizona St #9 on his AP poll ballot. Very serious poll.