Monday, February 15, 2021

The Top Teams in College Basketball Today, in the Style of Sports Illustrated in the 1970's

EAST:  1.  Virginia (15-3)  2.  Villanova (13-3)

MIDEAST:  1.  Michigan (14-1)  2.  Iowa (15-6)

MIDWEST:  1.  Baylor (17-0)  2.  Houston (17-2)

WEST:  1.  Gonzaga (20-0)  2.  USC (17-3)

Here's the current breakdown for the Mideast Region:

Big 10 Champion:  Michigan (14-1)
SEC Champion:  Alabama (17-5)
MAC Champion:  Toledo (16-6)
OVC Champion:  Belmont (22-1) (I'm not sure the OVC would have added Belmont under this scenario, but Belmont is so good that it's unfair to put Western in ahead of them.)
Independent:  Loyola of Chicago (18-4)
Independent:  Florida St. (11-3) 

79 comments:

  1. Let's talk about Gonzaga. The Zags are 20-0. They are number 2 in the country in offensive efficiency, and number 5 in defensive efficiency. They make 64.5 percent of their two-point shots. Their adjusted efficiency on Ken Pom is +37.67 -- that's the highest number for any team on Ken Pom's web page, which goes back to 2002. They are really, really good.

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  2. Meanwhile, back to 1975, Kentucky played at Tennessee today, and I should've known how this thing came out as soon as they started showing the Volunteers' obnoxious pregame passing drills to "Rocky Top." (By the way, did they not have the five-second violation in CBK75?) (And, by the way, UT point guard Rodney Woods of Four Mile, Kentucky, was one of those guys from Kentucky who doesn't go to Kentucky and who makes everyone in Kentucky mad at the Kentucky coach, at least for a while.)

    Here were the rankings in the Feb. 17, 1975, Sports Illustrated ...

    MIDEAST: 1. Indiana (22-0) 2. Kentucky (17-2)

    EAST: 1. Maryland (17-3) 2. N.C. State (16-3)

    MIDWEST: 1. Louisville (16-2) 2. Memphis St. (16-4)

    WEST: 1. UCLA (17-2) 2. Arizona State (17-2)

    The Feb. 24 edition includes results through Feb. 15, though, so there'll likely be a change in the Mideast, at least.

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    1. This is one of the great college basketball seasons of all time.

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    2. Best college basketball seasons that I can remember:

      1. 1979
      2. 1983
      3. 2014
      4. 1993
      5. 1975

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    3. But from an objective perspective, 1975 may be the best of them all. It's amazing. If I could write a book (or do a documentary) on any sporting event, I'd be very tempted to pick the 1975 NCAA Tournament.

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    4. Then you still have the 1975 Masters, which is one of best Masters tournaments ever played. And the 1975 World Series, which is probably the best World Series ever played. It was quite a year.

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    5. 1975 is also a really important year for Kentucky basketball. At this point, UK had only been to the Final Four one time since 1958. UCLA had long since left UK far behind in National Titles. Western, Louisville, and Indiana had all been to the Final Four in the 1970's already. And no one knew if Joe B. Hall could really get it done. So the next six weeks are one of the most important periods in the history of the program -- there won't be anything else like it until 1992.

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    6. But always remember this: Kentucky never wins the NCAA Tournament in a year where they lose in Knoxville. It's literally never happened.

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    7. I still think the 1993 team was one of the greatest UK teams ever. But they lost in Knoxville. As did the 1984 team, and the John Wall team, and Rupp's Runts. It's always a bad sign to lose in Knoxville.

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    8. A world where U of L and Memphis State are the best teams in the Midwest is a better world.

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  3. Florida State goes 13-24 from three-point range and buries UVA in Tallahassee by the score of 81 to 60.

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  4. Ken Pom has data for 20 seasons, from 2002 to 2021. In eight of those seasons, UK was one of the top two teams in the Mideast. No other school has done that more than six times.

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  5. In 20 seasons, there have been 40 teams who made the top two in the Mideast. Assuming Michigan and Iowa for this year, the breakdown is as follows:

    24 Big 10 teams (led by Michigan St. with six)
    15 SEC teams (8 for UK, 6 for Florida, 1 for Tennessee)
    1 Other team (Dayton in 2020. It's a real shame Dayton didn't get to play in the NCAAs).

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  6. K-Pom has UK beating Vandy 72-69 tonight. With 7 minutes left in the first half, the Cats lead 25-10.

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  7. Vandy's only 1-11 from three-point range, which is really bad news for them. But the Dores are clawing their way back into this one, mainly by outrebounding the Cats 19-15. With 3 minutes left in the half, UK leads 30-21.

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  8. Pomeroy is better at predicting some teams than other teams. He's usually really good at predicting UK, because the Cats don't shoot a lot of threes and are usually very consistent from game to game.

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  9. In the last three minutes of the first half, both teams are scoring with abandon. Cats lead 42-30 at the half. Here are UK's stats:

    2-point shooting: 9-16
    3-point shooting: 5-16
    Free throw shooting: 9-10

    Isaiah Jackson is carrying the team; he's 5-5 from the floor and has 15 points.

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  10. Ripoff time in Nashville.

    Vanderbilt's jerseys, however, are beautiful.

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  11. SEC basketball gets its officials from the old Globetrotters cartoons.

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    1. How do the referees make it so that Vandy can dribble through the entire UK defense for an uncontested dunk?

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  12. The roof is caving in on Kentucky. Vandy starts the second half with a 10-2 run, and most of the 10 points have come on uncontested dunks. With 16 minutes left, and UK clinging to a 44-40 lead, Calipari calls time.

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  13. Vandy still only 2-14 from 3-point range; they usually hit about four in a row at some point.

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  14. UK's next game is at Knoxville, so the Cats should probably really try to win this one.

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  15. Did they actually call the foul at the TV timeout on Vanderbilt? I actually that one should be against UK, after about five calls/noncalls in a row that each should've gone UK's way and none of which did. I hate the SEC.

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    1. You should watch the ACC. The SEC calls games in a way to help the home team. The ACC calls games in a way to help certain teams.

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  16. Kentucky comes out of the timeout, gets the ball to Mintz, he misses a layup. Vandy misses at the other end and for once does not get the rebound. Boston takes a three, which goes about as well as you would expect, and Lance Ware commits a foul going for the rebound. With 15:06 left, UK still leads 44-40, and neither team really deserves to win.

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  17. Ah, there you go. It was called against Kentucky, and now Vanderbilt gets a three-pointer, and now it's a one-point game, and why do I keep watching this stupid league and these stupid games?

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    1. Maybe you're waiting to see if Boston will ever make a layup.

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  18. Doug Shows is calling this game, and has called his usual technical foul on Calipari. Vandy makes one of the free throws, and the game is tied at 46. Vandy has outscored UK 16-4 in this half.

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  19. UK leads 49-46 with 12:22 to go, and Jackson heads for the bench with four fouls.

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  20. Sarr makes a dunk and a jump shot, and the Cats lead 53-49 with 11:29 left.

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  21. Updated UK Stats:

    2-point shots: 13-25
    3-point shots: 6-21
    Free throws: 9-10

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  22. Here's this game in one play. UK is up 58-51, and Scotty Pippen, Jr. decides to drive the ball for Vandy. He falls down and loses the ball, which squirts all over the floor. No one can pick it up. Finally, a Vandy guy falls on it -- and Mintz fall on the Vandy guy. That's a foul, and Vandy gets two points.

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  23. The refs started this half by calling seven fouls in a row on UK. Since then, they've called seven of the next eight on Vandy. With 8:43 left, Sarr makes both parts of a one-and-one, and the Cats lead 60-53.

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  24. With 7:57 left, Sarr is in the corner, apparently setting up for a three-point shot? Anyway, they throw him the ball, and he drops it. No one is near him, so he should be able to pick it up, but he can't, and the ball goes out of bounds for a turnover. I've never seen that happen before. Cats still lead 60-53.

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  25. UK goes up 62-53, but then gives up two quick baskets. Cats lead 62-57 with 4:50 left. This is usually when they collapse.

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  26. Back and forth we go. Cats lead 69-64 with 2:58 left. Scotty Pippen just fouled Askew.

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  27. Askew surprises me by making both FT's. Cats lead 71-64.

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  28. At the other end, Scotty Pippen dribbles at Jackson, and Doug Shows calls a silly foul. That's it for Jackson. 71-66 for Big Blue with 2:43 left.

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  29. Askew clangs a three point shot off the front rim, and Pippen drives the other way for a layup. Cats lead 71-68 with 1:48 left.

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  30. Mintz hits a three-pointer, and UK leads 74-68 with 1:23 left.

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  31. At the other end, UK blocks a shot, but Vandy gets the rebound, scores, and is fouled. Cats lead 74-71 with 1:16 left.

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  32. Vandy presses, Mintz throws it away, and Vandy gets another layup. Cats lead 74-73 with 1 minute left.

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  33. Brooks goes the other way, tries for a dunk, and is called for a charge. Vandy ball. Cats up 74-73 with 51.9 seconds to go.

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  34. Vandy misses an easy shot in the lane, but of course UK can't get the rebound. There's the usual scramble on the floor and eventually UK is called for a foul. Vandy MISSES both free throws. Toppin gets the rebound and is fouled. Cats lead 74-73 with 30.7 seconds left.

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  35. Toppin makes the first FT.
    Toppin makes the second FT. Cats lead 76-73 with 30.7 seconds.

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  36. With 26.5 seconds left, Pippen is fouled by Mintz. He makes both FTs. UK leads 76-75.

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  37. And at that point my TV crashed. When it came back, UK was up 78-75 after two more Toppin FT's. 19.1 seconds left.

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  38. My advice is to foul Vandy and not let them shoot a three.

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  39. They don't take my advice. Vandy shoots a three. Vandy MISSES. Boston grabs the rebound.

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  40. Boston makes both FTs. Cats lead 80-75 with 9 seconds left.

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  41. With 3.6 seconds left, Pippen misses a three-pointer, but the refs call Mintz for a foul. That's three free throws. Pippen makes them all. UK leads 80-78.

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  42. Cats inbound to Askew, who is fouled.

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  43. Askew makes the first FT.
    Askew makes the second FT.
    Cats lead 82-78 with 2.7 seconds left. Vandy calls time. I actually think UK's best play here would be to have no one on the floor at all. That way they can't be called for a foul.

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  44. And that's your game. Cats win 82-78. They've won two close games in a row, just as Ken Pom said they would.

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  45. 2021 SEC Men's Basketball Championship Schedule

    FIRST ROUND:
    Wed., March 10
    7 p.m. Game 1: Seed #12 (right now, Texas A&M) vs. Seed #13 (Vanderbilt)

    SECOND ROUND:
    Thurs. March 11
    12 p.m. Game 2: Seed #8 (Kentucky) vs. Seed #9 (Georgia)
    2 p.m. Game 3:Seed #5 (Florida) vs. Game 1 winner
    7 p.m. Game 4: Seed #10 (Auburn) vs. Seed #7 (Missouri)
    9 p.m. Game 5: Seed #11 (Mississippi State) vs. Seed #6 (Mississippi)

    QUARTERFINALS:
    Fri., March 12
    12 p.m. Game 6: Seed #1 (Alabama) vs. Game 2 winner
    2 p.m. Game 7: Seed #4 (Tennessee) vs. Game 3 winner
    7 p.m. Game 8: Seed #2 (Arkansas) vs. Game 4 winner
    9 p.m. Game 9: Seed #3 (LSU) vs. Game 5 winner

    SEMIFINALS:
    Sat., March 13
    1 p.m. Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner
    3 p.m. Game 11: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner

    CHAMPIONSHIP:
    Sun., March 14
    1 p.m. Game 12: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner

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  46. Chuck Culpepper was on Tony Kornheiser's podcast today, talking about how much he enjoyed covering Kentucky and how he still follows them closer than other teams. It was great.

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  47. Final shooting numbers for UK:

    2-point shooting: 17-35
    3-point shooting: 8-26 (Cats now at 32.6 percent for the year).
    Free throws: 24-25

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  48. Ken Pom called this game almost exactly right, so the Cats stay at number 62 in his rankings.

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  49. Those two close wins are helping Kentucky's luck score. They're now up to 339.

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  50. Meanwhile, you may be wondering what happened to UK in the parallel universe where the NCAA tournament never expanded. You will recall that in 2015, they lost to Wisconsin in the Mideast Regional Final. But they won the SEC again in 2016. The Mideast Regional looked like this:

    Big 10 Champion: Indiana
    SEC Champion: Kentucky
    MAC Champion: Akron
    OVC Champion: Morehead State
    Independent: Xavier
    Independent: Miami (Fla.)

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  51. The prelims were played at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington. Xavier rolled over Morehead State, and Miami (Fla.) had little trouble with Akron.

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  52. So everyone went to Madison, Wisconsin for the regionals:

    Kentucky v. Miami (Fla.)
    Indiana v. Xavier

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    1. Kentucky survives a tough game against Miami (Fla.), while Indiana beats Xavier on a buzzer beater.

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    2. The next night, UK gets off to a good start but collapses down the stretch, as Jamal Murray goes 1-9 from 3-point range. Indiana wins 73-67. You could look it up.

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    3. Meanwhile, the game of the tournament -- one of the great NCAA Tournament games of all time -- takes place in Cole Field House, where Villanova beats UNC 77-74 to win the East Regional on a last-second three-point shot. Villanova goes to the Final Four.

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    4. The Final Four takes place at the Toyota Center in Houston. In the first game, Villanova rolls over Indiana, while Kansas doesn't have much trouble with Oregon in the nightcap.

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    5. In the final, Kansas comes up short again, losing to Villanova in a pretty easy win for the Wildcats.

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  53. Replies
    1. Tennessee 55 - 70 Kentucky (Final)

      Kentucky wins a football game and a basketball game in Knoxville during the same academic year for the first time since 1958-59. I don't understand it either.

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  54. 2021 SEC Men's Basketball Championship Schedule

    FIRST ROUND:
    Wed., March 10
    7 p.m. Game 1: Seed #12 (right now, South Carolina) vs. Seed #13 (Texas A&M)

    SECOND ROUND:
    Thurs. March 11
    12 p.m. Game 2: Seed #8 (Kentucky) vs. Seed #9 (Georgia)
    2 p.m. Game 3:Seed #5 (Florida) vs. Game 1 winner
    7 p.m. Game 4: Seed #10 (Auburn) vs. Seed #7 (Missouri)
    9 p.m. Game 5: Seed #11 (Mississippi State) vs. Seed #6 (Mississippi)

    QUARTERFINALS:
    Fri., March 12
    12 p.m. Game 6: Seed #1 (Alabama) vs. Game 2 winner
    2 p.m. Game 7: Seed #4 (Tennessee) vs. Game 3 winner
    7 p.m. Game 8: Seed #2 (Arkansas) vs. Game 4 winner
    9 p.m. Game 9: Seed #3 (LSU) vs. Game 5 winner

    SEMIFINALS:
    Sat., March 13
    1 p.m. Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner
    3 p.m. Game 11: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner

    CHAMPIONSHIP:
    Sun., March 14
    1 p.m. Game 12: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner

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