2025-26 Season Notes

Nobody is saying we are a top 2-3 team in the country. The question was, if we are a top 10. There's a big difference between teams ranked 1-3 and teams ranked 8-10.
Are we deserving of our ranking based on resume? Absolutely. If our name was different, we would probably be top 5. Are we actually a top 10 team in talent and capabilities? I personally don't believe we are.
 
At this point I'd say that Michigan, Arizona & Iowa State are clearly the top three teams & there is a pretty big gap between them & everyone else. Uconn, Purdue, Duke & Houston are probably the next group. I'd put Nebraska in the third group with BYU, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Ganzaga and a couple other teams.
I don't put Iowa State in the same class as Michigan and Arizona yet but I agree, they are right behind those 2. The Purdue result was convincing but they didn't look any better than Nebraska against Creighton. Iowa shut them down offensively but committed 19 fouls and 17 free throws. I'm not sure how good Iowa is yet though.
 
Are we deserving of our ranking based on resume? Absolutely. If our name was different, we would probably be top 5. Are we actually a top 10 team in talent and capabilities? I personally don't believe we are.
If that's how we are going to do it, let's just look at recruiting rankings at the beginning of the year and rank teams accordingly.

Fact is, there is more to it than just athletic ability. Nobody knows how this season is going to end up. Everyone is having fun and the games are exciting. As the season goes, your resume should have way more impact on rankings than some arbitrary opinion of athleticism of the team.
 
He did kind of push his way through to get to the ball, but I don't see a foul there. Whoever called the foul is getting reprimanded today (it may not be public).

He didn't have to push anyone with how lazy the Oregon players were on boxing out. He just ran past them to get the ball.
 
Fact is, there is more to it than just athletic ability. Nobody knows how this season is going to end up. Everyone is having fun and the games are exciting. As the season goes, your resume should have way more impact on rankings than some arbitrary opinion of athleticism of the team.
Of course and I am in no way casting shade on the team- just trying to take a realistic look at who we are. Do we pass the eye test as a top 10 team? If you just look at the record, absolutely. If you watch the games, I think you can reasonably see where we might not be a world beater just yet.

We are winning with absolute effort on the defensive end and enough offense to get the job done.... and excellent coaching. I truly hope that continues and we have one heck of a season. This is the best I have seen us look, ever, and I have been watching us for over 30 years.

We have 16 games remaining... what is you guess for record over that span? I'm going with 11-5.
 
We have 16 games remaining... what is you guess for record over that span? I'm going with 11-5.
8 home games. I think we protect the Bank. But, Purdue is going to be tough here. But, I'm being a homer on that. If we get through Indiana and our only loss is Michigan at that point, I could see us beating them at home.

That leaves 8 road games.

Indiana - Tossup
Northwestern - W
Minnesota - W
Michigan - L
Rutgers - W
Iowa - Tossup. Not really sure about that team
USC - W
UCLA - W

So, I would go with 12 wins with three tossups to possibly push that higher.
 
Remaining games (Q rank as of today)

Q1 Home (3) - Illinois, Purdue, Iowa
Q1 Away (5) - Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, USC, UCLA
Q2 Home (1) - Washington
Q2 Away (2) - Northwestern, Minnesota
Q3 Home (4) - Oregon, Northwestern, Penn St, Maryland
Q4 Away (1) - Rutgers
 
As of today, Oklahoma (Q1 #48) and New Mexico (Q2 #55) are sitting on the Q1/Q2 line (neutral court top 50 are Q1). KSU is firmly a Q2 at #65.

Getting 2 of those 3 to Q1 would help our seeding.

 
Home games against Illinois, Purdue and Iowa are now sold out.

Honestly a bit surprised the rest of the season isn't sold out at this point. But still pretty good.
 
Remaining games (Q rank as of today)

Q1 Home (3) - Illinois, Purdue, Iowa
Q1 Away (5) - Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, USC, UCLA
Q2 Home (1) - Washington
Q2 Away (2) - Northwestern, Minnesota
Q3 Home (4) - Oregon, Northwestern, Penn St, Maryland
Q4 Away (1) - Rutgers
That's a lot of Q1 games remaining. That Michigan, Illinois, Rutgers, Purdue stretch is going to be tough. Would be happy if we can go 2-2 or better over those 4. Rutgers isn't great but travelling there right before the Purdue game may make it a much harder game than it should be. The end stretch against 3 straight Q1 opponents is easier but still going to be challenging. (at USC, UCLA & then Iowa at home. Thinking we can win 2 of the 3.
 
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