2013 - 2014 College Basketball Season

[KCMax]

So, if you're bored, search "Naadir Tharpe" on Twitter some time for images. NSFW.

[KCMax]

KU's Andrew Wiggins and Mizzou's Jordan Clarkson announcing today they're going pro.

[KCMax]

50/50. Either there isn't or there is.

Actually, statistically it's only 25%. Each team has a 50% chance of winning but both teams have to win. .5 x .5 = 0.25.

If you use the Kenpom.com numbers, the chances are closer to 34% (Florida is 74% to win, and Kentucky is 46%).

Can we all agree that Kentucky's #8 seeding was complete horseshit? They had the 2nd toughest SOS on RPI (which the committee uses). I don't know that there was a terrible amount of daylight between them and KU. They've had a nice run, but this was a talented team that had a decent season, certainly better than the other 8 seeds like Gonzaga and Memphis.

[bobbyhawks]

Can we all agree that Kentucky's #8 seeding was complete horseshit? They had the 2nd toughest SOS on RPI (which the committee uses). I don't know that there was a terrible amount of daylight between them and KU. They've had a nice run, but this was a talented team that had a decent season, certainly better than the other 8 seeds like Gonzaga and Memphis.

Yep. There were a lot of strange seedings. UK made no sense as a #8. Louisville as a #4 made no sense. Tennessee as a #11 made no sense. KU as a #2 was generous. The conference rankings definitely played into the seeding.

[Highlander]

Can we all agree that Kentucky's #8 seeding was complete horseshit? They had the 2nd toughest SOS on RPI (which the committee uses). I don't know that there was a terrible amount of daylight between them and KU. They've had a nice run, but this was a talented team that had a decent season, certainly better than the other 8 seeds like Gonzaga and Memphis.

Yep. There were a lot of strange seedings. UK made no sense as a #8. Louisville as a #4 made no sense. Tennessee as a #11 made no sense. KU as a #2 was generous. The conference rankings definitely played into the seeding.

Kentucky was seeded too low but they really played some poor basketball down the stretch losing to Arkansas and South Carolina only to have a resurgence in the SEC tournament. The success of Kentucky and Florida in the tourney hasn't done much to make me think the SEC isn't extremely top heavy. Florida ran the table in the conference (who runs the table in a conference that is good from top-to-bottom?) and Kentucky lost a few games as one might expect from a bunch of freshmen - very good freshmen but it took them some time to gel. Sadly for Mizzou, they were playing much better in December than February as Haith's very uninspired offensive scheme was easily figured out and defended.

The biggest problem with Kentucky being seeded too low were the early encounters with WSU and Louisville, both final four caliber teams that should have been around much longer.

[brewcrew1000]

Can we all agree that Kentucky's #8 seeding was complete horseshit? They had the 2nd toughest SOS on RPI (which the committee uses). I don't know that there was a terrible amount of daylight between them and KU. They've had a nice run, but this was a talented team that had a decent season, certainly better than the other 8 seeds like Gonzaga and Memphis.

Yep. There were a lot of strange seedings. UK made no sense as a #8. Louisville as a #4 made no sense. Tennessee as a #11 made no sense. KU as a #2 was generous. The conference rankings definitely played into the seeding.

A couple others
St Louis should have been a 7 instead of a 5 and New Mexico should have been a 5 instead of a 7, Umass should have been an 8 instead of 6 and maybe switched that with Kentucky
Creighton should have been a 4 and MSU a 3. Also, i don't understand why Baylor got to play in San Antonio, that was basically a home game for them

[KCMax]

UConn and Louisville were both underseeded, suggesting the committee didn't give the All America Conference or whatever its called, enough respect.

[shinatoo]

Kentucky got a raw deal but great teams persevere through adversity. That's why it's a "real" tournament and not some beauty pageant like NCAA football. Not perfect, but as close as any post season event gets.

[Highlander]

WTF is going with Mizzou basketball? Top two scorers leaving and now the Price fiasco (actually top three scorers but one of them is actually graduating). For a team with concentrated scoring in the hands of 3 players, next year could be really tough. Any chance Price plays next year - it[s become a rather bizarre story? As a onetime enormous Mizzou fan - Haith and the SEC move have sucked just about everything I loved about this program (well - loved when Norm was there) out of me. Haith's teams are just difficult to watch and his tenure is becoming oddly reminiscent of Snyder's.

[AllThingsKC]

So, are you officially in the "Fire Haith" camp now?

[Highlander]

So, are you officially in the "Fire Haith" camp now?

I am certainly on my way there. I was never enamored with the hire and felt like Haith's first season was more of an anomaly with some very good players freed from Mike Anderson's very limiting system rather than anything that was indicative of Haith's ability.

I thought Mizzou might have a decent team next year but with Clarkson gone (selfish play and all), Brown unlikely to come back, and Price hanging in the balance, Mizzou could be just outright awful next year. Deuce Bello is at Mizzou because he couldn't get playing time at Baylor and there are some that think he might be good? His stats are terrible. Wes Clark didn't show any reason to be excited about him this season. He just doesn't know what he's supposed to be doing out there. The guard play will be suspect at best.

Mizzou will have some size next year but that's about all. Rosburg is probably the best returning player. That's not saying much - fundamentally strong but limited game. The rest of the inside players could rebound but were fundamentally very raw particularly Jones.

[KCMax]

Frank Haith has emerged as a top candidate for the Tulsa job.

Seems odd as Tulsa is a noticeable step down. Either (a) Haith is trying (terribly) to leverage Mizzou and get a firmer commitment; (b) the NCAA is about to come calling; or (c) Haith wants to pre-empt a firing nine months from now by jumping ship to a soft landing spot now.

[KCtonic]

Please go to Tulsa, Please go to Tulsa... Please!!!!

[KCMax]

Haith has called a team meeting with players. Reports are he has pretty much agreed to become Tulsa's head coach. Sounds like he's getting less money at Tulsa too.

[KCMax]

Rumored names for next coach already include:

Matt Painter (Purdue)
Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)
Pat Kelsey (Winthrop)
Archie Miller (Dayton)
Mike White (Louisiana Tech)
Tim Floyd (UTEP)
Ben Howland (former UCLA)

[AllThingsKC]

What's Quin Snyder up to these days?

[shinatoo]

Atlanta Assistant, Lead candidate for Lakers and Charlotte Bobcats job. Nose Candy Club Cover Boy.

[chaglang]

Rumored names for next coach already include:

Matt Painter (Purdue)
Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)
Pat Kelsey (Winthrop)
Archie Miller (Dayton)
Mike White (Louisiana Tech)
Tim Floyd (UTEP)
Ben Howland (former UCLA)

Painter and Marshall have both said they are happy in their current jobs- tho I suppose they all say that.

It would be nice to have Tim Floyd around again.

And speaking of Quin Snyder, Ben Howland really lost control of UCLA at the end of his (otherwise pretty successful) run. It wasn't quite "lack of institutional control", but close. Alden may not want to deal with questions about Howland given the headlines the athletic department has made over the last few weeks.

[shinatoo]

Shaka Smart

[chaglang]

Shaka Smart

I'd hate to see him in Lawrence once a year, and never mind the game in Columbia. Wait, what's that you say?