MBB ranked 13th USA/ESPN 11th AP poll

Submitted by manchild56 on

We are up to 13th in the new USA Today / ESPN poll. The other poll isnt out yet but since we were higher in that poll already could be higher than13th when it comes out. I was told we are up to 11th same as recruits we have after this great weekend in th AP.

Mr. Rager

February 20th, 2012 at 1:55 PM ^

If we beat NW and Purdue we have a higher liklihood of winning our remaining games?

Man, odds makers in Vegas love people like you.

As we've seen all year - our D is going to be consistent, and our O is not.  If Burke / TH Jr hit their shots, we have a good chance to win every game.  If they continue their hot streaks over the next two games, it doesn't mean they will continue for the rest of the regular season.  

MGoBeer

February 20th, 2012 at 2:02 PM ^

That's not what I said at all. Our two toughest games are our next two, so the odds of winning all four is mostly predicated on the chance of winning the next two. The main point that I was trying to get across was how difficult it would be to move up again next week. However, if we do that, we'll likely win out and make the top ten at the end of the regular season.

Mr. Rager

February 20th, 2012 at 2:07 PM ^

I get what you are saying.  I still disagree with you.  

In theory, we'd have to be around 80% favorites in our final two games to have great odds of running the table (assuming we win the next two).  Why?  Well, you'd need both games to hit, so you'd multiply the % against each other... meaning if we were 80% to win both, we'd be 64% to win out.  

My argument is that's ridiculous.  The B1G is strong this year.  Every game is different.   Even if we win the next two, we're (in theory) only 50/50 to win each of the last two games, meaning we'd have a 25% chance of running the table.  

Mr. Rager

February 20th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^

I get it, they are bad.  We're not really 50/50 in that game. Closer to 80/20 most likely.

Still - shit happens.  We lost to Iowa by 16 on the road this year.  I don't think anyone is going to tell you that Iowa is much better than Illinois (PSU? perhaps).  

MGoBeer

February 20th, 2012 at 2:21 PM ^

Whatever, I don't really see the need to continue this and I wasn't the one that negged you, but it seems unnecessary to call out a secondary point of my post on an issue of semantics and considering that I'm a financial math major, I don't really need a lesson in basic probability from some guy on the internet.

Fuzzy Dunlop

February 20th, 2012 at 2:07 PM ^

 

If we beat NW and Purdue we have a higher liklihood of winning our remaining games?

Man, odds makers in Vegas love people like you.

 

It's funny when people try to be snarkily condescending, but really just reveal their own lack of reading comprehension!

He didn't say that we would have a "higher" likelihood of winning our remaining games if we beat NW and Purdue.  He said that we have a pretty "high" likelihood of winning out if we get past the next two games.  Which is a perfectly rational comment.  So not only were you being a dick, you were being a stupid dick as well.  

BiSB

February 20th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^

I think he was saying that:

@NW + PUR >> @ILL + @PSU

The more likely losses are to Northwestern and Purdue (both possible-to-likely tourney teams), rather than the tire fire and monkey rodeo that are Illinois and Penn State, respectively.

tbeindit

February 20th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^

DOn't forget the tournament primarily chooses based on RPI and momentum.  If Michigan can win out or go 3-1 in our last 4 games and perhaps win a Big Ten tourney game or two, we are in GREAT position for a 3 or 4 seed.  Our RPI and strength of schedule is outstanding.  We may not be the best in ranking, but there's little to no doubt we will probably be even higher if we continue what we're doing now and have a great seed come tournament time

Needs

February 20th, 2012 at 2:32 PM ^

Yeah, if the tournament were to start now, we'd definitely be seeded higher than Murray State, which should top out somewhere around a 6 seed, if they win out and win their tournament,  if the committee's past ranking practices hold up. Even with their bracket busters win, their RPI is still in the mid-30s.

We should also be above Florida, whose RPI is 18. We've got a better resume against the top 30 (UM: 5-4 against RPI top 25 vs. Florida's 2-3; and 7-5 against top 50 vs. FLA's 3-3). 

MGoBeer

February 20th, 2012 at 2:47 PM ^

Not at all. The rankings don't correspond exactly to the bracket and we have one of the best resumes in the country. On the insider bracketology stuff, Lunardi actually has us as the top three seed right now. A strong finish, including in the B1G tourney, could definitely lead to a 2-seed.

Naked Bootlegger

February 20th, 2012 at 1:54 PM ^

I declared this team worthy of its 20-25 ranking only a week or two ago.   That was predicated on THJ/Smot/Vogrich's combined struggles continuing.    After seeing some life from this trio in recent games, and after the fantastic defensive showing on Saturday, I am now completely on board for a top 15 ranking. 

Beware, though...tomorrow night in Evanston is a true Admiral Ackbar game.

 

 

manchild56

February 20th, 2012 at 10:26 PM ^

that was the poll right after or sure close to it when we upset the #1 team in the nation the Duke BlueDevils? Well anyway I am just happy we have been ranked from wire to wire so far this season. I was a little worried when we kept going 1 win, 1 loss each week for 3 or 4 weeks in a row we would fall out. But the nice 3 game winning streak including a win over #6 Ohio now puts all my worries to rest.

turd ferguson

February 20th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^

Although there are teams here that I think would beat us on a neutral floor, there isn't a single NCAA tournament match-up that I would look at and think "we're done."  I think this group has the potential to put together a serious run this spring.

manchild56

February 20th, 2012 at 7:20 PM ^

been but after that huge win I dont think anyone can say that now. We have 8 quality win, and really only one bad loss which is Iowa who also has been playing a lot better of late. Memphis, Iowa State are now looking a lot better has key wins also. Let just get these last 4 wins and hope Ohio takes down MSU and we get the share of the title first since I was 6 years old in 1986. Go Blue

radfan5

February 20th, 2012 at 11:50 PM ^

this team. It is a team you can be proud of, not just because they win either. They play hard, they play unselfishly, and they play with confidence. To be as small as they are, and to play defense as well as they do is a testament to this team, and coaching staffs hard work. 

Jinxed

February 21st, 2012 at 12:22 AM ^

Hello, I am a self-loathing fan that thinks our team is overrated and should not be ranked. I think this way because I am very insecure. Nice to meet you all.