RaceToTheTop

Top 25 WAR through Sunday's games: Purdue 22-2, WAR +9.32 U Conn 22-2, WAR +7.54 Houston 21-3, WAR +6.83 Arizona 19-5, WAR +6.08 UNC 19-5, WAR +5.07 South Carolina 21-3, WAR +4.95 Marquette 18-5,WAR+4.88 Kansas 18-5, WAR +4.76 Tennessee 17-5, WAR+4.38 Alabama 17-7, WAR +4.28 Dayton 19-4, WAR+4.20 Indiana State 21-3, WAR+4.16 Auburn 19-5, WAR +4.13 San Diego State 16-6, WAR +3.82 Baylor 16-6, WAR +3.71 Mississippi 18-5, WAR +3.64 Iowa State 18-5, WAR +3.59 Illinois 17-6, WAR +3.57 Virginia 19-5, WAR +3.38 Colorado State 17-5, +3.38 Grand Canyon 21-2, WAR +3.28 Duke 18-5, WAR +3.13 Clemson 16-7, WAR +3.11 Oklahoma 18-6, WAR +3.09 Wisconsin, 16-8, +3.06 Close: Texas Tech 17-6, WAR +3.01, Florida Atlantic 19-5, WAR +2.92, Creighton 17-7, WAR +2.81, Utah State 19-4, WAR +2.73, Nevada 18-5, WAR +2.70

I turned from the Minnesota/Iowa game when Minnesota was up 59-42. Iowa now leads 81-77.

Calling a blocked shot, reviewing it, and changing the call…..results in giving the shooting team back the ball despite it being a loose ball after the block.

I once saw a McDonald’s sign for .99 cent cheeseburgers. Here’s a Buck, give me my 100 cheeseburgers.

Winning 46% of your games as an NBA coach doesn’t make you suck as an NBA coach….particularly given the teams he took over. Rick Pitino won 47% at the NBA level and Cal won 39% when they were in the NBA. I 100% am behind looking at what Woodson is or is not doing at IU but the whole ‘he won 46% at the NBA level’ is pretty irrelevant.

Love Dusty May, but that was a major bailout call. Block was clean. Instead FAUmakes two free throws. FAU up 1, 32 seconds left, Wichita ball.

Current WAR multiple bid leagues: Big 12: 9 bids: Houston, Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, BYU, TCU, Texas SEC: 9 bids: South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi, Florida, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Kentucky Big Ten: 6 bids: Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan State, Nebraska Mountain West: 6 bids: San Diego State, Colorado State, Utah State, Nevada, New Mexico, Boise State Big East: 4 bids. U Conn, Marquette, Creighton, Butler Pac 12: 4 bids: Arizona, Washington State, Oregon, Utah ACC: 4 bids: North Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Clemson Missouri Valley: 2 bids. Indiana State, Drake. Last four byes: Nebraska, Kentucky, TCU, Boise State Last four in: Drake, Texas, Oregon, Utah First four out: Memphis, Wake Forest, Colorado, Gonzaga Next four out: Kansas State, Syracuse, Cincinnati, St. John's NOTE: If James Madison were to not win their conference tournament, I actually currently have them above Boise State as the last team worthy of a bye which would bump Boise State to the last four in line and Utah to the first four out line. SECOND NOTE: Seton Hall would have been ahead of St.John's on the next four out line entering Sunday but will drop below them after their loss to Villanova today.

There was a tremendous failure to find option B's. Given our lack of shooting, there were certainly guys who would have made us better in that respect.

IU.took.16.three.point.shots. If IU had made 45% of their threes, it's still a double digit loss. It's not just about making shots -- our offense isn't getting the shots necessary.

The thing about saying that Cupps was just put into a bad position where he's playing big minutes because X is injured...... 1. X was coming off a major injury so a viable option had to be in place. 2. Even if X were healthy, IU's roster construction would have entered the season as the primary backup options behind X and Galloway. That's not good roster construction when you are counting on a freshman not expected to contribute big right away and a sophomore who had a horrible freshman year to be expected to give you decent minutes. They should have been options for the backup spots, not THE options for the backup spots.

For the record, when the question was asked which IU would player would have two fouls first, I picked Sparks. And I believe he did and it played out exactly how I said it would.

Obviously were totally outplayed. But the Big Ten still shows its officiating issues. In the last 8 games, Zach Edey has shot 101 free throws. Purdue will run into a game in the tournament where he isn't going to get that kind of treatment.

So you are saying all we need to do is keep it close and we win......

I would really hate for Loyer to roll an ankle up 20 points with 40 seconds left.

Purdue starters still in up 22 with a minute left. Classy.

Just my opinion, but you haven’t seen a player make shots, it always matters if he hits a few. Have to start somewhere. At least he’s hitting….no one else is.

Stay classy, Lance

If James Madison had played ANY kind of non-conference schedule they might have an argument at 21-3, but it was putrid. Opened up with that win at Michigan State but then it was a downright putrid schedule after that. 347th non-conference schedule by Pom and might have been last overall if they hadn't played Michigan State. Outside of MSU, their best win is probably over Southern Illinois on a neutral court, and the Salukis are in the middle of the MVC standings. James Madison getting swept by Appalachian State is really damaging.

Teams that have to be pissed are Oregon State and Washington State. They'll go into the Mountain West Conference where their football programs will take a huge financial hit.

Was posting that right after you asked. I had Michigan State at 42. Entering this week, the team's I had ranked near them were Washington State (40), Northwestern (41), Nevada (43), and Texas (44).

They were 42 in WAR for me entering last Monday. Their road loss to Minnesota followed by home win against Illinois are just a slight net positive, so they are likely are around the same ranking this week.

My WAR system does -- the only efficiency rating used is to gauge the value of a team's opponent. The margin of victory will not effect a team and all losses result in a drop in war and all wins result in an increase in WAR. Win values range from +.03 to +.97; loss values range from -.05 to -.95.

And even with a down shooting year it can't be emphasized enough how good he is. He does all.the.little.things -- gets to the line, plays great defense, and never turns the ball over. Now has 101 assists to 24 turnovers.

Ohio State wins.....Dontae Scott blocked on the tying layup and then Maryland just stands rather than fouling as the Buckeyes get a runout at the buzzer.

I'm not saying that IU needs Bruce Thornton......but I am saying we need A Bruce Thornton.