College Sports Madness Top 144 Countdown

[RoyalShock]

Just how did we manage to lose one of our Koch's?

Losing New Koch is a net positive. Classic Koch is much better.

[ShockerPrez]

N Iowa #61

Holy ****, they really may be on the bubble this year!

[MadaboutWu]

There are a lot of at larges so 40 is more the bubble than 60--not that they are that far apart.

[wufan]

They were a .500 team last year and add a kid that averaged 3 points for Virginia. I'm not saying they're bad....they aren't, but how much upside do they have?

I think UNI will be tough and well coached, as they mostly are, but I'm not sure that top 60 isn't their ceiling instead of their floor.

They played a fairly brutal non-con last year and were absolutely not up for the challenge. This year's schedule is set-up for a slightly better team to come out looking like a tourney team. UNI has a lot of nice pieces. Not sure what that means as far as record.

[another shocker]

They played a fairly brutal non-con last year and were absolutely not up for the challenge. This year's schedule is set-up for a slightly better team to come out looking like a tourney team. UNI has a lot of nice pieces. Not sure what that means as far as record.

20 wins, bare minimum?

[wufan]

20 wins, bare minimum?

i'd buy that. I guess I should have stated, "not sure what means as far as success." I could see them as a 10 seed in the dance or just as likely, an NIT bubble.

[ShockerPrez]

There are a lot of at larges so 40 is more the bubble than 60--not that they are that far apart.

By UNI standards. Top 60 is a freaking 4 seed.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Sadly, I think is right. Hopefully UNI surprises to the upside but I'm not holding my breath for the MVC's return to multi-bid status.

ISUr has the second best talent in the league, IMO. Getting that batch of future felons to play as a cohesive unit for 30 games is another matter though.

Lmao.

[FlyingWheat]

If Alabama actually ends up in the top 50, it'll be a big win.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9782

[Cdizzle]

If Alabama actually ends up in the top 50, it'll be a big win.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9782

This prediction seems completely made up. I'd be happy if they could just manage to stay in the top 150.

[WuDrWu]

Valid points. There better be some impressive leaps being made for a mediocre .500 basketball team to be turned into NCAA wonder boy in a year's time. It can be done, but I'm pretty skeptical.

Understandably, their fans will try to compare a team's potential with their Sweet 16 team of 2009 (I think). Tuttle, for all his talent, is no Adam Koch. There is no Egleseeder. Point guard play is above average but there is nobody with the physicality that Kujo brought. They have depth and the have shooters from range and that is always a concern especially when one of them is 6-9 to 6-10 but Buss is a terrible defender. Like I said, I think UNI will be good and with an oddly time poor non-con especially for them, may have a really good record, I just don't think they'll be that strong, nationally.

[WuDrWu]

If Alabama actually ends up in the top 50, it'll be a big win.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/9782

It would be nice if they were right on. With non-con games against 48, 50, 60 and Memphis, Nebraska (CU or #63 GW) & Utah certainly left to be ranked, in addition to 6 of the other 9 Valley teams in the top 131 that would seem to be enough meat on the bone to satisfy all but the most bitchy of P5 honks out there that refuse to play WSU, assuming the guys continue to win at a brisk pace.

[Shocker1976]

It would nice if they were right on. With non-con games against 48, 50, 60 and Memphis, Nebraska (CU or #63 GW) & Utah certainly left to be ranked, in addition to 6 of the other 9 Valley teams in the top 131 that would seem to be enough meat on the bone to satisfy all but the most bitchy of P5 honks out there that refuse to play WSU, assuming the guys continue to win at a brisk pace.

Using this independent source I have been constructing a potential member "MidWest Basketball Conference" to compare with existing Big 12 and New Big East. Potential Conference Members would include -

1. Shockers
2. Memphis
3. Saint Louis
4. Cincinnati (ranked 52)
5. New Mexico State (ranked 60)
6. Northern Iowa (ranked 61)
7. New Mexico (ranked 67)
8. Cleveland State (ranked 69)
9. Louisiana Lafayette (ranked 73)
10. Illinois State (ranked 74)

Averaging the 144 Madness Rankings indicates this Potential New Midwest Conference would be stronger and more competitive than the Big 12 and the New Big East.

[RoyalShock]

Tulsa comes in at #48.

[Shocker1976]

Tulsa comes in at #48.

Thanks, a good catch; I posted an old list that did not include Tulsa.