Offseason Thread: 2015 Edition

[_kai_]

All I know is KU has 2 first round exits and 2 second round exits to teams that are about 10 seeds lower than them, and have about 1/5th the budget they do. Anyone know of a blue blood program with that type of record recently? Off the top of my head Duke comes to mind with recent early exit upsets.

[ShockerInKC]

I used to have Insider access. But now I am apparently an Outsider.

Yeah my wife told me that too.

[ArtVandalay]

All I know is KU has 2 first round exits and 2 second round exits to teams that are about 10 seeds lower than them, and have about 1/5th the budget they do. Anyone know of a blue blood program with that type of record recently? Off the top of my head Duke comes to mind with recent early exit upsets.

Cannot really call them a Blue Blood, but as for a program with some history, in a P5 conference, who has had really high seeds in the NCAA Tournament only to lose repeatedly to double digit seeds: Georgetown.

[wufan]

Cannot really call them a Blue Blood, but as for a program with some history, in a P5 conference, who has had really high seeds in the NCAA Tournament only to lose repeatedly to double digit seeds: Georgetown.

Iowa State?

[ShockerFever]

Villanova?

[ShockerFever]

Are the top tier guys going to get any better by going anywhere though? If you're a 5 star recruit and legitimately are a one-and-done (Ellis is not in this category), it doesn't matter where you go. You're only there for a year (two tops). You're doing a little bit of skill development, but most of it is learning the offense and playing the games. Andrew Wiggins could have gone to Wichita State or even Robert Morris and he would've been a top 5 pick.

Also, it's hilarious how people here think Bill Self is not one of the best coaches in the game. If we didn't have Marshall and we could have anyone we wanted, he's on my top 5 list. The notion of him getting "outcoached pretty consistently come tourney time" is a riot as well. Taking one game and using it to judge a season where they played 30-35 games already is just nonsense.

Closet KU fan alert.

[ArtVandalay]

Iowa State?

Georgetown hasn't made it out of the first weekend since 2007 despite being ranked no lower than a 6 seed. In those 8 seasons since 2007, they have made 6 tournaments and have lost to a 15 seed (as a 2 seed), a 14 seed (as a 3 seed), 2 11 seeds (as a 3 seed and a 6 seed), and a 10 seed (as a 2 seed). So, they have exited the 5 of their last 6 tournaments to a double digit seed, and this last season, they were a 4 seed ousted by a 5 seed, so they have successfully been eliminated by a lower seed in each of their last 6 tournament appearances.

Iowa State lost as a 3 seed to the 14 seed this last year in UAB. Prior to that, they lost in the Sweet 16 in 2014 to 7 seed (and eventual National Champion UConn) as a 3 seed, and then you would have to go back to 2001 before they lost another game in the tournament to a lower seed, where they were number 2 and lost to a 15.

Villanova has lost in the Round of 32 both of the last 2 seasons as a number 1 or number 2 seed (2015 & 2014). They were a 9 seed in the two prior to that (2013 & 2011, missed tournament in 2012), and 2010 they were coming off a Final Four in 09 and lost as a 2 seed again in the Round of 32.

[Bluzrover]

Closet KU fan alert.

Okay, I'll wade into the waters here. I love college basketball and I love the fact that one of the so-called Blue Bloods of college basketball is from the state of Kansas. I grew up in Wichita and learned basketball at the knee of my father who took me to numerous Wichita State games. But we also watched KU on TV because they were almost always broadcast on TV back when there were only three channels in Wichita. I ALWAYS root for Wichita State. And I ALWAYS root for KU...except when they play one another, and then, well, my avatar says it all.

But to not give Bill Self credit for what he's been able to sustain at KU is unfortunate. To win 11 straight conference championships is just ridiculous. I don't care what conference it is and you can bash the Big 12 all you want, but having that kind of dominance over your opponents is nothing short of phenomenal. Discounting that is akin to discounting our unbeaten season two years ago and you all know how pissed we were about that.

I'm not saying he's the best college basketball coach in the land, hell, far from it. He's not even the best college basketball coach in Kansas in my opinion. But I think he's a very fine coach and has used the Blue Blood status to great success.

3G does it without that cachet.

[wu_shizzle]

Villanova?

If there is one team that defines being overrated due to East Coast bias, it's them.

[Shocker1976]

Okay, I'll wade into the waters here. I love college basketball and I love the fact that one of the so-called Blue Bloods of college basketball is from the state of Kansas. I grew up in Wichita and learned basketball at the knee of my father who took me to numerous Wichita State games. But we also watched KU on TV because they were almost always broadcast on TV back when there were only three channels in Wichita. I ALWAYS root for Wichita State. And I ALWAYS root for KU...except when they play one another, and then, well, my avatar says it all.

But to not give Bill Self credit for what he's been able to sustain at KU is unfortunate. To win 11 straight conference championships is just ridiculous. I don't care what conference it is and you can bash the Big 12 all you want, but having that kind of dominance over your opponents is nothing short of phenomenal. Discounting that is akin to discounting our unbeaten season two years ago and you all know how pissed we were about that.

I'm not saying he's the best college basketball coach in the land, hell, far from it. He's not even the best college basketball coach in Kansas in my opinion. But I think he's a very fine coach and has used the Blue Blood status to great success.

3G does it without that cachet.

I never root for the Beakers period; that said, IMO Bill Self is the best coach the Beakers have had since I began to follow basketball and the second best coach (after Phog Allen) in the history of KU's men's bb teams.

[WSUwatcher]

Iowa State?

Just like G'town, Iowa State has had some early round mishaps, wufan, but they aren't nearly as blue as the Hoya gang. Georgetown can claim to be at least pale blue based on its run of excellence back in the 80s and beyond. Iowa State isn't even that -- maybe a very light teal (and heavier on the green with envy than the blue).

[Shockersarelife]

Had beaker fan tell me today that KU will be preseason #1 and no mention of shox. Delusional beaker fan.

[Cdizzle]

Iowa State?

Iowa St. is certainly no blueblood, but they do choke a lot in the tourney. They have been to the tourney 17 times, reaching the S16 just 4 times, including once in 1944 (though that was by default as there were only 8 teams).

By contrast, as a point of reference, WSU has been to the tourney 12 times, making the S16 6 of those times.

[pogo]

We will see if ISU can sustain its success now that Fred is gone.

[AZ Shocker]

Had beaker fan tell me today that KU will be preseason #1 and no mention of shox. Delusional beaker fan.

Ask and you shall receive...