Running 2022-23 NCAA Basketball Thread

All true about how it's just a bunch of new-to-DI and/or rando schools operating under a well-known name, but here's the crazy thing--it's doing really well this year! Ranked no. 11 at KenPom, one spot ahead of the A-10. The WAC was New Mexico State away from being an annual play-in contender over the last decade and nearly got picked apart by realignment, but the Aggies went and got death penalized in the middle of the WAC's best season since 2010, when it still had Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada & Utah State (plus, of course, Louisiana Tech, b/c nothing says WAC like Louisiana Tech). I have no idea how they're doing it with such a ragtag bunch, but they've got a couple top-100 schools and no one ranked outside the top 250. Also no idea if it's sustainable, but it's a fascinating revival.

 

Ohio State may be doing the same thing in the Big Ten.
All of a sudden, the committee might have a tough job after all.

 

And now: The Utah State Problem.
Aggies entered Saturday with the seemingly incongruous combo of a No. 18 rating in the NET and one Quad 1 win. They dispatch Boise State, which everybody has had in the field for weeks.
Bid thievery?

 

No, I think Utah State has always been considered in. Ohio State and Vandy would throw a monkey wrench into things if they go all the way -- I don't think they get at-larges if they don't

 

That is such an accurate description. A grab bag of misfit teams and schools. And it used to be the home of Utah, San Diego State, Colorado State, etc.

 

That’s Coach Stack to you

 

Watching the America East championship from the Vermont gym on a Saturday morning is one of my favorite traditions, and I don't know a player on their team.

 

I don't know how their overall resume stacks up against everybody else — they have a few bad losses — but Vandy sure seems to be playing like a tournament team down the stretch. That's 10 wins in 11 games, including two against Kentucky (one of them in Rupp Arena) and another against Tennessee. Whatever they were the first half of the season, they're a solid bunch now.

 

UAB - FAU in the C-USA final tonight. If UAB wins I think it's a two bid league. as FAU is 30-3 and 14 in the NET. That would ripple the bubble.

Both teams in the final moving up to the AAC next season.

 

Mizzou could really make a move to a better seed if they get to the SEC champ game. I’d think they could get a 6 seed (a 6!).