Today's post comes to you from goroshnik at salukitalk.com. Every Monday Goro does some great research and then gives a "rant" on the week's rankings. Here are some excerpts from today's edition in which our Salukis come in at #20.
I must admit, it'll be a little more difficult to put down a serious rant this week, due in large part to SIU's big emergence into the AP Top 25 Poll. Here's the happy poll list for ya
I was more than pleased to see a good four teams enter the Top 25 this week - that's the first time this year that as many as four teams have debuted in the same week. I'm also very pleased to see that those four new teams (SIU, USC, Kentucky, and Georgetown) were able to jump up quite a few places and take the #19-#22 spots.
With SIU's ranking, we've now got 5 non-BCS teams ranked at the same time, and a big congrats goes out to Butler for entering the Top 10. Should SIU and Butler continue to roll and remain ranked, their matchup in two weeks should garner much more national exposure, and that's always a good thing.
Even with SIU's breakthrough, I was still able to find my usual assortment of odds and ends to rant about. We've still got a few teams that are noticeably absent, along with a conference or two that's simply hogging too many votes.
BARRY'S BOYS ON THE SHORT END YET AGAIN
I knew I could still find an MVC team to rally around. Missouri State currently sits in third place in the #5 rated conference, but they failed to get a single vote tossed their way. The Bears have the unfortunate distinction this week of being the highest-rated RPI team to get shut out - they're at #31.
Missouri State and Arkansas are the only two top-40 RPI teams to have nary a vote. The Razorbacks aren't there because they're currently eighth overall in the SEC, at 3-5, and have lost 5 of their last 7 games. Missouri State's righted the ship a bit, with a three-game win streak, including the last two on the road. Now before you simply say that I'm arguing about this because of my MVC ties, let me toss a few teams your way that are under .500 in their conference, but still managed to grab votes this week.
NC STATE - ONE WEEK OVERSHADOWS AN ENTIRE YEAR
The Wolfpack had a terrific week, knocking off Virginia Tech on the road before taking down North Carolina at home. That's one tremendous week, but does it deserve to get these guys 15 votes? Before this week, NC State was 1-7 against the RPI top 100, near the bottom of the ACC at 1-5, and had no less than FIVE home losses this year! Oh, their RPI you say? How about #106. Wow, that's one ugly number.
One great week does not deserve to outshine an entire year's body of work. Some voters fall into this trap when they see a team get hot against a couple of ranked teams, and they fail to see the big picture. NC State can prove me wrong by winning a few road games this week and working on that triple-digit RPI ranking.
I should also mention that Maryland also sits at 3-5 in the ACC, in a tie for 8th along with NC State, yet they still were able to hold on to 9 votes. That makes NINE teams in the ACC this week grabbing votes, but not one single vote for Barry's Bunch. There's simply no way that the ACC's getting a ludricrous 9 teams into the Dance, so give this another week or two, and we can hope that the ACC mess can start to clear up.
The league, in a way, is a little screwed up itself regarding the Top 25, as neither Boston College or Virginia are ranked, despite leading the conference. That's what having Duke ranked so highly every year, deservedly or not, does to a league. Did you know that with Duke at #16, it's their worst ranking in seven years?
SPARTANS HEADING IN WRONG DIRECTION
If someone could do a little homework and find where Michigan State's vote came from this week, we could find out who still thinks the Spartans, currently sitting in 7th place in a mediocre Big Ten, are good enough to be considered a Top 25 team. After a game at Purdue this week, MSU gets to recover with a four-game home stand. At least they're done with Ohio State - that'll help ANY team recover.
IS THE PAC-10 REALLY THIS GOOD?
I agree that the Pac-10 is very good this year. I also agree that it'll very likely get 6 teams into the dance (sorry, Mr. Lavin... your suggestion of the Pac-10 getting 7 teams in won't happen, as Cal and Washington aren't tourney at-large material right now). I do wonder, though, if the Pac-10's really deserving of having all six of those teams ranked in the Top 25 at the same time... but there are definite cases for and against a team like Arizona (only 6-5, but #1 SOS).
I was hoping somewhat that the MVC could have turned out this way, with 5 or 6 teams pulling away from the rest of the pack. The big difference is that the MVC doesn't have two bottom-feeders like Arizona State and Oregon State to keel over and give all the other teams easy conference wins.
Tell me what's better - is a conference better for having 6 good teams and two awful ones, or is it better to have 2 teams pull away from a very tight group of 10 teams? It'll be a shame if the selection committee fails to grab a fourth MVC team just because it couldn't get more wins in conference, while it rewards six Pac-10 teams who get to pile up an extra four easy in-conference wins.
THE RPI CONNECTION'S HEATING UP
With SIU and Kentucky making the Top 25, for the first time this year, every team in the top 10 of the RPI is ranked. Here's more stuff to ponder:
14 of the top 15 teams in the RPI are ranked. (UNLV's blowout loss at BYU killed their solid chance this week).
Every team in the Top 25 is also in the RPI top 50. Vandy just made the cut, as they're sitting at #50 today.
38 of the top 40 RPI teams had votes this week - I mentioned this earlier in the post, but it bears repeating again.
For all this blather from some media outlets about the decreased significance of the RPI (Ken Pomeroy, why the RPI hate lately?), the Top 25 and RPI numbers are getting more similiar with each passing week. You'll still get teams well down the RPI pecking order popping up from time to time (NC State, Akron, #78 Winthrop, and #76 New Mexico State are your lowest four teams to get votes this week) - but more often than not, by the end of the year, the RPI numbers and the AP Polls will compare more favorably than the media bigwigs care to admit.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Sunday Sports Review
Salukihoops hit the airwaves again this week on 91.1 WDBX in Carbondale. Sunday Sports Review host Mark Bausch and I talked about Super Sunday, Wichita State, and the Salukis chances at making the top 25.
Click on the link below and listen for yourself.
Don Ford
Mark Bausch
Click on the link below and listen for yourself.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
SIU at Witchita State Live Blog
One play and one basket by Randal Falker. Falker is playing with a touch of the flu today so hopefully he'll be able to play big minutes.
Tony Young gets a steal off of Kyle Wilson and converts it for two.
16:37- SIU has been plagued with turnovers early but still lead 4-3. Clemmons checks into the game and he needs to get going early.
15:32- Tony Young gets the feed down low to Falker and he hits the lay-in. 6-3 SIU. If Falker can keep getting the ball down low we can win this game. Looks good so far...
13:15- Falker shows some range hitting a 12 footer and has knocked down his first 3 shots.
This game is being controlled by the officials so far. They seem to be calling it very tight. Hopefully they will loosen up a bit as things progress.
11:01- Foster is in the game and has fouled the guy with the giant afro. This afro is four times the size of his head. 12-8 SIU.
10:35- JT comes off a screen and is fouled. JT is hot again, and this game is being played at Southerns pace. I think we are going to get this win.
8:38- Matt Shaw gets the ball down low and dumps in the bucket. Wichita State is doubling down on the post, and SIU is STILL getting points down there. 17-10 SIU
On the next possession Falker draws a charge on Kyle Wilson. Everything is going our way. This is a game that SIU can play in the high 50's and win.
7:30- Matt Shaw is stepping up! Big time three ball! Credit Tatum with a nice assist. Mullins gets a five second call on the other end then Tatum comes back and his a (lucky) three. SIU is owning! 23-10 SIU
4:11- Jamaal Foster gets in on the action with a tip in. 27-16 SIU
2:03- Tyrone Green shoots a wide open shot... clank. I understand Green plays good defense but please give these minutes to Josh Bone... Please.
1:24- Tatum hits another jumper- 12 point SIU lead
1:07- The SIU defense is smothering! Wichita State cant even get a shot off. We will win this game.
JT nails ANOTHER jumper at the buzzer!!! 13 point lead at the break. Matt Shaw is 3 for 3 and Tatum cant miss. Combine that with great defense and you have the best half of basketball SIU has played all year.
Second half- The defense is not relenting and SIU is taking long patient possessions. Things are looking good.
16:01- SIU is clearing off the rebounds and not giving the Shockers any looks. Time to start grinding out a win.
13:04- Tyrone Green is still in the game... can we see Josh Bone please?
11:28- Note to opponents- you cant give JT an open shot. The shockers just forgot about him and JT nails a three to give Southern a 40-25 lead. Nice.
8:23- SIU is milking the clock every possesion. Its a great strategy for a team that plays good D and is holding a 12 point lead. JT makes it all come together by beating defenders and knocking down shots with less than five second on the shot clock.
6:43 Clemmons travels with the ball. The shockers cut it to 10 points. Clemmons has to start playing better he is really hurting Southern lately.
5:30- The shockers cut the 17 point lead all the way down to 7. SIU will need to get the offense started.
4:48- Matt Shaw does the honers with a three point ball. That pushes the lead back to ten.
Disaster- Tatum throws the ball away an it turn into an opportunity for three point play for the Shockers. The lead is down to 6.
JT does it again, with the shot clock winding down he hits a huge jumper. Falker SWATS a shot at the other end. The tide has turned in the favor of SIU once again. 49-42 Southern with 3:14 remaining.
Tony Yong must be hurt- Bone is playing clutch minutes here and I'm glad to see it.
:49- Tatum misses the first end of a 1 and 1. Ouch.
:33 Wichita state goes to the line and hits one. 49-45 SIU
:31 Matt Shaw goes to the line. Matt hits one. 5 point lead
:17 Falker rebounds a missed three by Kyle Wilson. A free throw will ice it- and he hits it. 52-45 SIU. Ballgame.
Its in the books 54-46 SIU. The Salukis are top 25 bound and a conference title is within reach.
Tony Young gets a steal off of Kyle Wilson and converts it for two.
16:37- SIU has been plagued with turnovers early but still lead 4-3. Clemmons checks into the game and he needs to get going early.
15:32- Tony Young gets the feed down low to Falker and he hits the lay-in. 6-3 SIU. If Falker can keep getting the ball down low we can win this game. Looks good so far...
13:15- Falker shows some range hitting a 12 footer and has knocked down his first 3 shots.
This game is being controlled by the officials so far. They seem to be calling it very tight. Hopefully they will loosen up a bit as things progress.
11:01- Foster is in the game and has fouled the guy with the giant afro. This afro is four times the size of his head. 12-8 SIU.
10:35- JT comes off a screen and is fouled. JT is hot again, and this game is being played at Southerns pace. I think we are going to get this win.
8:38- Matt Shaw gets the ball down low and dumps in the bucket. Wichita State is doubling down on the post, and SIU is STILL getting points down there. 17-10 SIU
On the next possession Falker draws a charge on Kyle Wilson. Everything is going our way. This is a game that SIU can play in the high 50's and win.
7:30- Matt Shaw is stepping up! Big time three ball! Credit Tatum with a nice assist. Mullins gets a five second call on the other end then Tatum comes back and his a (lucky) three. SIU is owning! 23-10 SIU
4:11- Jamaal Foster gets in on the action with a tip in. 27-16 SIU
2:03- Tyrone Green shoots a wide open shot... clank. I understand Green plays good defense but please give these minutes to Josh Bone... Please.
1:24- Tatum hits another jumper- 12 point SIU lead
1:07- The SIU defense is smothering! Wichita State cant even get a shot off. We will win this game.
JT nails ANOTHER jumper at the buzzer!!! 13 point lead at the break. Matt Shaw is 3 for 3 and Tatum cant miss. Combine that with great defense and you have the best half of basketball SIU has played all year.
Second half- The defense is not relenting and SIU is taking long patient possessions. Things are looking good.
16:01- SIU is clearing off the rebounds and not giving the Shockers any looks. Time to start grinding out a win.
13:04- Tyrone Green is still in the game... can we see Josh Bone please?
11:28- Note to opponents- you cant give JT an open shot. The shockers just forgot about him and JT nails a three to give Southern a 40-25 lead. Nice.
8:23- SIU is milking the clock every possesion. Its a great strategy for a team that plays good D and is holding a 12 point lead. JT makes it all come together by beating defenders and knocking down shots with less than five second on the shot clock.
6:43 Clemmons travels with the ball. The shockers cut it to 10 points. Clemmons has to start playing better he is really hurting Southern lately.
5:30- The shockers cut the 17 point lead all the way down to 7. SIU will need to get the offense started.
4:48- Matt Shaw does the honers with a three point ball. That pushes the lead back to ten.
Disaster- Tatum throws the ball away an it turn into an opportunity for three point play for the Shockers. The lead is down to 6.
JT does it again, with the shot clock winding down he hits a huge jumper. Falker SWATS a shot at the other end. The tide has turned in the favor of SIU once again. 49-42 Southern with 3:14 remaining.
Tony Yong must be hurt- Bone is playing clutch minutes here and I'm glad to see it.
:49- Tatum misses the first end of a 1 and 1. Ouch.
:33 Wichita state goes to the line and hits one. 49-45 SIU
:31 Matt Shaw goes to the line. Matt hits one. 5 point lead
:17 Falker rebounds a missed three by Kyle Wilson. A free throw will ice it- and he hits it. 52-45 SIU. Ballgame.
Its in the books 54-46 SIU. The Salukis are top 25 bound and a conference title is within reach.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Saturday Showdown
I'm psyched already. Saturdays game against Wichita State presents a big opportunity for SIU. First off all it is an opportunity to showcase our team on national television and secondly if the Salukis pull out a win it could mean a spot in the top 25.
Before I start hyping up the Salukis top 25 chances we have to go out there and get a win. Easier said than done. Wichita has been tough at home (just like everybody else in the conference) beating Creighton 62-59. The Shockers just went on the road and beat UNI this week, a tough task, just ask the Salukis.
Southern played a poor first half and an impressive second half against Illinois State. In Wednesdays game vs Indiana State, SIU game out on fire but had trouble keeping the offense going in the second half. In order to win this game on Saturday SIU will have to play 40 minutes of smart, fundamental, aggressive basketball or Wichita will put this game out of reach.
No need to dig deep into stats for this one. We have already seen the Shockers once this year and we know what they bring. They go 9 players deep and are lead by Kyle Wilson and PJ Couisnard. Beyond those two guys Sean Ogirri loves to shoot the deep ball hitting 57 of 140 (40%) this year. The Shockers can put up 70 points on a good day but the SIU defense will need to keep them under 60 to get a win.
Southern is having a great year so far at 9-3 we are in a position to win the league once again. The Shockers sit at 6-6 in the valley and desperately need this home win to get back into the "at large bid" picture. Expect SIU to keep this one close but unless Southern can take the offense up a notch (calling Matt Shaw) they will not have the firepower to knock off Wichita. Official Salukihoops prediction- Shockers over Salukis 64-62.
Check back here Saturday for a live blog of the Salukis Saturday showdown with the Shockers. Then on Sunday tune into the Sunday Sports Review on 91.1 WDBX for analysis of this weeks action.
Before I start hyping up the Salukis top 25 chances we have to go out there and get a win. Easier said than done. Wichita has been tough at home (just like everybody else in the conference) beating Creighton 62-59. The Shockers just went on the road and beat UNI this week, a tough task, just ask the Salukis.
Southern played a poor first half and an impressive second half against Illinois State. In Wednesdays game vs Indiana State, SIU game out on fire but had trouble keeping the offense going in the second half. In order to win this game on Saturday SIU will have to play 40 minutes of smart, fundamental, aggressive basketball or Wichita will put this game out of reach.
No need to dig deep into stats for this one. We have already seen the Shockers once this year and we know what they bring. They go 9 players deep and are lead by Kyle Wilson and PJ Couisnard. Beyond those two guys Sean Ogirri loves to shoot the deep ball hitting 57 of 140 (40%) this year. The Shockers can put up 70 points on a good day but the SIU defense will need to keep them under 60 to get a win.
Southern is having a great year so far at 9-3 we are in a position to win the league once again. The Shockers sit at 6-6 in the valley and desperately need this home win to get back into the "at large bid" picture. Expect SIU to keep this one close but unless Southern can take the offense up a notch (calling Matt Shaw) they will not have the firepower to knock off Wichita. Official Salukihoops prediction- Shockers over Salukis 64-62.
Check back here Saturday for a live blog of the Salukis Saturday showdown with the Shockers. Then on Sunday tune into the Sunday Sports Review on 91.1 WDBX for analysis of this weeks action.
Payback- SIU beats Indiana St 61-48
Bringing back all five starters from last years team is nice. You get players who know their roles. They are battle tested with knowledge and game experience. Tonights same starting five "experienced" an unexpected loss to the Sycamores last year. Tonight the team came out of the gate with a bad taste in their mouth- and it wasn't going to happen again.
Jamaal Tatum made sure of that. Tatum could not miss in the first half. He poured in an effortless 15 points. Using Midas's touch everything JT touched turned to gold. Need a three pointer with the shot clock winding down? Give it to JT. Need a dribble drive for two? Let JT break the defense down. Tatum did it all for SIU in the first half and ISU had no answer.
In the second half SIU came out cold. Finally, after a five minute drought Matt Shaw hit a layup and a three to extend Southerns lead to 40-25. Thats all the help that Randal Falker would need. Falker took the torch and finished the race for a Saluki team winning its 4th straight game. Randal caught the ball in the post and finished. Any time the ball went into Falker he attacked the bucket- Scoring, drawing fouls, and forcing Indiana St big men Jay Tunnell and Mick Yelovich out of the game with 5 fouls each.
Other random notes from the win-
Josh Bone stuck an NBA distance 3 point shot while Tyrone Green missed every shot he took from the field.
Jamaal Foster played 9 minutes and recorded three rebounds. Good enough.
Wesley Clemmons came off the bench first but made no impact in the game. Clemmons has fallen out a favor and is now fighting Tyrone Green for minutes. Ouch.
Tony Boyle stopped and popped a 12 foot jump shot tonight and it looked good. Hopefully we'll see Boyle hit these shots anytime he is left open.
Southern pulled out a nice win tonight and the quest for a conference title continues. The next stop is Wichita State, Saturday at 1pm. We'll have a full preview here at Salukihoops and we'll be back right here on Saturday to live blog the showdown between the Salukis and the Shockers.
Jamaal Tatum made sure of that. Tatum could not miss in the first half. He poured in an effortless 15 points. Using Midas's touch everything JT touched turned to gold. Need a three pointer with the shot clock winding down? Give it to JT. Need a dribble drive for two? Let JT break the defense down. Tatum did it all for SIU in the first half and ISU had no answer.
In the second half SIU came out cold. Finally, after a five minute drought Matt Shaw hit a layup and a three to extend Southerns lead to 40-25. Thats all the help that Randal Falker would need. Falker took the torch and finished the race for a Saluki team winning its 4th straight game. Randal caught the ball in the post and finished. Any time the ball went into Falker he attacked the bucket- Scoring, drawing fouls, and forcing Indiana St big men Jay Tunnell and Mick Yelovich out of the game with 5 fouls each.
Other random notes from the win-
Josh Bone stuck an NBA distance 3 point shot while Tyrone Green missed every shot he took from the field.
Jamaal Foster played 9 minutes and recorded three rebounds. Good enough.
Wesley Clemmons came off the bench first but made no impact in the game. Clemmons has fallen out a favor and is now fighting Tyrone Green for minutes. Ouch.
Tony Boyle stopped and popped a 12 foot jump shot tonight and it looked good. Hopefully we'll see Boyle hit these shots anytime he is left open.
Southern pulled out a nice win tonight and the quest for a conference title continues. The next stop is Wichita State, Saturday at 1pm. We'll have a full preview here at Salukihoops and we'll be back right here on Saturday to live blog the showdown between the Salukis and the Shockers.
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