***Unofficial Confidence Check: Will We Make the NCAA Tourney 12/15/21**

I don't think many fans appreciate how well we're set up based on the quantitative NET rankings. Every B12 team except KSU is ranked in the top 75, and KSU is 91 (there's TWENTY P5 teams ranked below KSU). Which means as of now, we'll play 11 QUAD 1 games in the b12, and every other game except KSU at home will be quad 2. That is insane - so while wins will be tough to come back, there will be zero bad losses (other than KSU at home).

Also, why do so many fans mention the NIT? This always seems to be a popular prediction, and yet we've played in the NIT 3 times in 40+ years.

I don't care who the wins are against, if we're 7-11 in the b12 this year, we're a lock for the tourney.

Put me down for 85% chance of making it.

This, times a thousand.

Yes, this success was unexpected but the fact is (as you illustrate above) we are in phenomenal shape here with our current resume to go dancing.

The way I see it is this: If we stay relatively healthy and continue to play at this level we'll add significantly to our resume with conference play and be looking at a high seed. If we get banged up with injuries where guys have to miss games, then we'll be looking at a lower seed. I honestly don't see this team losing focus and intensity, so I don't see that as an issue going forward.

I would hope all our fans would be ecstatic about ISU hoops right now. I know I am.
 
7-11 and we’re 100% in. NET rankings of Big 12 are insane. Memphis, Xavier and Iowa continuing to win will help too.

But that 6 game stretch to open Big 12 play is BRUTAL. Gotta go 2-4.
 
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I am around 70%. ISU has some sorta nice wins, but so far the team has had a season like Iowa Football, where it looked like there were all these good teams on the schedule and a few weeks later, not so much.

They really need to finds some stability on offense, and stay out of foul trouble. Also, they are pretty thin in a hurry if a guy or 2 gets hurt. The Baylor game will show if we are in the conversation.

Xavier is definitely a great neutral floor win. Memphis almost certainly will be. Creighton is a nice road win. Iowa will probably crap the bed, as they are wont to do, but still probably a good win.
 
50%
Love TJ
LOVE this team
We are good. Not sure how good yet. Quality win at Creighton, Xavier win was big time, but they were not at full strength, Memphis was bad when we played them, iowa mid B10 team. Oregon State has proven to be bad this year. Other games - should have won and did.
Conference looking super tough. Wins will come hard, and lots of time for people to figure out what we do. That said, we will play many competitive games. Just depends on how they split - for or against us.
Need Quad 1 and 2 wins. Most of those opportunities yet to be played.

We had a lot to do with Memphis and Iowa both looking bad though. Our defense is smothering and teams have to work really hard to get good looks and that is exhausting for most teams. Defense travels and this squad can survive poor shooting nights which is huge. Knowing that we don't have to go out and score 80 points in order to have a shot is pretty damn refreshing.
 
I'll say 60%. The conference will not give us anything. It's possible we start the conference slate 2-6 or something similar. It will be a slog.
 
I think, if ISU can sustain the way they've played so far, they are more than likely going to make it and will feel solid about it going into Big XII tournament weekend. I see us as about a 5th or 6th place finisher in the league this year. I'm hopeful the Magic can keep us 7-2 at home.
 
We had a lot to do with Memphis and Iowa both looking bad though. Our defense is smothering and teams have to work really hard to get good looks and that is exhausting for most teams. Defense travels and this squad can survive poor shooting nights which is huge. Knowing that we don't have to go out and score 80 points in order to have a shot is pretty damn refreshing.
I totally agree. I spoke to TJ and told him that in 50 years of going to ISU BB games I have never seen better defense.
Memphis is likely end up being a quality win as I assume they may right their ship - they may have already started. My only point was when we played them they were a mess. After we beat them they lost to Georgia, Mississippi and Murray State. Penny called them out publically. We are a true team. They were playing like a bunch of selfish NBA wanna be’s. The focus of our guys is incredible. Iowa, based upon a one game observation, as I boycott them, is soft. I want Creighton, Memphis and Xavier to do well as it will help us. I hope iowa never wins another game.
 
If we can continue this intensity and don't lose players to injury or other issues: 95%
If we burn out or have player issues, the percentage drops significantly and quickly.
Every game we win is one step closer!!
 
We had a lot to do with Memphis and Iowa both looking bad though. Our defense is smothering and teams have to work really hard to get good looks and that is exhausting for most teams. Defense travels and this squad can survive poor shooting nights which is huge. Knowing that we don't have to go out and score 80 points in order to have a shot is pretty damn refreshing.

#11 defense on kenpom and we’ve played Iowa. ELITE
 
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Xavier is definitely a great neutral floor win. Memphis almost certainly will be. Creighton is a nice road win. Iowa will probably crap the bed, as they are wont to do, but still probably a good win.

Xavier was without their best player, and Memphis has underperformed big time. The Creighton win is a very good one. I am not saying they are not going to make it. I'm just saying that the teams that they have beaten looked a lot better before the season started.
 
Xavier was without their best player, and Memphis has underperformed big time. The Creighton win is a very good one. I am not saying they are not going to make it. I'm just saying that the teams that they have beaten looked a lot better before the season started.

We also beat Xavier pretty handily, which I think offsets what they were missing to an extent.
 
I know I'm super late to this thread, but with potentially being 13-0 in non con (we play Mizzou later for the Big 12/SEC challenge), worst case scenario for getting into the tourney is probably 7-11 in conference with an immediate loss in the Big 12 tourney putting us at 20-12...with our non con wins, I feel like that's good enough to get in...anything more than that is even better
 
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The way we've been playing, you gotta think 95-100%.

Especially if we get Tre winter semester. That would be huge for team and depth.

Predict 9-10 conference wins now. 24-10 prior to NCAA. 26-10 (or11) final record! Need to stay healthy. That would be phenomenal.
 
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This, times a thousand.

Yes, this success was unexpected but the fact is (as you illustrate above) we are in phenomenal shape here with our current resume to go dancing.

The way I see it is this: If we stay relatively healthy and continue to play at this level we'll add significantly to our resume with conference play and be looking at a high seed. If we get banged up with injuries where guys have to miss games, then we'll be looking at a lower seed. I honestly don't see this team losing focus and intensity, so I don't see that as an issue going forward.

I would hope all our fans would be ecstatic about ISU hoops right now. I know I am.
Strength of schedule is meaningless unless you win the games. I'm at 80% because a lot can happen - injuries, better coaching in league, and whether our effort can be sustained. If we make it, I'm guessing a 5 seed.
 
I'm going with 0% so we can make it.

Scratch that, make it 1%. Don't want to make it obvious to the basketball gods.
 
Right now, I think we could easily be a bubble or low seed. I just won't be confident until they start the conference grind and prove their mettle on a twice weekly basis.

60%

^This. So far so good and WAY better than we could have expected. However, dat conference schedule is going to be a slog. Will have to be really good and a bit of luck and good fortune would help, like not having anyone sick or injured.
 
Xavier was without their best player, and Memphis has underperformed big time. The Creighton win is a very good one. I am not saying they are not going to make it. I'm just saying that the teams that they have beaten looked a lot better before the season started.
The committee will not consider that Xavier did not have their best player when they look at our résumé. We need Memphis to keep winning
 
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