Bracketology 2024

[jctisu]

Cbs guy has us as one of the possible high seeds being upset early in the Tourney.

College basketball scores, winners and losers: UNC gaining on fourth No. 1 seed as Tennessee, Arizona lose

The Tar Heels won the ACC title and have a No. 1 seed in their sights after losses by the Volunteers and Wildcats

www.cbssports.com

Lazy writing, and not just because it’s us. There aren’t many teams outside the top few contenders that are going to have a stellar road record in conference. Even harder when you play in the Big 12. That’s just a proven fact. Still won road games though unlike Kansas who actually does suck on the road this year.

And ranked road wins? Again, find me any team outside the top few contenders that have a pile of those.

Arizona has one back in the second game of the season at Duke (Arizona also has some bad losses)

The mighty UConn just finally won a ranked road game last week at Marquette. The Huskies first road win against a ranked team in…a decade! Yeah the Huskies who just won the title and have won three in the past 13 years.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

Lunardi looks like he could smash a baker’s dozen of sweet corn.

Who couldn't....

 

[jctisu]

Can we talk about Arizona for a minute? About to take a really bad loss by double digits at USC. They are really living off the road win at Duke in the second game of the season. They have some bad losses with USC, Oregon State and Stanford. Also swept by Washington State, which aren’t bad losses but being swept by a team is never a good look when you are clearly viewed as the better team.

To me I feel like our resume is better but they are being talked about a possible 1 seed and even with this loss will still be a 2.

 

[CyPunch]

Wasn't a bad day other than our loss.

KU got annihilated. Baylor lost. Duke lost. Arizona took a bad loss.

The only things that went against us were Creighton and Marquette winning.

 

[CycloneSpinning]

Can we talk about Arizona for a minute? About to take a really bad loss by double digits at USC. They are really living off the road win at Duke in the second game of the season. They have some bad losses with USC, Oregon State and Stanford. Also swept by Washington State, which aren’t bad losses but being swept by a team is never a good look when you are clearly viewed as the better team.

To me I feel like our resume is better but they are being talked about a possible 1 seed and even with this loss will still be a 2.

I thought we had a chance to play our way to the one line before today. Duke, Tennessee, and Arizona losing today certainly played right into that. Win today and make it to the Big 12 championship and I think we’d have had a strong argument. Win and it would have been locked down. Unfortunately we were today essentially what we have been for the last month…and it finally cost us one. It has been a great season (amazing), but our offense is concerning right now.

 

[RonBurgundy]

I thought we had a chance to play our way to the one line before today. Duke, Tennessee, and Arizona losing today certainly played right into that. Win today and make it to the Big 12 championship and I think we’d have had a strong argument. Win and it would have been locked down. Unfortunately we were today essentially what we have been for the last month…and it finally cost us one. It has been a great season (amazing), but our offense is concerning right now.

Sigh, we were never getting a #1 seed.

 

[Iowast8isgr8]

Lazy writing, and not just because it’s us. There aren’t many teams outside the top few contenders that are going to have a stellar road record in conference. Even harder when you play in the Big 12. That’s just a proven fact. Still won road games though unlike Kansas who actually does suck on the road this year.

And ranked road wins? Again, find me any team outside the top few contenders that have a pile of those.

Arizona has one back in the second game of the season at Duke (Arizona also has some bad losses)

The mighty UConn just finally won a ranked road game last week at Marquette. The Huskies first road win against a ranked team in…a decade! Yeah the Huskies who just won the title and have won three in the past 13 years.

I think you are probably right and it was just lazy writing. However, I also think it is possible that anyone who actually watched our game today, could come away with the conclusion that we are vulnerable. I know it crossed my mind that if we came out and played like we did today in the first round of the NCAA, we would likely see another 15/2 or 14/3 upset. Simply put, we were BAD, but I am hoping as much as anyone else that today was an anomaly, and we got it out of our system before tourneys started. I, and most here, can say we have some optimism, but if someone isn't looking through cardinal and gold glasses, I am not blaming them for whatever they thought after today's hot mess.

 

[Cyowa 14]

It was actually a good night Quadrant wise for ISU. KSU loss moved to Q1, Tech win moved to Q1. We were 7-5 Q1 5-1 Q2 going into yesterday now 8-6 Q1 5-1 Q2. As others have said we played terrible but it simply wasn't a bad loss especially compared to a couple Arizona has now

 

[Cyhig]

I think you are probably right and it was just lazy writing. However, I also think it is possible that anyone who actually watched our game today, could come away with the conclusion that we are vulnerable. I know it crossed my mind that if we came out and played like we did today in the first round of the NCAA, we would likely see another 15/2 or 14/3 upset. Simply put, we were BAD, but I am hoping as much as anyone else that today was an anomaly, and we got it out of our system before tourneys started. I, and most here, can say we have some optimism, but if someone isn't looking through cardinal and gold glasses, I am not blaming them for whatever they thought after today's hot mess.

Keep in mind that KSU net ranking at tipoff was 76, meaning it was one spot away from classified as a Q1. Since KSU won, they moved up in the rankings, and the game is officially counted as a Q1 loss.

I’m not concerned about the opening round. ISU has shown this year they can dominate and put away inferior teams. The round of 32 is where it may get interesting. I could see this team could lose in the round of 32 just the same as I could see them make a deep run in the tournament.

Either way, it will be fun and exciting. And I can’t wait

 

[CRcyclone6]

Lunardi looks like he could smash a baker’s dozen of sweet corn.

Can't we all do that?

 

[cyclones500]

I think you are probably right and it was just lazy writing. However, I also think it is possible that anyone who actually watched our game today, could come away with the conclusion that we are vulnerable. I know it crossed my mind that if we came out and played like we did today in the first round of the NCAA, we would likely see another 15/2 or 14/3 upset. Simply put, we were BAD, but I am hoping as much as anyone else that today was an anomaly, and we got it out of our system before tourneys started. I, and most here, can say we have some optimism, but if someone isn't looking through cardinal and gold glasses, I am not blaming them for whatever they thought after today's hot mess.

Certainly ISU has vulnerability. Almost all teams do. And KSU game was a bad "eye test" for sure.

The point of @jctisu's assessment -- I don't think Iowa State faces an early exit because it "can't win outside of Hilton." We were 4-5 on the road in Big 12. Every loss but one is vs. a tournament lock ... vs. projected seeds 1, 3, 5 and 9-ish. Then road loss vs NIT level/fringe bubble.

 

[jctisu]

I think you are probably right and it was just lazy writing. However, I also think it is possible that anyone who actually watched our game today, could come away with the conclusion that we are vulnerable. I know it crossed my mind that if we came out and played like we did today in the first round of the NCAA, we would likely see another 15/2 or 14/3 upset. Simply put, we were BAD, but I am hoping as much as anyone else that today was an anomaly, and we got it out of our system before tourneys started. I, and most here, can say we have some optimism, but if someone isn't looking through cardinal and gold glasses, I am not blaming them for whatever they thought after today's hot mess.

See but your statement makes sense. The writer gave reasons that don’t make sense. He should just focus on the lack of offense, potentially being too hurt or tired, etc.

The reasons he gave out that I mentioned are just lazy.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

Sigh, we were never getting a #1 seed.

Correct. I do think today probably cost us a 2-seed which is ok.

 

[chuckd4735]

Correct. I do think today probably cost us a 2-seed which is ok.

Possibly, but a lot of the teams fighting for a 2 lost yesterday. The difference between a 2 and 3 isn't much at this point as far as seeding goes. As long as we still get Omaha, I'm good.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

I think you are probably right and it was just lazy writing. However, I also think it is possible that anyone who actually watched our game today, could come away with the conclusion that we are vulnerable. I know it crossed my mind that if we came out and played like we did today in the first round of the NCAA, we would likely see another 15/2 or 14/3 upset. Simply put, we were BAD, but I am hoping as much as anyone else that today was an anomaly, and we got it out of our system before tourneys started. I, and most here, can say we have some optimism, but if someone isn't looking through cardinal and gold glasses, I am not blaming them for whatever they thought after today's hot mess.

We are certainly vulnerable to a first-round upset because we go on long scoring droughts. We are really strong defensively, but if we can’t score, we can’t put teams away. I’ve seen people compare us to Virginia, which is probably a good comparison. UVa is capable of beating anyone (2019 national championship) but also losing to anyone (UMBC and Furman upsets). That’s where we’re at.

We’ve also now established a trend where TJ’s teams struggle at the end of the year. 2 years ago we had to beat a lousy K-State team on the road to feel good about getting in the tourney despite a stellar non con and conference start. Last year speaks for itself (the Pitt game is probably a top-10 worst ISU game all time). This year we’ve been getting wins, but are struggling to even reach 60 points the last 5 games

 

[jcf817]

Why do I have this sinking feeling that our overall seed will say "Omaha", but the committee will somehow have to make an exception for some other team, and we'll get bumped?

I don't even know if that's something that would be allowed, but how often do those types of things go in our favor?

 

[madguy30]

We are certainly vulnerable to a first-round upset because we go on long scoring droughts. We are really strong defensively, but if we can’t score, we can’t put teams away. I’ve seen people compare us to Virginia, which is probably a good comparison. UVa is capable of beating anyone (2019 national championship) but also losing to anyone (UMBC and Furman upsets). That’s where we’re at.

We’ve also now established a trend where TJ’s teams struggle at the end of the year. 2 years ago we had to beat a lousy K-State team on the road to feel good about getting in the tourney despite a stellar non con and conference start. Last year speaks for itself (the Pitt game is probably a top-10 worst ISU game all time). This year we’ve been getting wins, but are struggling to even reach 60 points the last 5 games

This was also with some guys playing guard (Gabe and Caleb) who were important to the success but struggled to dribble down the open court without watching the ball.

Then favorable matchups happened and they got to the Sweet 16.

The offense has bogged down lately as things have evened out but is still better in year 3.
Some sort of 40-some point game would be very surprising.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

This was also with some guys playing guard (Gabe and Caleb) who were important to the success but struggled to dribble down the open court without watching the ball.

Then favorable matchups happened and they got to the Sweet 16.

The offense has bogged down lately as things have evened out but is still better in year 3.
Some sort of 40-some point game would be very surprising.

Yes, I agree the offense is better than the last two years (though still not a thing of beauty I’d say)

 

[Urbandale2013]

Some of you guys really need to figure out some mood stabilizers. It sucks that we lost but not that big of a deal. The only way I see us not being a 2 seed is if we lose the first game in KC.

I also think people are overreacting to our offense. Yes it has been a struggle but as Blum and Williams have said it actually isn’t down that much and I think we will benefit from not having to play against Big 12 defenses.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

Some of you guys really need to figure out some mood stabilizers. It sucks that we lost but not that big of a deal. The only way I see us not being a 2 seed is if we lose the first game in KC.

I also think people are overreacting to our offense. Yes it has been a struggle but as Blum and Williams have said it actually isn’t down that much and I think we will benefit from not having to play against Big 12 defenses.

I don’t think I’m overreacting. I don’t think it’s a big deal if we’re a 2-seed or 3-seed. We’re in good shape for Omaha, and matchup-wise a 3-seed may be better.

Respectfully disagree about the offense. It’s objectively down significantly from where it was. We were flirting with 25th after the Houston game (I think. Someone correct me if I’m wrong) in adjusted O in KenPom. We’re down to 79th in the matter of 5 games.