We are building toward Conference Tournament season or Championship Week, if you prefer. We have had a lot of significant movement in the NBK this week. First the updated NBK standings.
All data from KenPom.com with the exception of ESPN’s Bracketology from Joe Lunardi aka Joey Brackets. Teams ranked by Current Kissability.
| NBK Rank (Current) | Team | KenPom Rank | Conf Finish | Log5 Conf Tourney Win % | ESPN Bracketology | Road to the Sweet Sixteen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMU | 23 | T-1st (AAC) | 6-seed | Tulsa 11 BYU / Purdue 3 Iowa St |
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| 2 | Murray State | 75 | 1st (OVC) | 50.9% | 12-seed | 5 West Virginia 4 Northern Iowa |
| 3 | Georgia St | 76 | T-1st (Sun Belt) | 14-seed | Ga Southern 3 Maryland 6 Providence |
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| 4 | Montana | 156 | T-1st (Big Sky) | Montana St Sacramento St 16 Charleston Southern 1 Virginia 8 St John's |
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| 5 | Old Dominion | 65 | T-2th (CUSA) | |||
| 6 | Nebraska | 128 | 12th (B1G) | |||
| 7 | Colorado | 96 | T-8th (P12) | |||
| 8 | Manhattan | 171 | 4th (MAAC) | 12.3% | ||
| 9 | Creighton | 91 | 9th (BE) | |||
| 10 | Indiana St | 155 | 3rd (MVC) | 0.9% | ||
| 11 | New Mexico | 127 | 8th (MWC) | |||
| 12 | Fordham | 207 | T-12th (A10) | |||
| 13 | Saint Louis | 296 | 14th (A10) | |||
| 14 | Southern Miss | 314 | 13th (CUSA) | |||
| 15 | Harvard | 70 | 2nd (Ivy) | -- | Penn Yale 4 Oklahoma 5 Arkansas |
|
| 16 | Northwestern | 106 | T-10th (B1G) |
Now some color commentary.
SMU
The Mustangs lost last Sunday to Cincinnati, opening the door for Tulsa to grab the #1 spot in the AAC tournament from betwixt their hooves. However, the Hurricanes blew it by losing to Cincinnati on Wednesday. This sets up nicely for a winner-take-all match on Sunday afternoon in Dallas between SMU and Tulsa. Not only is this the most exciting game in the history of the AAC, but this serves as an early jolt of March Madness energy for the NBKs most kissable squad.
A win Sunday sets the bit and establishes this team as champions of something, creating a possibility of being pod champions in a couple weeks. A loss Sunday puts a taste of blood in their mouths, and may leave them hungry for vengeance. Talented team, nicely positioned to do some damage in March.
Harvard
The Crimson suffered the toughest NBK loss of the week, falling at home Friday night to their arch-rivals the Yale Bulldogs at home by ten: 62-52. This is problematic, as Harvard becomes the very first NBK squad that does not control its own destiny. The now-second-place Crimson need to beat Brown this weekend and hope Yale loses to Dartmouth, and then they have to beat Yale in a one-game playoff. Oh, and with this loss Harvard has likely devalued the Ivy League tournament slot out of the cushy 12 / 13 seed down the much more treacherous 14 line. 4s and 5s are ripe for the picking; 3s are better-prepared.
Georgia St
The Panthers sit tied for first in the Sun Belt, and much like SMU they have a winner-take-all game this weekend against Georgia Southern. Joey Brackets has our Panthers as a 14-seed at the moment, so they do have the potential to sneak up to the more favorable 12/13. Much can and will change in a week.
Montana
This has been one great year for Larry Krystkowiak. Not only is his current team the Utah Utes sit at #7 in the KenPom rankings and poised for a deep tournament run, but his alma mater the Grizzlies enter Championship in a three-way tie for first in the Big Sky. Of the co-leaders, Montana seems to have the edge to stay on top as they play their cross-state rivals (?) #316 Montana St in the I Don’t Know What They Call This Game Series.
It will be tough sledding even if the Grizz get in; not only are they likely to get a 16-seed, they may even get the play-in version of that seed.
Old Dominion
ODU is making a late surge, winning five straight to move into a tie for 2nd place in CUSA and pursing slightly. They have moved from #88 KenPom down to #66 over the course of the five-game winning streak and are getting frisky.
SLU
Saint Louis University, founded in 1818, also fielded a basketball team this winter. I put this in the past tense as it looks like the team has hit one to many walls, and their best basketball is behind them. In the time ODU has moved up 22 spots in the KenPom, SLU has lost 32 spots (from #251 to #283). Short of Justin Love coming off the bench to rain threes and shattering fibulas, the Billikens are not terribly kissable right now. Perhaps a toothbrush and some mints.