Nos. 14-17: ConnectiSMUmphisville

[PonyTime]

Love this analysis:

http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2014/3/3/5464472/2014-college-basketball-power-rankings-florida-duke-michigan

Nos. 14-17: ConnectiSMUmphisville

Last Week: Became sentient four-headed team.
Best Wins: Logic, Biology
Losses: Probably a lot, what with the four teams and all

SMU is 2-0 against Connecticut, which is 2-0 against Memphis, which is 2-0 against Louisville, which is 1-0 against SMU and may well be 2-0 against SMU come Wednesday. Cincinnati could not be present for the operation in which the American Conference's best teams became a hideous monster, because Mick Cronin and Teddy Valentine are still yelling at each other, and because it took place on a Saturday, when you never know if Cincy will show up3.

The American confuses me even more than the Big Ten and Big 12 have; it's like a season-long game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, except with a fourth choice (Louisville), a kid who occasionally punches everyone playing the game in the face (Cincy!), and a bunch of kids hiding in the corner (the rest of the American). Rather than explain it beyond glib metaphor, why don't we use this space to point out that an all-American team would feature Russ Smith, Shabazz Napier, Michael Dixon and/or Sean Kilpatrick, Markus Kennedy and/or Justin Jackson, and Montrezl Harrell in its starting five, and that team would eat you.

Did this also get me out of actually writing up profiles and calculating PPP averages for each individual team? Yes. Yes, it did. And thank you for that, ConnectiSMUmphisville.

[ojaipony]

My opinion is that we are a solid #4:

1 - Louisville
2 - Cincy
3 - Memphis
4 - SMU
5 - UConn

Unless we prove me wrong and go beat Memphis. (I'm not sure we win another game this year, especially if we draw Houston in the opening round of the AAC Tourney which would then give us not that great of a big dance seed). Don't get me wrong, I'm still absolutely over the moon with this season. I just having a feeling we will end the year with 23 wins. I hope I'm wrong.

[PonyFan32]

My opinion is that we are a solid #4:

1 - Louisville
2 - Cincy
3 - Memphis
4 - SMU
5 - UConn

Unless we prove me wrong and go beat Memphis. (I'm not sure we win another game this year, especially if we draw Houston in the opening round of the AAC Tourney which would then give us not that great of a big dance seed). Don't get me wrong, I'm still absolutely over the moon with this season. I just having a feeling we will end the year with 23 wins. I hope I'm wrong.

I think your ranking is pretty solid. I would probably slot us third ahead of Memphis, but it would be awfully close and could go either way.

I think we should assume we're going to beat Houston (as fans). Our team deserves a little respect until proven otherwise.

[ojaipony]

My opinion is that we are a solid #4:

1 - Louisville
2 - Cincy
3 - Memphis
4 - SMU
5 - UConn

Unless we prove me wrong and go beat Memphis. (I'm not sure we win another game this year, especially if we draw Houston in the opening round of the AAC Tourney which would then give us not that great of a big dance seed). Don't get me wrong, I'm still absolutely over the moon with this season. I just having a feeling we will end the year with 23 wins. I hope I'm wrong.

I think your ranking is pretty solid. I would probably slot us third ahead of Memphis, but it would be awfully close and could go either way.

I think we should assume we're going to beat Houston (as fans). Our team deserves a little respect until proven otherwise.

I think we've been overachieving this year and have had a great home court advantage that has gotten us through some good teams. I don't think we beat Memphis at their home or Houston on a neutral court (Houston is peaking now with everyone back and healthy and we were lucky to barely beat them on our home floor).

Again, I think we have hit our wins total for the year. But I hope I'm wrong.

[SMULaxer]

You guys. Sky is falling huh

[Rebel10]

If think we are #3.

[PonyFan32]

On the other hand, I saw us beat Houston on their home floor. It wasn't a dominating performance, but it wasn't exactly dependent on a buzzer beater either. So there is that. I just think you give other teams too much credit and ours not enough. I would take us at 60/40 or 70/30 to Houston on a neutral floor.

[PonyFan32]

You guys. Sky is falling huh

I think it's pretty clear after last night that we're not #1. A case could be made for #2-#4 though. But I have confidence in our guys to bring it in almost any game on a neutral floor.

[ojaipony]

You guys. Sky is falling huh

No, the sky is beautiful and bright blue. But we're not quite ready to break through the atmosphere quite yet, that's all.

Also, please remember that this is SMU. I know my history.

[mathman]

Perfect storm last night. No Nic and Louisville couldn't miss a three.

[gostangs]

oja you were the guy saying no way we make the tournament this year, so I think you have a history of pessimism. Not that I blame you as an SMU fan - just saying I think you have been an eeyore all year. You sell us short. Nic and Sterling play their normal minutes last night and we are toe to toe with Louisville - If we can get Yannick in the mix I think we have something that could go farther than you might think.

[smusportspage]

Perfect storm last night. No Nic and Louisville couldn't miss a three.

This. We need a healthy Nic that can avoid the fouls.

[SMUer]

60% from 3pt, 16 steals...nobody wins that game, "magic" or not. The refs kept them close early and their talent, speed and perimeter shooting blew us away late. We don't have the talent to defend or out-shoot shooters like Russ Smith, and we don't dribble well enough as a team to break that kind of press. We're on track to get there but we aren't there yet.

[Statler]

The history of this team is that they bounce back after a disappointing loss. I expect good things Saturday and in the tourney.

[PonyKris89]

My opinion is that we are a solid #4:

1 - Louisville
2 - Cincy
3 - Memphis
4 - SMU
5 - UConn

Unless we prove me wrong and go beat Memphis. (I'm not sure we win another game this year, especially if we draw Houston in the opening round of the AAC Tourney which would then give us not that great of a big dance seed). Don't get me wrong, I'm still absolutely over the moon with this season. I just having a feeling we will end the year with 23 wins. I hope I'm wrong.

We are a much more likely #3 seed. All that needs to happen is Louisville win at home with regular season title on the line vs. Connecticuit or SMU beats Memphis. If Either happens then the #3 is ours.