Dave in Green

What I appreciate about Pomeroy's formula is that it includes more variables and is generally more sophisticated and accurate than similar services. Zips fans should apreciate Pomeroy right now. While the more simplistic RPI has the Zips ranked only #137 in the country, the Pomeroy formula puts us at #58.

Pomeroy's math projections are based on each team playing at the same level relative to other teams throughout the season. So Pomeroy projects that a team will beat every team currently ranked below them and lose to every team currently ranked above them (with homecourt advantage factored in). If everything was linear, the Pomeroy rankings would not have to be continuously adjusted throughout the season as teams lose games they were projected to win and win games they were projected to lose.

Thanks for thinking about us. It was also mentioned buried deep in another thread.

What a way for Chaminade to celebrate the 30th anniversary of being dubbed "Giant Killers" after beating #1 Virginia back in 1982 in what is generally considered to be the biggest college basketball upset of all time. Here's an article from five years ago celebrating the 25th anniversary: USA Today

My wife kidded me about being a "cheater." I told her the way I look at it is that the Zips average way more soccer attendance than UCLA. In a straight vote among those soccer fans, UA would beat UCLA. When UCLA fans started trying to pack the vote, we simply invoked the self-defense rule.

The wonders of social media. If there were screen captures around for some of the things I said when I was that age, I'd be hiding in a cave somewhere.

Wow! 26% to 25.1% in favor of Scott. Great work. Just beware of rope-a-dope, i.e. UCLA folks waiting until Akron folks go to bed and sneaking in a late barrage. It ain't over until 1 a.m. Akron time. No cramping in my fingers yet.

There are certainly a lot of different opinions about Zeke's NBA potential. The reality is that even those who earn their living trying to select the college players with the best NBA potential are often wrong. Some high draft choices never make it in the NBA, and some who are undrafted end up working their way in and having productive careers. We Zips fans are pretty familiar with seeing Zeke's strengths and weaknesses within the constraints of his team, his coaching and his present attitude toward basketball. But predicting the future is not so easy. There's no question that he has the physical attributes to be a player in the NBA. Much of what he may lack could be learned and developed. But, in the end, I think it comes down to how bad he wants it. If a switch goes on and Zeke decides he will never be happy in life unless he becomes a productive NBA player, I think he will be successful. If he sees the NBA as an option but is torn between that and other options, the desire might not be great enough to beat out others who want it more than he does. I wish I had a crystal ball.

When there are multiple threads on the same subject, it's hard to choose where to post.

I was starting to get discouraged there about not seeing the margin change until it finally just moved from a .5 to a .6 advantage for Scott. Hope the UCLA folks are even more discouraged. EDIT: And as I post this, it goes back to .5. Great horse race here!

Talk about insanity, with the Big East continuing to crumble as the Rutgers rumors grow, new members are having second thoughts: Boise State, San Diego State and BYU have had conversations with Mountain West membership about the possibility of returning to the league, sources told ESPN. ESPN

Creighton, a mid-major, is currently ranked #14 in the AP top 25. If the Zips were unbeaten with consecutive wins over Oklahoma State, Tennessee and NC State, they'd be in the top 25.

While just voting I saw Scott's advantage go up a tenth! Could get pretty crazy between midnight and 1 a.m. Akron time.

This was written before the season began. Author John Gasaway does a lot of work with Ken Pomeroy on advanced statistical analysis. The Pomeroy ratings predict which games each team is likely to win throughout the season. Obviously they become more accurate as the season goes on and game results are added into the speculative calculations. Typically each team loses some they were projected to win and wins some they were projected to lose. The Zips have already experienced the former and need to produce some of the latter.

I believe voting ends at midnight CST tonight. That would be 1 a.m. for Akron, 10 p.m. for Los Angeles, and 8 p.m. for our Hawaiian secret weapon. Looks like those of us in Akron are going to have to stay up late to protect against a late UCLA charge.

Thanks for the link. It was about what I expected, similar to a lot of the things I've read and that have been discussed right here on ZN.o. I can't help but wonder how far ahead this country would be if the same emphasis was put on the things that really matter in life rather than just the entertainment of sports. While I enjoy sports as a pastime, it doesn't dominate my life the way it does for some people.

Zeke has some impressive stats after the season's first five games. Just like last season, he's leading the Zips in scoring at 11.6 points per game, up from last season's 10.4 ppg. His field goal percentage (57.1%) and free throw percentage (75%) are also both up from last season. He also leads the Zips in rebounding with an average 8.4 per game -- much better than last season's 5.4 rpg. Zeke is once again showing up as a national leader in shot blocking, and is also currently among the country's leaders in some other categories: In blocked shots, Zeke is #1 in the country in total blocks, #5 in blocks per game and #17 in block percentage. In plus minus win percentage, he's also #1 in the country. In free throws, he's #2 in the country in attempts and #3 in free throws made. In plus minus wins, he's #3 in the country. In rebounds, he's #5 in the country in offensive rebounds and #6 in total rebounds. What it all adds up to is that Zeke is being more aggressive on the offensive end this season, and it's showing up in more offensive rebounds and more free throw attempts. This is exactly what he needs to do to improve his NBA draft status. He's already established as a defensive specialist, and needs to prove that he can snag more rebounds and score more effectively.

I didn't see that 60 Minutes feature. But the way you just described it sounds a lot like the way I see the situation.

Gotta love the attitude in Zeke's quotes: "We came out with more energy. It felt like practice, honestly," Marshall said. "I'm pumped for the regular season." Eleven of his 17 points came from the foul line. Marshall set a tournament record with 13 total blocks. "It isn't the first time I've broke records and it won't be the last," Marshall said. "I don't understand why other people can't do it. It's that easy." ESPN

OSU coach Travis Ford respects the Zips after they played his team tougher than any other team in PR. Here's what he said after beating NC State for the tournament championship: "I thought we played against three teams in this tournament that will be in the NCAA tournament in Akron, Tennessee and NC State," Ford said. ESPN

It's fair to call PSU "horrible" in the context of the Big Ten. But the Big Ten is currently the top-ranked college basketball conference in the country. In the context of 347 D1 teams, 11 of 12 Big Ten teams are currently in the Pomeroy top 100, and PSU is ranked ahead of nearly 250 other D1 teams: 1. Indiana 4. Michigan 5. Ohio State 8. Michigan State 11. Wisconsin 12. Minnesota 50. Iowa 52. Purdue 55. Illinois 84. Northwestern 89. Penn State 211. Nebraska

And isn't that what amateur sports are all about?

No. My key point was: Don't try to read anything into it. But, seriously, check out the box score. OSU destroyed NC State with only 6 players. Now, some will say that NC State is overrated. Some will say that this was a fluke. Some will say that OSU has an amazing core of 6 players. Who knows? All we can do is look at data and try to process and interpret it as best we can, and we'll all arrive at slightly different conclusions. I still don't know exactly how good this Zips team is or how good it can be by the end of the season. But I'm starting to get a little more optimistic. There are still a lot of tests ahead that will help clarify things.

NC State, picked by many to win the mighty ACC this season, is slaughtered by a team the Zips took into overtime despite playing without two of our key forwards and with an injury-hobbled point guard. But don't try to read anything into it.

Chauncey was back in the starting lineup today and played well. Not sure it's clear yet whether there is an advantage to the team having him start or be the spark off the bench.