Zips Hoops Rankings

[bUAkronG]

Well Belmont lost to then 12-11 Tennessee State, so they should move behind the Zips tomorrow.

Also previous 14 game in a row winner Montana is going down in flames at Weber State. They are down 59-40 in the second half.

[ksu sucks]

#48 in the latest RPI rankings.

[Dave in Green]

Up to #47 in BPI, one position ahead of Butler. Up to #49 in Pomeroy, with offense slipping slightly to #60 but defense moving into the top 50 for the first time this season at #48. Another one I hadn't really looked at before is the Team Rankings Overall Power Rating, where the Zips are currently #45.

[ZachTheZip]

BBState's State of College Basketball poll has Akron at #19

[Dave in Green]

Zips #19? That reminds me of the old joke that if you put an infinite number of chimpanzees in front of an infinite number of typewriters (computer keyboards these days) for an infinite amount of time, one would eventually write Hamlet. If there were an infinite number of ranking systems over an infinite amount of time, one would eventually rank the Zips #1. But, as a Zips fan, I still like the optimism of that poll.

[Zip76]

BBState's State of College Basketball poll has Akron at #19

Wish there was an explanation of the rating system. It clearly LOVES mid-majors.

[ZachTheZip]

Wish there was an explanation of the rating system. It clearly LOVES mid-majors.

here you go

[Dave in Green]

Ah, a couple of points help explain the Zips' high ranking:

•Degrades older results (Zips losses are all far in the past)

•Punishes bad home play (Zips unbeaten at home)

[Dave in Green]

Team Rankings has a ranking for Last 10 Games Power Rating in which the Zips are currently ranked #24.

[Dave in Green]

The Boston Globe's Joe Sullivan continues his love affair with the Zips:

This week’s George Mason (best mid-major): Akron. The Zips have won 17 in a row.

[Dave in Green]

And Akron moves up to #30 in the MRI rankings.

[Dave in Green]

A week after finally entering the CBS Sports Mid-Major Power Pyramid at #15 (dead last), the Zips take a giant leap up into the second tier at #8:

8. Akron (21-4).

Why it's here: The nation's longest winning streak is now at 17 games, and we've about reached the point where the Zips deserve widespread love for what they've been able to pull together here.

Something you should know: Outside of the sleep-not-out-of-their-eyes-yet loss to Coastal Carolina that opened the season, Akron's other losses are to Creighton, Oklahoma State and Detroit, three teams who could easily be in the tournament.

Jerry Palm says: No. 13 in the South, as of early Monday morning.

Up next: Friday vs. North Dakota State.

[RootforRoo44]

Here's this week's Rankings Roundup.

Added a few new ones this week, so now the list consists of 21 polls/rankings that the Zips are appearing on in some manner.

[ZachTheZip]

Up to #5 in the CollegeInsider Mid-Major top 25.

[Dave in Green]

First mention of Akron in a bubble watch:

Another thing I would like to draw your attention to is the Play In game. We are entering our third year of having the last 4 in facing off in play in games. Each of the first two years, play in games featured 2 mid-major teams. Of those 4 Mid Majors, 2 of them (VCU, Iona) were not given any chance to make the tournament. I see 6 teams that fit that bill this year: Bucknell, Lehigh, Ohio, Akron, Murray State, and Belmont. Three of these teams will win their conference tournaments. The other 3 may not have the resume, but would be a legitimate threat to win some games in the tournament.

MAC

On the Bubble: Akron, Ohio

Akron (21-4, 12-0) Akron would probably be ranked if they didn’t lose the very first game to Costal Carolina. Losing to Oklahoma State in overtime and on the road at Creighton and Detroit are not losses that you can hold against them. Computers might, but we know that Detroit has the talent to play with anyone. Middle Tennessee State and Ohio are their best wins, and that is why most “bracketologists” won’t have them in unless they win their tournament. The next two games are North Dokata State and Ohio, win those, win out, and they’ll be in good shape.

[Dave in Green]

A little higher profile bubble mention from Andy Katz:

If Akron (MAC) and Louisiana Tech (WAC) run the table in their respective leagues but lose in their conference tournament title games, should they get an at-large bid? I'd like to see both get rewarded.

[odhgibo]

Doesn't all the variance noted in these polls say something to the inquisitive reader? Specifically, one can make statistics say whatever one wants them to say. I think a decent case can be made for Akron at anywhere between 20 and 60. I continue to believe that 45-50 is the right landing spot, at least presently.

Akron has only one realistic shot at the tournament, and that is to win the MAC tournament. The MAC has not received two invitations in over a decade, and this will not be the year to break the streak. Critics have a perfect retort to any complaint about being slighted: if the team is bid-worthy, there's no excuse for not being able to win the conference tournament.

Of the teams in Akron's general ratings vicinity, could Oklahoma, Illinois, or UCLA run the table against MAC schools? Conversely, could Akron beat the teams those teams have beaten?

[LZIp]

if the team is bid-worthy, there's no excuse for not being able to win the conference tournament.

There is no excuse not to win the tourney against a team that made the sweet 16, nearly the elite 8 last year, and literally returned their whole team? Get out of here.

[akronzips71]

Actually, if the ONLY MAC games OU loses are to us, they have a chance at an at large, based on last years run.

[Dave in Green]

..... Critics have a perfect retort to any complaint about being slighted: if the team is bid-worthy, there's no excuse for not being able to win the conference tournament. .....

Nope. One size does not fit all on that claim. It obviously works for the SWAC and obviously doesn't work for the Big Ten. It differs for conferences in between.

[odhgibo]

Nope. One size does not fit all on that claim. It obviously works for the SWAC and obviously doesn't work for the Big Ten. It differs for conferences in between.

I'm compiling and filtering some data that exemplifies how far the league has slipped in the past 15 years. Can't say it's conclusive, but it's persuasive (to my eye, at least).

Of course, every so often, a league outside the top 10 gets a second bid.

Iona out of the MAAC received a 14 seed (play in game) last year after going 26-7, including a 2-1 record in Puerto Rico and wins over Richmond, St. Joe's, and Nevada. They lost in the MAAC semis.

Iona was the first such school since 2008, however.

That year, South Alabama of the Sun Belt received an at large bid (10 seed) with a 26-6 record, including 16-2 in conference and a 13 game winning streak that included wins over Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State.

If those two teams were able to get in, there's hope. However, for every 2012 Gael or 2008 Jaguar, there are many more disappointed teams out there. There's hope for an at large bid, but that's all it is.

[odhgibo]

There is no excuse not to win the tourney against a team that made the sweet 16, nearly the elite 8 last year, and literally returned their whole team? Get out of here.

The 2012-13 edition of the OU hoops squad hardly can be said to be the same as the 2011-12 Version. Same faces, same jerseys, different team. Maybe they'll catch fire in the last month (like last year, btw) but, right now, they are not the same team.

Indiana also returned essentially its whole team from 2011-12, but I'd rather play that version than the present one.

Teams change.

[LZIp]

The 2012-13 edition of the OU hoops squad hardly can be said to be the same as the 2011-12 Version. Same faces, same jerseys, different team. Maybe they'll catch fire in the last month (like last year, btw) but, right now, they are not the same team.

OU has the same exact record this point in the season as last year, along with a better conference record. Losing to OU in the MAC finals doesnt mean we arent good enough for a tourney bid. Asinine to think that. Any team can slip up. See Kansas losing to TCU who had lost all of their conference games by 10+ prior to that game.

If we slip up and dont make it, then it is what it is. We have a great chance at an at-large if we win out and would happen to lose to OU in Cleveland. Well known college basketball analysts are agreeing. I will take their opinion over yours.

[RootforRoo44]

OU has the same exact record this point in the season as last year, along with a better conference record. Losing to OU in the MAC finals doesnt mean we arent good enough for a tourney bid. Asinine to think that. Any team can slip up. See Kansas losing to TCU who had lost all of their conference games by 10+ prior to that game.

If we slip up and dont make it, then it is what it is. We have a great chance at an at-large if we win out and would happen to lose to OU in Cleveland. Well known college basketball analysts are agreeing. I will take their opinion over yours.

100% agree. Computers don't select the teams, people do, and lots of people are taking notice of the Zips.

All of that aside however, why are we worrying so much about this? Lets enjoy the ride and have a blast winning 24 straight.

[Zip Watcher]

100% agree. Computers don't select the teams, people do, and lots of people are taking notice of the Zips.

All of that aside however, why are we worrying so much about this? Lets enjoy the ride and have a blast winning 24 30 straight.

FIFY

B)