I didn't get to post about this on Saturday as it was kind of hectic, but I was over at the Ohio State / Penn State basketball game and while I will remind you (and myself) that it's still just December and a lot can change, it's clear to me the potential of this team is incredible. They're a legit Big Ten title contender and right now, as of today, probably the best team in the country.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't yet be too bullish because Ohio State isn't the kind of team that wins titles. At least it didn't used to be that way. But last year, Auburn, Texas Tech and Virginia all made a final four and this year the offensive efficiency in college basketball is as low as it's been in five decades. There simply isn't a 'wow' type of team that looks poised to run through the bracket.
OSU is deep, balanced, versatile and they play inside and out and defend as well as anyone not named Virginia. And to be honest, they have a lot of room to grow.
So it's not just me blowing smoke about them, consider they have three wins over KenPom top 50 teams by margins greater than 20 points (Villanova, North Carolina and Penn State). The rest of college basketball also has three such wins.
And the analytics love this team.
Pomeroy
1 Ohio State
2 Louisville
3 Duke
4 Michigan St.
5 Kansas
BPI
1 Duke
2 Ohio State
3 Michigan St.
4 Louisville
5 Gonzaga
Sagarin
1 Duke
2 Ohio State
3 Kansas
4 Louisville
5 Maryland
Massey
1 Michigan
2 Ohio State
3 Duke
4 Louisville
5 Kansas
Team Rankings
1 Ohio State
2 Kansas
3 Duke
4 Michigan St.
5 Louisville
CBB Ref Simple Rating System
1 Ohio State
2 Duke
3 Kansas
4 Dayton
5 Oregon
Do you believe me? lol
Ordinarily, I wouldn't yet be too bullish because Ohio State isn't the kind of team that wins titles. At least it didn't used to be that way. But last year, Auburn, Texas Tech and Virginia all made a final four and this year the offensive efficiency in college basketball is as low as it's been in five decades. There simply isn't a 'wow' type of team that looks poised to run through the bracket.
OSU is deep, balanced, versatile and they play inside and out and defend as well as anyone not named Virginia. And to be honest, they have a lot of room to grow.
So it's not just me blowing smoke about them, consider they have three wins over KenPom top 50 teams by margins greater than 20 points (Villanova, North Carolina and Penn State). The rest of college basketball also has three such wins.
And the analytics love this team.
Pomeroy
1 Ohio State
2 Louisville
3 Duke
4 Michigan St.
5 Kansas
BPI
1 Duke
2 Ohio State
3 Michigan St.
4 Louisville
5 Gonzaga
Sagarin
1 Duke
2 Ohio State
3 Kansas
4 Louisville
5 Maryland
Massey
1 Michigan
2 Ohio State
3 Duke
4 Louisville
5 Kansas
Team Rankings
1 Ohio State
2 Kansas
3 Duke
4 Michigan St.
5 Louisville
CBB Ref Simple Rating System
1 Ohio State
2 Duke
3 Kansas
4 Dayton
5 Oregon
Do you believe me? lol
