Tuesday, February 1
Rankings breakdown
Here's where Texas sits in the various rankings:
Coaches Poll: 18
AP Poll: 20
RPI: 17
Sagarin Computer Rating: 15
CollegeRPI.com Bracket Projection: #6 seed
ESPN Bracket Projection: #6 seed
Not a lot of variation here. Both the voters and the computers rank Texas in the 15-20 range. Throw in the fact that we lost our best player, played a relatively light non-conference schedule, and don't have a signature road win and that translates to about a #6 seed.
The danger for Texas is if they lose a game to a team like Nebraska or Colorado. Texas can afford to lose to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, but if the Horns also falter against some of the mid-level Big 12 teams, they could easily slip down to a #7 or #8 seed.
I hope that Texas can avoid that because being a #6 seed really isn't bad at all. You get a first round matchup against one of the better champions of a small conference and then a matchup against the #3 seed (someone like Arizona or Syracuse). A fourth straight trip to the Sweet 16 isn't out of the question, but Texas really can't afford to slip down to the 7-8 range if they hope to do so. A second round matchup against a #1 or #2 seed would be awfully tough for the Horns.
--PB--
Coaches Poll: 18
AP Poll: 20
RPI: 17
Sagarin Computer Rating: 15
CollegeRPI.com Bracket Projection: #6 seed
ESPN Bracket Projection: #6 seed
Not a lot of variation here. Both the voters and the computers rank Texas in the 15-20 range. Throw in the fact that we lost our best player, played a relatively light non-conference schedule, and don't have a signature road win and that translates to about a #6 seed.
The danger for Texas is if they lose a game to a team like Nebraska or Colorado. Texas can afford to lose to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, but if the Horns also falter against some of the mid-level Big 12 teams, they could easily slip down to a #7 or #8 seed.
I hope that Texas can avoid that because being a #6 seed really isn't bad at all. You get a first round matchup against one of the better champions of a small conference and then a matchup against the #3 seed (someone like Arizona or Syracuse). A fourth straight trip to the Sweet 16 isn't out of the question, but Texas really can't afford to slip down to the 7-8 range if they hope to do so. A second round matchup against a #1 or #2 seed would be awfully tough for the Horns.
--PB--
