South Region Rankings - Warning: Breitbart Report!?!? But actually very interesting

[FuManShoes]

In ranking teams, Breitbart (?!?) adds BPI to other factors like health, momentum, experience, # of NBA prospects, etc.

http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2015/03/16/south-bracket-gonzaga-slight-edge-over-duke-utah-smu-darkhorses/

They give Sabonis a 71% chance of making the NBA. Nothing for Karno and single-digit odds for Pangos and Wiltjer. And yet throw in other factors and they give the Zags the edge over Duke.

[willandi]

Isn't Connor Griffin a lock for the NBA? (tongue in cheek)

[DZ]

Experienced guards seem to count for an awful lot in that analysis

[WBM]

Are they counting Perkins against us in the health column? Seems a bit odd, considering we've been without him since November, and have gone 27-2 without him.

[rawkmandale]

I generally like this, and agree with many of the scores (I think Utah is undervalued by many, but not here, and SMU is scary). Interesting non-mention of Karno though, as I heard an analyst yesterday quoting Jim Calhoun, saying that MANY NBA scouts are interested in Karno.

[DZ]

I generally like this, and agree with many of the scores (I think Utah is undervalued by many, but not here, and SMU is scary). Interesting non-mention of Karno though, as I heard an analyst yesterday quoting Jim Calhoun, saying that MANY NBA scouts are interested in Karno.

That surprised me, too.

I have heard Jay Bilas say, many times, that nearly always, a team really can't get to the FF "without NBA Players." And, in some ways, we can comfortably count 2, maybe even 3 (if Wiltjer) and then I'm not even positive I'd shut out either Gary or Kevin, either. - Though 2 seems at least conservative.

[FuManShoes]

That surprised me, too.

I have heard Jay Bilas say, many times, that nearly always, a team really can't get to the FF "without NBA Players." And, in some ways, we can comfortably count 2, maybe even 3 (if Wiltjer) and then I'm not even positive I'd shut out either Gary or Kevin, either. - Though 2 seems at least conservative.

There are fringe NBA players and there are NBA lottery picks and starters. Ammo and Kelly were the last lottery picks we had and led arguably the best teams we've had and even they couldn't do it all, and each found themselves staring down a disappointing finish. I do think the overall depth of this team combined with disruptive size and pretty good D could be a difference, and make up for lack of a superstar, but the margin is slim. Pangos can wear down and get shut down, Wiltjer can be taken advantage of at the defensive end, negating his O; Sabonis can get into foul trouble - fast, Karno can struggle to finish, Bell's shot can elude him. Too many of those things happen and it doesn't matter what pedigree or draft status our guys have - we lose. Of course that will never happen.