Other people's basketball -- 2016-17 edition

[Troublemaker]

Is anyone else excited that the college basketball season starts today?!? I am. Anyway, this is the bball version of Other People's Football.

After the Duke game tonight, I'm looking forward to watching the Kansas-Indiana game. Before that, there will also be Michigan St-Arizona but it takes place during Duke-Marist. Anyway, I'll predict that the Hoosiers will upset the Jayhawks tonight despite being 6-point underdogs. I feel like Indiana's a bit underrated going into this season.

This thread should NOT replace Ultrarunner's "I'm not going to jinx it" thread, which will be used for upset alerts. I'll wait for Ultrarunner to do the honors there and create this season's edition.

[UrinalCake]

I'm actually hoping for a big time Kansas win. It will add to the hype of our matchup next week and make it all the more sweeter when we beat them.

[Troublemaker]

I'm actually hoping for a big time Kansas win. It will add to the hype of our matchup next week and make it all the more sweeter when we beat them.

I'm with you. That's what I'd like to see happen, too. I just have a gut feeling Indiana gives them quite the game and pulls the upset.

[Tripping William]

Wagner (!) over UConn. Where's Ultrarunner and the "I don't want to jinx it 2016-17" thread??

[Ultrarunner]

Wagner (!) over UConn. Where's Ultrarunner and the "I don't want to jinx it 2016-17" thread??

It's too early. There are no upset until the teams get settled, just random noise.

I could change my mind if Tulane plays tough tonight. Sometimes exceptions are warranted.

[Troublemaker]

For those like me who like to keep an eye on the top teams, especially those who are our main competition for the East #1 seed (Madison Square Garden!)....

Villanova plays at Purdue tonight, 7pm ET, on the Big Ten Network.

Nova's a 2-pt favorite, and I'll be rooting hard for Purdue to hand them a loss.

Most of the other top contenders for the East #1 seed are actually in the ACC, so we'll have to take care of those cats ourselves.

[flyingdutchdevil]

...a Mason Makai-less Yale. Fultz is this year's Ben Simmons: awesome player on a terrrrrrrrrible team. I don't understand why recruits do this. Isn't winning an important part of the game? Isn't making the tourney a necessity when choosing a school? I am really confused by the Simmonses and Fultzes of the world and will be flabbergasted if Carter chooses Harvard.

[Ichabod Drain]

For those like me who like to keep an eye on the top teams, especially those who are our main competition for the East #1 seed (Madison Square Garden!)...

Villanova plays at Purdue tonight, 7pm ET, on the Big Ten Network.

Nova's a 2-pt favorite, and I'll be rooting hard for Purdue to hand them a loss.

Most of the other top contenders for the East #1 seed are actually in the ACC, so we'll have to take care of those cats ourselves.

This should be a really interesting matchup. Villanova's big question is their front line and Purdue has a really good one in Haas and Swanigan. Swanigan went for 23 and 20 in their opener.

[Troublemaker]

This should be a really interesting matchup. Villanova's big question is their front line and Purdue has a really good one in Haas and Swanigan. Swanigan went for 23 and 20 in their opener.

Nova 79, Purdue 76. Best game I've seen in this young season. Nova couldn't stop Isaac Haas down the stretch but kept Purdue at bay with clutch free throw shooting. So important to have those knock-down FT shooters at the end of games. That Purdue crowd was amped.

[Ultrarunner]

Nova 79, Purdue 76. Best game I've seen in this young season. Nova couldn't stop Isaac Haas down the stretch but kept Purdue at bay with clutch free throw shooting. So important to have those knock-down FT shooters at the end of games. That Purdue crowd was amped.

Hart is dangerous. You know he's going to drive and he still gets to the rim. Nova played really solid defense but they're vulnerable inside.

[Troublemaker]

At halftime, UCLA up 49-45 on Kentucky at Rupp. Intriguing game so far. Kentucky's defensive ball pressure has forced UCLA into a lot of turnovers, but on possessions when they've hung onto the ball, the Bruins shot and scored really well. Aaron Holiday came off the bench to give them a big lift. On the other end, UCLA's #58-ranked defense has competed by playing a very compact man-to-man and hoping Kentucky misses their outside shots. That will probably become a familiar script to the Wildcats.

In the 2nd half, UCLA will probably need to stop turning the ball over to pull off the upset at Rupp because the Bruins probably won't shoot it as well.

[YmoBeThere]

At halftime, UCLA up 49-45 on Kentucky at Rupp. Intriguing game so far. Kentucky's defensive ball pressure has forced UCLA into a lot of turnovers, but on possessions when they've hung onto the ball, the Bruins shot and scored really well. Aaron Holiday came off the bench to give them a big lift. On the other end, UCLA's #58-ranked defense has competed by playing a very compact man-to-man and hoping Kentucky misses their outside shots. That will probably become a familiar script to the Wildcats.

In the 2nd half, UCLA will probably need to stop turning the ball over to pull off the upset at Rupp because the Bruins probably won't shoot it as well.

Up 11 with 4:01 to go, the Bruins have cut down on the TOs. They've been able to respond to all of UK's runs.

[dukelifer]

Up 11 with 4:01 to go, the Bruins have cut down on the TOs. They've been able to respond to all of UK's runs.

UCLA is now looking like the best team in the country- at least for today. Almost blew a big lead at the end but pullled off a big win in Rupp.

[kAzE]

It's not easy to put up 97 points, much less as the road team in Rupp arena against an elite defensive unit like this UK team. Really impressed with UCLA. Leaf and Ball are studs.

[uh_no]

It's not easy to put up 97 points, much less as the road team in Rupp arena against an elite defensive unit like this UK team. Really impressed with UCLA. Leaf and Ball are studs.

apparently not so elite...

[kAzE]

apparently not so elite...

Still #5 on kenpom. UCLA might just be that good offensively.

[tbyers11]

Still #5 on kenpom. UCLA might just be that good offensively.

You very well might be right. Lonzo Ball is really good and helps "run" that team very well.

But at this point, I'd be more likely to think that UK's D rating is a bit inflated at this point from mostly beating up on far inferior schools that cannot match their athleticism.

Really too early to tell either way, though.

[dukejim1]

Leaf would look good in our limited lineup

[BD80]

Leaf would look good in our limited lineup

Does he play guard?

That's where we're a little thin today

[Saratoga2]

apparently not so elite...

The pundits will have to give up on ranting about how Kentucky is the best team in the country.