Unbeaten Teams (MBB 2022-2023 Season)

[brevity]

It must be the right time to start this, because I had the same thought process when I opened last season's thread exactly one year ago. There were 12 unbeaten teams then, too. (If you're wondering, Southern Cal and Baylor held out to January 11, when the Trojans lost to Stanford and the Bears lost to Texas Tech about 2 hours later.)

One dozen teams, listed below in KenPom rating order. Each of these teams will play at least one game this week.

[1] Houston (8-0): vs. [229] North Florida 12/6, vs. [13] Alabama 12/10
[2] Texas (6-0): vs. [18] Illinois in New York 12/6, vs. [354] Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12/10
[4] Connecticut (9-0): at [48] Florida 12/7, vs. [350] Long Island 12/10
[6] Purdue (8-0): vs. [132] Hofstra 12/7, at [78] Nebraska 12/10
[7] Virginia (7-0): vs. [80] James Madison 12/6
[14] Auburn (8-0): vs. [25] Memphis in Atlanta 12/10
[19] Maryland (8-0): at [42] Wisconsin 12/6, vs. [3] Tennessee in Brooklyn 12/11
[26] Mississippi St. (8-0): at [151] Minnesota 12/11
[44] Utah St. (7-0): vs. [126] Loyola Marymount in Las Vegas 12/10
[49] Missouri (9-0): vs. [12] Kansas 12/10
[82] UNLV (8-0): vs. [145] Hawai'i 12/7, vs. [66] Washington St. 12/10
[83] New Mexico (8-0): vs. [Div II] Western New Mexico 12/6, vs. [322] UTSA 12/10

Conferences represented: Mountain West 3, SEC 3, Big Ten 2, American, Big XII, Big East, ACC.

Purdue was also among the last 12 unbeaten teams last season.

Maybe overzealous Triangle-area radio show hosts should compare UNLV 2022-2023 to UNLV 1990-1991. They have a pair of semi-home games this week: Hawaii at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson (home floor of the G League Ignite) and Washington State at the MGM Grand.

[brevity]

[2] Texas (6-0): vs. [18] Illinois in New York 12/6, vs. [354] Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12/10
[19] Maryland (8-0): at [42] Wisconsin 12/6, vs. [3] Tennessee in Brooklyn 12/11

As you know, Texas lost in overtime to Illinois 85-78.

Maryland may not be done losing. They lost the toughest road game for an undefeated team this week, 64-59 at Wisconsin. They also play Tennessee on Sunday, the toughest neutral game this week for purposes of this thread.

Houston, Virginia, and New Mexico won today.

Ten undefeated teams remain.

[JetpackJesus]

as you know, texas lost in overtime to illinois 85-78.

Maryland may not be done losing. They lost the toughest road game for an undefeated team this week, 64-59 at wisconsin. They also play tennessee on sunday, the toughest neutral game this week for purposes of this thread.

Houston, virginia, and new mexico won today.

Ten undefeated teams remain.

Go not-Maryland!!!

[brevity]

[1] Houston (8-0): vs. [229] North Florida 12/6, vs. [13] Alabama 12/10
[14] Auburn (8-0): vs. [25] Memphis in Atlanta 12/10
[49] Missouri (9-0): vs. [12] Kansas 12/10

Three more teams got their first loss Saturday. Among undefeated teams, Houston and Missouri had the toughest home games this week. Houston lost to Alabama 71-65, and Missouri lost to Kansas 95-67. Meanwhile, Auburn lost to Memphis 82-73 on a neutral court.

This leaves 7 undefeated teams. Mississippi State, the last unbeaten SEC team, plays at Minnesota Sunday. Maryland also has a game, but they lost earlier this week and are no longer relevant to this thread (as opposed to all the other DBR threads, where they lost relevance years ago).

[brevity]

One week later and we are down to 7 unbeaten teams. KenPom ratings provided in brackets. Mississippi State plays 2 games this week; the rest play only one.

[1] Connecticut (11-0): at [71] Butler 12/17
[5] Purdue (10-0): vs. [132] Davidson in Indianapolis 12/17
[9] Virginia (8-0): vs. [2] Houston 12/17
[22] Mississippi St. (9-0): vs. [303] Jackson St. 12/14, vs. [247] Nicholls 12/17
[41] Utah St. (8-0): vs. [Div II] Westminster 12/15
[73] UNLV (10-0): vs. [103] San Francisco 12/17
[81] New Mexico (9-0): vs. [58] Iona 12/18

Conferences: Mountain West 3, Big East, Big Ten, ACC, SEC.

Utah State is the likeliest team to be here next week; you can argue whether the least likely is Connecticut (who has the only road game) or Virginia (who has the toughest opponent).

[uh_no]

One week later and we are down to 7 unbeaten teams. KenPom ratings provided in brackets. Mississippi State plays 2 games this week; the rest play only one.

[1] Connecticut (11-0): at [71] Butler 12/17
[5] Purdue (10-0): vs. [132] Davidson in Indianapolis 12/17
[9] Virginia (8-0): vs. [2] Houston 12/17
[22] Mississippi St. (9-0): vs. [303] Jackson St. 12/14, vs. [247] Nicholls 12/17
[41] Utah St. (8-0): vs. [Div II] Westminster 12/15
[73] UNLV (10-0): vs. [103] San Francisco 12/17
[81] New Mexico (9-0): vs. [58] Iona 12/18

Conferences: Mountain West 3, Big East, Big Ten, ACC, SEC.

Utah State is the likeliest team to be here next week; you can argue whether the least likely is Connecticut (who has the only road game) or Virginia (who has the toughest opponent).

There's no comparison between butler on the road and houston at home. KP gives connecticut an 81% chance of winning, and virginia a 52% chance. It's not even close. Now that I've said that, uconn will lose and virginia will win. Virginia's record is also very much overstating their performance this year, as the 9th luckiest team in the country.

[brevity]

[9] Virginia (8-0): vs. [2] Houston 12/17
[73] UNLV (10-0): vs. [103] San Francisco 12/17

Virginia lost at home to Houston 69-61, and UNLV lost at home to San Francisco 75-73.

[22] Mississippi St. (9-0): vs. [303] Jackson St. 12/14, vs. [247] Nicholls 12/17

Mississippi State stayed unbeaten when Nicholls missed a three-pointer just before the buzzer. Final score was 68-66.

Connecticut and Purdue are playing their games against Butler and Davidson right now, and New Mexico plays Iona tomorrow.

[uh_no]

Virginia lost at home to Houston 69-61, and UNLV lost at home to San Francisco 75-73.



Mississippi State stayed unbeaten when Nicholls missed a three-pointer just before the buzzer. Final score was 68-66.

Connecticut and Purdue are playing their games against Butler and Davidson right now, and New Mexico plays Iona tomorrow.

purdue beat davidson by 8, and uconn beat butler by 22 (with 27/14 from sanogo)

[brevity]

I failed to recognize that New Mexico vs. Iona was an all-Pitino matchup. Richard and the Lobos are now 11-0, defeating Rick and the Gaels 82-74.

Five unbeaten teams left.

[brevity]

In two weeks, this thread has taken us from 12 to 7 to 5 teams with no losses. KenPom ratings in brackets. Here's the schedule for this holiday week.

[1] Connecticut (12-0): vs. [173] Georgetown 12/20
[7] Purdue (11-0): vs. [344] New Orleans 12/21
[32] Mississippi St. (11-0): vs. [95] Drake in Lincoln NE 12/20
[41] Utah St. (9-0): vs. [250] Weber St. 12/19, vs. [142] Seattle in Honolulu 12/22
[74] New Mexico (11-0): vs. [263] Prairie View A&M 12/20

Conferences: Mountain West 2, Big East, Big Ten, SEC.

No true road games this week. Purdue should be the likeliest to stay unbeaten because they have the easiest opponent at home. As for the least likely, it's either Mississippi State (with the only top 100 opponent, and on a neutral floor) or Utah State (two games, one on a neutral floor).

[brevity]

[41] Utah St. (9-0): vs. [250] Weber St. 12/19, vs. [142] Seattle in Honolulu 12/22

As for the least likely, it's either Mississippi State (with the only top 100 opponent, and on a neutral floor) or Utah State (two games, one on a neutral floor).

Moot question. Utah State didn't bother waiting until they left the mainland, losing their home game Monday to Weber State 75-72. The unbeatens are down to a final 4.

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[32] Mississippi St. (11-0): vs. [95] Drake in Lincoln NE 12/20

Mississippi State fell as well, 58-52 to Drake, in something called the Battle in the Vault. (I assume this is a safe deposit joke; it took place in Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.)

3 teams remain. Connecticut and New Mexico each won their game Tuesday night and are both done until after Christmas. Purdue plays Wednesday.

[uh_no]

Mississippi State fell as well, 58-52 to Drake, in something called the Battle in the Vault. (I assume this is a safe deposit joke; it took place in Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.)

3 teams remain. Connecticut and New Mexico each won their game Tuesday night and are both done until after Christmas. Purdue plays Wednesday.

uconn beat *georgetown by 11, but was down for the first time this season in the second half, by 7 or 8. They did not look particularly good on D last night vs a mediocre opponent in Storrs. It's the first real game adversity they've faced...and if they continue to lose like that, they will lose several games in league play. They also got absolutely crushed on the boards 40-28...an inexplicable line from a team that has been one of the best in the country on the boards on both sides of the ball so far this year.

They made good adjustments once they did get down and pulled it out.

In case anyone is wondering, despite everyone saying they are a complete team, they have a HUGE hole in that they don't have great ball handlers, and really aren't effective breaking down defenses on the drive, hence why so many of their points come at the rim from their bigs, or from shooting 3's, and off assists.

[JasonEvans]

uconn beat purdue by 11

Correction, UConn beat Georgetown, not Purdue.

[uh_no]

Correction, UConn beat Georgetown, not Purdue.

hahaha that was quite the slip! you'd think i drove 800 miles yeasterday....oh wait.

[brevity]

This is the last week of the calendar year; let's see if the 3 remaining unbeaten teams can stay that way going into 2023. KenPom ratings provided.

[2] Connecticut (13-0): vs. [53] Villanova in Hartford 12/28, at [28] Xavier 12/31
[7] Purdue (12-0): vs. [357] Florida A&M 12/29
[66] New Mexico (12-0): vs. [92] Colorado St. 12/28, at [124] Wyoming 12/31

Conferences: Big East, Big Ten, Mountain West

Congratulations to New Mexico for entering the AP poll, tied at #22. (They are ranked 30th by the coaches.)

KenPom ranks 363 teams, so Purdue has a home date against an opponent rated in the bottom 10. They are the likeliest to be here next week/year. Connecticut and New Mexico each have a pair of conference games, but I'd say the Huskies have a much tougher road challenge. Coincidentally, the other team ranked #22 in the AP poll is Xavier.

[JasonEvans]

New Mexico won't play a single Power 6 conference team all year. They have a nice road win at St. Mary's but that is the only tournament quality team they have played thus far. San Diego St and maybe Utah State are the only other tournament teams they are likely to play all season. It is highly likely they end the year with 4 losses or less... will be an interesting case for the committee to figure out what to do with them.

Here is how they stack up in the various metrics/polls

NCAA NET - 14
AP poll - 22
Coach's - 30
Massey - 30
Torvik - 33
Sagarin - 52
KenPom - 66 (had them at 153 at the start of the year, so there is a bit of his preseason bias to be overcome here, though the preseason numbers are being devalued daily)
ESPN BPI - 69
EvanMaya - 77

Good luck figuring out what seed makes sense for that team!!

[uh_no]

This is the last week of the calendar year; let's see if the 3 remaining unbeaten teams can stay that way going into 2023. KenPom ratings provided.

[2] Connecticut (13-0): vs. [53] Villanova in Hartford 12/28, at [28] Xavier 12/31
[7] Purdue (12-0): vs. [357] Florida A&M 12/29
[66] New Mexico (12-0): vs. [92] Colorado St. 12/28, at [124] Wyoming 12/31

Conferences: Big East, Big Ten, Mountain West

Congratulations to New Mexico for entering the AP poll, tied at #22. (They are ranked 30th by the coaches.)

KenPom ranks 363 teams, so Purdue has a home date against an opponent rated in the bottom 10. They are the likeliest to be here next week/year. Connecticut and New Mexico each have a pair of conference games, but I'd say the Huskies have a much tougher road challenge. Coincidentally, the other team ranked #22 in the AP poll is Xavier.

uconn a bit rusty early, but beats villanova at the XL center 74-66. I expect villanova, now at full strength, to end up knocking at being ranked by the end of the year.

[nmduke2001]

New Mexico won't play a single Power 6 conference team all year. They have a nice road win at St. Mary's but that is the only tournament quality team they have played thus far. San Diego St and maybe Utah State are the only other tournament teams they are likely to play all season. It is highly likely they end the year with 4 losses or less... will be an interesting case for the committee to figure out what to do with them.

Here is how they stack up in the various metrics/polls

NCAA NET - 14
AP poll - 22
Coach's - 30
Massey - 30
Torvik - 33
Sagarin - 52
KenPom - 66 (had them at 153 at the start of the year, so there is a bit of his preseason bias to be overcome here, though the preseason numbers are being devalued daily)
ESPN BPI - 69
EvanMaya - 77

Good luck figuring out what seed makes sense for that team!!

UNM is a really interesting team. They could be one of those teams that really gives a young talented team fits in a "one and done" scenario. They have three guys that average 17 pts a game. Two are seniors and Jamal Mashburn Jr. is a junior. Mashburn transferred from Minnesota to UNM when Pitino got the job. He is shorter than his famous father at just 6'-2" but is a reliable scorer. You can pencil him in for at least 15 each night. He's a good shooter and a decent passer. He really understands the game. Jaelen House is their leader. He reminds me of Jose Alvarado but with better shooting. House is a pest on defense and a pure energy guy. He's a bit streaky with his shooting. I know this sounds crazy but Mashburn and House could be one of the best backcourts in the country. They play well together and are good defensively. The other 17 point scorer is Morris Udeze. You might remember him from Wichita State. He's a big strong power forward who does a lot of the dirty work. They also brought in a transfer from Kansas City named Josiah Allick. He's also an energy guy but 6'-8" 240lbs. He really gets under peoples skin. I could see UNM going quite a while without a loss, but who know.

Albuquerque is a much better place when UNM is good. The PIT is magical when it is packed. Unfortunately, they renovated it a few years back and made some luxury boxes and changed the atmosphere a bit. The team started to falter about the same time (when Alford went to UCLA), so this is the first time in a decade that the PIT has been THE PIT. It's fun and people are excited. I hope they continue to do well.

Interesting story from a few days ago. UNM had their game against NMSU cancelled a month ago because a NMSU player was involved in a shooting the night before the game, that resulted in someone dying. Crazy circumstances; there was a fight at a UNM v NMSU football game at NMSU in the fall. One of the people involved was a NMSU basketball player. A UNM student basically "catfished" him through social media. When NMSU was in Albuquerque, they lured him to a parking lot of a dorm with a promise of meeting this girl in real life. When he showed up, it was a few guys and they started hitting the NMSU player with a bat. The NMSU guy had a gun and started shooting as he was trying to get away. One of the guys with the bat also had a gun and fired after he was shot. He hit the NMSU player in the leg and basically shattered his ankle (it's all on video and it's crazy). Anyway, the kid died and the NMSU player likely will never play again because of the injury. Needless to say, the game was cancelled. The other day Pitino mentioned that they are working on a replacement game and somehow Arizona or Duke was mentioned as the replacement game. UNM message boards lit up with the hope that Duke would be coming to town THIS YEAR. It was really quite silly and I had to tell some of my UNM friends that there is a 0% chance that Duke would play UNM in the PIT...Ever, much less in a in season replacement game.

[JasonEvans]

The other day Pitino mentioned that they are working on a replacement game and somehow Arizona or Duke was mentioned as the replacement game. UNM message boards lit up with the hope that Duke would be coming to town THIS YEAR. It was really quite silly and I had to tell some of my UNM friends that there is a 0% chance that Duke would play UNM in the PIT...Ever, much less in a in season replacement game.

UNM would be wise to find a good P5 team to play so there is some additional quality on their schedule. It will really help with seeding. If they can get a win against a top ten kinda team then they can even move into the conversation for a really high seed.

New Mexico has an open date between Sat Jan 21 and Sat Jan 28. Unfortunately, the only open date in Duke's schedule moving forward is between Sat Jan 14 to Sat Jan 21. Need to find a team that can play a game on Tue/Wed/Thu Jan 24-26.