The Case for Kalani Sitake

[TripletDaddy]

I do think a healthy Oregon is elite. But Wazzu has some embarrassing losses. Washington isn't as good as thought. USC has depth issues (and always gets hype based on potential, even when not warranted), UCLA is a turd. South Carolina and A&M are down, but Miss. St and Ole-Miss are up. The SEC is truly deep.

USC hype is always warranted.

[Flystripper]

USC hype is always warranted.

pretty much

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I do think a healthy Oregon is elite.

Oregon has a chance to prove the defense is elite, I'm not a believer yet. They do have the best player in the country and the best offense so that has mostly bailed them out.

[USUC]

the Az schools and Stanford are also very good.

I agree. The PAC-12 is the second best conference and I don't think its all that close between the PAC and the Big-12. Its just scary how much talent is in the SEC. Particularly in the West.

[Applejack]

The Pac 12 is mediocre with no outstanding teams.

The P12 is a fantastic conference and I am jealous that Utah is a member, but it seems far weaker this year than we expected prior to the season.

Jeff Sagarin rates the Pac-12 South as the second best division (behind the SEC West) and the Pac-12 North is 5th (behind the SEC West & East, the Pac12 North, and the Big 12).

CONFERENCE CENTRAL MEAN SIMPLE AVERAGE TEAMS WIN50%

1 SEC-WEST (A) = 92.21 91.29 ( 1) 7 91.52 ( 1)
2 PAC-12(SOUTH) (A) = 81.24 79.83 ( 2) 6 80.45 ( 2)
3 BIG 12 (A) = 79.20 78.67 ( 3) 10 78.96 ( 3)
4 SEC-EAST (A) = 78.40 77.96 ( 4) 7 78.26 ( 4)
5 PAC-12(NORTH) (A) = 75.60 76.37 ( 5) 6 76.07 ( 5)
6 ACC-COASTAL (A) = 74.69 74.75 ( 7) 7 74.75 ( 6)
7 ACC-ATLANTIC (A) = 74.37 74.10 ( 9) 7 74.46 ( 8)
8 BIG TEN-EAST (A) = 74.12 75.04 ( 6) 7 74.62 ( 7)
9 BIG TEN-WEST (A) = 74.07 74.42 ( 8) 7 74.27 ( 9)
10 I-A INDEPENDENTS (A) = 68.69 68.95 ( 10) 4 68.65 ( 10)
11 MWC-MOUNTAIN (A) = 64.97 65.31 ( 11) 6 65.19 ( 11)
12 AMERICAN ATHLETIC (A) = 63.90 63.21 ( 12) 11 63.51 ( 12)
13 MISSOURI VALLEY (AA)= 63.12 63.15 ( 13) 10 63.14 ( 13)
14 MWC-WEST (A) = 62.89 62.44 ( 14) 6 62.62 ( 14)
15 MAC-WEST (A) = 60.98 59.91 ( 17) 6 60.62 ( 16)
16 CONFERENCE USA-EAST (A) = 60.82 61.90 ( 15) 7 61.36 ( 15)
17 CONFERENCE USA-WEST (A) = 59.79 60.15 ( 16) 6 60.05 ( 17)
18 SUN BELT (A) = 55.11 55.56 ( 18) 11 55.36 ( 18)
19 MAC-EAST (A) = 53.93 54.09 ( 19) 7 54.07 ( 19)
20 SOUTHERN (AA)= 50.13 49.32 ( 22) 8 49.92 ( 22)
21 COLONIAL (AA)= 49.93 50.04 ( 21) 12 49.95 ( 21)
22 BIG SOUTH (AA)= 49.83 50.49 ( 20) 6 50.16 ( 20)
23 SOUTHLAND (AA)= 49.79 47.84 ( 25) 11 49.41 ( 23)
24 BIG SKY (AA)= 48.69 49.03 ( 23) 13 48.94 ( 24)
25 OHIO VALLEY (AA)= 47.58 48.15 ( 24) 9 47.94 ( 25)
26 IVY LEAGUE (AA)= 45.10 44.50 ( 27) 8 44.92 ( 27)
27 PATRIOT (AA)= 44.86 45.55 ( 26) 7 45.27 ( 26)
28 NORTHEAST (AA)= 43.26 42.55 ( 28) 7 42.90 ( 28)
29 I-AA INDEPENDENTS (AA)= 40.82 40.82 ( 29) 1 40.82 ( 29)
30 MID-EASTERN (AA)= 36.36 36.48 ( 30) 11 36.38 ( 30)
31 SWAC-WEST (AA)= 33.07 32.69 ( 32) 5 32.75 ( 31)
32 SWAC-EAST (AA)= 32.01 32.99 ( 31) 5 32.42 ( 32)
33 PIONEER (AA)= 28.70 29.41 ( 33) 11 28.99 ( 33)
34 ***UNRATED*** (__)= -90.00 -90.00 ( 34) 1 -90.00 ( 34)

If I'm not mistaken, Jeff Sagarin is Lebowski's preffered source for determining who is better between Utah and BYU in years in Utah beats BYU, so you can take that ranking to the bank.

[byu71]

I agree. The PAC-12 is the second best conference and I don't think its all that close between the PAC and the Big-12. Its just scary how much talent is in the SEC. Particularly in the West.

Yea, if only the BIG 12 could see how they would be the second best conference by adding BYU, I would be a happy guy.

[smokymountainrain]

there is a lot of football left, especially with conference championships. If Utah does win out (unlikely) they have a very good shot at the playoff.

It's a ridiculous "if" scenario in the first place. If Julius Randle averages 30 points, 15 rebs on 60% FGs, Kobe plays like he did in 2001, and Ronnie Price gets 18 pts 13 assists, the Lakers will make the conference finals. There are several programs that if they win out, they will be there. And if they all win out, Utah, even if they win out too, won't be there.

[falafel]

If the Utes beat ASU, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, and then Oregon again, yeah they probably will.

UNless you meant "no they wont," as in, "no, they wont win out." in which case

Its a little bit of both. Utah won't win out, but even if they did, they would still need some help. There are about 15 one-loss teams that could all win out and be ranked above Utah.

[falafel]

It's a ridiculous "if" scenario in the first place. If Julius Randle averages 30 points, 15 rebs on 60% FGs, Kobe plays like he did in 2001, and Ronnie Price gets 18 pts 13 assists, the Lakers will make the conference finals. There are several programs that if they win out, they will be there. And if they all win out, Utah, even if they win out too, won't be there.

:touchingtips:

[Flystripper]

It's a ridiculous "if" scenario in the first place. If Julius Randle averages 30 points, 15 rebs on 60% FGs, Kobe plays like he did in 2001, and Ronnie Price gets 18 pts 13 assists, the Lakers will make the conference finals. There are several programs that if they win out, they will be there.

totally agree!

[SCcoug]

:touchingtips:

uhh..

[falafel]

uhh..

Its also known as "the Donuthole high five."

[smokymountainrain]

totally agree!

the Julius Randle think could happen, btw. It was only the Kobe thing and the Price thing that was an apt comparison to Utah winning out.

[TripletDaddy]

the Julius Randle think could happen, btw. It was only the Kobe thing and the Price thing that was an apt comparison to Utah winning out.

take your laker trolling somewhere else

[smokymountainrain]

take your laker trolling somewhere else

Laker trolling? You guys got Julius effing Randle. That post was all about my Laker jealousy!