Kansas 2023

[bluepenquin]

Nov 23, 2023 11:49:37 GMT -5 buttery said:

Nov 23, 2023 7:10:42 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

Kansas losing their last match could matter.  Futures shows they would drop to #16 - but this may depend on what BYU and Florida do.  

It would appear that Saturday matches aren't always taken into consideration - but Kansas has first hand experience of when it does matter.  In 2017 Kansas was going to be a seed and host Wichita State and Missouri.  They got upset on the final Saturday and the committee just gave Wichita State the seed hosting Kansas and Missouri.

I think seeding matters (particularly this year).  #12 is more valuable than #13.  And either #13 or 14 is much more valuable than #15 or 16.  Kansas is in that #13 to 16 range - and I am hoping they don't get the 15 or 16.

Assuming we beat UCF, any chance Kansas could sneak into #12 with a Marquette win over Creighton? Avoiding GT, ASU, Florida, Penn State would be huge.

I think a lot of this is unpredictable.  I think the top 8 seeds will be Nebraska, Wisconsin, Stanford, Oregon, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, and Texas (or at least all 8 will be seeded better than Kansas).

I would then say Arkansas, Tennessee, Purdue and Washington State will be the next 4 - or at least in better shape than Kansas.

So, 13 seems like the best they can do.  

[buttery]

Shout-out to Ray Bechard’s ophthalmologist this season - he’s had some gigantic challenges and none bigger than today to fight off a set point vs. UCF.

[bluepenquin]

By my calculations, stats for just conference play:

Cooper - 4.09 k/s, .373
Elnady - 3.71 k/s, .273

Since Cooper returned from injury:

Cooper - 5.50 k/s, .421
Elnady - 4.93 k/s, .372

Elandy is full-time serve receive, usually leading the team in attempts.

These two OH are the best tandem I have seen from Kansas. And they are getting better and better as the season has gone along. This to go along with an outstanding floor defensive team.

They are going to have a tough road in the tournament, but this team is playing so well right now.

[buttery]

My Selection Sunday Wishlist:
- We host…it’d be shocking if we didn’t
- We avoid Penn State as the #5 seed - I don’t know why but I just would be the most uncomfortable with them
- We avoid the likely Wisconsin regional. This might be the team’s block that Cooper actually can’t hit over and it would suck to lose to Crawford, theoretically justifying her case for leaving (which I absolutely think was probably better for her career to be honest).
- Prediction: They don’t make Mizzou a seed and put them in our regional for potential Border Battle entertainment

[vballfreak808]

http://instagram.com/p/C0KUmTyusoS

[bluepenquin]

Nov 26, 2023 2:32:59 GMT -5 buttery said:

My Selection Sunday Wishlist:
- We host…it’d be shocking if we didn’t
- We avoid Penn State as the #5 seed - I don’t know why but I just would be the most uncomfortable with them
- We avoid the likely Wisconsin regional. This might be the team’s block that Cooper actually can’t hit over and it would suck to lose to Crawford, theoretically justifying her case for leaving (which I absolutely think was probably better for her career to be honest).
- Prediction: They don’t make Mizzou a seed and put them in our regional for potential Border Battle entertainment

Missed on 2 of your 3 wishlists.

Getting Penn State in the 2nd round is rough - and then @ Wisconsin in the 3rd if they make it that far is a tough road.  Although BYU getting Arizona State and then @ Stanford is no day at the beach either.  Neither is Florida getting Georgia Tech and then @ Nebraska.  I don't think any of the 6th seeds road to the elite 8 is tougher than these 4 seeds.  And certainly, any of the 3 seeds would be much better.  The gap from #12 and 13 overall to #14-16 was/is huge.

I guess - go big or go home.  Kansas vs. Penn State (if it ends up like that) would be a great match to attend on Friday.  Take each Big Ten team one at a time.

[buttery]

Nov 27, 2023 14:58:55 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

Nov 26, 2023 2:32:59 GMT -5 buttery said:

My Selection Sunday Wishlist:
- We host…it’d be shocking if we didn’t
- We avoid Penn State as the #5 seed - I don’t know why but I just would be the most uncomfortable with them
- We avoid the likely Wisconsin regional. This might be the team’s block that Cooper actually can’t hit over and it would suck to lose to Crawford, theoretically justifying her case for leaving (which I absolutely think was probably better for her career to be honest).
- Prediction: They don’t make Mizzou a seed and put them in our regional for potential Border Battle entertainment

Missed on 2 of your 3 wishlists.

Getting Penn State in the 2nd round is rough - and then @ Wisconsin in the 3rd if they make it that far is a tough road.  Although BYU getting Arizona State and then @ Stanford is no day at the beach either.  Neither is Florida getting Georgia Tech and then @ Nebraska.  I don't think any of the 6th seeds road to the elite 8 is tougher than these 4 seeds.  And certainly, any of the 3 seeds would be much better.  The gap from #12 and 13 overall to #14-16 was/is huge.

I guess - go big or go home.  Kansas vs. Penn State (if it ends up like that) would be a great match to attend on Friday.  Take each Big Ten team one at a time.

Yes was not fantastic news (except for hosting).

KU’s looked tight the last two games - maybe a potential match-up in the Round of 32 with Penn State would better position the mindset of “play to win” not “play not to lose”. This isn’t to say though that UNO won’t be a good match.

Side note: Cool that Rachel Fairbanks from UNO gets to potentially end her college career in Lawrence. One of the many from the Lansing dynasty.

Also, Betsy Goodenow from Yale gets to play in her backyard too. Haven’t seen in-person, but from videos in the past she looks like a really dynamic leftie - she probably could’ve played at a P5 school for a decent program IMO.

[bluepenquin]

Nov 27, 2023 20:45:34 GMT -5 buttery said:

Nov 27, 2023 14:58:55 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

Missed on 2 of your 3 wishlists.

Getting Penn State in the 2nd round is rough - and then @ Wisconsin in the 3rd if they make it that far is a tough road.  Although BYU getting Arizona State and then @ Stanford is no day at the beach either.  Neither is Florida getting Georgia Tech and then @ Nebraska.  I don't think any of the 6th seeds road to the elite 8 is tougher than these 4 seeds.  And certainly, any of the 3 seeds would be much better.  The gap from #12 and 13 overall to #14-16 was/is huge.

I guess - go big or go home.  Kansas vs. Penn State (if it ends up like that) would be a great match to attend on Friday.  Take each Big Ten team one at a time.

Yes was not fantastic news (except for hosting).

KU’s looked tight the last two games - maybe a potential match-up in the Round of 32 with Penn State would better position the mindset of “play to win” not “play not to lose”. This isn’t to say though that UNO won’t be a good match.

Side note: Cool that Rachel Fairbanks from UNO gets to potentially end her college career in Lawrence. One of the many from the Lansing dynasty.

Also, Betsy Goodenow from Yale gets to play in her backyard too. Haven’t seen in-person, but from videos in the past she looks like a really dynamic leftie - she probably could’ve played at a P5 school for a decent program IMO.

I am glad to see this team play at home.  But I have gone through losing in the 2nd round at home (and in the 1st round once at home) - and it is no fun hearing how the team shouldn't have hosted, overrated, etc...  Seems like a lot less pressure going on the road and knocking off Oregon and Creighton two years ago and the beating Florida State and almost taking Nebraska to a 5th set last year.  So much less to lose and less pressure.  You may be right - playing Penn State may take that pressure off of trying not to lose out (but I am not sure the players think like we would on this kind of stuff).

[buttery]

Nov 28, 2023 9:22:46 GMT -5 bluepenquin said:

Nov 27, 2023 20:45:34 GMT -5 buttery said:

Yes was not fantastic news (except for hosting).

KU’s looked tight the last two games - maybe a potential match-up in the Round of 32 with Penn State would better position the mindset of “play to win” not “play not to lose”. This isn’t to say though that UNO won’t be a good match.

Side note: Cool that Rachel Fairbanks from UNO gets to potentially end her college career in Lawrence. One of the many from the Lansing dynasty.

Also, Betsy Goodenow from Yale gets to play in her backyard too. Haven’t seen in-person, but from videos in the past she looks like a really dynamic leftie - she probably could’ve played at a P5 school for a decent program IMO.

I am glad to see this team play at home.  But I have gone through losing in the 2nd round at home (and in the 1st round once at home) - and it is no fun hearing how the team shouldn't have hosted, overrated, etc...  Seems like a lot less pressure going on the road and knocking off Oregon and Creighton two years ago and the beating Florida State and almost taking Nebraska to a 5th set last year.  So much less to lose and less pressure.  You may be right - playing Penn State may take that pressure off of trying not to lose out (but I am not sure the players think like we would on this kind of stuff).

Hope they look at Michaela Chester’s bracket predictions, because she takes Penn State over Kansas - NCAA Women’s Volleyball staff are big Big Ten homers and ignore the fact that it was behind the other P5 conferences this year in RPI.