From: orourke@Csli.Stanford.EDU (Michael O'Rourke)
Subject: Re: Can IU go unbeaten?
Organization: Stanford University CSLI
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 06:56:46 GMT

In <1jv2k1INNest@terminator.rs.itd.umich.edu> metzler@pablo.physics.lsa.umich.edu (Chris Metzler) writes:

(...)

>|> While you may be right about where IU belongs in the rankings, allow
>|> me to make some excuses for Kansas.  First, the team that lost to
>|> Michigan was the team that almost lost at home to East Tennessee State
>|> and almost lost to Jackson State, not the team that is currently
>|> ranked #1.  I think Kansas fans will agree that since the Michigan
>|> loss, KU has been playing much better.  Second, KU played Michigan
>|> without Greg Ostertag, their 7-2 center.  Now, Ostertag is no
>|> All-American, but without him, Kansas has only two legitimate
>|> frontcourt players and only one guy over 6-7.  In addition, Ostertag
>|> has been playing pretty well of late.  Finally, let's not forget that
>|> Kansas has done something Michigan failed to do -- defeat Indiana.
>|> Granted, it was in an early season game, but if a December loss to
>|> Michigan is allowed to influence Kansas' ranking, then a December loss
>|> to Kansas ought to influence Indiana's.  (Still, IU has done some
>|> impressive things lately.)
>|> 
>|> Rock Chalk
>|> orourke@csli.stanford.edu
>|> 

>The Ostertag argument continues to carry no weight with me.  KU was
>without Ostertag, but UM was without Ray Jackson, without question the
>best defensive player on the team.

>And it's very clever to refer to KU's victory over Indiana and UM's victory
>over KU as "December losses," and thus worthy of equal weight, let's
>be a bit more clear.  Kansas' victory over Indiana came at the beginning
>of December.  Michigan's victory over Kansas came at the end of
>December and only two weeks before the rankings came out which placed
>Kansas at the top.  In the meantime, in the last month, what really strong
>programs has Kansas beaten?  Please let me know if there have been any;
>I can't think of any.  I can with IU.

>Kansas beat IU at the beginning of the season; Duke beat Michigan at the
>beginning of the season.  But it seems clear to me that RIGHT NOW both
>IU and UM are playing better bball than those who beat them.

KU is simply a better team with Ostertag.  Not necessarily because of
anything he does, mind you, but because he enables Williams to rest
Pauley or Scott without having to ask Patrick Richey to play defense
against the likes of Chris Webber.  I'm sure Michigan is better with
Jackson, but Michigan didn't need much defense against the small
forwards of Kansas, whereas KU desperately needed more help inside
against Michigan's frontline.

Lately, Kansas has defeated both Oklahoma and Louisville on the road
in impressive fashion.  Granted, neither is as impressive as a road
win against Michigan, but defeating OU at home is a very tall order.

In any case, this whole discussion is moot.  All three teams are
playing well right now, as is UNC and Kentucky. I think Kansas would
match up well against Kentucky, and it has shown that it matches up
pretty well against Indiana.  Either Carolina or Michigan would be
difficult for Kansas, given their size; however, if KU plays Michigan
again, I guarantee that it will be a better game than the one played
in Hawaii.  I hope we get to see a rematch.  

Rock Chalk
orourke@csli.stanford.edu