2017 Initial KenPom Basketball Rankings

As was previously pointed out, our initial KenPom ranking is #39. This seems pretty solid based on a highly improved schedule compared to last season, especially in conference. The CBS rankings I previously reviewed actually ended up fairly in line with KenPom, which was surprising. KenPom ranks 7 ACC teams in the Top 25 and 10 ACC teams in the Top 40 to start the year, with only two ACC squads above 100 in Georgia Tech at #107 and Boston College at #154.

My initial feeling about Michigan on the CBS poll was validated by KenPom, which has them 31st, rather than 43rd in the CBS poll although that makes them the sixth ranked team in the Big10 to start the season.

KenPom ranked four opponents from the 300+ point in The Citadel, Maine, Maryland Eastern Shore, and UMBC with the only difference between CBS and KenPom being CBS had VMI below while having Maine above.

KenPom only has three opponents #250 to #299. These three are High Point, VMI and Charleston Southern. Thats a total of seven opponents from #257 to #346. There are no opponents from #200 to #249.

Looking at our opponents from #100 to #199, we have #154 Boston College twice, and #107 Georgia Tech. By KenPom's evaluation we only have 10 games against opponents over #100.

Teams from #50 to #99 are #86 New Mexico, #76 Wake Forest, #75 Ole Miss, #51 Pittsburgh and #50 Notre Dame. Five more games against lower ranked opponents. This touches on 15 games. That leaves 13 games against Top 50 That makes winning against the top #50 opponents a much more manageable task to being both a winning program and potentially making the tournament.

The biggest swing between the two polls was how high KenPom has Clemson - KenPom #23 compared to CBS - #62.

Five games against Top 10 opponents
Five more games against Top 25 opponents

Now onto the challenge of this PRESEASON ranking. All of our highest ranked games are against conference opponents. For us to realize the benefits of these kind of rankings, our ACC opponents really need to deliver in their Out of Conference Schedules or all the hype is for naught. The ACC and Tech especially cant afford the OOC hiccups that we have had in years past.

I think that the two OOC games that have me the most concerned are Ole Miss and New Mexico. These are the kind of opponents that are in down years but always have the chance to knock someone out on any given night.

Just another baby step for our program. Lets hope most of the steps this season are forward.

Our Schedule by KenPom ranking:

Duke 1
UNC 5
UVA 7 x2
Louisville 9
Syracuse 12
Clemson 23 x 2
Miami 24 x 2
Michigan 31
NC State 36
FSU 40
Notre Dame 50
Pittsburgh 51
Ole Miss 75
Wake Forest 76
New Mexico 86
Georgia Tech 107
Boston College 154 x 2
High Point 257
VMI 266
Charleston Southern 289
UMBC 311
The Citadel 331
Maryland Eastern Shore 343
Maine 346