http://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll

Quote:1. Duke
2. Kentucky
3. Kansas
4. Villanova
5. Oregon
6. North Carolina
7. Xavier
8. Virginia
9. Wisconsin
10. Arizona
11. Indiana
12. Michigan State
13. Louisville
14. Gonzaga
15. Purdue
16. UCLA
17. Saint Mary's (Cal.)
18. Connecticut
19. Syracuse
20. West Virginia
21. Texas
22. Creighton
23. Rhode Island
24. Iowa State
25. Maryland

Others receiving votes: Cincinnati 110, Dayton 98, Florida St. 88, California 74, San Diego St. 48, Miami 35, NC State 29, Butler 21, Wichita St. 21, Florida 18, Virginia Tech 18, Ohio St. 18, Mississippi St. 14, Texas A&M 14, Oklahoma 11, Colorado 10, Michigan 8, Monmouth (NJ) 7, Notre Dame 6, Washington 5, Seton Hall 5, Princeton 2, Ohio 1, Harvard 1, Vanderbilt 1

At first glance I don't see anything too crazy. Xavier is probably a little high at 7 while Louisville is low at 13.

Rhodey was supposed to be good last season, too. Some injuries negatively impacted them last year. I guess they're still recognized as a threat and a formidable team if they are a healthy unit.

Not a lot of love there for the A-10. One team in, Dayton just on the outside, and nobody else getting votes. It's like the writers sense not to expect much from the conference; VCU, Davidson, St. Joe's, Richmond, and G-Dubs all not being very notable.

Not a lot of love for the AAC, either. UConn and Cincy...no love for the others.

Can someone explain why UCLA is highly ranked this year after having a poor season last year. Yes, I realize that they are UCLA, but the program is no where near of the UCLA of old. Did they have a good recruiting class that I was unaware of?

(10-31-2016 11:41 AM)TheBasketBallOpinion Wrote:  http://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll

Quote:1. Duke
2. Kentucky
3. Kansas
4. Villanova
5. Oregon
6. North Carolina
7. Xavier
8. Virginia
9. Wisconsin
10. Arizona
11. Indiana
12. Michigan State
13. Louisville
14. Gonzaga
15. Purdue
16. UCLA
17. Saint Mary's (Cal.)
18. Connecticut
19. Syracuse
20. West Virginia
21. Texas
22. Creighton
23. Rhode Island
24. Iowa State
25. Maryland

Others receiving votes: Cincinnati 110, Dayton 98, Florida St. 88, California 74, San Diego St. 48, Miami 35, NC State 29, Butler 21, Wichita St. 21, Florida 18, Virginia Tech 18, Ohio St. 18, Mississippi St. 14, Texas A&M 14, Oklahoma 11, Colorado 10, Michigan 8, Monmouth (NJ) 7, Notre Dame 6, Washington 5, Seton Hall 5, Princeton 2, Ohio 1, Harvard 1, Vanderbilt 1

At first glance I don't see anything too crazy. Xavier is probably a little high at 7 while Louisville is low at 13.

only a 32 point difference between #7 Xavier and #9 Wisconsin.

Louisville actually a spot higher in AP than they were in coaches.

(10-31-2016 12:09 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Rhodey was supposed to be good last season, too. Some injuries negatively impacted them last year. I guess they're still recognized as a threat and a formidable team if they are a healthy unit.

Not a lot of love there for the A-10. One team in, Dayton just on the outside, and nobody else getting votes. It's like the writers sense not to expect much from the conference; VCU, Davidson, St. Joe's, Richmond, and G-Dubs all not being very notable.

Not a lot of love for the AAC, either. UConn and Cincy...no love for the others.

We (GW) had to fire our coach a couple of months ago (and yes, he had to be fired) so we're probably being dinged for that. And we lost a lot. We have a good core 5, but little depth.

Not a lot of love either for a team (ND) who finished in the Elite 8 last year (and the year before).

(10-31-2016 03:15 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Not a lot of love either for a team (ND) who finished in the Elite 8 last year (and the year before).

AP Voters found out Brian Kelly has been giving coaching advice to Mike Brey

(10-31-2016 03:15 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Not a lot of love either for a team (ND) who finished in the Elite 8 last year (and the year before).

Losing your four best players over a two-year period will do that

(10-31-2016 12:17 PM)Flying Bearcat Wrote:  Can someone explain why UCLA is highly ranked this year after having a poor season last year. Yes, I realize that they are UCLA, but the program is no where near of the UCLA of old. Did they have a good recruiting class that I was unaware of?

They have been pulling in talent lately, but they had a lot of talent last year too. I agree they should be lower. They don't have a talent problem, they have a coaching problem.

(10-31-2016 12:17 PM)Flying Bearcat Wrote:  Can someone explain why UCLA is highly ranked this year after having a poor season last year. Yes, I realize that they are UCLA, but the program is no where near of the UCLA of old. Did they have a good recruiting class that I was unaware of?

Exactly, a name thing. Coach Steve Alford is a medicore coach. He was terrible at Iowa. The program was coming off of 16 out of 20 years of NCAA bids and he got a whopping 2 out of 7 years. Ran the program into the ground. There were less fans at basketball games in Carver then there were at Wrestling meets. And though given credit for the New Mexico job.--it isn't really deserved. A very well supported program, always one of the top of the attendance in the country, a program that is underrated. He simply took the keys and drove straight. Then he got to UCLA and had a losing record last year. I have family members in Iowa and one in New Mexico who knew him, (both work at the universities) and he's a real jerk to people. Walks around like he owns the place and demands things like meals, clothes and even gasoline for free. He does the "do you know who I am?" routine. Ask any Iowa fan about Freakin Steve Alford....overrated.
Cheers!

(10-31-2016 03:52 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(10-31-2016 03:15 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Not a lot of love either for a team (ND) who finished in the Elite 8 last year (and the year before).

Losing your four best players over a two-year period will do that

I think most schools have lost their four best players from two years ago.

Syracuse is waaaay underrated. Should be Top 10.

Boeheim reloaded...goes 10 deep. He is smiling like a Cheshire Cat.

(10-31-2016 12:09 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Rhodey was supposed to be good last season, too. Some injuries negatively impacted them last year. I guess they're still recognized as a threat and a formidable team if they are a healthy unit.

Not a lot of love there for the A-10. One team in, Dayton just on the outside, and nobody else getting votes. It's like the writers sense not to expect much from the conference; VCU, Davidson, St. Joe's, Richmond, and G-Dubs all not being very notable.

Not a lot of love for the AAC, either. UConn and Cincy...no love for the others.

Very true . I'm surprised SMU didn't get any votes ,but I think the AAC will be better this year. Sampson has Houston trending upward and Memphis still has a team with multiple 4 star players and thankfully a real coach now. The AAC is going to have to regain respect in the polls this year but I think we could still end up with Uconn, Cincy, SMU, Houston and Memphis getting to the big dance

(10-31-2016 05:34 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(10-31-2016 03:52 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(10-31-2016 03:15 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Not a lot of love either for a team (ND) who finished in the Elite 8 last year (and the year before).

Losing your four best players over a two-year period will do that

I think most schools have lost their four best players from two years ago.

...and thus where you finished two years ago doesn't mean too much in regards to where a team is ranked now.

(10-31-2016 12:17 PM)Flying Bearcat Wrote:  Can someone explain why UCLA is highly ranked this year after having a poor season last year. Yes, I realize that they are UCLA, but the program is no where near of the UCLA of old. Did they have a good recruiting class that I was unaware of?

If I'm not mistaken they have had 2 top 15 recruiting classes in a row and just like football you are rewarded for your recruiting with higher rankings.

They are definitely overrated considering the product they have put out on the court. Top 30 maybe, 16 is to high.

(10-31-2016 05:12 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(10-31-2016 12:17 PM)Flying Bearcat Wrote:  Can someone explain why UCLA is highly ranked this year after having a poor season last year. Yes, I realize that they are UCLA, but the program is no where near of the UCLA of old. Did they have a good recruiting class that I was unaware of?

Exactly, a name thing. Coach Steve Alford is a medicore coach. He was terrible at Iowa. The program was coming off of 16 out of 20 years of NCAA bids and he got a whopping 2 out of 7 years. Ran the program into the ground. There were less fans at basketball games in Carver then there were at Wrestling meets. And though given credit for the New Mexico job.--it isn't really deserved. A very well supported program, always one of the top of the attendance in the country, a program that is underrated. He simply took the keys and drove straight. Then he got to UCLA and had a losing record last year. I have family members in Iowa and one in New Mexico who knew him, (both work at the universities) and he's a real jerk to people. Walks around like he owns the place and demands things like meals, clothes and even gasoline for free. He does the "do you know who I am?" routine. Ask any Iowa fan about Freakin Steve Alford....overrated.
Cheers!

Who can forget the awful loss to Northwestern...State in the first round in 2006 when they led by 17 midway through the second half?

I have no idea what to expect from us this season. Mathiang is back from injury so that will be a big plus

Oh man, that 2006 Iowa/Northwestern St finish and that whole 2006 tournament were amazing. Probably my favorite tourney of all time with 2011.

We're due for another George Mason/Butler/VCU/Wichita this year. My money's on Saint Mary's.

(10-31-2016 07:59 PM)Tigersmoke3 Wrote:  

(10-31-2016 12:09 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Rhodey was supposed to be good last season, too. Some injuries negatively impacted them last year. I guess they're still recognized as a threat and a formidable team if they are a healthy unit.

Not a lot of love there for the A-10. One team in, Dayton just on the outside, and nobody else getting votes. It's like the writers sense not to expect much from the conference; VCU, Davidson, St. Joe's, Richmond, and G-Dubs all not being very notable.

Not a lot of love for the AAC, either. UConn and Cincy...no love for the others.

Very true . I'm surprised SMU didn't get any votes ,but I think the AAC will be better this year. Sampson has Houston trending upward and Memphis still has a team with multiple 4 star players and thankfully a real coach now. The AAC is going to have to regain respect in the polls this year but I think we could still end up with Uconn, Cincy, SMU, Houston and Memphis getting to the big dance

Yeah, I can understand SMU not getting some respect, but Temple and Memphis should warrant a vote for something, I would think.

AP's usually not the place to find progressive thought or perspective on cbb potential. Much of that poll are old standards, and you get some of the usual cast hanging out in the "receiving votes" bunch just in case there's some production from a familiar name (Florida, Michigan, Vandy, Butler, etc.); who knows if they're good for the work. Some of this seems like a rub for last season's success (Monmouth), others just look like safe bets because of who coaches these teams (VT, Wichita State, Harvard).

It gets the job done. We're talking about it, as silly and questionable as it is.

(11-01-2016 03:29 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Oh man, that 2006 Iowa/Northwestern St finish and that whole 2006 tournament were amazing. Probably my favorite tourney of all time with 2011.

We're due for another George Mason/Butler/VCU/Wichita this year. My money's on Saint Mary's.

St Mary's... & Rice
Realistically probably still another year away from anything like a deep tourney run though.