(10-22-2018 12:11 PM)mairving Wrote: (10-22-2018 11:45 AM)Shooters Wrote: Are not in the top 53 teams in the nation and some of the teams receiving votes do not appear to have talent and depth that the Tigers do. Is this a slap at our coaching staff or our basketball team or both?
https://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll
From the standpoint of an avid basketball follower and Tiger fan for over a half century, this may be the most undervalued Tiger team that I can recall. I did a quick skim and maybe the 1987 team that’s was on probation and was a top 10 team after curb stomping Louisville at Freedom Hall for conference championship may have been more underrated.
No one in their right mind would vote for us in the pre-season top 25. Way too many question marks this season.
But they would vote for these teams??
Others receiving votes:Loyola of Chicago 162, Marquette 124, Indiana 98, Florida 71, Nebraska 35, Maryland 28, Wisconsin 24, Notre Dame 22, Cincinnati 21, UCF 15, Alabama 15, Arizona 14, Buffalo 14, Louisville 11, Miami 10, San Diego St. 9, Texas Tech 6, Southern Cal 6, Butler 6, Texas 5, St. John's 3, Arizona St 3, Providence 2, Xavier 2, Davidson 1, Missouri 1, Marshall 1, NC State 1.
You guys were all over the FB team preseason: most were debating whether we were going to be 11-1 or 10-2 yet think the basketball Tigers are basically a low D1 team this year.
Basketball returns key players from last year
Basketball had a top 30ish recruiting class
Basketball will have a great home court advantage this year (most coaches
think on the average HC is worth 2-3 extra wins a year
Basketball has a tremendous depth, a true PG, 3 point shooters. Not had in
Past
So I think some of you feel burned by how football has fallen short of predictions and are taking a show me attitude in basketball. You are going to be surprised if casual fans get off their ass and come to ALL games.
I can remember so many games in Dana’s, Larry’s and Cal’s years when we would be behind with 10 minutes to go and had a super crowd that KNEW we would come back and win.
IMHO we are a top 30ish team that could struggle a little early due to 7 newcomers (5 will play) but will be playing their best ball in February as really good teams do. I see a top 2 finish in the regular season conference standings and rolling through the conference tournament for our auto bid.