AP Poll: UConn back in at #19

[tcf15]

David Borges ‏@DaveBorges
#UConn back in the AP Top 25 at No. 19 this week: http://borgesblognhr.blogspot.com

1. Florida (46)
2. Wichita St. (14)
3. Arizona (5)
4. Duke
5. Virginia
6. Villanova
7. Syracuse
8. Kansas
9. Wisconsin
10. San Diego St.
11. Louisville
12. Michigan
13. Creighton
14. North Carolina
15. Cincinnati
16. Iowa St.
17. Saint Louis
18. SMU
19. UConn
20. Memphis
21. New Mexico
22. Michigan St.
23. Oklahoma
24. Iowa
25. Kentucky

Others receiving votes: Texas 70, VCU 58, UCLA 45, Gonzaga 38, Stephen F. Austin 38, Kansas St. 19, Saint Joseph's 19, Ohio St. 17, Green Bay 13, Harvard 7, Arizona St. 5, UMass 5, Colorado 2, Pittsburgh 2, Xavier 2, NC Central 1, Oklahoma St. 1, Southern Miss. 1.

 

[UChusky916]

Looks about right. Behind SMU (they sweeped us), ahead of Memphis (we sweeped them). No idea how Kentucky is still ranked, whatever.

 

[HuskyNationJE]

I hate that Kentucky is still in there after dropping 2 to unranked teams this week.

 

[Marat]

I hate that Kentucky is still in there after dropping 2 to unranked teams this week.

Even when they lose, they still win. Or is that Duke?

 

[upstater]

Looks about right. Behind SMU (they sweeped us), ahead of Memphis (we sweeped them). No idea how Kentucky is still ranked, whatever.

Look at the teams after them. Texas has lost a lot recently. UCLA lost and had players suspended. Only VCU could be moved ahead of them.

 

[Jerry1714]

Looks about right, surprised to see Iowa still in there, but whatever.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

5 of the top 20 from the AAC.

 

[EricLA]

I hate that Kentucky is still in there after dropping 2 to unranked teams this week.

Agree. Good grief, UCONN was about #10 and then we lost to SMU and Houston and said bye bye to the top 25. But hey, it's Kentucky. Never underestimate their hype machine or people giving them a break...

 

[tzznandrew]

Agree. Good grief, UCONN was about #10 and then we lost to SMU and Houston and said bye bye to the top 25. But hey, it's Kentucky. Never underestimate their hype machine or people giving them a break...

They'll be out by the end of the week. They have Florida this weekend, on the road. If they win that, I guess they deserve to stay ranked.

 

[Deleted member 3149]

Looks like we'll have to beat a #11 team again this week.

 

[superjohn]

I bet Kentucky loses both games this week, the question is will they still be ranked next week.

 

[Pudge]

I am NOT a big Villanova hater (like I'd describe my opinion of Syracuse, BC, Duke, (maybe) Pitt). But, after seeing them earlier this year (in person), I just don't think they belong near the top. They are OK. But not a real dominant superior team. I would say that this ranking is a result of December & November wins (particularly Kansas) & the idea that they just don't match well with Creighton.

Well ... I'd say the bulk of the Big East just isn't any good. Marquette, Georgetown, PC, St John's, Butler ... are ALL less than what we thought they would be in 2013-2014. Villanova is not a great defensive team. (SEE Creighton scoring easy) They do have offensive firepower from deep in their rotation; that's impressive. But, I will bet strongly that VU as a #2 is an easy Out ... if they get a normal S curve in March.

As for Kentucky? Media and others like them around. A. They are fun to laugh at; and B. They have their Calipari admiring crowd that inches them along. Til they lose to some unknown in the NIT (where they probably belong soon)

 

[metsfan2323]

Top 20 by conference:

5 American
4 ACC
2 b12
1 SEC
1 PAC
2 Big East
2 B1g

 

[DogMania]

Looks about right. Behind SMU (they sweeped us), ahead of Memphis (we sweeped them). No idea how Kentucky is still ranked, whatever.

Wow, for once the voters seemed to get it right. I didn't expect it. I figured they'd continue to not give UConn much respect, but it appears many of the voters determined that SMU is a legit top 20 team and then slotted them, UConn and Memphis accordingly.

On a side note, OSU finally got booted from the top 25, receiving just 17 votes, with 7 also-receiving-votes teams ahead of them. In addition to UK, I thought MSU deserves to be bounced from the top 25 as well. I guess if MSU can get healthy, they're a legit threat, but lately they've been playing awful and not deserving top 25 considerations IMO.

 

[Coach McGurk]

It's actually a pretty interesting breakdown. With the exception of the 3 ACC teams, 1-11 are from different conf's. (And when you look at the 1-25 you have).
*SEC (2)
M val
*Pac 12
*ACC (4)
+bEast (2)
*B12 (3)
*B1G (4)
Mt W (2)
AAC (5)
A-10
(and 1-20 makes an even better cas)
Better than what I would have expected in Oct....

 

[DogMania]

Top 20 by conference:

5 American
4 ACC
2 b12
1 SEC
1 PAC
2 Big East
2 B1g

I doubt that anyone would have predicted this before the season began, and you can probably add before AAC conference play began or even a quarter to a third the way into conference play.

Props to the AAC. Too bad we lose UL and add a few likely bottom feeders next season, but let's not think about that now and just enjoy the 2013/14 season ride.

 

[uconndogs]

We beat Louisville and make a run in the AAC tourney (semi's or finals) we have a chance at a 4 seed or maybe even of 3.

 

[FluxTZ]

We beat Louisville and make a run in the AAC tourney (semi's or finals) we have a chance at a 4 seed or maybe even of 3.

While I would absolutely love that, it's sadly a pipedream, hahaha.

 

[Jerry1714]

While I would absolutely love that, it's sadly a pipedream, hahaha.

No it is not

 

[upstater]

No it is not

28-6 is a 3 seed without a doubt.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

According to the experts we have a 10% chance of the auto-bid .
That's not too much less than Louisville and Memphis and greater than SMU and Cinn.
So that's no pipe -dream.
Without the giveaway loss at Cinn and the home loss to SMU.
We would be playing Louisville for the one seed.
With that seeding we've would increase the likely hood of getting the Auto bid by 100%.
We would be a 2 seed if all that happened. A December road loss to Houston wouldn't even be a factor.
It was doable until DD injury.

 

[babysheep]

Unfortunately the RPI rankings aren't as impressive. Only Cinci is in the top 25 there.

Cinci 16
UConn 26
Louisville 31
Memphis 32
SMU 39

 

[tzznandrew]

Unfortunately the RPI rankings aren't as impressive. Only Cinci is in the top 25 there.

Cinci 16
UConn 26
Louisville 31
Memphis 32
SMU 39

So much of this is because of how bad the bottom 5 are.

Houston 147
Temple 163
South Florida 186
Rutgers 207
Central Florida 208

These bottom 5 teams drag down the SOS of the Top 5 teams, as we ever so slightly drag theirs up. Look at a team like Kansas: 7 losses, but #2 RPI due to SOS. Improve all 5 of the bottom teams' RPIs by 25 or so, and our RPI will go up 3-4 spaces across the board at the top.

By the way:

Tulsa 101
East Carolina 205
Tulane 219

 

[Jerry1714]

So much of this is because of how bad the bottom 5 are.

Houston 147
Temple 163
South Florida 186
Rutgers 207
Central Florida 208

These bottom 5 teams drag down the SOS of the Top 5 teams, as we ever so slightly drag theirs up. Look at a team like Kansas: 7 losses, but #2 RPI due to SOS. Improve all 5 of the bottom teams' RPIs by 25 or so, and our RPI will go up 3-4 spaces across the board at the top.

By the way:

Tulsa 101
East Carolina 205
Tulane 219

Well it looks like trading ECU and Rutgers is a wash.

Tulsa a "solid" addition, and well Tulane is Tulane.

 

[tzznandrew]

Well it looks like trading ECU and Rutgers is a wash.

Tulsa a "solid" addition, and well Tulane is Tulane.

Yeah...but one of them is replacing Louisville.

I think Tulsa can surprise (relatively speaking). They'll be better than people are giving them credit for. And maybe with an improved Houston and Temple, there can be about 6 NCAA/NIT teams, and a couple other not atrocious ones. We can make up the RPI hit with a strong middle class. I'm just skeptical of it really happening next year.