AP Poll - UConn back in the top 10

[Tenspro2002]

in 2011 we were 9-9 in conference play, including a blow-out loss to St. John's. We won the national title that year. Games will be close, games will be ugly, we will still be good.

A run like in 2011 is unlikely to be repeated again in our lifetime. In order to have confidence that a Final Four run is likely or even possible, we'll have to play better than we have so far. And, yes, that includes blowing out some teams.

You could make the argument that we know how to win in the clutch. You could also make the argument that if a few statistically random events (e.g. Bazz's badly missed shot caroms differently off the backboard, Brimah is called for a foul on Vonleh, Olander misses that 3 against Maryland and they tie on the next possession) break differently, we're 6-3 and seriously questioning the talent, makeup, and coaching of this team.

I think we are a better team than we've shown so far, which is good, because we'll have to be.

 

[CL82]

Back where we belong.

Well 8 places low, but its a while yet until March.

 

[CL82]

Being #9 is scary.

UConn is good but not that good

Beat Maryland by 1
Beat BC by 2
Beat Indiana by 1
Beat a depleted Florida team by 1

A number 9 team would destroy these teams

How many #9 teams can't rebound and have zero low post offense?

Not horribly tough games until 1/16 at Memphis and 1/18 at Louisville so we will see

Bazz can't save our ass in every tough game. He is not Kemba yet

Sorry the voice of reason.

Good teams find a way to win. We've done that versus big teams and we've done that versus the 2-3. Both of those have challenged us in the past. I'm not saying the rest of the year will be a cake walk but we deserve to be where we are. Enjoy it.

 

[kcc1442]

Being #9 is scary.

UConn is good but not that good

Beat Maryland by 1
Beat BC by 2
Beat Indiana by 1
Beat a depleted Florida team by 1

A number 9 team would destroy these teams

How many #9 teams can't rebound and have zero low post offense?

Not horribly tough games until 1/16 at Memphis and 1/18 at Louisville so we will see

Bazz can't save our ass in every tough game. He is not Kemba yet

Sorry the voice of reason.

Voice of a pessimist or a glass half empty kind of guy........Please don't attempt to declare the voice of reason again......

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

http://content.usatoday.com/sportsd...ame/syracuse_connecticut/2013/02/13#box-score

Cuse hasn't added anyone to their front court of value since last year. As upstater mentioned they lost the guy who hurt us the most last year (JS).

Very serviceable for TO as a starter. 5 rebs in 14 mins for PN also jumps out.

 

[OkaForPrez]

http://content.usatoday.com/sportsd...ame/syracuse_connecticut/2013/02/13#box-score

Cuse hasn't added anyone to their front court of value since last year. As upstater mentioned they lost the guy who hurt us the most last year (JS).

Very serviceable for TO as a starter. 5 rebs in 14 mins for PN also jumps out.

To be fair. Southerland hurt Cuse the most last year too. For every big three that kid hit, he'd come down and chuck a bad shot early in the clock.

 

[Peacefrog]

I understand the angst, I'm not necessarily sure we're the 9th best team but the results may indicate we are. Sure, we have had some narrow escapes but so has everybody and most have NOT escaped at least once. Duke being where they are with two losses is ridiculous. Heck, the USA Today poll still has a 2-loss Kentucky team ahead of us.

At this point I don't really care other than for the reason that ESPN will occasionally scroll the current top 10 at the bottom of the screen and I'm all for any amount of positive publicity we can get.

 

[Peacefrog]

I also might add, why is Oregon so high (and ahead of us) in the coaches poll? They haven't beaten a ranked team and their best win is against a middling Georgetown team.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

To be fair. Southerland hurt Cuse the most last year too. For every big three that kid hit, he'd come down and chuck a bad shot early in the clock.

Cuse made it to the BE Tournament final where Southerland connected on 17 three-pointers. That was a BE tourney record.

JS was also the top scorer for Cuse in the Regional Final against Marquette leading them to the Final4. He played very well in the clutch. Not sure those performances were detrimental to the team.

 

[Kitaman]

Just chiming in to say that I've Ignored B Vogel and I successfully read your Reply without looking at the post it quoted.

By the way he's being quoted few people seem to remember South Tampa Bill. He's back to baiting and so many fish are on his hook even in this thread.

 

[Palatine]

We won't see Syracuse, they will be gone before the second week end of the tourney.

 

[CTBasketball]

This team really hasn't been tested against a top opponent yet. I can't wait for the Louisville game and Memphis games. Should be good ones.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

This team really hasn't been tested against a top opponent yet. I can't wait for the Louisville game and Memphis games. Should be good ones.

As flawed as early season RPI can be (and some don't believe in it at all... but it is used by the selection committee) we are still sitting in the # 10 slot. UMASS deservedly at #1. So that part really isn't flawed at all. Maybe ours isn't either???


http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rpi

 

[OkaForPrez]

Cuse made it to the BE Tournament final where Southerland connected on 17 three-pointers. That was a BE tourney record.

JS was also the top scorer for Cuse in the Regional Final against Marquette leading them to the Final4. He played very well in the clutch. Not sure those performances were detrimental to the team.

He was a good player who did a lot for them and was capable of winning games for them. He was also a guy who would put up an early shot clock three from beyond NBA range on possessions where it wasn't the right thing to do. I remember him doing it on a couple of occasions when the wheels were coming off in the BET final against Louisville.

 

[Kauffmak10]

Being #9 is scary.

UConn is good but not that good

Beat Maryland by 1
Beat BC by 2
Beat Indiana by 1
Beat a depleted Florida team by 1

A number 9 team would destroy these teams

How many #9 teams can't rebound and have zero low post offense?

Not horribly tough games until 1/16 at Memphis and 1/18 at Louisville so we will see

Bazz can't save our ass in every tough game. He is not Kemba yet

Sorry the voice of reason.

B Vogul is a bum!!

 

[Yonick]

B Vogul is a bum!!

Just about all our wins we lost large leads. As time goes on we, hopefully, hold on to these leads.

 

[tzznandrew]

B Vogul is a bum!!

Careful...he's very big and dangerous. Something like 6'6" 250...

 

[arnie3]

Let me ask those doubters who think that #9 is too high- well then okay, are you satisfied with the coaches poll, the one that has us not in the top 10 and behind Kentucky and Oregon? Is that more realistic to you?

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

He was a good player who did a lot for them and was capable of winning games for them. He was also a guy who would put up an early shot clock three from beyond NBA range on possessions where it wasn't the right thing to do. I remember him doing it on a couple of occasions when the wheels were coming off in the BET final against Louisville.

No biggie bro just some friendly give and take. I'm sure my points are pretty irrelevant compared to a BY legend like yourself. Hopefully I can continue to learn from the best here.

Have a good 1 OkaFor.

 

[upstater]

This team really hasn't been tested against a top opponent yet. I can't wait for the Louisville game and Memphis games. Should be good ones.

There's no way to know how good Florida is. No one should be surprised if Florida beats Kansas tomorrow night, takes few SEC losses, gets a 2 seed and ends up in the F4.

 

[CTBasketball]

There's no way to know how good Florida is. No one should be surprised if Florida beats Kansas tomorrow night, takes few SEC losses, gets a 2 seed and ends up in the F4.

They will be a dangerous team come March.

 

[HuskyNan]

I also might add, why is Oregon so high (and ahead of us) in the coaches poll? They haven't beaten a ranked team and their best win is against a middling Georgetown team.

At least Oregon is in the Top 15 of the men's basketball RPI. Duke isn't even in the Top 50.

 

[intlzncster]

We are currently undefeated in tournament play....

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

At least Oregon is in the Top 15 of the men's basketball RPI. Duke isn't even in the Top 50.

Thanks for joining us Nan in the common area. You do a wonderful job as a board administrator. Hopefully things are running smoothly. Thank you for not revoking my posting privileges after Hall of Famers mauconn and fluedy threw water balloons at me.

In all seriousness keep up the great work. I hope that band your kid is in continues to hit the right notes.

 

[UCDaveD]

This isn't the BCS. Style points don't matter. A win is a win. Bottom line. 9-0.