AP Poll Week #13

[Hans Sprungfeld]

If you look back, there are several excruciating losses during the back-to-back championship years.

Yes, most notably Seton Hall and Creighton in 2023.

As Dan Hurley grew in his demonstrated ability to win close games, we've grown more confident as fans. BYU was tense. Arizona was troublesome because the team came back from a deficit, took the lead, and then lost it (and the game). Since then, all games have been victories. It is further notable that the Kansas game was Hurley's first ever true road game victory over a ranked P4 team.

I glossed over these facts while in somewhat of a rush to claim that January's games could be labeled "excruciating wins." The question in your following paragraph ought to be seen as answering itself. Thank you for posing it.

So fans and pundits are knocking UConn for needing OT to beat PC. Did they like it better when UConn lost to PC and then destroyed the entire B1G conference in one of the most memorable March Madness humiliations on record?

 

[Husker Husky]

Voters watch highlights and read scores. Michigan, at home edged a Nebraska team that was down 2 starters and beat an Illinois team that also beat an undermined Nebraska team. The voters probably didn't even realize that. Like others are saying, Duke will give a proper test. That being said, I hope Dook loses by 30.

 

[Viet Vet]

I'd like to know which players we've faced that are playing at the next level? I've seen a bunch of mocks so far this year and I'm not sure the BE has anyone non UConn other than Zubi in the second round. There is literally no NBA talent in the BE this year.

BE games are not easy because of reffing, familiarity and target on back.

Stop with "the refs". The Big East is a weak conference this year. Face reality and accept it. Do you really want to argue that our schedule (all of it, not just OOC) is stronger than Arizona's, Michigan's or Duke's? If I were an Arizona, Michigan or Duke fan, I'd legitimately make a case that UConn is enabled by a weak conference schedule.

We can only win, and move on. March will be the ultimate arbiter.

 

[Teddie1056]

I would have put us 3 last week.

 

[freescooter]

OK, here is the issue, they are not scrub teams. The Big East may not be great with consistent good and ranked teams BUT many of these teams have players who will play at the next level and on any given night keep their team hanging around in games. Particularly when we have a horrible shooting night, or we don’t have our lottery pick playing.
If you need confirmation of that just ask someone who actually knows, Dan Hurley. He has said it over and over again that BE games are not easy. We had the best team ever a couple years ago we were challenged and lost games, right?

Yeah, but when he says we would have won Championships regardless of our conference, don’t listen to him. He knows nothing. He wants to go back to the AAC. 😉

 

[SellersElbow]

#2 UConn would have been a tough out for any team this week.

#3 UConn should be an absolute beast in seek and destroy mode.

 

[87Xfer]

eyeball test for anyone watching outside of the Big East says we're playing like a top 10 team right now, but not #2

 

[upstater]

eyeball test for anyone watching outside of the Big East says we're playing like a top 10 team right now, but not #2

In that case, Illinois is #2

 

[KingAG]

eyeball test for anyone watching outside of the Big East says we're playing like a top 10 team right now, but not #2

Yea but this changes every game. We looked all the part of #2 against Creighton. We didn’t against PC.

 

[AdamaNation]

17 wins straight without a loss and coming off an away blowout of Creighton. The last bunch of close wins in a disrespected apparently bad conference did the trick. I’ve always placed less importance to these rankings which moves up and drops teams at times significantly with a loss even a close one.
More important than these numbers is to just keep improving team rebounding and team offense, and that seems to be happening.

…OR Michigan beating Nebraska and MSU has more weight than us winning all the games last week by 15+. No issues. Stay the course.

 

[upstater]

Stop with "the refs". The Big East is a weak conference this year. Face reality and accept it. Do you really want to argue that our schedule (all of it, not just OOC) is stronger than Arizona's, Michigan's or Duke's? If I were an Arizona, Michigan or Duke fan, I'd legitimately make a case that UConn is enabled by a weak conference schedule.

We can only win, and move on. March will be the ultimate arbiter.

I literally showed you how many top teams they've played and we played.

While at the end of the year, you'll be right and the B1G slate will be tougher, so far UConn has played more top ranked teams.

 

[FreeDogs]

How does UConn drop? such b.s

$$$$$$$$$

 

[Phorcys]

17 wins straight without a loss and coming off an away blowout of Creighton. The last bunch of close wins in a disrespected apparently bad conference did the trick. I’ve always placed less importance to these rankings which moves up and drops teams at times significantly with a loss even a close one.
More important than these numbers is to just keep improving team rebounding and team offense, and that seems to be happening.

How does UConn drop? such b.s

Glancing at the topic thread line ... AP Poll Week #13

I suffered a major panic attack of WTF? ... mistakenly thinking we fell from #2 to #13 ...

... despite our dismantling of Creighton in wonderfully hostile territory

Phew, it was only #2 to #3 ...

I was fearing college basketball Armageddon had occurred

... along with the rest of the world.

Michigan deserves number two at this point ... looking forward to a head-to-head matchup ... as well as the rematch against U of A

 

[jibsey]

I guess I’m a little too sensitive about these rankings because of the way our teams in the past were treated at times in comparison to others based on our not well regarded conference results. JMO.

 

[Tenspro2002]

This week put us ahead of Villanova in the "All-Time" AP Poll

The All-Time AP Poll

Eli Powell’s all-time men’s basketball program ranking based on the AP Poll

elipowell.com

View attachment 116709

Am I to understand that Syracuse hasn't been ranked in over 7 years?!

Even when we were miserably bad during the Ollie years or struggling to get over the hump under Hurley, we didn't go more than a few years without being ranked.

 

[JungleLobo]

In summary, UConn is ranked number three but plays like number two?

 

[JVN]

Am I to understand that Syracuse hasn't been ranked in over 7 years?!

Even when we were miserably bad during the Ollie years or struggling to get over the hump under Hurley, we didn't go more than a few years without being ranked.

Carmelo Anthony appears unhappy with state of Syracuse hoops

Syracuse alum Carmelo Anthony does not appear happy with the current state of the program, commenting "SMFH" under a highlight from Monday's loss to UNC.

www.espn.com

 

[temery]

Put me down as someone who doesn't care in the slightest about two verses three. In fact, I'd rather the team be ranked lower as motivation than higher as some type of affirmation of superiority.

Real me this: how many championships has UConn won as the higher seed?

 

[giddyup]

Same stuff every year. B1G is THE best conference. The B1G can’t win a championship.

 

[DogMania]

One thing to keep in mind is the unprecedented number of high major teams with only 1 to 3 loses this late in the season, plus undefeated Zona, that make up to current the top 10.

The reality is, just one more loss, UConn will drop quite a few spots if most of the other top 10 teams keep on winning. And 2 more losses might drop us completely out of the top 10 depending on who we lose to if that were to happen.

Granted, some of the other top 10 teams have to face other top 10 programs within their own conferences and in the case with Michigan, they also have an upcoming battle with Dook.

Tournament seeding is not based on the AP Top 25 but the Net and other metrics, and because the BE is down this season, we might need to win out or lose just 1 to SJ to get a #1 seed. Lose 2 or more maybe a 2 seed is in jeopardy.

Bottom line, keep on winning and doing so by solid margins, with plus offense and defensive metrics, and we'll be just fine. Oh, and get and stay healthy is critical.

 

[RuffRuff]

One thing to keep in mind is the unprecedented number of high major teams with only 1 to 3 loses this late in the season, plus undefeated Zona, that make up to current the top 10.

The reality is, just one more loss, UConn will drop quite a few spots if most of the other top 10 teams keep on winning. And 2 more losses might drop us completely out of the top 10 depending on who we lose to if that were to happen.

Granted, some of the other top 10 teams have to face other top 10 programs within their own conferences and in the case with Michigan, they also have an upcoming battle with Dook.

Tournament seeding is not based on the AP Top 25 but the Net and other metrics, and because the BE is down this season, we might need to win out or lose just 1 to SJ to get a #1 seed. Lose 2 or more maybe a 2 seed is in jeopardy.

Bottom line, keep on winning and doing so by solid margins, with plus offense and defensive metrics, and we'll be just fine. Oh, and get and stay healthy is critical.

The teams in the B12 and B10 are going to start losing - it's just that their quality of loss & wins would remain better than us, so we'd get penalized if we lost in the BE. We don't have much room for error - 2 losses max through the rest of the year if we want a one seed. But like someone said, a 2 in the East may be better than a 1 in the South.

 

[SubbaBub]

There are currently 4 top teams. Az, M, Duke, and UConn. You can put them in any order you'd like but if you are going to spout/split hairs or whatever about Q1 and resumes. You really should look at them first.

AZ is undefeated and has the best win (US on the road). Deserving number 1 but doesn't have more Q1 wins than UConn. Certainly not Neutral/Road wins.

Michigan same on Q1 but lost to Wisconsin. So, no their resume isn't better.

Duke can make a case for the most Q1 wins, but they are the lower end type Q1, best win is Louisville.

The correct order is AZ, UConn, Mich/Duke until they play.

 

[RuffRuff]

There are currently 4 top teams. Az, M, Duke, and UConn. You can put them in any order you'd like but if you are going to spout/split hairs or whatever about Q1 and resumes. You really should look at them first.

AZ is undefeated and has the best win (US on the road). Deserving number 1 but doesn't have more Q1 wins than UConn. Certainly not Neutral/Road wins.

Michigan same on Q1 but lost to Wisconsin. So, no their resume isn't better.

Duke can make a case for the most Q1 wins, but they are the lower end type Q1, best win is Louisville.

The correct order is AZ, UConn, Mich/Duke until they play.

Duke won at MSU, Kansas, Arkansas, Florida.............

A win against StJ would go a long way.

 

[superjohn]

Duke won at MSU, Kansas, Arkansas, Florida.............

A win against StJ would go a long way.

Duke won at MSU. They won on a buzzer beater three at home to Florida, they beat Kansas at MSG, and they beat Arkansas at the United Center.

 

[RuffRuff]

Duke won at MSU. They won on a buzzer beater three at home to Florida, they beat Kansas at MSG, and they beat Arkansas at the United Center.

Thank you!