AP Top 25 Week 16: same Top 5, Lady Vols drop out, Princeton back in

[bballnut90]

Yes, I think the LV’s just sneak into the Big Dance. The problem is that they won’t host. As a result TN will face a challenge right out of the box in their 1st or 2nd game, on the road after a disappointing season.

I think they're safely in the tournament rather than close to the bubble, but yes I agree they don't really have a prayer of hosting unless they win the last 2 regular season games and then win at least 2 or 3 games in the SEC Tournament which I don't see happening. Last year they didn't host either (5 seed) and still made the Sweet 16. That achievement will be tougher to pull off this season if they're a 7/8/9 seed. Realistically they could be a potential 2nd round opponent for UCONN.

 

[oldude]

Every P4 in the country faces multiple cupcakes in non-conference. Even Duke who faced probably the toughest non-conference scehdule in the country had games against Liberty, Norfolk State, Holy Cross, Belmont, South Florida and South Dakota State.

Yes and no. UConn had one true cupcake in Loyola, when Geno couldn’t find a P4 game on that particular date. I know, UConn’s conference schedule is not as challenging as other top teams. Unfortunately, that’s out of Geno’s hands at present.

As for Duke, I don’t consider USF or the SD State Jackrabbits to be cupcakes. They are legitimate mid-major challenges, although I suspect that USF will fall off now that Jose has moved on to the W.

The worst offenders are LSU & Vandy. While I acknowledge that TN played a number of tough OOC games, I see exactly 7 cupcakes on the LV’s OOC schedule that they beat up on early in the season.

 

[Kat]

Looking at the ORV teams, as well as seeing Princeton ranked in the top 25, made me understand why the NCAA refused to expand the field for the tournament.

 

[meyers7]

Yes, I think the LV’s just sneak into the Big Dance. The problem is that they won’t host. As a result TN will face a challenge right out of the box in their 1st or 2nd game, on the road after a disappointing season.

And hopefully lose.

 

[mudcat]

Largest ORV group this week - Colorado 23, Fairfield 18, Tennessee 12, Columbia 10, Rhode Island 7, N Dakota St 7, Virginia 6, Villanova 6, Southern Cal 5, Rice 4, Iowa St. 3, Syracuse 2, Illinois 2, Notre Dame 1, Washington 1, NC State 1.

And if Fairfield can muster 18 votes, what about Quinnipiac (sp?)?

 

[packwrap]

In 2023-24, UConn lost to some ranked teams early in the season, and got pushed from 2 to 8, then 6 to 11, 11-17, -5 and -6. TN over the last few weeks has gone 15, 19, 22, 21, UR, which is a max net of -4.

This week they are technically #28, so they dropped 7, which seems about right.

 

[Bald Husky]

They already have fewer votes than Fairfield and you think they should have fewer. That either means you think that Fairfield would be favored in a game against Tennessee or you think there's something horribly wrong with the Fairfield voting.

I wouldn't count Fairfield out if they were to face Tennessee in the tournament

 

[visitingcock]

Yes and no. UConn had one true cupcake in Loyola, when Geno couldn’t find a P4 game on that particular date. I know, UConn’s conference schedule is not as challenging as other top teams. Unfortunately, that’s out of Geno’s hands at present.

As for Duke, I don’t consider USF or the SD State Jackrabbits to be cupcakes. They are legitimate mid-major challenges, although I suspect that USF will fall off now that Jose has moved on to the W.

The worst offenders are LSU & Vandy. While I acknowledge that TN played a number of tough OOC games, I see exactly 7 cupcakes on the LV’s OOC schedule that they beat up on early in the season.

UConn and LSU both played 12 Quad 4 teams. Of course , UConn had to play that many due to their conference schedule . LSU chose to play their cupcakes mostly in their non-conference schedule. Several Big 12 leaders played even more .Quad 4s

Tennessee being a Quad 1 win for SCar and UConn makes be kinda shake my head.

 

[Skeets]

Yes and no. UConn had one true cupcake in Loyola, when Geno couldn’t find a P4 game on that particular date. I know, UConn’s conference schedule is not as challenging as other top teams. Unfortunately, that’s out of Geno’s hands at present.

As for Duke, I don’t consider USF or the SD State Jackrabbits to be cupcakes. They are legitimate mid-major challenges, although I suspect that USF will fall off now that Jose has moved on to the W.

The worst offenders are LSU & Vandy. While I acknowledge that TN played a number of tough OOC games, I see exactly 7 cupcakes on the LV’s OOC schedule that they beat up on early in the season.

Prior to Jose leaving I would not have described USF as a mid-major. Now? Who knows...

 

[oldude]

UConn and LSU both played 12 Quad 4 teams. Of course , UConn had to play that many due to their conference schedule . LSU chose to play their cupcakes mostly in their non-conference schedule. Several Big 12 leaders played even more .Quad 4s

Tennessee being a Quad 1 win for SCar and UConn makes be kinda shake my head.

There was a time when Pat’s TN & Geno’s UConn would not only compete for the national championship every year, but would also compete for the toughest schedule in the country. The OBE used to be a brutally tough conference and the SEC has always been tough. Despite tough conference schedules, Pat and Geno would also set up extremely tough OOC schedules.

Pat’s line that, “We’ll play anyone, anywhere, anytime,” was a testament to her commitment to WBB. For his part, Geno always believed in challenging himself and his team at every opportunity.

I get that “middle of the pack” teams in P4 conferences don’t want to risk an invite to the Big Dance or the possibility of hosting the first 2 rounds of the tournament by racking up too many OOC losses. But I have never understood perennial top 10 teams like LSU playing it safe until the conference schedule.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

There really aren't any rules for voting for the AP top 25, so it doesn't have to make sense. I'm sure some of the voters look at others' votes and say those votes don't make sense. It can be literally entirely the eye test, and I'll bet some of the voters haven't watched an entire game of some of the teams they vote for.

Recency bias lives in the polls. Tennessee is 2-7 in their last nine games.

(cross-posted with Centerstream)

Just because I enjoy train wrecks I have been paying attention to them. Since the UConn game Kim has thrown the team under the bus and accepts no responsibility for the team's lack of cohesion. And it's readily apparent that a number of players have shut down. Has she made any changes you ask? Nothing discernible or reported. Some might argue their SEC presence has them as high as they are. Kim is terrible. I almost feel sorry for Tennessee fans. Almost.

 

[Bigboote]

Looking at the ORV teams, as well as seeing Princeton ranked in the top 25, made me understand why the NCAA refused to expand the field for the tournament.

Oh, but they're talking about expanding the field -- 72 and 76 have definitely been bandied about, and I think I've heard 84 and 96, although that's a bit fuzzy. This is while they're looking at a field like this year's.

You can bet they're being advised by accountants and consultants*, and the decision will be made based solely on whether they think they can bring in more money, no regard whatsoever for the games.

*Consultant, n. Anyone with a briefcase in hand who's more than 50 miles from home. 😉