ESPN 2021 class rankings

[DEpup]

In my opinion, Oregon could have won the NC but that team is really gone after graduation. SC is the team from last year's top with their talent mostly intact so they should start out #1 until UConn beats them...

 

[UConnCat]

In my opinion, Oregon could have won the NC but that team is really gone after graduation. SC is the team from last year's top with their talent mostly intact so they should start out #1 until UConn beats them...

South Carolina is the best choice for preseason #1 but it's not accurate to say their talent is "mostly intact." SC lost 2 starters who were drafted #6 and #7 in last year's draft, including their leader and 3-year starter at point guard. That's significant.

 

[HuskylnSC]

I enjoy the back and forth over South Carolina finishing as the #1 team in the most widely respected polls.

Actually the most published poll, for obvious reasons. The AP is an opinion poll. Massey is statistical composite and therefor, IMO, a much more respectable ranking.

 

[SCGamecock]

I’m never starting a thread again.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Are you claiming that Gamecock fans aren't celebrating the AP vote? That it's Oregon fans? LOL Then who are those people on this board crowing over a No 1 poll ranking as if it was a notional championship? Has the SCar coach taken the Oregon job and I missed it because I never read that Graves claimed one?

As for the respect the AP gets here I suggest you search "AP top 25" on this board and see the respect it gets.

The tallest homunculus is not tall and the best opinion poll is still crappy. And the AP poll is the most mentioned poll but maybe that's because the AP has a virtual monopoly in the media.

I think being #1 in the final AP and Coaches Poll is kind of neat.

I was just responding to your excellent point that Oregon fans can celebrate their #1 finish in the Massey Poll.

They should do so with the same fervor that Alabama football fans celebrate their full panoply of national titles. I'm totally in favor.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

If people want to take great pride in celebrating their persistent belief in the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny, more power to them.

While I'm not sure those are similar things, but if you would like to celebrate your belief in the tooth fairy and Easter bunny, I'll leave you to it.

Your religion is your own business.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Actually the most published poll, for obvious reasons. The AP is an opinion poll. Massey is statistical composite and therefor, IMO, a much more respectable ranking.

Sure, if Oregon fans want to celebrate their much more respectable ranking in the Massey statistics based computer rating, that's fine by me.

 

[visitingcock]

Actually the most published poll, for obvious reasons. The AP is an opinion poll. Massey is statistical composite and therefor, IMO, a much more respectable ranking.

You leave out the Coaches' Poll. You also leave out the NCAA committee rankings/seeds.

Massey is a statistical composite of the programmers' opinions. For example: They have Oregon as the strongest RPI. The NCAA has SCar as the strongest RPI. Who really had the stronger schedule? Realtime has SCar at 3 - Oregona t 4. Massey has Oregon at 5 and Scar at 7. Is any of that "fact"? No. You have to start with opinions to reach the conclusion.

But, I do not mind Oregon claiming an "asterisk championship" too. 'Cause that's the best we've got we've got.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Wow. South Carolina fans spending WAY too much energy and words defending an imaginary championship.

 

[jumpstart]

Wow. South Carolina fans spending WAY too much energy and words defending an imaginary championship.

That's actually "not" what they are doing. They are pointing out that they finished the season as the No.1 team in the country. It's no ones fault that the Tournament wasn't played but facts are facts....the only reason anyone has a problem with them stating the truth about finishing No.1 and starting the new season as the preseason No. 1 is pure jealousy.....I actually could care less what a particular fan base does to celebrate a successful season. You guys just riding this...."well Massy this and there was no champion....." sounds like sour grapes over what South Carolina has become. They have a long way to go to match a UCONN or Baylor...and maybe some others traditional wise.....but they are getting there......so let them enjoy their success without the petty insults....get over it.

 

[Dognusty]

Proved what? Did the UConn wins in 2013, 2014, 2015, or 2016 prove anything to S Carolina fans? No, it didn't. They came back the next year with the same unflinching bravado. So why would they expect anything less from UConn fans after they won one game?
I admire the S Car program but one game doesn't prove anything. UConn was coming into their own by March and it was conceivable that UConn would have won a rematch in the FF. After all, UConn and Notre Dame beat each other there after losing the first three games of the season. The FF is a whole 'nother animal from the reg. season.

UCONN was not beating SC last year. Nor Baylor or Oregon.

 

[JonathanXIV]

That's actually "not" what they are doing. They are pointing out that they finished the season as the No.1 team in the country. It's no ones fault that the Tournament wasn't played but facts are facts....the only reason anyone has a problem with them stating the truth about finishing No.1 and starting the new season as the preseason No. 1 is pure jealousy.....I actually could care less what a particular fan base does to celebrate a successful season. You guys just riding this...."well Massy this and there was no champion....." sounds like sour grapes over what South Carolina has become. They have a long way to go to match a UCONN or Baylor...and maybe some others traditional wise.....but they are getting there......so let them enjoy their success without the petty insults....get over it.

Hold on Jumpstart. I haven't posted one word in this thread about South Carolina as to whether or not South Carolina should or shouldn't have been number 1, etc., etc. I'm just astonished at how many times South Carolina backers have jumped in to defend their "championship" and number 1 rating.

Finally, check yourself if you think UConn fans are in any way, shape or form "jealous" of South Carolina at what "they have become." We will acknowledge that they are a good program. But win a couple in a row before even thinking that UConn fans have any reason for jealousy. Of any program.

 

[visitingcock]

Hold on Jumpstart. I haven't posted one word in this thread about South Carolina as to whether or not South Carolina should or shouldn't have been number 1, etc., etc. I just astonished at how many times South Carolina backers have jumped in to defend their "championship" and number 1 rating.

Finally, check yourself if you think UConn fans are in any way, shape or form "jealous" of South Carolina at what "they have become." We will acknowledge that they are a good program. But win a couple in a row before even thinking that UConn fans have any reason for jealousy. Of any program.

We need more Ducks on here to banter with.

Barnyard Brawl.

 

[WFFL]

We need more Ducks on here to banter with.

Barnyard Brawl.

What about Bears >? We can Bear Crawl Brawl in the yard

 

[Reypl21]

UCONN was not beating SC last year. Nor Baylor or Oregon.

I think that Uconn could have beat Baylor if they had another chance. They didnt have a prayer against SC and Oregon though.

 

[Alydar]

I think being #1 in the final AP and Coaches Poll is kind of neat.

I was just responding to your excellent point that Oregon fans can celebrate their #1 finish in the Massey Poll.

They should do so with the same fervor that Alabama football fans celebrate their full panoply of national titles. I'm totally in favor.

First, Massey isn't a poll, it's an algorythm-based system in which regional bias is not a factor, unlike the polls.

I don't see Oregon fans coming over to this board to brag about a straw poll. They refrained from the same over the top furvor that Gamecock fans are spewing over their pseudo-championship.

Just one more point, at the end of the regular season in 2017 UConn was the unanimous No 1 in both polls. S carolina was 4th, just like UConn was in 2020.

 

[Alydar]

UCONN was not beating SC last year. Nor Baylor or Oregon.

In 2017 UConn entered the NCAA's undefeated and the unanimous No 1 in every poll and ranking service. In addition they had beaten four-time loser and No 4 S Car by double digits. S car also lost to Duke, Tenn & Missouri. Hardly the resume of a championship team compared to UConn but it worked out for them.

And you say that UConn had no chance? LOL That's what UConn fans said about Miss St.

 

[WFFL]

In 2017 UConn entered the NCAA's undefeated and the unanimous No 1 in every poll and ranking service. In addition they had beaten four-time loser and No 4 S Car by double digits. S car also lost to Duke, Tenn & Missouri. Hardly the resume of a championship team compared to UConn but it worked out for them.

And you say that UConn had no chance? LOL That's what UConn fans said about Miss St.

That was 2017 though....with a totally different team.

 

[Alydar]

That was 2017 though....with a totally different team.

It was a worse situation for S Car in 2017 that UConn in 2020. And if they could win a title then then so could have UConn last year. I'm not saying it would have happened but simply that it happens often in wcbb that the No 1 in the AP poll doesn't win the championship.

What I can't understand is how a fan base that is predicting a championship in 2021 and others beyond 2021 needs to try and claim a bogus one for a year that's done and gone.

 

[WFFL]

Speaking of the 2017 Miss state debacle ....did anyone here notice at the 2:15 mark of the 2nd QTR the cam swivels to Sue Bird the goddess and she says to Megan Rapinoe "Why does he have her in?" LOL referring to Natalie Butler after she turns it over with a travel

 

[WFFL]

It was a worse situation for S Car in 2017 that UConn in 2020. And if they could win a title then then so could have UConn last year. I'm not saying it would have happened but simply that it happens often in wcbb that the No 1 in the AP poll doesn't win the championship.

What I can't understand is how a fan base that is predicting a championship in 2021 and others beyond 2021 needs to try and claim a bogus one for a year that's done and gone.

I concur you are definitely right my friend .

 

[Alydar]

Speaking of the 2017 Miss state debacle ....did anyone here notice at the 2:15 mark of the 2nd QTR the cam swivels to Sue Bird the goddess and she says to Megan Rapinoe "Why does he have her in?" LOL referring to Natalie Butler after she turns it over with a travel

Sorry but I doubt many UConn fans watch that game again. Just as doubt S Carolina fans watch their losses to UConn.

 

[WFFL]

Sorry but I doubt many UConn fans watch that game again. Just as doubt S Carolina fans watch their losses to UConn.

No shade , just a hilarious laugh at how serious Sue was about Why Geno had Butler in the game AT ALL . #SharedThoughts

 

[Alydar]

No shade , just a hilarious laugh at how serious Sue was about Why Geno had Butler in the game AT ALL . #SharedThoughts

Remember that Butler led the nation in rebounding one year.

 

[WFFL]

Remember that Butler led the nation in rebounding one year.

Yes , but not at UCONN unfortunately ...Tell that to Sue The Goat !

 

[HuskylnSC]

The bottom line is that without a championship tournament winner, no school can claim a championship. 18 times since 1987 a team not ranked #1 won the championship. Teams ranked 3,4,5,6, 8, and 11 have ended the season as champions. Geno has said many times being #1 in the poll really doesn't prove anything.

Year	Champion	Rank	Number 1
2019	Baylor (37-1)	1
2018	Notre Dame (34-3)	5	Uconn
2017	South Carolina (33-4)	3	Uconn
2016	Connecticut (38-0)	1
2015	Connecticut (38-1)	1
2014	Connecticut (40-0)	1
2013	Connecticut (35-4)	3	Baylor
2012	Baylor (40-0)	1
2011	Texas A&M (33-5)	8	UConn
2010	Connecticut (39-0)	1
2009	Connecticut (39-0)	1
2008	Tennessee (36-2)	3	UConn
2007	Tennessee (34-3)	3	Duke
2006	Maryland (34-4)	3	North Carolina
2005	Baylor (33-3)	5	Stanford
2004	Connecticut (31-4)	6	Duke
2003	Connecticut (37-1)	1
2002	Connecticut (39-0)	1
2001	Notre Dame (34-2)	1
2000	Connecticut (36-1)	1
1999	Purdue (34-1)	1
1998	Tennessee (39-0)	1
1997	Tennessee (29-10)	8	UConn
1996	Tennessee (32-4)	4	La Tech
1995	Connecticut (35-0)	1
1994	North Carolina (33-2)	5	Tennessee
1993	Texas Tech (31-3)	5	Vanderbilt
1992	Stanford (30-3)	3	Virginia
1991	Tennessee (30-5)	4	Penn State
1990	Stanford (32-1)	11	Penn State
1989	Tennessee (35-2)	4	La Tech
1988	Louisiana Tech (32-2)	3	Tennessee
1987	Tennessee (28-6)	1

 

[bennyskid]

It's amazing how much things have changed in just 30 years. In 1990, Stanford was 27-1 going into the tournament, a #1 seed, and the two main polls had them #3 (Coaches Poll) and #11 (AP Writers). Can you imagine the uproar today if any major conference team went 27-1 and was ranked ELEVENTH? Behind WESTERN KENTUCKY (who started the season unranked, finished 17-10, ranked #10, and lost by ten in the first round as a 9-seed.)!!!

But who was paying attention to WCBB in 1990 . . . certainly not many AP writers!

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Hold on Jumpstart. I haven't posted one word in this thread about South Carolina as to whether or not South Carolina should or shouldn't have been number 1, etc., etc. I'm just astonished at how many times South Carolina backers have jumped in to defend their "championship" and number 1 rating.

Finally, check yourself if you think UConn fans are in any way, shape or form "jealous" of South Carolina at what "they have become." We will acknowledge that they are a good program. But win a couple in a row before even thinking that UConn fans have any reason for jealousy. Of any program.

Who said anything about a championship?

South Carolina ended the seasons as the #1 team in the land according to various sources.

That's cooler than not finishing #1.

It's weird that bothers you and that you keep mentioning how it bothers you.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

It was a worse situation for S Car in 2017 that UConn in 2020. And if they could win a title then then so could have UConn last year. I'm not saying it would have happened but simply that it happens often in wcbb that the No 1 in the AP poll doesn't win the championship.

What I can't understand is how a fan base that is predicting a championship in 2021 and others beyond 2021 needs to try and claim a bogus one for a year that's done and gone.

What South Carolina fans are claiming a championship and predicting another one?

Seem like real hooligans.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Who said anything about a championship?

South Carolina ended the seasons as the #1 team in the land according to various sources.

That's cooler than not finishing #1.

It's weird that bothers you and that you keep mentioning how it bothers you.

Read my post. Never said it bothered me. And you are being a little disingenuous. Plenty of SC fans (and their coach) have claimed a championship for last year. Let’s not pretend they haven’t.