SI power rankings UCONN 17

[AF34]

Well if people want to keep pretending that Duke was a top 10 team this past year I guess you make a case for this ranking.

Jimmy, with all due respect, address my explanation which you asked for. If you are not in agreement, I am interested to hear your alternative opinion. Based on the conditions I outlined with regards to what we are judging teams on at this point of the year, tell me who should be ranked above Duke to start this season.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Jimmy, with all due respect, address my explanation which you asked for. If you are not in agreement, I am interested to hear your alternative opinion. Based on the conditions I outlined with regards to what we are judging teams on at this point of the year, tell me who should be ranked above Duke to start this season.

I've already explained my rationale. I don't think Duke was a top 10 this past year. They lost far and away their 2 best players. Duke was pretty much the Jabari Parker show last year. Without him and Hood returning, I don't see the rationale for putting them at #2. If you tell me that the 4 freshmen coming in are going to be that good? Well how can you rationally debate that?

FWIW I don't see how Kentucky and Wisconsin aren't at the top of the heap considering who's returning.

 

[CallMeBruce]

I've already explained my rationale. I don't think Duke was a top 10 this past year. They lost far and away their 2 best players. Duke was pretty much the Jabari Parker show last year. Without him and Hood returning, I don't see the rationale for putting them at #2. If you tell me that the 4 freshmen coming in are going to be that good? Well how can you rationally debate that?

FWIW I don't see how Kentucky and Wisconsin aren't at the top of the heap considering who's returning.

Kentucky and Wisconsin are #1 and #3. Duke has the top recruiting class. What's your problem here?

 

[AF34]

I've already explained my rationale. I don't think Duke was a top 10 this past year. They lost far and away their 2 best players. Duke was pretty much the Jabari Parker show last year. Without him and Hood returning, I don't see the rationale for putting them at #2. If you tell me that the 4 freshmen coming in are going to be that good? Well how can you rationally debate that?

FWIW I don't see how Kentucky and Wisconsin aren't at the top of the heap considering who's returning.

Jimmy, you're missing the point. Regardless of last year and how overrated Duke was, how good Jabari Parker/Rodney Hood were and the fact that they're leaving, 5 teams need to be ranked 1-5 in the preseason rankings for this coming season. As it is impossibe to say how good this crop of incoming players is going to be, I'm not necessarily saying Duke deserves to be there (although I believe they do qualify for consideration), but this being said...who are you putting above them? It's a simple question. Give me the Jimmy top 5.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Jimmy, you're missing the point. Regardless of last year and how overrated Duke was, how good Jabari Parker/Rodney Hood were and the fact that they're leaving, 5 teams need to be ranked 1-5 in the preseason rankings for this coming season. As it is impossibe to say how good this crop of incoming players is going to be, I'm not necessarily saying Duke deserves to be there (although I believe they do qualify for consideration), but this being said...who are you putting above them? It's a simple question. Give me the Jimmy top 5.

This is getting ridiculous but I'll give you Kentucky, Wisconsin, UNC, Zona, and the University of Connecticut all being better than Duke next year.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Duke belongs around #20.

 

[AF34]

This is getting ridiculous but I'll give you Kentucky, Wisconsin, UNC, Zona, and the University of Connecticut all being better than Duke next year.

You're right. It is getting ridiculous, but I'm not stopping. As "laughable" as you say it is that Duke is #2 on this list, I would say it would be 100x more "laughable" to the non-UConn fan to have us as a preseason top 5 team this coming year (Non-UConn fan being an important piece there). Are you actually serious? If we had DeAndre Daniels back, yes I can get on that top 5 consideration train for us..ABSOLUTELY. I know we all know what our program is capable of doing each season in developing and being the best team at the end of the season (and I am confident we can do the same this coming year under KO), but based on the conditions I outlined with regards to what we are judging teams on at this point of the year (THE PRESEASON), what you're saying is absolutely idiotic. I applaud your hatred of Duke, but comon man...Get real.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

You're right. It is getting ridiculous, but I'm not stopping. As "laughable" as you say it is that Duke is #2 on this list, I would say it would be 100x more "laughable" to the non-UConn fan to have us as a preseason top 5 team this coming year (Non-UConn fan being an important piece there). Are you actually serious? If we had DeAndre Daniels back, yes I can get on that top 5 consideration train for us..ABSOLUTELY. I know we all know what our program is capable of doing each season in developing and being the best team at the end of the season (and I am confident we can do the same this coming year under KO), but based on the conditions I outlined with regards to what we are judging teams on at this point of the year (THE PRESEASON), what you're saying is absolutely idiotic. I applaud your hatred of Duke, but comon man...Get real.

I didn't say we'd be top 5. I said we'll be better than Duke.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Duke belongs around #20.

Well looking back on the 2014 season I thought they were in the 10-15 range. Losing Parker and Hood, that sounds about right.

 

[AF34]

I didn't say we'd be top 5. I said we'll be better than Duke.

This whole disagreement was started, based and emphasized throughout on a PRESEASON ranking and preseason ranking ONLY, not what teams would develop into by the end of the season. Learn how to pay attention to detail. I asked you a simple question "Give me the Jimmy top 5." You replied with University of Connecticut included in the answer. You're digging yourself into the deepest grave of all time Jimmy. I would just stop replying if I were you, before you say the best player in UConn Men's Basketball history is Gerry McNamara.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

This whole disagreement was started, based and emphasized throughout on a PRESEASON ranking and preseason ranking ONLY, not what teams would develop into by the end of the season. Learn how to pay attention to detail. I asked you a simple question "Give me the Jimmy top 5." You replied with University of Connecticut included in the answer. You're digging yourself into the deepest grave of all time Jimmy. I would just stop replying if I were you, before you say the best player in UConn Men's Basketball history is Gerry McNamara.

That's cute. Have a good day. Hopefully your next 48 posts are an improvement.

 

[AF34]

That's cute. Have a good day. Hopefully your next 48 posts are an improvement.

As long as you stop posting idiotic garbage on this board, everyone will have a good day.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

As long as you stop posting idiotic garbage on this board, everyone will have a good day.

I'd tell you to make post #50 count, but I don't know if you can top that gem that is #49.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Duke is going to be very good next year, primarily because Okafor is really, really good. Top 5 team, IMO.

 

[Gurleyman]

After Kentucky was preseason No. 1 based on a bunch of freshmen and went into the NCAAs a No. 8 seed, people should have some pause about rating a team No. 2 based on a bunch of freshmen.

Granted you can say Kentucky made it to the championship game and the ranking wasn't that far off after all, but it wasn't like they started killing teams to get there.

 

[B1GEast]

As long as you stop posting idiotic garbage on this board, everyone will have a good day.

Hey , that's Nomar's avitar, I think there's a rule against that, you have to claim it

 

[PAHusky]

As enjoyable as this manhood measuring contest has been, getting worked up about a sports illustrated preseason ranking or feeling slighted as a program as a whole is pretty absurd. Preseason rankings are based entirely on three things - who's coming back, who's coming in, and who's coaching them. I don't know how anyone is arguing that Duke shouldn't be ranked in the top five based on that. They bring back decent upperclassmen, they have a great recruiting class, and as much as I hate the Ratface Killa he's a good enough coach. Same with Kentucky, Wisconsin, Kansas, Zona, etc. As excited as I am about UConn's potential next year we have some serious questions ourselves - can boat keep up the intensity and carry the lead dog mantle? Is purvis the real deal? Will Hamilton be as good as advertised? Can Omar come back? Will Nolan/Brimah make a leap? Will the 4 be a black hole? I think the answer is yes to all but that last question but again, we really have no idea. The best chance these writers have to make cogent picks is to go with the traditional programs i.e. the ones usually stocked with the best talent and best coaching.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Even though Duke is losing Parker and Hood they are making up by getting talent that can actually play there positions. Parker and Hood are 3s who had to play the 4 and 5 all year. They had no inside presence at all. Okafor will provide that as well as having experience and some great recruits to go along with it. A true PG in Tyus Jones who could actually make plays... Duke is going to be a lot better this year.

 

[nym410]

I'm gonna laugh when Quinn Cook gets to be just like Greg Paulus. A big time recruit who plays a ton as a freshman and sophomore and then gets blamed and dumped on and barely plays as a senior..

 

[AF34]

Hey , that's Nomar's avitar, I think there's a rule against that, you have to claim it

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