Who’s “Number 4?”

[visitingcock]

Who Joins the Top 4?

I will assume that SCar, Stanford and UConn will be within the Top 4 after the smoke clears on Sunday/ though the order could change, a loss by any of those three on Sunday shouldn’t knock them out.

NC State has the biggest opportunity, and perhaps the biggest task. But, could another OT thriller loss to UConn do it? Texas' might not fall considering they were without Harmon in their UConn loss. Others???

Creighton? Let's face it, they have had an excellent early season against real teams! They have earned consideration at this point EVEN IF FOLKS DON'T BELIEVE THEY WILL BE AROUND AT THE END.

If you choose "Write In", please post the team you want to write in below!

 

[visitingcock]

Oh heck, I talked myself into Creighton based on their present resume.

 

[undersized]

I have Notre Dame as #4 at the moment.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Texas. I do think the top 5 will be different every week this season.

 

[visitingcock]

Somebody chose write In. But hasn't posted who their write-in would be.

 

[UcMiami]

I didn't vote ... not enough information yet. Early season polls are mostly hot air, TN being the obvious example. While a few teams have stretched themselves with tough games, most are still playing their sisters of mercy OOC schedule. Stanford will have racked up 5 of those meaningless wins before they take on SC and NC State 4 before they face Uconn, while on the other end TN has played two top 15 teams in their first 3 as will Uconn. Creighton has challenged themselves but the opponents are at the back end of the rankings so them moving into the teens is certainly deserved but not yet worthy of a top 10 space.

I think free transfers and a huge portal and the 'covid 5th year' will make early season rankings even more problematic than it has been in the past. We are seeing a lot more 'star' transfers than even 5 years ago.

 

[triaddukefan]

I had State as #4 in my BY poll, and nothing has changed my mind at this point

 

[12au]

LSU... if not them I'd say Texas

 

[Bigboote]

Massey still likes Oregon because the algorithm is still using some results from last year.

I'm torn on this one. I think Creighton has the best resume this year, but as has been pointed out, it's only three games. Going back to last year you'd have to go with State or Louisville. State has played cupcakes and Louisville had trouble with Belmont. I'm going with Indiana by a hair over Ohio State.

 

[eebmg]

Iowa St barely holds on with an 88-85 win over Northern Iowa. UNI had a chance to tie it on a 3pt shot

 

[visitingcock]

Three people have voted “write in.” Yet, only one of those three has indicated who they would write in: LSU.

C’mon folks!

 

[Cornell Lt]

Indiana looks very good so far

 

[eebmg]

I really like ND. My write in.

 

[bballnut90]

Who Joins the Top 4?

I will assume that SCar, Stanford and UConn will be within the Top 4 after the smoke clears on Sunday/ though the order could change, a loss by any of those three on Sunday shouldn’t knock them out.

NC State has the biggest opportunity, and perhaps the biggest task. But, could another OT thriller loss to UConn do it? Texas' might not fall considering they were without Harmon in their UConn loss. Others???

Creighton? Let's face it, they have had an excellent early season against real teams! They have earned consideration at this point EVEN IF FOLKS DON'T BELIEVE THEY WILL BE AROUND AT THE END.

If you choose "Write In", please post the team you want to write in below!

Hard to say this year. I picked Louisville since they're always tough, though I just checked and saw they barely beat Belmont so I'd probably choose Texas or Notre Dame. NC State should be good too. Iowa State/Iowa have had close wins over inferior opponents which drops them, but too early to lock anyone in. At this point I think of SC/Stanford as clear cut #1/#2 and UCONN has number 3 locked in right now but I think there's a big gap between them and the top 2.

 

[triaddukefan]

Not Iowa

 

[Bjbod]

Iowa's defense is somehow worse than last year; really disappointed in performance of veterans in all phases of the game. Off season talk was all about how the Creighton loss would be motivation to elevate their games....so far just talk. If they play a top team I think you'll see their best effort, but seems like they're playing not to lose against everyone not named UConn/SCarolina, etc. Maybe a Sweet 16 team, but that's about it without a defensive rebuild.

 

[GoChips20]

Iowa's defense is somehow worse than last year; really disappointed in performance of veterans in all phases of the game. Off season talk was all about how the Creighton loss would be motivation to elevate their games....so far just talk. If they play a top team I think you'll see their best effort, but seems like they're playing not to lose against everyone not named UConn/SCarolina, etc. Maybe a Sweet 16 team, but that's about it without a defensive rebuild.

I think Iowa’s defensive problems are a product of two comorbid issues. One, they don’t really have great athletes. You can mask some of those physical deficiencies with intensity and hustle, but they play such an up-tempo game offensively that I think it impedes upon players’ abilities to get back and guard.

 

[GoChips20]

The good news for Iowa is that there’s not a single game they’ll be completely out of because of their ability to score in an onslaught. But the ceiling is capped short of a Final Four run if they can’t improve on the other end IMO.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I think Iowa’s defensive problems are a product of two comorbid issues. One, they don’t really have great athletes. You can mask some of those physical deficiencies with intensity and hustle, but they play such an up-tempo game offensively that I think it impedes upon players’ abilities to get back and guard.

Hard to set a defense like that when you're taking wild shots.

 

[Urshurak]

Write-In: Marquette. They just knocked off Texas…..

 

[triaddukefan]

When does this poll close? I might have to change my vote tomorrow if State wins.

 

[bballnut90]

Louisville, Tennessee, Iowa and Texas all with bad losses to start the year. I expect lots of parity this year (outside of the top 2-3)

 

[triaddukefan]

If SCar and Stanford play a barn burner, and if State upsets UCONN does that make UCONN #4 ??