Who Is The 5th Best Team in the Country?

[JoePgh]

Before tonight's game, I would have said that Tennessee was really the 5th best team in the country. This is based mainly on the fact that Maryland, Duke, Rutgers, and Kentucky failed to consistently impress, and Tennessee still does have quite a collection of skill and talent. And they have struggled through significant injuries.

Two hours later, I no longer believe that Tennessee is one of the 10 best teams, much less the 5th best. So who is? Based on record, I guess Duke deserves the nomination (they did play a close game at home against ND). But if UConn gets another 30-point win against Duke on Duke's home court next week, as I somewhat expect after watching a lot of the Duke-Maryland game, I think their balloon may burst.

At the end of the season, I would say that the most likely 5th-best team overall will be either Maryland or Kentucky. Does anyone have other nominees?

I would even have considered Georgetown if they had not just lost at home to Louisville, following a previous home loss to DePaul.

 

[speedoo]

Duke is the 5th best team in the country. I have not felt like TN was close to the "top 4" since the first time I saw them play this year.

 

[Suebird10fan]

I would say TN, Duke or Ky. Before you completely dismiss TN, remember that even though they had everyone healthy tonight, injuries have wreaked havoc on them this season. And consider that losing to ND by 28 in South Bend is nothing compared to KY's loss to Middle Tennessee by 12. But I agree they dropped considerably in my eyes tonight.

 

[EricLA]

i think depending on the seedings, tennessee may not make it to the elite 8. of course, if OSU is their 3 seed, then pencil them in. but to answer your question, i was impressed with Duke. and Maryland. and i don't like Maryland. but i was impressed with both teams. they both played hard and tough and while i think both offenses could use a little more passing and what not, i thought the battle for the boards was epic.

anyway, Duke is my #5. after that, no idea really. i'd say Maryland probably my #6. i don't think Kentucky beats Tennessee again this year so after that i have no idea. i know in the rankings you put Kentucky up there, but i think Tenn kills them next game.

 

[speedoo]

I would say TN, Duke or Ky. Before you completely dismiss TN, remember that even though they had everyone healthy tonight, injuries have wreaked havoc on them this season. And consider that losing to ND by 28 in South Bend is nothing compared to KY's loss to Middle Tennessee by 12. But I agree they dropped considerably in my eyes tonight.

What about TN's loss to Virginia? Sorry, but TN is dismissed. They are a mess.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

The Duke loss to Notre Dame was on a neutral court, not at home.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

UCONN has a large hurdle to overcome next Monday by the name of DUKE!!!!! We COULD lose this game. Not that I want to or think we will, just trying to keep things in perspective. Duke is solid! and they can score.....and we are playing them at Cameron!

Just some food for thought!!!!

GO UCONN!!!!

 

[triaddukefan]

Duke is the 5th best team in the country. I have not felt like TN was close to the "top 4" since the first time I saw them play this year.

Gotta agree with speedoo..... even if we get blown out by 30pts next monday night (which i doubt), I would put us next in line... pretty much even with Maryland. Definitely ahead of Rutgers... and ahead of KY. As of 1/23/12 at 10:33pm. That could change by the end of the season.... but as of right now.... Duke is #5.

I still wont count out TN as being the #5 team....... despite the disaster tonight. If they get healthy... they will be a dangerous opponent for a #1 seed.... if they can make it that far in the tourney.

 

[choochoo]

I would say TN, Duke or Ky. Before you completely dismiss TN, remember that even though they had everyone healthy tonight, injuries have wreaked havoc on them this season. And consider that losing to ND by 28 in South Bend is nothing compared to KY's loss to Middle Tennessee by 12. But I agree they dropped considerably in my eyes tonight.

How about Tenn loss to unranked Virgina? Can you name the last time UCONN lost to an unranked team. I think it is ten years ago

 

[msf22b]

Tennessee had their players on the floor tonight. But its a stretch to say that they were all healthy; far from it.
Still the beating does question their inclusion in the top 10. Could they beat Delaware, Green Bay, Ohio State? Maybe, maybe not.

 

[choochoo]

Gotta agree with speedoo..... even if we get blown out by 30pts next monday night (which i doubt), I would put us next in line... pretty much even with Maryland. Definitely ahead of Rutgers... and ahead of KY. As of 1/23/12 at 10:33pm. That could change by the end of the season.... but as of right now.... Duke is #5.

I still wont count out TN as being the #5 team....... despite the disaster tonight. If they get healthy... they will be a dangerous opponent for a #1 seed.... if they can make it that far in the tourney.

Have you been paying attention over the last 5 years. Pat does not play uconn because we got Maya and she did not and still has not landed the defining recruit in many years. yes she has great players, but does she have team players? And we beat her out for Della-done and she thinks she can remember she is still pissed. Till UT has the balls to apologize for their action toward UCONN I say ADIOS

 

[MilfordHusky]

In a word, Duke. But there is a gap after #4.

We'll see how they do against UConn at home.

 

[MilfordHusky]

How about Tenn loss to unranked Virgina? Can you name the last time UCONN lost to an unranked team. I think it is ten years ago

Arizona State in the 2004-5 season.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Before tonight's game, I would have said that Tennessee was really the 5th best team in the country. This is based mainly on the fact that Maryland, Duke, Rutgers, and Kentucky failed to consistently impress, and Tennessee still does have quite a collection of skill and talent. And they have struggled through significant injuries.

Two hours later, I no longer believe that Tennessee is one of the 10 best teams, much less the 5th best. So who is? Based on record, I guess Duke deserves the nomination (they did play a close game at home against ND). But if UConn gets another 30-point win against Duke on Duke's home court next week, as I somewhat expect after watching a lot of the Duke-Maryland game, I think their balloon may burst.

At the end of the season, I would say that the most likely 5th-best team overall will be either Maryland or Kentucky. Does anyone have other nominees?

I would even have considered Georgetown if they had not just lost at home to Louisville, following a previous home loss to DePaul.

How could you consider Maryland as that number 5 team even if UConn pulverizes Duke next week because wasn't it only days ago that Duke beat Maryland? Why would Maryland gain an advantage over Duke particularly with so recent a loss to the Blue Devils. Kentucky would be a viable number 5 team, but definitely not Maryland unless Kentucky were to self destruct with whomever they might play this week. Not likely, though.

 

[Icebear]

Duke is the 5th best team in the country. I have not felt like TN was close to the "top 4" since the first time I saw them play this year.

Bingo. From the start of the year I thought that at best they were a Elite Eight team.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

The only way for a team to close the gap on the Big Four is for Duke to beat UConn next week. Stanford will not be challenged in the PAC 12. Even if it loses a conference game, Baylor has defeated a lot of top teams this year. Notre Dame and UConn will likely only lose to each other in-conference.

So the last opportunity for a team to break through is for Duke to defeat UConn. A close loss will not count, since the game is at Duke, not a neutral court or in Storrs/Hartford.

 

[Tonyc]

Number 5 is Duke. Maryland Kentucky follow. Im not a bit concerned about Duke next monday. UConns defense will handle them. This UConn defense is suffacating and Duke has not seen anything like it this season. It would take alot of home cookin for Duke to beat UConn. Next season Duke is top 4.

 

[magic]

I give Duke a nod over the rest as 5th best team, but not by a whole lot. They have some talented players but after watching them play Maryland they seem to lack chemistry. They looked stuck between playing big with Verneray on the floor or playing smaller.

 

[DishNSwish]

Doug Bruno on CPTV said there were 4 contenders: Baylor, ND, UConn and Stanford. He said right behind were Duke and Kentucky.

 

[rington]

Right now, Duke is #5. If they lose big to Uconn, then I would move KY to #5.

If Uconn wins big at Duke, the separation of the top 4 teams from the rest of the field is quite a gap.

 

[triaddukefan]

Everyone loves Stanford..... but their best performances are a close loss to UCONN on the road, and a blow-out of Tenn at home. Thats it. They could very well be the 4th best team in the country, but im not sold that there is a huge game between them and the other top 10 teams.

They will go undefeated in the Pac 12. But does anyone think they would go undefeated in the Big 12, Big 10, SEC, or ACC ??

 

[huskiemaniac]

Number 5 is Duke. Maryland Kentucky follow. Im not a bit concerned about Duke next monday. UConns defense will handle them. This UConn defense is suffacating and Duke has not seen anything like it this season. It would take alot of home cookin for Duke to beat UConn. Next season Duke is top 4.

I wish I was as confident as you are Tony (well really, who is). Duke looked pretty impressive against Maryland and Elizabeth Williams is the real deal. I know we play great D and we better to beat them on the road.

 

[easttexastrash]

I see two comments that were also made about Baylor: they haven't seen anything like the UCONN defense and they lack chemistry. I have not seen enough of Duke to comment about their chemistry but I guarantee you that you are right that they have not seen a defense like UCONN brings. I think Duke's guards will struggle against UCONN as they seemed to have done in the recent past.