I have been away for a couple months but I am pretty amazed to see the polls. For instance, Butler, a team that has beaten exactly one team that is currently ranked (Indiana) was somehow ranked 9th as of last week. Yes, they are probably the best mid-major team out there, but they have beaten very few "good" teams (Indiana, Notre Dame, Purdue, Gonzaga, and Tennessee). Of these 5 teams, only 2 of them even fall into the ambiguous caegory of "Others Receiving Votes." Additionally, their losses are to Indiana State, Illinois-Chicago, and Wright State, 2 of which have losing records. Sure, I admit that maybe they should be in the top 25, but #9 (or now #12) is ridiculous. As a matter of fact, I don't know of any team in the top 25 that I think Butler could beat on a consistent basis.

Then, take another team from a top conference; Virginia Tech, for example. They beat UNC, Duke (when they were #5 and didn't suck), Virginia, and Maryland and also took 2 really bad losses (Western Michigan and Marshall), yet they are ranked 25th in one poll and not at all in the other?

I seriously do feel like lesser conferences should be given credit when credit is due, but ranking a team 9th in the country based on absolutely no big wins is ridiculous.

2/13/2007 7:45:43 PM

The good thing is that rankings aren't directly related to seedings in the NCAA's

In the past, several mid majors ranked in the top 15-20 have gotten 7-10 seeds or worse, and I wouldnt be surprised to see Butler around there as well

No way they're a 3 or 4 seed, maybe at 5 if they win out

2/13/2007 7:51:28 PM

where exactly have you been not to see the news?

2/13/2007 8:07:32 PM

On deployment.... on a submarine. We get a few sports updates, but it's usually just who wins some of the more major games... never rankings.

2/13/2007 8:08:57 PM

Quote :

"Then, take another team from a top conference; Virginia Tech, for example. They beat UNC, Duke (when they were #5 and didn't suck), Virginia, and Maryland and also took 2 really bad losses (Western Michigan and Marshall), yet they are ranked 25th in one poll and not at all in the other?"

I agree with you to a point but Butler beat both ND and Indiana. Both are very good teams regardless of ranking. Also, a major conference team like Boston College has yet to beat a ranked team and they are in the Top 25 so it goes both ways.

[Edited on February 13, 2007 at 8:32 PM. Reason : BC has yet to beat a team currently ranked just so I'm clear...]

2/13/2007 8:31:01 PM

yeah but they got a hell of a chance saturday night


After they wipe the floor with Duke and thier unranked asses tomorrow

2/13/2007 8:38:56 PM

whoever wins the acc or the florida gators. that is the best team in the country. Dont worry about the rankings




[Edited on February 13, 2007 at 9:42 PM. Reason : .]

2/13/2007 9:26:11 PM

check out nevada ranked #10. they have only played two teams that will likely get bids, gonzaga and unlv, won against the zags and lost to unlv. other than that they are barely getting wins against crappy teams. i wouldn't even put them in the top 20.

2/14/2007 10:49:28 AM

No way, go Wolf Pack

2/14/2007 11:09:10 AM

Quote :

"where exactly have you been not to see the news?"

Quote :

"On deployment.... on a submarine."

lol

2/15/2007 8:58:04 AM

I dunno, Nevada is pretty impressive. They did manage to come back from a halftime deficit and win by 8 points against a gritty 4-21 San Jose St. team.

2/15/2007 9:25:58 AM