B1G Hoops Preseason Poll: Michigan 5th

Submitted by MGoLesher on

B1G Media Day was today for basketball, and the preseason rankings voted by the media are out: 

1) Wisconsin 378 points
2) Ohio State 322
3) Michigan State 305
4) Nebraska 299
5) Michigan 286
6) Minnesota 226
7) Iowa 214
8) Illinois 196
9) Indiana 163
10) Maryland 162
11) Purdue 95
12) Penn State 84
13) Northwestern 78
14) Rutgers 27

Source: http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2014/10/1…

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sasmjjsly

October 15th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^

Ok. But note, I said "average." And if you want to debate that, then look at his record pre-Michigan sanctions and post-sanctions/Beilein years. Yes he made the most of not having competition in the State, but that's over and we all will see he is average. And as for his March success, I'm sorry ONE title in 20 years is average success at best. Yeah, Final Fours, but that's not a championship. And he won't be playing for one again. Also, ONE lottery pick in 20 years, no evidence that he can develop college talent into NBA talent, and the fact that top-tier (and even mid-tier) recruits are snubbing his program left and right will prove that he and his program are average. I'm not giving that FRAUD an ounce of credit until he can do it with a competitive Michigan basketball program in the State. That won't happen.

Joined: 12/07/2010

MGoPoints: 297

Voltron is Handsome

October 15th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^

eh

I don't think they're the fifth best, but I also don't think they're the best. They can cetainly win the conference again, but it won't be as easy as last season. They're definitely in the top three though.

Joined: 05/12/2014

MGoPoints: 3908

LSAClassOf2000

October 15th, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^

The Nebraska love has been interesting ever since they sort of reached back and found that other gear sometime around the beginning of February last year. Aside from us, of course, this is one of the teams whose season should be rather interesting, I think. It's difficult to really have a spat with a preseason poll because it isn't really based on more than opinions, but I do snicker at the apparent underestimation of Michigan. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130831

AA2Denver

October 15th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^

1) Wisconsin 
2) Michigan 
3) Ohio State
4) Maryland 
5) Nebraska
6) Michigan State
7) Iowa 
8) Illinois 
9) Minnesota
10) Indiana
11) Purdue 
12) Penn State 
13) Northwestern 
14) Rutgers 

 

Joined: 02/01/2011

MGoPoints: 2257

UofMDieHardsBlog

October 15th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^

this is BS! michhigan only countines to prove media wrong, we need to show them who runs the B1G! lets go blue! final 4 bound 2015! thumbs up if you agree we should be ranked 1/2! wisconsin and MSU are legit but really about osu and nebraska?

Joined: 10/13/2014

MGoPoints: -39

Steve in PA

October 15th, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^

I mean it's only fair that everyone gets a chance to be a top team, right? Michigan gets to be #1 at the end of the year as they have the past several so let those other fans get a sniff. *Then crush their joy during the season.*

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 6327

123blue

October 15th, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^

I've got no gripe with a low-preseason pick.  We lost a lot of talent, and it's not easy to replace so many talented kids.  Even if we do finish 5th in the B1G, that could still lead us to a ~4 seed in the tourney (which would be excellent).

Side note...depending on timing, the Title IX investigation at MSU could throw a giant monkey wrench into their season.  Izzo has a hard enough time dealing with injuries; I wonder how he'd deal with stories about zero-discipline for two alleged rapists that starred on his squad for four years.

Joined: 10/02/2014

MGoPoints: 3380

SDCran

October 15th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^

Since the national title MSU has had a lower post season seed than their preseason poll in all but 2-3 seasons. (Eg last year they were a preseason #1 seed). OTOH, they tend to perform to about their preseason rank in the tourney. underperform in the season, perform to expectations in the tourney = genius.

Joined: 01/27/2010

MGoPoints: 4702

Tater

October 15th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^

I am going to predict the same thing I have predicted about the last three or four years.  Michiagn sill struggle early to integrate all of the new pieces.  By the last half of the Big Ten schedule, they will be very good.  Nobody is going to look forward to playing them in the NCAA Tournament.

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584

A.C. Number 1 …

October 15th, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^

I think Michigan would be higher if the coaches were just voting. They all know how good John B is. Anything out of the top 3 or 4 would be considered a dissapointment for fans and the coaching staff at this point. Beilien has proved that he can reload his teams as opposed to rebuilding. Book it Danno!

Joined: 09/27/2014

MGoPoints: 177

MichiganTeacher

October 15th, 2014 at 7:33 PM ^

I think the B1G will be a two-team contest, between us and Wisky. No faith in Motta's ability to put the pieces together anymore in OSU. I have more faith in Izzo's ability to be competitive, but he doesn't have the talent to work with that OSU does. And as for Nebraska, I just can't give them that much preseason respect. Some, yes. A lot, even. But not enough to put them ahead of Michigan.

Joined: 10/06/2011

MGoPoints: 9263

m1jjb00

October 15th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^

The table is calculated from ESPN stats.  It might be slightly off in that for guys who played little I didn't bother checking if they're gone, just assumed effectively they'd be back.  Michigan, OSU and MSU look roughly similar to me, with the frontcourt losses from Michigan worse and the backcourt losses for OSU and MSU worse.

Nebraska and Wisconsin, as we know, have a lot coming back.

% Lost from last year
  Min. Pts Reb. Asst.
Michigan 52.7 57.2 63.2 41.0
OSU 51.3 57.3 51.5 59.9
MSU 50.6 59.8 44.5 48.9
Nebraska 19.8 18.3 13.1 23.0
Wisconsin 17.3 17.5 14.6 10.7

 

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8065