Andy Katz's 2nd Way Too Early Top 25 Has UM at #5
Remember that first way too early Top 25 that had us at around #8? Well, that's history. Andy Katz has updated things based on underclassmen's draft decisions and late recruiting decisions. The results? UM moves up to #5, jumping past OSU and MSU but still behind IU as the #2 team from the B1G in the rankings.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
...is being grossly underestimated, IMO. I'm perfectly happy for them to have the No. 1 target on their backs, though.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:32 PM ^
Fortunately for us, we have an excellent PG to exploit their most glaring defensive weakness, Jordy Hulls. As long as Yogi Ferrell doesn't come in and start over him.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:49 PM ^
I remember IU putting Watford on Burke, which confused him I think. They could get away with it because they put Hulls on Stu. This year they won't be able to do that because all of Michigan's players will be faster and more athletic than Hulls.
As an IU fan as well, the general Idea I have heard from people is that Yogi would start at 1 and Hulls start at his more natural position as a 2. Still, Hulls is going to be a defensive liability regardless.
Yeah, the talk about IU as an NC contender seems silly to me until they can stop good teams consistently. UM's defense is not a world-beater but is still lightyears better than IU's was for most of last season.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:26 PM ^
It seems the Big Ten (I hate typing B1G) is the new Big East for college basketball.
If these rankings hold throughout next year, it's gonna be one hell of a year for us and the conference.
Go Blue!
April 12th, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^
Awesome, but I'd feel more comfortable with a 5-10 spot. Is it Final Four or bust with these high expectations?
April 12th, 2012 at 12:33 PM ^
Shouldn't we want seaons like this with Final Four or bust? Thats what great teams do, and we are turning into a great team. Personally I'm all for the Final Four or bust mentality. Gives the team extra drive.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:49 PM ^
The players themselves are talking B1G championship and national championship. I think Burke mentioned that in his presser, and Stauskas was quoted saying the same.
Feels very good to have Bball expectations to the point where football historically has always been. It is Final Four or bust for this team - that's certainly what the players are expecting.
Having the expectation for a Final Four appearance is definitely a good thing. It's like Hoke's philosophy in that anything less than a B1G championship is substandard. Maintaining this sort of mentaility is what elite programs do.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
If you want to set your expectations for the tourney before the freshmen step on campus I guess it is. Personally I am going to develop mine over the course of the season. We have no idea if any of the freshmen will be able to contribute in the B10. I would say with the returning players and even modest contributions from the freshmen, we should hope to make the sweet 16.
leadership. To go from one and done in the NCAA to Final Four as an expectation, is a little overstated. Not saying we can't achieve it, but to start the season expecting it, is assuming a lot.
Are you seriously saying that MIchigan didn't get any leadership from Trey Burke?
Burke will be even better in 2012-13. THJ can't play as badly as he did this season. The newcomers will have a lot of positive impact. Morgan should get better. Horford could be a wildcard.
I think Michigan deserves a pre-season ranking of #5, and IU can handle the #1 ranking, too. And I'll take four Big Ten teams in the top ten, even though I don't like #8 or #10. My only disagreement with the top teams is UK. I don't think they will be as good as a lot of people think if they lose everybody who is projected to go.
Sure, we lost 3 of our top 6, but they were probably numbers 4, 5 and 6, meaning we return our top 3 players, get Horford back from injury, and add some very good freshmen who should start or contribute right away.
We won't be a terribly deep team, but not many are in college basketball. We'll have as good a starting 5 as almost anyone though.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^
I love the fact that they think we are going to be that good? I really do hope this next year is the evidence of things that are and not just evidence of things to come!
April 12th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
The Big Ten seems a little overrated to me right now to me. I am fine with Indiana being ranked 1, as I would probably put them between 1 and 3 in my poll depending on the day. I think we should be ranked closer to 10. I think OSU and MSU should be ranked in the 15-ish range (maybe from 13-20). I do think Wisconsin and Minnesota are pretty fairly ranked at the bottom of the top 25 (maybe Minnesota should be "others receiving votes" status until they prove something next year).
This is a fair assesment, but who would you put in between all the Big Ten teams? Could be that there is nobody else to put there, and so Big Ten teams move up.
I hadn't actually looked at it as "who are the best 15 or 20 teams," it was more of a feeling. Do I feel that UM is a top-5 team (I don't- too many potential holes and questions around THJ and 2 new starters).? Does OSU "feel" like what i expect from a top-10 team (to me they don't- same thing lots of questions and losing focal point of their team)? Does MSU" feel" like what I expect from at top 12 team (with them the questions are even bigger- Green was at times their entire offense and Appling is always a question. On the other hand, defense and rebounding will always be there, so I could actually see them being better than OSU).
Edit- having looked at it, that whole middle section from about 7 to 20 are teams with questions. It looks like you could exchange any team for another and I would argue against who you ranked ahead. For me I guess I would put UCLA, Duke, UNC, 'Cuse and Arizona ahead of both OSU and MSU. And maybe teams like Memphis and Creighton. But like I said there are holes/questions about these teams as well.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
For some reason I thought this was for football at first. Then I read Indiana being number one in the B1G and knew it was impossible to be for football. I think this is a decent list B1G wise, but I think #5 in the country is a bit high.
Ironic that you and I posted almost directly contradictory posts back to back. At least we both agree UM is ranked a little too high.
I did the same thing, I stared at the screen for about a minute wondering what I missed about Indiana football this offseason.
I have Michigan as #1 on my 2035-2036 season list because of their off season pickup of highly touted recruit Tim Hardaway Jr Jr
In what universe is Branden Dawson "healthy" as Katz says?