NFG

December 3rd, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^

The media loves Kentucky basketball. They will rank them at all costs. Pitt not being ranked is just retarded. That team would beat 90% of the SEC teams, 100% of the PAC and compete very well in the ACC and B1G.

pasadenablue

December 3rd, 2012 at 2:54 PM ^

Well, its a matter of resume vs how they look on the floor.  Yeah, they haven't played great competition (Michigan aside), but I watched the game they played against us.  They looked good.  The thing is that most voters haven't had a chance to watch Pitt like we have.  That, or Michigan, Pitt, Kstate, and NCstate are all desperately overrated.

NFG

December 3rd, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^

They play hard and are skilled. I know they barely beat OU but I think OU is a solid mid-major. Michigan only beat Bradley by 8, but doesn't take away from the fact it was a quality win. Pitt will make a run this year. Dixon has that team play great defense and very physical.

Needs

December 3rd, 2012 at 3:04 PM ^

Northwestern's football ranking is far more defensible than Kentucky's basketball ranking. Northwestern was really close to an undefeated season, blowing 4th quarter leads in each of its 3 losses. And to be honest, their loss to us was a total fluke. Of the other Big 10 teams, Nebraska was just ritually sacrificed to the god of butter, hair products, and o-linemen that Brett Bielma worships, Wisconsin has 5 losses, and we have 4 (and likely should have had 5).

Kentucky's just been flat out beat in all of their losses.

jmblue

December 3rd, 2012 at 4:13 PM ^

 

And to be honest, their loss to us was a total fluke

 

Giving up a 50-yard tipped pass is definitely fluky . . . but so is getting a very iffy 1st-down, thanks to a generous spot, right beforehand.  We may not have needed a miracle if that call had gone the other way.

DH16

December 3rd, 2012 at 4:30 PM ^

Regardless, my point was both Nebraska and Michigan beat Northwestern, but finished behind them despite Northwestern not beating any team that UM or Nebraska lost to to make up for it (only commonality was Penn State, who Nebraska beat but Northwestern lost to), but somehow coaches placed them higher

Needs

December 3rd, 2012 at 4:37 PM ^

We actually had back to back fluky plays, though. Gallon's punt return that got the ball back to the 35 or whatever was fluky in that it required NU to totally botch a punting situation that normally results in the ball being at worst on the 20. I agree that the spot was close, though.

Blue boy johnson

December 3rd, 2012 at 2:54 PM ^

Speaking of Kentucky. I can't believe how average Nerlens Noel looks in college, after looking like a one and done, top 5 NBA talent in HS. At this point Noel is a small upgrade over what Maceo Baston was at M. Noel needs at least 2 years of college and some extensive time in the weight room.

Shakey Jake

December 3rd, 2012 at 2:55 PM ^

There are very few class acts out there like Beilein. Many of these coaches are snakes and pat each other on the back. But that's with many closed knit group.

MGoCombs

December 3rd, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^

Does anyone else think Duke would be #1 if there weren't previous polls? Say, for instance, there were no rankings up until week 5, and everyone was filling out their first ballot for the season, would that many people really put Indiana over Duke? I know this isn't how polls work, and there is a general consensus that the #1 team doesn't move until they slip. Not saying you can't still make the case for Indiana, but I think if they weren't #1 to begin with, they wouldn't still be.

I mostly bring this up because I have always held the opinion that polls shouldn't start until meaningful games have been played. Roughly week five in both CFB and MBB.

EDIT: I am really only talking about the AP because the coaches don't really take it seriously anyway.

turtleboy

December 3rd, 2012 at 3:14 PM ^

i'm personally all for the B1G teams, and Indiana has absolutely dominated their opponents, (except getting taken to overtime by the Hoyas) while Duke has won by very close margins, but I'm surprised they're not #1. They beat the #2, #3, and #4 teams in just a few weeks. Even if they did it at home each time by just 2 baskets, that should count for something. It looks like there was basically no point to them scheduling those tough opponents.

MGoCombs

December 3rd, 2012 at 3:29 PM ^

I certainly want Indiana to be #1 and I am not denying that they have a case for it, I was more or less asking, if today was the first day that AP voters casted a ballot, looking at everyone's resume prior to today, would Indiana have the more compelling case? I am certain some might think so, and I am not adamently saying that they don't, but thrashing an injured UNC team and an OT win over Georgetown isn't as impressive to me as beating Kentucky, Louisville, OSU and Minnesota.

/sorry for run on sentences

Darth Wolverine

December 3rd, 2012 at 3:27 PM ^

While I'm glad to see M ranked so high, it doesn't matter. Teams can have a record of just above .500 and still win the title, which is the beauty of a playoff.

I can't wait to win the Big Ten again though.