ypsituckyboy

October 31st, 2014 at 3:21 PM ^

Pretty good spot for now due to the question marks up front. Assuming Donnal/Doyle/Wilson improve over the course of the year, they should shoot up the rankings.

I wouldn't want to play this team in March. Guards carry teams these days and we have one of the best PG's in the B1G and one of the best 2-guards in the country.

mtlcarcajou

October 31st, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^

Beilein is the biggest factor here. As they say, he is a teacher. These kids will have the whole season to improve, with possibly the best coach for doing so behind them in the NCAA. 

Nice way to start the season. Mid-January we might see something a lot higher. 

Wolverine Devotee

October 31st, 2014 at 3:22 PM ^

Bullshit and bullshit.

But Beilein will keep raising banners yearly while the media continues to doubt him.

Tater

October 31st, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^

I agree on BS and BS, but I like it that way.  It takes the pressure off of the team early and gives them an attitude that they have something to prove.  I would imagine that the early rankings could be used as efffecitve motivational material.  I don't perceieve JB as the kind of coach who uses "us against the world," but I'm sure he has some variation that is a little less hateful and a little more achievement-oriented.

PurpleStuff

October 31st, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^

State comes in at #18 in both polls.  In the last 7 years, they've made at least the Sweet Sixteen 6 times (including an Elite Eight last year, a Final Four appearance, and a national runner-up).

Doesn't seem like some crazy romance is required to expect they'll be pretty good at basketball again.

Michigan4Life

October 31st, 2014 at 5:31 PM ^

They lost Payne, Harris and Appling.  Their incoming freshmen class isn't very good.  Kaminski got kicked off the team.

The leading returner are Denzel Valentine and Branden Dawson. Both aren't good 1st option on the team IMO.  They will struggle to score baskets IMO. Trice is nothing more than a backup PG and is expected to start for them with heavy minutes.  They have an undersized PG but solid in Laourawls Nairn backing up Trice. 

SDCran

October 31st, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^

MSU has consistently been seeded 5-15 spots below their pre-season rank over the past 10+ years. (Then they make it as far in the tourney as their preseason rank leading everyone to talk about how they over-achieve in the tourney). so look for them to be a 8-10 seed this year.

MichiganExile

October 31st, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^

Given the production lost I can see why a cursory glance at this team would cause national media and coaches to rank them around there. Objectively this team does have some major question marks. With Beilein's track record though I would expect this team to experience some early growing pains before hitting their stride and end the season in the 10-16ish range. 

WinThyGame

October 31st, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^

Preseason rankings are meaningless (remember when Kentucky was top 5 team in the preseason a couple years ago and lost to Robert Morris in the NIT?), but I honestly would have put us around 17-20. 

Soulfire21

October 31st, 2014 at 5:22 PM ^

I don't think we are necessarily underrated, we have some major question marks. JBs track record the past couple years suggests we will finish a fair amount higher though, especially because nobody (except Wisconsin) appears dominate in the conference.



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bronxblue

October 31st, 2014 at 5:24 PM ^

Seems to track with the preseason B1G projections.  Obviously I doubt they'll wind up there at the end, but I look at the teams ahead and I can see all of them being decent.

michiganman01

October 31st, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^

To be fair to the AP voters, their preseason rank for UM basketball the past 3 years does seem to the actual caliber of the team.

in 2011-12 Started 18. That team was about the 15-20th best team.

2012-13 Started 5th, ended national runner ups and it obviously wasnt a great tourney run with a 31-8 record.

2013-14 Started 7th, team was around the 4-8 range.

 

umichjenks

October 31st, 2014 at 5:54 PM ^

who the F is going to score for State? Them being ranked ahead of us is a joke. Dawson is your go to scorer and he's as inconsistent as they come and had zero range. No big man and a turnover prone pg. No real experience of their team besides those 2 and Trice (who couldn't over take a one armed Appling). 18th in the country sounds right lol.

gwkrlghl

October 31st, 2014 at 6:22 PM ^

We have serious question marks at the 4 and 5, but solid at 1-3. Very fair - possibly even generous - to put as at 23/24 now. If a lot of these guys could add comments on who they think will rise/fall as the season went on, I bet a lot of them would say Michigan will likely improve as the year goes on

slimj091

October 31st, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^

The thing that I love the most about college basketball pre-season is when all of the football people start griping about basketball pre-season rankings.

BursleyHall82

October 31st, 2014 at 11:02 PM ^

Our ranking seems fair, but Nebraska ahead of us? I don't care who Nebraska has, ever. Nebraska basketball will always be Wisconsin football - a fraud just waiting to be exposed.