M Bball # 9 in SI.com preseason rankings
SI.com's Luke Winn has released his preseason Power Rankings. Michigan checks in at #9. Other Big 10 teams on the list are #1 Indiana, #6 OSU, #11 MSU, #16 Wisconsin, #26 Minnesota. No other Big 10 team is in his initial 32.
So any surprises on this list? I'm a little bit surprised OSU is ahead of us, I thought it was going to be a battle between Indiana and us for the conference crown this year.
October 12th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
I honestly haven't seen another media outlet that's ranked any B1G team except for Indiana ahead of us, so thusly, this must be some sort of anti-Michigan conspiracy. Now who's someone now at SI that has some sort of unwarranted vendatta against the Wolverines...
October 12th, 2012 at 11:46 AM ^
It looks like B1G hoops will make up for the lackluster B1G football season, at least from a national perspective. We should be a powerhouse conference.
OSU still has a lot of talent on their roster, but #6 seems a tad high. Their incoming class of 1 player (Amedeo) may not have a huge impact this year, but their 2011 class had a lot of supposed talent. I think that class in still intact, at least according to ESPN's 2012-13 OSU roster. Time will tell.
NC State is #3 on SI's list. That will be a huge non-con game.
October 12th, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
October 12th, 2012 at 3:45 PM ^
Your second sentence has nothing to do with your first. You haven't seen any of those teams play this year, so why would #9 be high for us?
Anyway, many of us like preseason polls because it gives us an idea of how well the experts think we'll do as well as something to discuss. If you don't like them, I get it.
But to say, "Preseason polls are worthless, but we're ranked too high" just doesn't make any sense.
October 12th, 2012 at 11:50 AM ^
Five Big Ten schools in their top 16. Maybe this will make critics forget this years B1G football performance - doubtful. Nevertheless, B1G basketball should be very strong this year. I'm looking forward to it.
October 12th, 2012 at 11:50 AM ^
A little surprised there. Most returning talent, I suppose.
Also surprised not to see Purdue anywhere in the top 32. At any rate, I have certian expectations for the tourney this year.
In:
M, MSU, OSU, Wisky, IN, MInn, Purdue
Bubble:
Illinois, NW, Iowa
Out:
Neb, PSU
No, I'm not kidding.
October 12th, 2012 at 3:47 PM ^
Regarding IU at #1, it's not just about returning talent, but they brought in an incredible recruiting class, probably better than ours and maybe the best in the country. Adding those guys to Zeller and Co. and they're a very dangerous team.
October 12th, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
Yeah, disagree with OSU being higher than UM for sure. I also believe that if IU is #1, a case can be made that UM deserves to be #1. Both teams return most key contributors, but lose some senior leaders (IU lost Verdell Jones, Matt Roth, Tom Pritchard). Both teams bring in nationally elite recruiting classes (UM had a better class to some sites, while IU had a better class to others). When you look at the current state of both rosters, there is not much that separates the two teams. The biggest difference is that UM is the reigning Big Ten champs, while IU was the 5th best team in the Big Ten last year. I by no means think UM should be #1, but I have no reason to believe IU is a better team than UM.
October 12th, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
/s
October 12th, 2012 at 11:55 AM ^
Winn loves Aaron Craft. He had a running feature last year about how his ability to force turnovers improved OSU's odds of winning. (And I'm not disputing that Craft is really good, just pointing out that Winn thinks incredibly highly of his ability). OSU does lose a lot of scoring with Sullinger and Buford gone. Their big question is how they replace the 30+ ppg those guys scored.
And a lot of places have OSU rated pretty highly. On a quick check of preseason rankings, the Sporting News has them at 3, with Michigan at 5; Athlon has them at 8, with Michigan at 6; Lindy's has them at 6 with Michigan at 3, etc.
October 12th, 2012 at 12:04 PM ^
I am extremely excited for this basketball season. For the first time, I am VERY confident that we can sweep both Ohio and Sparty this year. I'm already convinced we are going to beat them in football next week, so to beat them twice in basketball would be the best. That would put their fans back into place.
October 12th, 2012 at 12:26 PM ^
I think #9 is about right for Michigan. 5 is too high and 15 is too low. And of course, all pre-season polls are meaningless. We especially have to see how the freshmen play. We're all waiting to see what Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson, and Nik Stauskas do. I'm intrigued with Caris LaVert. He must be rail thin (listed at 6'5" & 170 pounds) but the reports are that he can really play. With adding these four, plus Bielfeldt, Horford (healthy,) and possibly even Albrecht to spell Burke a few minutes at the point, this sky is the limit. Really looking forward to this season.
October 12th, 2012 at 12:32 PM ^
A lot of my Hoosier buddies (and many Hoosier fans in general) think Indiana is going to go undefeated. I told them there was no shot that happens. Thoughts?
October 12th, 2012 at 12:38 PM ^
They do have a very easy non-conference schedule, but no way they go undefeated in Big Ten play. I, too, live in Indy and hear about how awesome IU will be this year far too much. I think they will lose at least 3 games in conference play.
October 12th, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
I am an Indiana graduate and an IU basketball fan, but a HUGE Michigan football fan...No way IU goes undefeated this year. I think we (IU) can go undefeated AT HOME, but no way we do on the road.
October 12th, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^
Your friends are .... optimistic.
Looking at their schedule, since Kentucky dropped the annual IU game, they have a pretty good chance of getting through their non-conference undefeated, with the toughest games being UNC at home and either Georgetown or UCLA in Brooklyn (if Shabazz Muhammad is ruled eligible, then UCLA becomes a very tough game). But they have about the toughest Big 10 schedule they could have, with their 1 plays being Nebraska, Northwestern, Illinois, and Wisconsin. It's difficult to believe any team, no matter how good, is going to run the table with a schedule that features home and homes with Michigan, State, and OSU this year.
October 12th, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^
SI HATES US!
October 12th, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
Luke Winn does a really nice job with his power rankings, especially with the research he does and the pretty graphics. I'm giddy with excitement over this season and I think Winn's analysis nails it on the head:
"gives John Beilein the option -- for the first time in his tenure in Ann Arbor -- of playing a dual-big-man lineup for extended minutes."
October 12th, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^
To me, the most interesting part came right at the beginning of his analysis of Michigan, talking about how this class has the capability to be the most transformative for a team. If the freshman are contrable to contribute early and often as we hope, then we have the ability to go with a two-post offense with the size that we'll have (McGary and Morgan, with Horford coming in and out of that, I imagine), and the depth to rotate people in and out elsewhere. There will be the potential to turn the offense inside-out if all goes well, not necessarily leaning on the perimeter for offense so much. That would represent a major shift for Beilein teams at Michigan, but then I think this is arguably the most talent he's had on any one roster here.
October 12th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
Yay! Talking about a sport that the Big Ten does not suck at!
October 12th, 2012 at 12:58 PM ^
I think OSU will be better than Michigan until Michigan's freshmen get fully acclimated. They are returning Craft, but don't forget Deshaun Thomas. He will be expected to do more this year, and he was already a giant PITA to cheer against.
I don't see Michigan being a legitimate top ten team until the Big Ten schedule kicks in. Once everybody is rolling, I wouldn't be surprised if they make it to the Final Four, but I don't think they quite deserve to be in the top ten until they have proven themselves.
October 12th, 2012 at 1:05 PM ^
But IU and NC State deserve to be #1 and #3? Almost every team has talented, but unproven players. UM arguably has the best backcourt in the country with Burke and Hardaway. I understand the point you were trying to make, but its not like UM is the only top 5/10 team that expects their freshman to make a big impact.
October 12th, 2012 at 1:35 PM ^
The real question with OSU is who their second option offensively will be. Thomas will likely be all-Big 10, if not AA. Their defense will be great with craft and Amir Williams guarding the rim, but Craft's their second-leading returning scorer, and he's never been a consistent offensive weapon. Of the other guys returning, Lenzelle Smith had some nice game but was always a complimentary player, and Shannon Scott, the guy they took instead of Burke, was a huge disappointment. In particular, they're really hurting for any outside scoring.
They're going to win a lot of games because they're going to absolutely lock down other teams defensively (avert your eyes when they play Wisconsin, that's going to be some ugly ball) but they're going to need to find someone other than Thomas who can score at the end of close games.
October 12th, 2012 at 2:40 PM ^
Ohio State is expecting big things out of LaQuinton Ross this year as the "second option".
October 12th, 2012 at 1:36 PM ^
Would not be shocked if Thomas had a huge year, like 18-20 ppg, and ends up being a lottery pick. We are more talented, and deeper than them though.