Michigan #4 in AP Poll /#4 in Coaches Poll

Submitted by Soulfire21 on

Michigan up to No. 4 in the AP poll.  Indiana garners all but one first place vote, with that going to No. 2 Gonzaga

Full poll: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings

  1. Indiana
  2. Gonzaga
  3. Duke
  4. Michigan
  5. Miami (FL)
  6. Kansas
  7. Georgetown
  8. Florida
  9. MSU
  10. Louisville
  11. Arizona
  12. Syracuse
  13. Kansas State
  14. New Mexico
  15. Oklahoma State
  16. Ohio State
  17. Wisconsin
  18. Saint Louis
  19. Memphis
  20. Butler
  21. Notre Dame
  22. Marquette
  23. Pittsburgh
  24. Oregon
  25. Louisiana Tech

That's 5 ranked B1G teams, with Illinois coming in at an unofficial 31st under the others receiving votes category.  Indiana really emerges as the team to beat in a difficult league.

Update:

Michigan is also #4 in Coaches Poll, viewable by the same link as above.  Here's the poll in case you don't want to leave:

  1. Indiana (28)
  2. Gonzaga (3)
  3. Duke
  4. Michigan
  5. Kansas
  6. Florida
  7. Miami (FL)
  8. Georgetown
  9. Louisville
  10. MSU
  11. Arizona
  12. Syracuse
  13. Kansas State
  14. New Mexico
  15. Ohio State
  16. Wisconsin
  17. Memphis
  18. Oklahoma State
  19. Saint Louis
  20. Notre Dame
  21. Butler
  22. Marquette
  23. Saint Mary's
  24. Akron
  25. VCU

Paps

February 25th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^

Great job for Michigan! Can't look ahead, have to take care of business in Happy Valley - Big game this Sunday! Another top ten matchup in the big ten!!! 

On another note- La Tech?!?!?! I have to say, a 14-0 record in any conference is impressive, but That doesn't mean it's that good.  Yes, they are 24-3, but their losses are Northwestern State, and McNeese State (along with a good loss in Texas A&M).  I guess that La Tech @ Denver game to close out the year will be a good one, but I feel like in a head to head competition VCU, Saint Mary's, Colorado State, Akron, and Illinois (the teams behind them) would kill them.

 Also with Gonzaga, they are a great team, but I think their ranking is more a byproduct of them not losing and everyone else losing rather than the ranking people actually thinking they are better than some of the teams they are ranked ahead of. 

Also, I love the way saint louis is playing.  9 straight wins, with great wins over Butler 2x, VCU, and good wins against Richmond, Dayton, and Carlottle.  The Billikins are back!

OmarDontScare

February 25th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^

MSU dropped too far. Should be around 5-7. They're in the midst of the same gauntlet we just went through. Losses to #1 Indiana and at OSU aren't bad.

Miami is too high. Should be around 8-9. They got destroyed by an awful Wake Forest team and they've had extremely fortunate wins before that vs mediocre Clemson and Virginia.

Champeen

February 25th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^

MSU loses 2 games in a row, and you think they should only drop from #4 to #5?  What are you smoking?

IMO, i was shocked to see MSU still ranked as high as they are!  Thoguht they would drop to #10 to #12.

 

aratman

February 25th, 2013 at 2:01 PM ^

  They have played no one.  They were beat by a team Michigan has beat twice.  I live in Spokane home of the Zags and have watched them more than I have wanted to.  I have no idea if they are good or not.  If they weren't playing high school teams twice a week I might know. 

dahblue

February 25th, 2013 at 2:06 PM ^

As strong as the B1G is this year, the polls are never going to reflect the reality of the best teams.  Gonzaga?  Miami?  Florida?  C'mon.

Indiana, Michigan, MSU and OSU are all (factually speaking) top 5 teams. Throw Duke in the mix as they're strong as well, but Gonzaga, Miami and Florida could be 10 loss teams in the B1G.

lilpenny1316

February 25th, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^

Their records would be worse by at least 2-4 more losses depending on who they play and who gets skipped in conference play, but I think Florida and Gonzaga can beat the bottom 6 teams in our conference and compete with the others.  

OSU would be higher but the polls are not very forgiving after getting smashed by Illinois.  Good thing the RPI, BMI and KenPom numbers get a seat at the seeding table.  OSU looks like a top 10 team for sure.

dahblue

February 25th, 2013 at 3:40 PM ^

I agree that Florida and Gonzaga could beat the bottom of our conference (though I don't know about bottom 6...Gonzaga already lost at home to Illinois, I think, our #6), but I say that because I'm thinking of isolated games.  If they had to face very good competition on the reg, it'd wear them down quickly.  It's one thing to beat Wisconsin when your next 10 games are weak, but another thing to beat Wisc after playing Minn, Illinois, Iowa, etc.

SmackJack

February 25th, 2013 at 2:40 PM ^

This ohio friend of mine would not accept the fact that Michigan would be in the top 5 today.. After ohio beat little bro his head had swelled to enormous proportions. I explained that with Michigan at #6 and #2 Miami losing, accompanied with a little help from his Cbus degenerates, we would surely be in the top 5. His face looked sort of like Vince Young's on the Wonderlick. Surely enough we are there. Now let's win out and take the B1G Tourney!

Perkis-Size Me

February 25th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^

Granted, I don't think Florida is as good as its ranking, but its still a good team that I think could compete in the B1G. They beat the crap out of Wisconsin earlier this year.

dc22

February 25th, 2013 at 4:46 PM ^

I don't think this is particularly egregious - they have one less loss, played a good non-conference schedule and have been playing pretty well without one of their key players (other than the Miami game which would be equivalent to our State loss). I am sure that being one of the perceived blue bloods doesn't hurt either with at least some of the voters. That being said, If we can win 5 games between now and the start of the NCAA tournament, we should be well placed for a 1 seed regardless of current rankings.

BILG

February 25th, 2013 at 11:43 PM ^

Hate to say it, but msu and osu have to be the two teams I would not want to see in the brackets. As talented and flashy as Michigan and Indiana are, they are softer teams, especially UM. Osu and msu have the squads that can grind you to death ala Wisconsin, but with enough talent and athleticism to score points as well. I do not want to see either of those two teams in our bracket.

BILG

February 25th, 2013 at 11:44 PM ^

Hate to say it, but msu and osu have to be the two teams I would not want to see in the brackets. As talented and flashy as Michigan and Indiana are, they are softer teams, especially UM. Osu and msu have the squads that can grind you to death ala Wisconsin, but with enough talent and athleticism to score points as well. I do not want to see either of those two teams in our bracket.