AP and Coaches Poll Watch Thread (2015-16 Edition)

[wusphlash]

WSU was ranked #21 last week but still missing from 6 of the 65 ballots. Regardless of where WSU falls today, they will be on some ballots, not all. Ranking #25 is just merely a cut off for listing teams with a number in front of their name. #26 is really not significantly different from #25 in terms of chances to move up in the future.

One difference between 25 and 26 is having your name on the Top 25 ticker at the bottom of the screen. It never hurts to keep "#?? WSU" in front of the voters.

[jdshock]

WSU was ranked #21 last week but still missing from 6 of the 65 ballots. Regardless of where WSU falls today, they will be on some ballots, not all. Ranking #25 is just merely a cut off for listing teams with a number in front of their name. #26 is really not significantly different from #25 in terms of chances to move up in the future.

You're obviously mostly right except that being in the actual top 25 pressures writers to vote for us next week. It's easier to leave us off next week if we're not in it this week.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Yes, peer pressure is a fair observation. I'm a bit undecided just how big of a factor it is. Probably varies pollster to pollster.

Regardless, I think WSU will be back in the top 25 soon if they fall out today. 20 wins will look real nice and is just around the corner.

[Dave Stalwart]

You're obviously mostly right except that being in the actual top 25 pressures writers to vote for us next week. It's easier to leave us off next week if we're not in it this week.

This is a better stated version of what I'm thinking.

[gdb620]

Looking at the teams ranked just behind WSU a week ago - I can't see Ind, SC, St. M, Utah, VCU, or Mich. moving ahead of the Shockers. They all had losses this week. AZ, Dayton, and USC probably will. And ND, though they lost to Miami, knocked off NC. After those schools it's a big drop to Valpo. So 25 is probably realistic.

[Dave Stalwart]

This is just a crazy year with a lot of losses all around. It's too bad we let it happen to us too, but we are certainly helped by the similar performances around us.

[Dave Stalwart]

I know you're a sunshine pumper, so I would respectfully remind you that we still play Indiana State on the road. Their zone will be much better executed than the one we saw in Normal on Saturday. I think Lansing is a much better coach as well, so the coaching staff needs to do a better job at reacting quickly either to the zone or the halftime adjustments.

I do fear Indiana State, but I would also remind you about what they just did this week... They lost a lot of my worry and respect by losing to BRADLEY. Although, if they are the decent, well coached team that we think they are, they will probably be just as angry as our guys are and they should right their ship the same way I'm expecting us to.

I may be an optimist, but you have to admit our remaining schedule is 4 home games and 3 road games. Those 3 road games are Drake, Loyola and Indiana State. The home gages are Mo State, Illinois State, UNI and NMSU. I get that I need to hedge my bets because we just dropped a bad game to Illinois State this weekend, but on paper, we should win every game left this season. It doesn't require too much sunshine to arrive at that.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Looking at the teams ranked just behind WSU a week ago - I can't see Ind, SC, St. M, Utah, VCU, or Mich. moving ahead of the Shockers. They all had losses this week. AZ, Dayton, and USC probably will. And ND, though they lost to Miami, knocked off NC. After those schools it's a big drop to Valpo. So 25 is probably realistic.

#22 Indiana had a similarly bad road loss, but blew out Michigan on the road earlier in the week. They were right on the Shox heels last Monday. I think they pass WSU today.

#23 Arizona picked up 2 decent road wins. They will definitely pass WSU.

#24 Dayton did nothing impressive, just took care of business. I think they pass WSU.

#25 South Carolina is similar to Indiana. 1-1 on the week. Their loss wasn't as bad as the Shox loss and their win @Texas A&M was big. I think they will be very close to WSU today. Could go either way.

#26, #28, #29, & 31 all lost without any amazing wins to counter.
#27 USC beat UCLA. It was at home. Passing the Shox today? Close call.
#30 Notre Dame isn't jumping the Shox with a 1-1 week. Beating UNC at home is good, but not THAT good.

Add it all up and 23-26 is possible.

[Stickboy46]

24 in the Coaches poll

http://sportspolls.usatoday.com/ncaa/basketball-men/polls/coaches-poll/

7 different teams received a 1st place vote ....

[Play Angry]

24th in Coaches Poll.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

I just realized that the coaches aren't giving SMU any votes. The AP is. I guess that helps WSU a bit in the coaches as it is one less team to contend with.

Will the coaches drop Louisville this week too? Same premise of not ranking teams banned from post season?

[Stickboy46]

I just realized that the coaches aren't giving SMU any votes. The AP is. I didn't realize that prior to now. I guess that helps WSU a bit in the coaches as it is one less team to contend with.

Louisville also dropped down to only 12 votes, which also helped. They are not eligible to receive votes for the rest of the year now.

[Dave Stalwart]

I feel pretty good about 24 in the Coaches Poll. They were the ones holding us lower than the AP before right? Maybe we can stay at 24/23 or 24/24. That would be really great. I could argue that we don't even deserve to be ranked after Saturday, but that would be more accurate in a different season where there weren't so many losses all around the top 25.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Louisville also dropped down to only 12 votes, which also helped. They are not eligible to receive votes for the rest of the year now.

Apparently most coaches were consistent with SMU and UL. A few weren't.

[MadaboutWu]

I know the coaches' poll is monkeys at typewriters but in the case of those teams they actually follow the S-Curve where the AP does not.