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

[ShockerPrez]

Who cares?

Lets just get in the tournament and piss in everyone's Wheaties again.

It's what we all live for anyway, and you all know it.

[WSUwatcher]

Looking back at the KenPom rankings, it's interesting that only one team is top 20 in both categories: Iowa is 7th on offense and 16th on defense, and they're justly held in high regard by the pollsters -- 5th in AP, 7th in the coach's delegate poll.

What's even more interesting is to look at who else does well on both sides of the ball in KenPom. If you add rank totals (offense+defense), right behind Iowa is top-ranked Oklahoma (benefiting from its Big 12-2 affiliation and that quality TV road loss against The Flagship's conference-champions-for-life) at 26 (O4+D22); and then, since they haven't yet had their chance to flame out in the tournament, comes another top 5 team in Villanova at 31 (O23+D8). Next comes top ten resident Virginia at 34 (O8+D26, and how often do you see that -- UVa better on offense than defense?), followed by this year's trendy top five team Maryland at 36 (O24+D12). And then, right on Maryland's tail although not yet back in the top 20, is good old WSU at 37 (O27+D10), even with its numbers depressed by the games in which LeFred didn't play; followed immediately by top ten team Michigan State at 38 (O11+ D27), which also may be held down a bit by injury, in their case to Denzel Valentine.

So there you have the top seven in combined KenPom ranks:

Iowa
Oklahoma
Villanova
Virginia
Maryland
Wichita State
Michigan State

-- all top ten poll teams (or higher) except one, which can't even quite crack the top 20; and all P5 teams except one. Funny how that works.

[wichshock65]

Nice words from Parrish in the CBS top 25 + 1

http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/eye-on-college-basketball/25468541/wichita-state-wins-again-to-maintain-spot-in-cbs-sports-top-25-and-one

[ShockerPhi]

Here is KU's profile from 2013-14, when they received a 2 seed and lost to Stanford. Toughest schedule in the country so it didn't matter whether they actually won or lost those tough games.


10-7 vs. Top 50
8-3 vs. 51-100
Undefeated vs. dregs


I mean that is uncannily similar to Utah this year and the two teams could not be further apart in hype.

Maybe I should change my signature to "Bring your name. It's all that really matters."

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Half of those voters had Duke on their ballots, lol. Another had Texas. Another had Valpo. I don't mind Valpo love, but do you think Valpo is better than Wichita State?

Not a single team you mentioned can rationally be put ahead of the Shox right now. Even Valpo. They have 3 losses outside the top 100. WSU's worst game is probably a 4 point loss to Alabama without 3 of their guards, including their All American PG. All 3 of Valpo's losses are worse than WSU's worst, and that's before you even factor in injuries.

Pollsters gonna do what they do best. Be dumb.

[Stickboy46]

Up to 18 on the ESPN Power Rankings

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/powerrankings

And now 18 in Top 25+1

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/rankings/top25

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Rank	Team	Pts	So Far This Week
#11	Providence	900	Lost @ DePaul
#12	SMU	853	Lost @ Houston
#13	Iowa St	851	Lost vs West Virginia
#15	Baylor	728	Lost vs Texas
#20	Kentucky	429	Lost @ Tennessee
#21	WSU	323
#22	Indiana	270	Won @ Michigan

It is only Wednesday morning and one thing is already for certain... next Monday's poll is going to be a logjam in the teens. I don't think WSU moves up more than 1-2 spots, especially if Indiana passes them, but they will be within striking range of a host of teams. This week might not rocket the Shockers ahead in actual rank, but it appears to be setting the stage for them to continue to climb in the next couple weeks any time one of the team's in front of them stumbles.

[Cdizzle]

Rank	Team	Pts	So Far This Week
#11	Providence	900	Lost @ DePaul
#12	SMU	853	Lost @ Houston
#13	Iowa St	851	Lost vs West Virginia
#15	Baylor	728	Lost vs Texas
#20	Kentucky	429	Lost @ Tennessee
#21	WSU	323
#22	Indiana	270	Won @ Michigan

It is only Wednesday morning and one thing is already for certain... next Monday's poll is going to be a logjam in the teens. I don't think WSU moves up more than 1-2 spots, especially if Indiana passes them, but they will be within striking range of a host of teams. This week might not rocket the Shockers ahead in actual rank, but it appears to be setting the stage for them to continue to climb in the next couple weeks any time one of the team's in front of them stumbles.

It's all about the setting up for the 3-game week from the 15th-21st. Shox *could* be 23-5 which I'm guessing by that time will be enough to rocket up closer to 10 than 20.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Really need the #4 Maryland vs #18 Purdue type of games to be won by Maryland. Let the top 10 pull ahead and help the Shockers jump up through the teens. This applies to both poll rankings and seeding. Doubt the Shockers get a better seed than Maryland. Better than Purdue is possible.

[Stickboy46]

Really need the #4 Maryland vs #18 Purdue type of games to be won by Maryland. Let the top 10 pull ahead and help the Shockers jump up through the teens. This applies to both poll rankings and seeding. Doubt the Shockers get a better seed than Maryland. Better than Purdue is possible.

That wont be a problem. If there is a team more overrated that Maryland, it might actually be Purdue. Nothing like having 4 people 6'10 or taller including some 5 star recruits, and looking like trash on the floor.

[ShockdaWorld]

Really need the #4 Maryland vs #18 Purdue type of games to be won by Maryland. Let the top 10 pull ahead and help the Shockers jump up through the teens. This applies to both poll rankings and seeding. Doubt the Shockers get a better seed than Maryland. Better than Purdue is possible.

I agree, but am afraid you're thinking much more logically than most pollsters. After all, if Purdue loses by 42 to Maryland, it's still a quality loss right? Kind of like KU at OK State.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

That wont be a problem. If there is a team more overrated that Maryland, it might actually be Purdue. Nothing like having 4 people 6'10 or taller including some 5 star recruits, and looking like trash on the floor.

19-4 with wins over
Florida by 15
Pittsburgh by 13
Vanderbilt by 13
Wisconsin
Michigan
Ohio State

KenPom - 13
RPI - 23

I'm not sure why the hate for Purdue at #18.

[Cdizzle]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but Vanderbilt, Wisconsin and Ohio State? They are a combined 39-27.

From what I've seen of Purdue, I think they look like a team that could be ranked or borderline ranked. 18 might seem a couple spots high to me, but not outrageous.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but Vanderbilt, Wisconsin and Ohio State? They are a combined 39-27.

All 3 of those wins are comparable to beating Evansville. Vandy and Wisconsin are legit bubble teams. None are resume cornerstones, but they're solid wins when you're simply trying to justify a #18 ranking.

Vanderbilt - KP 37, SOS 17
Wisconsin - KP 53, SOS 30
Evansville - 62, SOS 210
Ohio St - KP 69, SOS 91

I just wanted to point out that Purdue's 17 wins aren't all against cupcakes.

[Cdizzle]

All 3 of those wins are comparable to beating Evansville. Vandy and Wisconsin are legit bubble teams. None are resume cornerstones, but they're solid wins when you're simply trying to justify a #18 ranking.

Vanderbilt - KP 37, SOS 17
Wisconsin - KP 53, SOS 30
Evansville - 62, SOS 210
Ohio St - KP 69, SOS 91

I just wanted to point out that Purdue's 17 wins aren't all against cupcakes.

Agree that they are all comparable to Evansville. And no one in the country thinks Evansville is any good or a 'quality win'.