Basketball Blogpoll -- Pre-Season Results

by Truzenzuzex on Nov 14, 2008 6:47 AM EST in Basketball Comment 30 comments

It's time for the basketball blogpoll again, and this week's results are pretty much what you would expect. This poll is run somewhat similarly to the football blogpoll and the SEC Power Poll, only it is for college basketball

This season's first poll unsurprisingly sees UNC at #1, but UCLA reaches the #2 spot, unlike other polls that show UConn there. It's also interesting to note that last year's national champs, the Kanasas Jayhawks, don't make an appearance in the top 25, although like Kentucky, Xavier, West Virginia, Ohio State and others, they did get enough votes to land close to the top 25.

I myself voted Kentucky in at #23, and 2 other voters had UK in thier top 25, so Kentucky is definitely getting some love out there, just not quite enough yet. This should be a very interesting season as a blog poll voter, and I am looking forward to it.

Average	Last Week	Rank	School (#1 votes)
1	N/A	1	North Carolina (11)
2.91	N/A	2	UCLA
3.45	N/A	3	Connecticut
4.18	N/A	4	Louisville
6.91	N/A	5	Pittsburgh
7.45	N/A	6	Michigan State
9	N/A	7	Notre Dame
9.36	N/A	8	Texas
9.82	N/A	9	Tennessee
11.27	N/A	10	Gonzaga
11.45	N/A	11	Oklahoma
12.91	N/A	12	Memphis
13.27	N/A	13	Duke
14.09	N/A	14	Purdue
14.73	N/A	15	Arizona State
17	N/A	16	Davidson
17.55	N/A	17	Miami (FL)
18.27	N/A	18	Marquette
20	N/A	19	Wake Forest
20.64	N/A	20	Georgetown
21.82	N/A	21	Florida
22.45	N/A	22	Wisconsin
22.64	N/A	23	USC
23.45	N/A	24	Baylor
24.09	N/A	25	Villanova

As usual, you r comments are welcome and encouraged. But if you don't feel like commenting, I have attached a small poll where you can make your feelings about UK felt.

Poll

Do you think Kentucky should be ranked, and if so, where?

Top 5

6 votes

Top 10

5 votes

Top 15

36 votes

Top 20

67 votes

Top 25

183 votes

Kentucky should be unranked right now

216 votes

513 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 30 comments |

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Comments

I like us unranked. A general "disrespect" for a team made up of

mainly “unknown” upperclassmen who are very athletic, should not be over looked. But obviously we have been. Good coaches will warn their charges about Kentucky, but kids will be kids and figure, “this is a down year for Kentucky”. That is just what I want to happen. I hope we are unranked going into the UNC game. I don’t think we will be after it.

by Blueobsessed on Nov 14, 2008 7:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

UK Deserves Top 25 Ranking

Kentucky should be in the 20-25 range = 2nd or 3rd highest (ranked) in SEC.

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 14, 2008 7:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

With the returning talent they should be

by The White Mandingo on Nov 14, 2008 7:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Florida

I don’t get all the love for Florida this year. Hell… Lunardi has them as a 2 seed in his first Bracketology. (Don’t get me started on predicting a bracket this early in the year… but regardless, a two seed is ridiculous.)

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Nov 14, 2008 7:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Top 30

Maybe just outside top 25. I think they haven’t really proved anything yet so they belong in the range of 20-30. 40 is too low like many of the polls have, but I’m optimistic that once things start to click with the new comers, this team will surprise some people. There’s nothing wrong with floating “under the radar”.

by cthom on Nov 14, 2008 8:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That's ...

… pretty close where the blogpoll has UK at 31.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Nov 14, 2008 8:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Depends what the poll is supposed to signify

I always have this question with every pre-season poll. Are we predicting where a team should be RIGHT NOW, or where they will be at the end of the season? It seems to me, the whole point of a pre-season poll is to predict where teams will shake out over the course of the year (as opposed to a regular season poll, which I feel is more of a right now snapshot).

So based on my belief that UK is at least a sweet 16 team, I vote for them in the top 15.

C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!

by NYCCats on Nov 14, 2008 9:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

You know ...

… to be honest, nobody ever really says what the poll is truly supposed to represent.

For my part, I look at all polls as a representation of where the teams are right now.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Nov 14, 2008 9:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

25-30 range

As cthom mentions, this group hasn’t done anything so it’s unrealistic to put them in the top 25, although you can make the same argument for Wake Forest (despite their excellent freshmen) and Florida and probably some other teams.

On a somewhat related topic, did anyone else happen to watch the UCLA – Miami (OH) game last night? Miami looked really good – very physical team but they moved the ball pretty well against a very active, physical UCLA defense and they very nearly pulled the upset.

"That's not a Sherman tank, it's Frank Thomas!" - Monkeyball

by JLeverenz on Nov 14, 2008 10:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

This is kind of what I was thinking when I voted. Based upon where we ended last year and the “unknowns” of this year, I can understand Kentucky not beginning ranked in the top 25. I do agree that they dont deserve a 40’s ranking as well. I think that somewhere between 25-35 is justified.

by kentuckygirl0724 on Nov 14, 2008 10:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It doesn't matter

if we go down to Chapel Hill and beat the tar-heels, we instantly get peoples attention. I think if we beat VMI by 15+, and beat UNC on their home court, you may see UK in the top 10! Think about it, beating the #1 team in the country on their home court, having KENTUCKY across your chest and 1 of the most dynamic sophomores in the country!!
Now, if psycho doesn’t play, then the ESPN pinheads will make that case, but I still think we become relevant!
Just my opinion of course. Any thoughts???

PS:
I’m new here, but I can honestly say, I absolutely love this site!!! What a forum for all BIG BLUE fans, where we all can voice our opinions with respect to each other. Whoever runs the site, GREAT JOB my friend!!!

Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.

by vinceuk1 on Nov 14, 2008 10:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That'd be the guy with the funny grasshopper avatar

But I am in complete agreement that this site is far better than any other sports community I’ve found on the web.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Nov 14, 2008 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks ...

… we do what we can to keep the conversation lively, but respectful of everyone else.

The real thanks belongs to our members, which are simply the best of the Big Blue Nation.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Nov 14, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fox Sports South Sucks...

I just hit the “guide” on my remote, to make sure the UK game was on FOXS tonight, and just as I thought, they are showing the ATL Hawks game instead. This is so aggravating, every time they are scheduled to show the game in Ashland, KY on DISH, FOXS shows an NBA game. WHY? Geeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzz……

gobigbluecatsfan72

by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 14, 2008 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You might tune in anyway just in case

Down here in Clemson, FoxSportsSouth often doesn’t show what is listed on the programming guide. It seems to happen most often for MLB and NBA games i.e. the programming guide will indicate a game is on, but they’ll be showing something else instead.

"That's not a Sherman tank, it's Frank Thomas!" - Monkeyball

by JLeverenz on Nov 14, 2008 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fox Sports South

I’ll be checking FSS incase they show it and it’s not listed in the guide. I’ve also watched some games on ESPN360.com. I haven’t seen if their lineup includes our game since it is blocked from my work.

by cthom on Nov 14, 2008 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's also on ESPN Gameplan

And should be part of the free preview week, so everyone should get it gratis.

C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!

by NYCCats on Nov 14, 2008 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you can watch it at...

http://www.ukathletics.com/ They charge $10 per month to watch it live on the internet.. Pretty good deal I think…

Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.

by vinceuk1 on Nov 14, 2008 1:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Underdogs

This year I think we are underrated preseason. I think we have a team that wil have an excellent chance of winning the SEC regular season championship as well as the SEC tournament. However I like the underdog roll. I would rather win game after game and let them under rate us. I guess I am saying wins are much more important to me than where they have us rated. I think if you will remember the team Tubby Smith inherited and won a national championship with was not highly rated in the preseason. I will certainly be surprised if Tennessee, Florida, and Vandy all outperform us this year as predicted by Sports Illustrated. After all I think this team’s gains outweigh it’s lossses in terms of manpower and experience, and last year’s team came close to winning the SEC title.

by gright on Nov 14, 2008 3:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think ...

… we will handle UT, Florida and Vandy this year, at least in Rupp. I believe we will win the SEC championship, also.

But I am known as an optimist … :-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Nov 14, 2008 5:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If we were able to go 12-4 last year in league play...

and sniff a championship against a tougher league across the board; I would say we should definitely be considered contenders this year.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Nov 14, 2008 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Realistic

I think this poll proves that us UK fans are realistic and don’t expect to hang a banner every year, I agree that we should not be ranked but be somewhere between 25-30 since we haven’t had a chance yet to prove ourselves with team. Plus flying under the radar never hurt anyone!

by Wildcatty11 on Nov 14, 2008 3:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Heh.

I guess whether or not ’Cat fans are realistic depends on who you ask. :-)

Your point is well taken, though. Around here, we have a pretty level-headed bunch.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Nov 14, 2008 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What UK Fans SHOULD Expect

NCAA title every 10 years. (UK has 7 NCAA titles in 70 years)

Final 4 every 5 years. (UK has 13 FF appearances in 70 years)

SECT championship every 2 years and SEC title every 2 years. (Based on 75 years of UK history in SEC play)

by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 14, 2008 5:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

That’s what I first said about 6 years ago when explaining Kentucky basketball to someone in chiropractic school with me.

I’d prefer a Final Four every 4 years so every recruiting class has a reasonable shot at playing in one… but obviously we’re a little behind in that right now.

Additionally, I would add that the season should generally end no earlier than the Sweet 16 and more often than not in the Elite 8. UK should always be one of the top 10-15 schools in the country and never any lower. IMHO

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Nov 14, 2008 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs