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Basketball Blogpoll -- Week 4 ballot and results

Below, you will find my Week 4 Basketball Blogpoll ballot:

Last week School This Week Delta Direction
1 North Carolina 1 0 No change
3 Pittsburgh 2 1 Arrow_up_medium
6 Connecticut 3 3 Arrow_up_medium
4 Oklahoma 4 0 No change
7 Duke 5 2 Arrow_up_medium
2 Gonzaga 6 -4 Arrow_down_medium
16 Wake Forest 7 9 Arrow_up_medium Arrow_up_medium
9 Georgetown 8 1 Arrow_up_medium
8 Texas 9 -1 Arrow_down_medium
5 Xavier 10 -5 Arrow_down_mediumArrow_down_medium
15 Notre Dame 11 4 Arrow_up_medium
NR Purdue 12 NPR
Arrow_up_mediumArrow_up_medium
10 Ohio State 13 -3 Arrow_down_medium
12 UCLA 14 -2 Arrow_down_medium
11 Syracuse 15 -4 Arrow_down_medium
23 Michigan State 16 7 Arrow_up_medium Arrow_up_medium
14 Tennessee 17 -3 Arrow_down_medium
19 Villanova 18 1 Arrow_up_medium
24 Clemson 19 5 Arrow_up_medium Arrow_up_medium
22 Arizona State 20 2 Arrow_up_medium
13 Louisville 21 -8 Arrow_down_mediumArrow_down_medium
21 Baylor 22 -1 Arrow_down_medium
20 Missouri 23 -3 Arrow_down_medium
NR Minnesota 24 NPR
Arrow_up_medium
17 Memphis 25 -8 Arrow_down_mediumArrow_down_medium

Dropped out BYU (25), Butler (18)
New in poll Purdue (12), Minnesota (24)

 

Star-divide

Notes:

  • I once again revised my ranking system, hopefully improving it.  I think a few more tweaks may  be needed, though.
  • Purdue really should have been in last week.
  • Louisville is on the verge of going out of the poll.  Another loss in the near term, and they will.
  • In my rankings, Kentucky currently stands at #39.  The 'Cats just need to take care of business to move up, but it will take a win against Louisville to get them into the ballot.
  • Pittsburgh moves up on the strength of a road win vs. Florida State.
  • Wake Forest was very impressive in two road wins.

Here are the overall Blogpoll rankings:

Final Blogpoll Week 4
Avg. Vote Last Week This Week Team (first place votes) Delta Direction
1 1 1 North Carolina (11) 0 No change
2.36 3 2 Connecticut 1 Arrow_up_medium
3.09 2 3 Pittsburgh -1 Arrow_down_medium
4.55 4 4 Oklahoma 0 No change
7 9 5 Duke 4 Arrow_up_medium
8 10 6 Georgetown 4 Arrow_up_medium
8.18 6 7 Gonzaga -1 Arrow_down_medium
9 11 8 Wake Forest 3 Arrow_up_medium
10.27 12 9 Notre Dame 3 Arrow_up_medium
10.45 5 10 Texas -5 Arrow_down_mediumArrow_down_medium
10.45 13 11 Ohio State 2 Arrow_up_medium
13.09 19 12 Purdue 7 Arrow_up_mediumArrow_up_medium
13.27 15 13 UCLA 2 Arrow_up_medium
13.91 7 14 Xavier -7 Arrow_down_mediumArrow_down_medium
14 14 15 Syracuse -1 Arrow_down_medium
15.55 16 16 Villanova 0 No change
16.27 23 17 Michigan State 6 Arrow_up_mediumArrow_up_medium
19.55 17 18 Tennessee -1 Arrow_down_medium
19.73 24 19 Clemson 5 Arrow_up_mediumArrow_up_medium
19.82 22 20 Arizona State 2 Arrow_up_medium
19.82 8 21 Louisville -13 Arrow_down_mediumArrow_down_medium
19.82 20 22 Baylor -2 Arrow_down_medium
23.09 25 23 Missouri 2 Arrow_up_medium
23.18

NR

24 Michigan NPR Arrow_up_medium
23.36 NR
25 Minnesota NPR Arrow_up_medium

Notes:

  • UNC still unanimous #1.
  • Clemson is rapidly improving.  They have beaten a good Miami team and a good Illinois team.  We'll find out more when they battle the Gamecocks on Tuesday, who are playing better than expected under Darren Horn.
  • Duke beat Xavier twice by crushing them at a neutral site.
  • Michigan State's win over Texas reversed their momentum.
  • Texas maybe got hit harder than they deserved.  Big win over a good Wisconsin team on the road after the Blogpoll ballots were submitted.
  • Purdue easily handling media darling Davidson gave them some upward momentum after dropping two games in a row in late November and early December.
  • Duke has beaten 3 of 4 teams in today's poll, including a drubbing of Purdue at Purdue.
  • Notre Dame still ranks high despite a questionable schedule.  I may need to revise my calculations to take more SOS into account.  I think UCLA should be lower, also.  They have beaten nobody and lost to both quality teams they have played.
  • Connecticut beating Gonzaga semi-away is surely validation of them.  I had doubts about them after their close victory over Buffalo, even though it was away.

Your comments are welcome.

0 recs  |  Comment 35 comments |

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Gonzaga

The Zags have lost 3 times since Dec. 14 and they are still top 10? Are they the new Duke or what?

Contrast that with Louisville… UL was #3 and has lost twice since November 30th but have fallen all the way to #19?

by Crow on Dec 28, 2008 7:21 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Good question.

Let me look at my spreadsheet and see …

Ah. OK, Ken Pomeroy’s rating of the ‘Zags is very high, and so is BBState. They figure prominently into my model. I don’t use résumé ranking, but I do take the AP and Coach’s poll into consideration, which are résumé models.

Louisville is ranked highly by Pomeroy but BBState says they aren’t that good. Plus the résumé models don’t like them much, so they got a bit of a triple-whammy.

I still have a bit of tweaking to do on my methodology, but it’s getting there :-)

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

by Truzenzuzex on Dec 28, 2008 7:33 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Needs to change

But no reason to change yet. We haven’t put together enough wins against “names” to garner national recognition. I think a win over Miami would have gone a long way towards getting us some consideration.

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

by chirop1 on Dec 29, 2008 9:15 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

We're not even in the "Others Receiving Votes" Category

I think we’ll have to string together a few more wins than just UofL to get us into the rankings.

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

by chirop1 on Dec 30, 2008 3:03 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

not so...

We beat ’ville on national TV, we get in… Just like Minnesota did…

I really think the media is just waiting for UK to get that BIG win… They need UK, I believe that…!

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

by vinceuk1 on Dec 30, 2008 7:25 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Couldn't disagree more

There are 10 teams in that “Others Receiving Votes” category. That means we aren’t even in the consciousness of any coaches.

Before we get in the poll, I think you’ll see Arkansas (with their win over Oklahoma) and LSU (with their win over… well… nobody) crack the poll.

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

by chirop1 on Dec 31, 2008 7:34 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Give it time SevenRings

I kinda like the unranked position so when we can play sneaky as the season progresses. We sure don’t need the ego type heads that UL had first of the season. Get it!

by kykat51 on Dec 28, 2008 8:11 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

We don't deserve to be ranked at this time.

Do you think so? Or at the pre-season?

by kykat51 on Dec 28, 2008 9:16 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I am realistic

At this time in UK basketball. I am waiting for the rankings.

by kykat51 on Dec 28, 2008 9:18 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

that is pretty defeatist thinking....

I do not remember if UK was ranked at any point last season and I am pretty sure they haven’t been ranked this season. For me that is too long for the University of Kentucky basketball program to be unranked. I do not believe they deserve to ranked right now and that is the point.

by SevenRings on Dec 28, 2008 9:27 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

UK Was Ranked #20 Until L To Gardner Webb

UK only plays 3 more games against ranked teams – Louisville and Tennessee (twice).

by FortyYearCatFan on Dec 28, 2008 9:36 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

You are right about ranking

But not defeatist thinking as I am very optimistic about this year’s team. My point too re being unranked at this time. I really hope that you guys can give Coach time to get his players on the team and develop the potential we see in the players we see now. It’s not easy with all these young guys this year. Don’t expect miracles all at once.

by kykat51 on Dec 28, 2008 9:55 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

they are definitely headed towards being ranked again.

A win at Loserville would go a long way towards accomplishing that. I just want UK to be in the conversation of top teams and not live on history.

by SevenRings on Dec 28, 2008 10:07 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I feel you.

I do. I shouldn’t care, but I admit that I do.

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

by Truzenzuzex on Dec 28, 2008 11:01 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

L To Miami FL Cost UK

Had the Cats defeated the Hurricanes, UK would be 11-2 and ranked in Top 25 somewhere.

UK has only played 2 ranked teams in OOC schedule and L to both.

by FortyYearCatFan on Dec 28, 2008 8:38 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Problem with the Big 10?

You left off Purdue last week and now have missed on Illinois who destroyed your #23 team.

by Slim Wagers on Dec 28, 2008 8:37 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Hey, the Golden Gophers are ranked, that's all that matters!

Illinois did crush Missouri. Is it possible the Big Ten is back? The conference has the top RPI in the country. And everyone always forgets Wisconsin.

Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher

by PJS on Dec 28, 2008 11:04 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah ...

… they got a lot of help from BBState’s ranking and the résumé rankers. Kenpom does not think much of them at #48.

I’ll probably make some tweaks next week (I still find some weakness in my algorithm) and it may knock the Gophers out. But maybe not. We’ll see. They are on the margin right now, but an undefeated record and a victory over Louisville looks mighty good to the AP and Coaches poll. It ought to look mighty good to you, also. :-)

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

by Truzenzuzex on Dec 28, 2008 11:11 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

We'll see what we have in MInnesota after next week.

Tom Izzo and Thad Matta both come to Minneapolis.

But beyond Minnesota, the Big Ten seems to have picked it up a notch this season. Maybe we can end the mainstream media obsession with the Big East.

Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher

by PJS on Dec 28, 2008 11:13 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

It does seem so.

Of course, Ohio State just got creamed by West Virginia, and I mean creamed. That doesn’t look too good, considering they were the highest ranked Big Ten team.

Still, I think the Big Ten is performing pretty well. I even have Northwestern ranked in the top 40 at #35, and I can’t remember the last time I saw their name anywhere in the top 50.

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

by Truzenzuzex on Dec 28, 2008 11:24 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I think Ohio State is missing David Lighty quite a bit.

He’s only about 10 points per game, but he’s kind of a calming presence for them i think. They looked awful in the half-court against West Virginia. Similarly, Similarly, Michigan State probably wasn’t a top 25 team early this season with Goran Suton out. With him back, they can beat a team like Texas.

Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher

by PJS on Dec 28, 2008 11:27 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Mainstream media obsession with the Big East

Unlike ESPN’s love affair with the ACC… I actually tend to believe that the Big East gets what it deserves.

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

by chirop1 on Dec 29, 2008 9:21 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, I agree.

The Big East is a monster conference in any given year, but this year it is exceptionally fearsome.

by Ken Howlett on Dec 29, 2008 6:48 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Minnesota

They play 7 games against ranked teams in their Big 10 schedule. Any continued or future ranking will come from good (W-L record) performance against those teams.

by FortyYearCatFan on Dec 29, 2008 6:39 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Not really.

I’m not quite sure why Purdue was left out of my first ranking, but my methodology for that one was poor.

Illinois’ victory came after the deadline for ballot submission. They’ll probably improve their position on the next ballot. Before beating Missouri, I had the Illini at #32. They got very few votes from the résumé rankers, and although their influence is less, it is still there. They got no votes at all from the coaches and only 20 from the AP last week.

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

by Truzenzuzex on Dec 28, 2008 11:07 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Illinois victory came after the deadline?

Sorry, my bad. I just figured rankings posted on Sunday would include games played the previous Tuesday.

by Slim Wagers on Dec 29, 2008 8:33 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Well ...

… our rankings actually come out on Wednesday, but I haven’t had time to post them.

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

by Truzenzuzex on Dec 29, 2008 10:27 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Jai Lucas going to Texas...!!!

Just crossed the wire….

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

by vinceuk1 on Dec 28, 2008 11:27 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

That makes sense.

We had no room for him.

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

by Truzenzuzex on Dec 28, 2008 11:31 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

That does make sense.

He’ll fit in well with Barnes.

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

by chirop1 on Dec 29, 2008 9:21 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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