Blogpoll Ballot: CBS BlogPoll Week 4
Well, now that we've all been through an orgy of angst and frustration spurred by our recent interview of Mike Casey, let's step back for just a few minutes and take a look at the state of college basketball as a whole.
After the jump, you'll see my BlogPoll ballot and find a link to the final aggregated results of this week's voting.
Here is A Sea of Blue's ballot:
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| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | 2 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | 1 |
| 3 | Memphis | 1 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 2 |
| 5 | Kansas | 3 |
| 6 | Michigan St. | 3 |
| 7 | Louisville | 3 |
| 8 | Duke | 1 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 3 |
| 10 | Missouri | 5 |
| 11 | Washington | 5 |
| 12 | Gonzaga | 2 |
| 13 | Wake Forest | 2 |
| 14 | UCLA | 4 |
| 15 | Brigham Young | 7 |
| 16 | Arizona St. | 5 |
| 17 | Purdue | 2 |
| 18 | Villanova | 5 |
| 19 | Clemson | 7 |
| 20 | Xavier | 3 |
| 21 | Marquette | 4 |
| 22 | Illinois | 2 |
| 23 | Louisiana St. | |
| 24 | West Virginia | 3 |
| 25 | Butler | |
| Last week's ballot | ||
- Despite the fact that Ken Pomeroy has Memphis at the top of the heap, I just can't seem to put them there.
- I was reluctant to put Butler in #25, but I held my nose and did it. The other contenders for the spot didn't seem any more worthy.
- Brigham Young knocked off a couple of good teams this past week, and combined with some poor efforts in the middle, winds up as the fastest riser. Beating San Diego State on the road and Utah convincingly at home is worthy of notice.
- I still like Pittsburgh to win it all. The loss to Providence on the road looks like an aberration to me.
- Michigan State continues to win, and hence move up. Why don't I feel better about their position?
- Kansas just looks awesome right now. I know they beat OU without Griffin, but Sherron Collins is giving Ty Lawson a run for his money as the best PG in Division I. And what can you say about the development of Cole Aldrich? Every time I look at him, I think, "This is what Jared Carter should be." Alas.
- Duke won this week, but do they look like winners against a team that plays great defense? Not to me.
- Does West Virginia even belong in the poll? I really don't know, I can't make sense of it all.
- Why don't I have LSU higher? Pomeroy says they are barely better than UK, and frankly, I think he's right. LSU is a very solid team, but they have major holes defensively, and UK exposed them even in defeat. How do you think they would hold up against Louisville or Pittsburgh. I'm thinking not very well.
That's my thoughts. Post yours below. Here is the link to the final poll, and Jerry Hinnen's comments.
0 recs |
19 comments
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Comments
Typical Duke team
Soft as cotton. I agree with your thoughts on LSU but I still think the SEC will turn a few heads this month.
by daniel81 on Mar 4, 2009 10:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Typical Duke Team = Nearly 30 W Per Season
Duke will have between 290 W and 300 W this decade (2000’s).
by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 4, 2009 11:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Helps when you can travel all over the floor without getting called....
by Clay Mason on Mar 4, 2009 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
But how many titles with all that talent?
by daniel81 on Mar 4, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
1 (Same As UNC, UConn, Mich St, Etc)
Duke is the #1 program of the past 25 years – 10 FF and 3 NCAA titles.
by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 4, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Guess it depends
On how you define number one. I would say with as much talent as they’ve had, three titles in 25 years isn’t breath taking by any means.
by daniel81 on Mar 4, 2009 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
3 Titles In 25 Years
No one has more. UNC has 2 in that timeframe. UK 2, UConn 2, Florida 2, Kansas 2.
Being #1 may not be breathtaking but I’d still rather be #1.
by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 4, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That may be so...
but the number of head-turning candidates from the SEC invited to the big dance might be pretty sparse. In fact, if the bids were handed out today, I suspect only LSU, South Carolina and Tenn. would get in.
by tooblue on Mar 4, 2009 11:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
bubble angst
i am nervous, but we are not the only ones that keep losing. we tend to be myopic.
cinn, michigan, va tech, maryland, oklahoma state, temple – just to name a few
we are not alone – there is a lot of bubling on the bubble
by memphis wildcat on Mar 4, 2009 11:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'm Not Especially Nervous
UK got into NCAA in 1985, 1987, 2006, and 2008 with lesser records.
I think UK will have 22 or 23 W on March 15 (Selection Sunday) and earn ANOTHER NCAA bid.
by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 4, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i do believe we control our own destiny
win and we are in, no doubt – and by winning, that means we get to 22+
by memphis wildcat on Mar 4, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That Might be True
But, I’m willing to bet that our RPI and SOS numbers were better during those years. This year’s numbers are pretty bleak. That won’t stop me, however, from breaking out my Cat-wear for the upcoming SEC Tournamant.
by tooblue on Mar 4, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks 40
The optimism is nice right now, and hopefully contagious! I’m with ya. Not givin up on these Cats!!!
by slidemank on Mar 4, 2009 11:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Pitt
While I think Pitt has a ton of talent, I don’t like them to win it all. Without Blair, they are not that impressive, and I’d be willing to bet that at some point, he will get himself in foul trouble. In fact, depending on matchup, that could happen early in the tourney and they might be one of the first high seeds to fall.
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!
by NYCCats on Mar 4, 2009 12:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Without Their Best Player, Most Teams Are Not That Impressive
Pitt has several Star Caliber players. Their PG (Levance Fields) is among the best in Div I basketball.
by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 4, 2009 2:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, yes, obviously
My point is that I believe Blair is CRITICAL to Pitt’s success, with all due respect to Fields (as an aside, it feels like Fields has been there for about 10 years – the same feeling I had seeing David Rivers play at Notre Dame in the 80’s). Not only that, Blair plays a very physical style that is prone to getting him in foul trouble, esp. if there is a quick whistle.
If Blair gets a couple quick ones on him, it would not surprise me if they lost the 1 vs. 8/9 game. Of course, if he gets the benefit of some (no) calls, I could absolutely see them winning the whole thing.
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!
by NYCCats on Mar 4, 2009 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Memphis or Pitt
i just as soon either of them win it all if we can’t. All the other teams in the top ten (except Missouri and Okla) have multiple championships. Don’t want any of them gaining ground on us 8^ )
by slidemank on Mar 4, 2009 2:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Final Four...
I would say that any of the Top 9 teams and throw in Wake Forest are Final Four contenders this season. Several of them could just as easily lose early but I believe they are all easily the best 10 teams in the country. This NCAA tournament could be one of the wildest in years. No real dominant teams but several good ones. I would have mentioned Marquette but the loss of James is a killer.
Slower Traffic Keep Right!
by SevenRings on Mar 4, 2009 4:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

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