**NCAA Basketball Thread**

[rconverse]

Originally Posted by Rodey

Part of me has a bad feeling about Duke's game tonight at Miami, but part of me also really thinks that Wednesday's game is going to be a major positive going forward.

I'm conflicted!

Silly.

Originally Posted by whygohome?

Its all about March for me now. The season is a 'bust' by UK standards (though i still love this team) and we are pretty much out of it in the SEC, so we just gotta put our hopes in the 'get hot from 3 for 4 games straight and make a final four' strategy.

I know no one cares about UK this year but i feel the need to update everyone. If we get a good seed, anything can happen. we do have the talent.

It's always about March.

[seekupig]

Originally Posted by rconverse

It's always about March.

i'm more of an April guy myself.

[Rodey]

Originally Posted by UNC41

Two polls so far. Keep 'em coming ...

Top 16 right? I'll do mine up here shortly.

Originally Posted by rconverse

Silly.

Hey, the way they've been up and down on the road this year, you never know. I was really impressed with the performance though. They only won by 10, but the scoring was evenly distributed. They got great contributions from Mason and Curry and Miles, Thornton and Kelly all put up decent nights.

Curry seems to have turned the corner, which is going to be huge.

[seekupig]

Gary Parrish continues to prove that he hates Kansas.

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

4th? really?

[41ravens]

i realize it's against the shitty pac-10, but pretty stoked to see arizona relevant again.

[Rodey]

Originally Posted by seekupig

Gary Parrish continues to prove that he hates Kansas.

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

4th? really?

That poll is awful.

[seekupig]

Originally Posted by 41ravens

i realize it's against the shitty pac-10, but pretty stoked to see arizona relevant again.

so am i. it gives KU a quality win over a non-conference opponent.

[seekupig]

Originally Posted by Rodey

That poll is awful.

par for the course for that guy. he likes getting people riled up with his stupid rationale.

[YouNeverKnow25]

Originally Posted by seekupig

par for the course for that guy. he likes getting people riled up with his stupid rationale.

I didn't look much beyond the top 5, but I bet that several people have similar rationales. I could see 4, and perhaps even 5 (Duke) teams getting number one votes. The ohio state staying number one rationale is that they lost in an arena that everybody loses in, to a highly-ranked team. The Kansas rationale is that they were number 2, and the number 1 team lost. Texas' argument is that they just went to Kansas and beat them there. Pittsburgh won two road games, one against a top-15 team, without their leading scorer. Duke came from 16 down to beat their much-improved arch rival. I bet that the differential in poll points between 1 and 5 will be much closer than usual.

[mandy18]

Originally Posted by Rodey

That poll is awful.

I didn't look at much past the top 5, but I would put my rankings the same (well, top 4. Maybe not ND at 5).

Ohio State shouldn't necessarily fall b/c of the loss.
It was on the road vs a ranked opponent.
Since there are no other undefeateds, I have no problem with them staying #1. They have the benefit of already being there and no reason to necessarily move.

But, I completely agree with Pitt ahead of Kansas and Texas.
We played 2 very tough road games this past week and came ahead in both.
Granted, WVU isn't the best out there, but that was a big game and we beat Nova @ the Pavillion. No other team has done that since 2007.
If OSU, Kansas and Texas played there this year, those 3 would not all come out w/ a W. That was a big win. And, both were without Gibbs. Shows our depth.

[seekupig]

Originally Posted by mandy18

That was a big win. And, both were without Gibbs. Shows our depth.

Kansas has been beating teams by 20+ without Josh Selby & Thomas Robinson. Pitt isn't the only team in the country with depth. i'd venture to say that Kansas has more quality depth than any team in the country this year.

[mandy18]

Originally Posted by seekupig

Kansas has been beating teams by 20+ without Josh Selby & Thomas Robinson. Pitt isn't the only team in the country with depth. i'd venture to say that Kansas has more quality depth than any team in the country this year.

I'm not saying they are, but IMO, no other team this week played like we did. Those were two big wins, especially against Nova.

[seekupig]

Originally Posted by mandy18

I'm not saying they are, but IMO, no other team this week played like we did. Those were two big wins, especially against Nova.

Kansas - 103
#20 Mizzou - 86

Kansas - 89
Iowa St. 66

not a bad week.

[Rodey]

I guess in terms of the polls, Texas and Pitt deserve to be there, but I can't buy into either of them given that they always seem to drop the ball in March.

[mandy18]

Originally Posted by seekupig

Kansas - 103
#20 Mizzou - 86

Kansas - 89
Iowa St. 66

not a bad week.

2 home games and Iowa who?
Not a bad week, but not as solid as:

Feb 7 @WVU W71-66
Feb 12 @#10 VILL W57-54


(just teasing. kind of).

[seekupig]

Originally Posted by Rodey

I guess in terms of the polls, Texas and Pitt deserve to be there, but I can't buy into either of them given that they always seem to drop the ball in March.

until Rick Barnes and Jamie Dixon prove to me that they're not bed-wetters in March, i won't believe the hype.

[YouNeverKnow25]

Originally Posted by seekupig

until Rick Barnes and Jamie Dixon prove to me that they're not bed-wetters in March, i won't believe the hype.

Fair enough, but how is that germane to the topic of this week's poll?

[mandy18]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

Fair enough, but how is that germane to the topic of this week's poll?

It isn't.

[UNC41]

I'd be fine with OSU, Texas, Kansas and Pity being ranked in any order. There is a big drop after those teams though. Reminds me of 2008.

[seekupig]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

Fair enough, but how is that germane to the topic of this week's poll?

never said it was? was just agreeing with someone, that's all.

[dontburnthe_pig]

Originally Posted by seekupig

Kansas has been beating teams by 20+ without Josh Selby & Thomas Robinson. Pitt isn't the only team in the country with depth. i'd venture to say that Kansas has more quality depth than any team in the country this year.

kansas is so deep, and a lot of the players have significant experience under their belts. besides thomas robinson and josh selby, this team will have played in the last three NCAA tournaments together. that's huge come march, especially when factoring in the horrible game last march.

Originally Posted by mandy18

I'm not saying they are, but IMO, no other team this week played like we did. Those were two big wins, especially against Nova.

georgetown seems to be the hottest team lately.

[vaxarado]

Since I've never done this before, are the individual polls shared once the results are in?

[YouNeverKnow25]

Originally Posted by vaxarado

Since I've never done this before, are the individual polls shared once the results are in?

I'm all for transparency, but once everyone sees that I voted UNC 1 and pittsburgh 2, then repeated those two in succession for the other 14 slots, I might not be allowed to vote anymore.

[vaxarado]

I'm okay with the new poll results (up top). Putting them in a spoiler so they don't affect anyone's votes:

Ohio State drops to No. 2 in AP poll behind Kansas. Buckeyes get 14 1st place votes, Jayhawks (22) and Texas (23).
3 minutes ago

twithersAP Tom Withers
Check that. Pitt got 6 votes for first.
1 minute ago

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

[vaxarado]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

I'm all for transparency, but once everyone sees that I voted UNC 1 and pittsburgh 2, then repeated those two in succession for the other 14 slots, I might not be allowed to vote anymore.

[Rodey]

Originally Posted by UNC41

I'd be fine with OSU, Texas, Kansas and Pity being ranked in any order. There is a big drop after those teams though. Reminds me of 2008.

I disagree.

I think Ohio State and Kansas are the clear front-runners right now, but I don't think Texas and/or Pitt are that great. The drop from Pitt and Texas to say Duke isn't that steep, if a drop at all.

[YouNeverKnow25]

Ohio St. falls to three in the Coaches' poll, behind kansas and texas.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...l/usatpoll.htm

[UNC41]

Originally Posted by vaxarado

Since I've never done this before, are the individual polls shared once the results are in?

I just post the combined poll. Feel free to post yours if you wish though.

Originally Posted by Rodey

I disagree.

I think Ohio State and Kansas are the clear front-runners right now, but I don't think Texas and/or Pitt are that great. The drop from Pitt and Texas to say Duke isn't that steep, if a drop at all.

Texas beat Kansas at Allen. They are absolutely on their level. We're just going to have to disagree about Duke being close.

[seekupig]

sig updated.

now watch them lose @ K-State tonight.

[mandy18]

Originally Posted by Rodey

I disagree.

I think Ohio State and Kansas are the clear front-runners right now, but I don't think Texas and/or Pitt are that great. The drop from Pitt and Texas to say Duke isn't that steep, if a drop at all.

Originally Posted by UNC41

Texas beat Kansas at Allen. They are absolutely on their level. We're just going to have to disagree about Duke being close.

Does everybody forget we also beat Texas?

As far as the polls, if they wanted to flipflop OSU & Kansas just for the sake of doing something, fine - but I don't think Ohio State should have dropped to 3.