NCAA Basketball ESPN/Coaches poll

[nogoodnick 0]

In the Pre-season poll Kansas is #1 but Wake Forest got the most 1st place votes. I'm picking Wake Forest as my #1 barely over UNC. I'm weary of picking the Tar Heels because they always dissapoint me, having picked them as a final 4 team the last two years. They return just about everyone including McCants, May, and Felton. The ACC is incredibly tough this year with 3 teams in the top 5 and none named Duke.

 

1. Kansas (8)

2. Wake Forest (12)

3. North Carolina (6)

4. Georgia Tech (1)

5. Illinois (1)

6. Syracuse

7. Connecticut

8. Oklahoma State (1)

9. Kentucky

10. Michigan State

11. Arizona (1)

12. Duke

13. Louisville (1)

14. Mississippi State

15. Texas

16. Maryland

17. Pittsburgh

18. Alabama

19. North Carolina State

20. Wisconsin

21. Notre Dame

22. Florida

23. Memphis

24. Washington

25. Stanford

 

Gonzaga got 26th

[CanadianChris 0]

The ACC looks as loaded as I've ever seen it, and that's saying something. When in doubt, though, pick the team with the best player, so I would go with Chris Paul and Wake Forest.

[Guest Flyboy]

Chris, you rock. Chris Paul is simply a BEAST.

[Slayer 0]

This settles it then

 

Kansas will lose within its first five games

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

Well, right now I say "Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk", but come tourney time, I'll be disappointed. AGAIN.

[therealworldschampion 0]

Well, right now I say "Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk", but come tourney time, I'll be disappointed. AGAIN

 

I'm not too sure about that, maybe the Roy Williams Choking Curse has been passed to UNC now.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

And still no respect for my Jackets...

 

Final Four last year, returning four starters, and they're still picked to finish third in the ACC?

[Guest Flyboy]

With Jarret Jack and BJ Elder, they definitely still have a chance.

[iggymcfly 0]

I agree on Georgia Tech. They should absolutely, beyond a doubt be ranked #1 in the preseason poll. They went to the national championship game last year, and the only major contributor they lost was Marvin Lewis.

 

Don't you think Jarrett Jack, Ismail Muhammad, and Luke Schenscher are still improving? Don't you think that Will Bynum will be better after having a whole year in the system? Don't you think BJ Elder's going to light up the NCAA tournament just a little better when he's not out there on one leg?

 

How this team can be ranked below the choke artists from Carolina, or the two-man team from Wake?

 

I guess people think that the tournament was a fluke, but what they're failing to recognize is that the Jackets started out the year last year 13-0 with a victory in the Preseason NIT, and they only started losing when they had to force Bynum into the lineup. Once Bynum was fully integrated into the team concept, and they had a little bit of chemistry, they rolled through the NCAA tournament, all the way through to the NCAA championship.

[Damaramu 0]

OSU returns just as loaded if not more loaded than last year and they're 8th? Oh well at least they got a first place vote. They only lost 3 games last season.

I think they'll easily win the Big XII and easily roll to the Final Four again. Probably roll onto the championship game.

Kansas #1? The same Kansas that chokes it every year?

[Vern Gagne 0]

Minnesota

 

 

27th

 

 

Impressive showing for the ACC. This poll means nothing and frankly W.F. and Georgia Tech in the past have have choked when expectations are high.

[iggymcfly 0]

This poll means nothing and frankly W.F. and Georgia Tech in the past have have choked when expectations are high.

Like last year when they were a three seed in the NCAA tournament and favored in every tournament game until the Final Four? Yeah, they really choked then. They only made it to the national championship game.

[Bored 0]

I'm going out on a huge limb here and saying Stanford will lose in the 2nd round of the tournament. Although this year it wouldn't be necessarily be a choke as they obviously won't match their 30-2 record of last year.

[Mik 0]

My first year at UNC. Good to see them at number 3. Hoping to get tickets through the insane bracelet distribution.

 

The Roy Williams choke stayed in Kansas!

[cabbageboy 0]

I haven't followed this stuff insanely close thus far, but I figure I should comment on this top 25.

 

1. Kansas (8) --Kansas has been #1 so many times and never done shit. No reason to see that trend changing.

2. Wake Forest (12) --I repeat it year in and year out about Wake: They didn't do shit with Tim Duncan, why would they do anything now?

3. North Carolina (6) --They lost in the 2nd round last year and you cannot convince me McCants will have his head on straight all year.

4. Georgia Tech (1) --This one I agree with, but something about these guys screams 2/7 2nd round upset. Maybe it was all the close games in the tourney?

5. Illinois (1) --Sweet 16, maybe Elite 8 at best. That's about all the Illini ever do.

6. Syracuse --Can't really comment on them since I don't know who they have, but I don't think Carmelo is walking through the door.

7. Connecticut --No Okafor, no Gordon...I doubt this is a top 10 team.

8. Oklahoma State (1) --Being from KY makes it impossible for me to EVER give Sutton his due. They might reach another regional final at best.

9. Kentucky --Ok, now we're in my wheelhouse. Yeah I know Tubby signed a bunch of burger boys, but they lost Fitch, Daniels, Hawkins, etc. They may not even win the SEC.

10. Michigan State --Oh god, just when Tom Izzo seems to have gone away quietly too. I kinda think their days of Final 4s are past for the time being though, Sweet 16.

11. Arizona (1) --I'll have to see some semblance of defense from these guys before I buy into them at all.

12. Duke --Surprised to see them this low, dare I say they are underrated?

13. Louisville (1)--Well, we got 1 1st place vote anyhow. With Garcia, Dean, some new guys, and a returning Ellis Myles we should SO be higher than this. I am frankly insulted UK is higher. Trust me, U of L will beat them by about 20 pts.

14. Mississippi State --They'll beat up on a crappy SEC West, but who cares?

15. Texas --Probably a solid tourney team, but isn't Byron Mouton FINALLY gone?

16. Maryland --I actually think they are a bit underrated here. I can't see Wake or GA Tech being THAT much better.

17. Pittsburgh --Pitt will beat up on jobbers and win 28 games, and lose in the Sweet 16 as usual because they have no offense to speak of.

18. Alabama --You would think Bama would be higher after making the Elite 8. Frankly I think it was a fluke.

19. North Carolina State --Seems about right.

20. Wisconsin --Perennial snoozer games, but they'll likely win and make the tourney.

21. Notre Dame --Is Chris Thomas still there? If so, they might be a bit underrated, but it depends on if his mind is right.

22. Florida --Heh, isn't Ky's favorite boy Matt Walsh back? More bitchslapping at the hands of the Wildcats is about all they can expect.

23. Memphis --Memphis might be fairly motivated to beat the CUSA teams that are leaving after this year (U of L, Cincy, Marquette, etc). They can make the tourney.

24. Washington --Dare I say they are underrated? Score like crazy, I just doubt their defense.

25. Stanford --Looks like their days of being dominant in the Pac 10 are pretty much over.

[Damaramu 0]

I really think OSU will do more than they did last year. Last year they only lost 3 games(4 if you count the tourney) and IMO fucked up against GA Tech. If they hadn't stuck Lucas out there to guard the final shot I think they would've won.

But still......they only lost Tony Allen(on my Celtics now!) and they have more experience.

 

The only thing I'm wondering about this season is if my Sooners will suck shit again. It's hard for them to suck as bad as they did last year though. Last year though everyone was injured and everyone else was a Freshman.

[nogoodnick 0]

Well Cabbageboy, who do you expect to win if you think so lowly of everyone?

[Damaramu 0]

Well Cabbageboy, who do you expect to win if you think so lowly of everyone?

Baylor. He thinks Baylor will take it all.

[nogoodnick 0]

UNC has dissapointed me every year. Im hoping their massive amounts of talent will finally pay off. When theyre healthy and playing together they are pretty damn hard to defeat.

[Alro 0]

9. Kentucky --Ok, now we're in my wheelhouse. Yeah I know Tubby signed a bunch of burger boys, but they lost Fitch, Daniels, Hawkins, etc. They may not even win the SEC.

You're kidding about not winning the SEC, right? Chuck Hayes will be a great team leader. Azubuike and Carrier both should be stepping up big and I'm looking forward to see what Patrick Sparks can do. Losing Daniels, Fitch and Hawkins sucks, but it's not like there's not plenty of guys who will step up when they are called on.

 

 

Louisville is probably unrrated and barring another tremendous late season meltdown, Little Brother could be sitting pretty in March. It is scary to think how tough the Big East could be next year.

[Guest LL Cool M]

2. Wake Forest (12) --I repeat it year in and year out about Wake: They didn't do shit with Tim Duncan, why would they do anything now?

 

That's all they had.

 

This year they have Chris Paul(The Best Player In The Nation, IMO), Rudy Guy, and some other good players. If they didn't run into a better St.Joe's team, I think they could of been in the final four.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Blah. The Terps will tear the ACC apart this year.

 

FEAR THE TURTLE!...

[Guest Jimbo]

Ahem, I do believe the Big East is scary good too. 4 overlooked top 25 bids + Louisville.

 

And cabbageboy's analysis makes me want to kill myself.

[iggymcfly 0]

Nah, don't kill yourself. Just kill cabbageboy.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

It'll be an interesting year for Michigan basketball. Hopefully they can build off the NIT win last year and put together a 20 win season.

[Damaramu 0]

So the year before last Syracuse ran over the entire Big XII in route to a title.

OSU ran over the entire East Coast last year before running into GA Tech(which they should've won! Lucas guarding!? WTF?)

 

So which conference or region gets run over in the tournament this season?

[AlwaysPissedOff 0]

18. Alabama --You would think Bama would be higher after making the Elite 8. Frankly I think it was a fluke.

 

You don't beat the living shit out of a team that was picked by many to be in at least the Elite 8 by many(Stanford) OR beat the former defending National champs(Syracuse) on a "fluke". Bama was severely underrated and didn't play up to expectations at times, but that team was dangerous(as Mississippi State found out during the season) last year and even with Pettway gone, they'll be dangerous this year because now the team has experience and a more diverse offense(not overloaded with slasher types like Gerald Wallace who can't shoot a lick).

 

I think they'll make the Tourney again and maybe the Sweet 16 if they don't slack off during the season.

[Alro 0]

Bama was severely underrated and didn't play up to expectations at times, but that team was dangerous(as Mississippi State found out during the season) last year

Bama severely underrates themselves. Listen to their coach at press conferences. He seriously downplays his team. If anybody overlooks Bama, they will be in for quite a surprise.