Welcome to The Holy Land of Hoops

#2 Nova
#22 Butler
#23 Creighton
#24 Xavier

Associated Press Poll
RANK SCHOOL RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS
1 Gonzaga (59) 24-0 1,619 1
2 Villanova (6) 22-2 1,565 4
3 Kansas 20-3 1,446 3
4 Louisville 19-4 1,411 6
5 Oregon 21-3 1,263 13
6 Baylor 20-3 1,255 2
7 Wisconsin 20-3 1,232 10
8 North Carolina 21-4 1,145 12
9 Arizona 21-3 1,136 5
10 UCLA 21-3 1,115 11
11 Cincinnati 21-2 876 14
12 Virginia 17-5 875 9
13 West Virginia 18-5 861 7
14 Florida State 20-4 839 15
15 Kentucky 18-5 741 8
16 Purdue 19-5 537 23
17 Florida 18-5 530 24
18 Duke 18-5 514 21
19 South Carolina 19-4 493 19
20 Saint Mary's (Calif.) 21-2 468 18
21 Maryland 20-3 326 17
22 Butler 18-5 285 16
23 Creighton 20-4 207 22
24 Xavier 17-6 144 NR
25 SMU 20-4 107 NR

Ouch. That shows the down side of having such strong, balanced league. In early January, all 4 of our currently ranked teams were in the top 15 country and considered legitimate Final Four threats. The Big East gauntlet (with the help of some brutal injuries) is now bordering on knocking 3 of the 4 out of the polls completely.

It's nice for the bubble teams to have plenty of opportunities for impressive wins, but our top teams who are battling for seeding never get a day off because in every game they could be that huge win that puts their opponent over the top.

Hall2012 wrote:Ouch. That shows the down side of having such strong, balanced league. In early January, all 4 of our currently ranked teams were in the top 15 country and considered legitimate Final Four threats. The Big East gauntlet (with the help of some brutal injuries) is now bordering on knocking 3 of the 4 out of the polls completely.

It's nice for the bubble teams to have plenty of opportunities for impressive wins, but our top teams who are battling for seeding never get a day off because in every game they could be that huge win that puts their opponent over the top.

If we added St. Bonaventure and Northeastern, we could help ourselves out with that...

We have a tough league, but we are battle-tested by the time the tournament comes around. It's a big reason why Villanova was able to win the NC last year (well that, and all the talent and coaching they have).

GoldenWarrior11 wrote:

Hall2012 wrote:Ouch. That shows the down side of having such strong, balanced league. In early January, all 4 of our currently ranked teams were in the top 15 country and considered legitimate Final Four threats. The Big East gauntlet (with the help of some brutal injuries) is now bordering on knocking 3 of the 4 out of the polls completely.

It's nice for the bubble teams to have plenty of opportunities for impressive wins, but our top teams who are battling for seeding never get a day off because in every game they could be that huge win that puts their opponent over the top.

If we added St. Bonaventure and Northeastern, we could help ourselves out with that...

We have a tough league, but we are battle-tested by the time the tournament comes around. It's a big reason why Villanova was able to win the NC last year (well that, and all the talent and coaching they have).

The problem though is the seeds that the teams get make it extremely unlikely to make a run. There is a difference in the tourney between being a 6 seed and a 4 seed. 59-42 in terms of making the sweet 16 since 1985(and 7 seeds are only 23). And I'd venture a guess that it is probably tougher now with the pod system where you have some 2nd round games against that 3 seed in an almost road setting.

I agree it's a great league and I wouldn't want to do anything to water it down. Obviously the injuries hurt Creighton and Xavier in the polls and I think we're seeing a bit of lack of respect from the voters.

It feels like every time we see an upset in the ACC, it vaults the winning team into contention rather hurting the losing team, but we see the opposite effect with upsets in the Big East. We're probably going to get some unfavorable seeds and tough draws in the NCAA tournament. If we can do exactly what we did in OOC play and win those games, it'll help with the respect we receive going forward, especially the perception regarding upsets in the league.

Hall2012 wrote:I agree it's a great league and I wouldn't want to do anything to water it down. Obviously the injuries hurt Creighton and Xavier in the polls and I think we're seeing a bit of lack of respect from the voters.

It feels like every time we see an upset in the ACC, it vaults the winning team into contention rather hurting the losing team, but we see the opposite effect with upsets in the Big East. We're probably going to get some unfavorable seeds and tough draws in the NCAA tournament. If we can do exactly what we did in OOC play and win those games, it'll help with the respect we receive going forward, especially the perception regarding upsets in the league.

Also, the way voters respond to upsets in the ACC is a lot different to the response to Big East upsets. I been noticing it since January. It's like impossible for the ACC teams to fall out. It was a big surprise for me today to see Notre Dame finally fall out. Meanwhile the B.E are slowly kicked out of the rankings even though they have impressive records and no bad losses.

I always said that the Big East gets treated well, yet not as an equal to the F5.

ecasadoSBU wrote:

Hall2012 wrote:I agree it's a great league and I wouldn't want to do anything to water it down. Obviously the injuries hurt Creighton and Xavier in the polls and I think we're seeing a bit of lack of respect from the voters.

It feels like every time we see an upset in the ACC, it vaults the winning team into contention rather hurting the losing team, but we see the opposite effect with upsets in the Big East. We're probably going to get some unfavorable seeds and tough draws in the NCAA tournament. If we can do exactly what we did in OOC play and win those games, it'll help with the respect we receive going forward, especially the perception regarding upsets in the league.

Also, the way voters respond to upsets in the ACC is a lot different to the response to Big East upsets. I been noticing it since January. It's like impossible for the ACC teams to fall out. It was a big surprise for me today to see Notre Dame finally fall out. Meanwhile the B.E are slowly kicked out of the rankings even though they have impressive records and no bad losses.

I always said that the Big East gets treated well, yet not as an equal to the F5.

Agree, we get respect, but we don't get the benefit of doubt that the ACC/B10/B12 teams get.

Our rankings closely resemble our KenPom ratings. I don't see any big lack of respect or injury penalties.