Entries Tagged 'Polls' ↓

Blue Ribbon magazine — the, uh, blue ribbon pre-season publication in college basketball, has made Kentucky No. 7 in its rankings going into the 2009-10 season.

Kansas was an unanimous selection as the No. 1 team.

No UK player made the Blue Ribbon first team All-America team. Forward Patrick Patterson made the second team.

Kansas returns its top nine scorers, including all five starters, and more than 94 percent in every statistical category form last season’s 27-8 team.

Kansas fans will be happy to know that Blue Ribbon named eventual national champion North Carolina as its pre-season No. 1 team going into the 2008-09 season.

Here’s the Blue Ribbon top 25 and All-America teams:

1. KANSAS

2. Michigan State

3. Texas

4. Villanova

5. North Carolina

6. Purdue

7. Kentucky

8. California

9. Duke

10. Tennessee

11. Butler

12. West Virginia

13. Georgia Tech

14. Minnesota

15. Syracuse

16. Ohio State

17. Oklahoma

18. Connecticut

19. Dayton

20. Maryland

21. Oklahoma State

22. Michigan

23. Washington

24. Georgetown

25. (tie) Siena

25. Illinois

BLUE RIBBON COLLEGE BASKETBALL YEARBOOK

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

Player of the Year - COLE ALDRICH, 6-11, JR, Kansas

Newcomer of the Year - DERRICK FAVORS, 6-10, FR, Georgia Tech

2008-09 Blue Ribbon All-America Teams

FIRST TEAM

COLE ALDRICH, Kansas, 6-11 JR

KYLE SINGLER, Duke, 6-8 JR

LUKE HARANGODY, Notre Dame, 6-8 SR

SHERRON COLLINS, Kansas, 5-11 SR

EVAN TURNER, Ohio State, 6-7 JR

SECOND TEAM

PATRICK PATTERSON, Kentucky, 6-8 JR

DAMION JAMES, Texas, 6-7 SR

GREG MONROE, Georgetown, 6-11 SO

WILLIE WARREN, Oklahoma, 6-4 SO

SCOTTIE REYNOLDS, Villanova, 6-2 SR

THIRD TEAM

TALOR BATTLE, Penn State, 5-11 JR

TYLER SMITH, Tennessee, 6-7 SR

TREVOR BOOKER, Clemson, 6-7 SR

ROBBIE HUMMEL, Purdue, 6-8 JR

Craig Brackins, Iowa State, 6-10 JR

FOURTH TEAM

GREIVIS VASQUEZ, Maryland, 6-6 SR

JARVIS VARNADO, Mississippi State, 6-9 SR

RAYMAR MORGAN, Michigan State, 6-8 SR

JAMES ANDERSON, Oklahoma State, 6-6 JR

ED DAVIS, North Carolina, 6-9 SO

ESPN’s ebullient commentator Dick Vitale, called to say he’s got Kentucky at No. 3 in his pre-season poll going into 2009-10.

He’s got Kansas No. 1 and Duke No. 2.

“If (Jodie) Meeks comes back, I’ll move them to No. 2 and maybe 1-A,” Vitale said of UK. “They’re ready to make a big splash.”

Vitale called to say that his annual gala fund-raiser reaped $1.1 million. Proceeds from the event, which was held last week, go to the V Foundation for the effort to find a cure for cancer.

The event honored Rick Pitino and Billy Donovan this year. One of the honorees for 2011 is — you guessed it — new UK Coach John Calipari.

Sports Illustrated did not include Kentucky in its pre- pre-season top 20 poll for 2009-10. But the magazine recognized UK’s chances of making a big splash under first-year coach John Calipari by designating the program as a “wildcard.”

Here’s what Sports Illustrated wrote about Kentucky:

“In their current state, the Wildcats shouldn’t be near the top 20. But how will they look once new coach John Calipari is done building his first-year roster? The best-case scenario in Lexington could yield a team capable of chasing a national title. If lethal scorer Jodie Meeks, who plans to test the draft waters as a junior, can be convinced to return along with sophomore Patrick Patterson, and Calipari can reel in elite recruits John Wall (who had been considering Memphis) and DeMarcus Cousins (who previously committed to Memphis), then Kentucky will be scary. Landing Wall, the top prep point guard in the country, is the key, because there’s no one on UK’s present roster who can make Calipari’s Dribble-Drive Motion offense run in high gear.”

Here’s the Sports Illustrated top 20:

1. Michigan State; 2. Kansas; 3. Syracuse; 4. Connecticut; 5. Villanova; 6. Duke; 7. Purdue; 8. North Carolina; 9. West Virginia; 10. Oklahoma.

11. Texas; 12. Gonzaga; 13. Washington; 14. UCLA; 15. Missouri; 16. Butler; 17. Minnesota; 18. Clemson; 19. Dayton; 20. Xavier

It’s getting harder and harder to pick a top 25. I had 12 revisions on my ballot before finally throwing up my hands and sending in the best I could do.

I’d like to vote for Kentucky for political reasons. But that can’t be justified. Yet, I think Kentucky can make a splash in the SEC Tournament this week. If UK can somehow reduce its turnovers and get big games from Jodie Meeks/Patrick Patterson, anything’s possible.

But who could expect such a thing?

Anyway, back to this week’s ballot, I haven’t blogged about the ballot in the last few weeks because Kentucky fell out of contention. But since it was the last week of the regular season, here’s this week’s ballot. Voting ends with next week’s ballot. We also vote on three All-American teams, Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. I’ll vote for Blake Griffin of Oklahoma as Player of the Year and Jamie Dixon of Pittsburgh as Coach of the Year.  If Kansas wins the Big 12 Tournament, I may switch to Bill Self.

Here’s this week’s top 25:

1. North Carolina

2. Pittsburgh

3. Connecticut

4. Louisville

5. Memphis

6. Michigan State

7. Oklahoma

8. Wake Forest

9. Duke

10. Kansas

11. Villanova

12. Gongaza

13. Washington

14. LSU

15. Syracuse

16. Missouri

17. Xavier

18. UCLA

19. Florida State

20. Auburn

21. Butler

22. Marquette

23. Clemson

24. Penn State

25. Illinois

Isn’t the top 25 voting supposed to get easier as the season enters mid-February? That’s not the case this week.

Twelve teams from last week’s top 25 lost one game during the week. Two teams — UCLA and Duke — lost twice.

So after the top five, it got sticky. Those top five are Connecticut, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Memphis.

I rewarded Jodie Meeks’ big week (game-winner vs. Florida and 45 points at Arkansas) by returning Kentucky to the top 25 at No. 25.

Even if Patrick Patterson returns to the court, this week  figures to be a challenge for Kentucky with a road game at Vanderbilt on Tuesday and then returning home to face Tennessee.

Here’s this week’s ballot:

1. Connecticut
2. Oklahoma
3. North Carolina
4. Pittsburgh
5. Memphis
6. Michigan State
7. Duke
8. Louisville
9. Wake Forest
10. Marquette
11. Missouri
12. Arizona State
13. Gonzaga
14. Purdue
15. Villanova
16. Clemson
17. Xavier
18. Kansas
19. Illinois
20. Washington
21. LSU
22. South Carolina
23. Utah State
24. Miami
25. Kentucky

With conference play bringing the usual cannibalism among top teams, it’s not getting any easier picking a top 25.

After the first six, I felt uneasy about just about every pick.

Connecticut is the obvious No. 1 pick. Thereafter, there’s plenty to debate.

Gone from my top 25 are Minnesota (for the first time since the Dec. 14 balloting), West Virginia, Gonzaga, Syracuse and Texas.

Joining — or in some cases re-joining — the top 25 are Miami, Utah State, LSU, Florida State and Illinois.

LSU joined the top 25 ballot for the first time. The Tigers lead the weakened SEC and seem to have an advangtage in playing more Western Division games.

The highest riser was Memphis, from No. 15 to No. 7. The biggest drops were by Purdue (12 to 19) and Syracuse (18 to out of the top 25).

Here’s this week’s ballot:

1. Connecticut

2. Oklahoma

3. North Carolina

4. Pittsburgh

5. Duke

6. Louisville

7. Memphis

8. Wake Forest

9. Marquette

10. UCLA

11. Michigan State

12. Florida State

13. Clemson

14. Xavier

15. Villanova

16. Butler

17. Washington

18. Illinois

19. Purdue

20. Kansas

21. LSU

22. South Carolina

23. Utah State

24. Arizona State

25. Miami (Fla.)

After South Carolina beat Kentucky on Saturday, guard Zam Fredrick saw the game as validation of the Gamecocks as a quality team on the national scene.

South Carolina had not won at Kentucky since 1997.

When asked what beating UK 78-77 would do for the South Carolina program, Fredrick said it could serve “just to get people to believe we’re a legitimate team. We need to be looked at like a force.

“We’re not getting respect.”

South Carolina earned my respect. I placed the Gamecocks on my top 25 ballot for this coming week. South Carolina came in at No. 23 and were the only Southeastern Conference team to make it.

By the way, Devan Downey, whose shot with 3.2 seconds left enabled South Carolina to beat Kentucky, sounded more philosophical about the rankings.

“We talk like that,” he said when told of Fredrick’s no-respect comment. “As long as we keep doing what we do, we’ll be fine.”

South Carolina has two victories over ranked teams — 85-84 at then No. 19 Baylor and the miracle 70-69 victory over then No. 24 Florida. Throw in a victory at Kentucky (whether the Cats are ranked or not, that’s not to be dismissed), and I’m convinced.

Kentucky, perhaps over-valued at No. 17 on last week’s ballot, fell out after losing two games. I still think the Cats are of top 25 quality. But poor play in losing at Ole Miss, then a home loss seemed too much to overlook.

Florida fell from No. 21 to off the ballot after an ugly blowout loss at Tennessee Saturday night.

I’ve been keeping an eye on LSU all season. But I can’t quite pull the trigger yet. The Tigers’ 85-68 victory over South Carolina on Jan. 14 has me squirming.

As an aside, several e-mails arrived after I left Purdue off the ballot last week. I compensated by placing Purdue at No. 12 and drinking a boilermaker this week.

Here’s the ballot:
Jerry Tipton Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader (Please let me know how Kentucky does in the voting. thanks)
1. Connecticut
2. Duke
3. Oklahoma
4. North Carolina
5. Louisville
6. Pittsburgh
7. Marquette
8. Wake Forest
9. Xavier
10. Clemson
11. Butler
12. Purdue
13. Texas
14. Michigan State
15. Memphis
16. Villanova
17. Minnesota
18. Syracuse
19. UCLA
20. Washington
21. Gonzaga
22. Kansas
23. South Carolina
24. Arizona State
25. West Virginia

UK made the top 25 this week and the dastardly media can take a bow.

The Associated Press has not released this week’s media top 25 poll. But I’ve been told that Kentucky has received enough votes to be in the top 25 (probably at No. 23 or No. 24).

That’s a first for this season and surely reflects the Cats’ steadily improving play after opening the season with losses to Virginia Military Institute and North Carolina.

The USA Today coaches’ top 25 poll did not include Kentucky this week. UK finished 28th in the coaches’ balloting. Florida and Utah State finished 26th and 27th in the vote. That means that no SEC teams made the coaches’ top 25.

As for my ballot, I placed Kentucky at No. 17.

Here’s my complete ballot:

1. Duke

2. Connecticut

3. Pittsburgh

4. North Carolina

5. Wake Forest

6. Oklahoma

7. Louisville

8. Xavier

9. Michigan State

10. Texas

11. Marquette

12. Clemson

13. Butler

14. Arizona State

15. Syracuse

16. Minnesota

17. Kentucky

18. Villanova

19. Memphis

20. Illinois

21. Florida

22. Washington

23. West Virginia

24. UCLA

25. Gonzaga

Victories at Tennessee and Georgia put Kentucky on my top 25 ballot for the first time all season this week.

It was not only the victories, but also the WAY Kentucky played in winning two SEC road games that got them on the ballot. UK had been playing better and better. Improved point guard play. Better shot selection (of course, any shot by Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson qualify as good shots). Better transition defense. A continuation of solid half-court defense.

All of that put Kentucky at No. 21 on my ballot for The Associated Press top 25 this week.

Alas, Kentucky did not receive enough votes to make the AP poll this week. UK received 25 votes from the 72-member panel. The Cats were voted as high as No. 17, but did not get enough votes to crack the top 25. Still, it was a big boost to go from no votes one week to 25 the next.

UK fans will recall that the Cats failed to reach the pre-season top 25 in the wire service poll for the first time since 1990.

Last week also marked historic futility for the SEC with no league team making USA Today’s coaches’ top 25. That hadn’t happened since USA Today began running the coaches’ poll in the 1991-92 season.

Tennessee fell out of the media poll. But Florida placed at No. 24. That kept alive a streak of at least one SEC team being in The Associated Press poll since March of 1989.

I also placed Florida on my ballot. The Gators, like Kentucky off to a 3-0 SEC start, were at No. 24.

Kentucky’s not No. 21 with a bullet. The chances for advancement aren’t the greatest given the weak SEC. The Cats’ remaining schedule includes no teams with a top 25 RPI. The best RPIs belong to Florida at No. 27 and Tennessee at No. 28.

By the way, Kentucky’s RPI as of Monday was No. 56. That fit the Cats between Boise State at No. 55 and Evansville at No. 57.

Louisville’s victory over then No. 1 Pittsburgh last weekend moved the Cards from 16 to 13 on my ballot. It also shook up my top four. Pittsburgh fell from No.1 to No. 3. Wake Forest assumed the top spot.

Here’s this week’s ballot:

1. Wake Forest

2. Duke

3. Pittsburgh

4. North Carolina

5. Connecticut

6. Oklahoma

7. Michigan State

8. Texas

9. Georgetown

10. Xavier

11. Syracuse

12. Clemson

13. Louisville

14. Butler

15. Marquette

16. Villanova

17. Arizona State

18. Minnesota

19. UCLA

20. Notre Dame

21. Kentucky

22. Memphis

23. Illinois

24. Florida

25. Purdue

No SEC team made my top 25 ballot, which is important to me and no one else.

But the SEC made a dubious bit of history this week by not placing a team in the coaches’ top 25 poll sponsored by USA Today. That’s a first, dating back at least to the 1991-92 season, said Craig Bennett, the staff at USA Today who runs the coaches’ poll.

Arkansas came with 11 points of making the coaches’ top 25, Bennett said.

As for the media poll conducted by The Associated Press, Tennessee remained the only SEC team in the top 25. The Vols slipped from 15th to No. 24. The last time the SEC did not have a team in the wire service’s top 25 was in the balloting for March 7, 1989.

As for my ballot for The AP poll, I considered Tennessee and Arkansas. But Tennessee lost at home last week to unranked Gonzaga and then struggled to put away Georgia. Arkansas slipped out of my top 25 after losing at home to unranked Mississippi State by a double-digit margin.

Kentucky? Well, UK needs a marquee victory and Tuesday’s game at Tennessee might be as close as the Cats get to such an opportunity the rest of the season.

By the way, Kentucky did not appear on any ballot in either the coaches or media balloting. So even if UK wins on Tuesday, it might be perceived as less-than-impressive given how Tennessee is fading away on the national scene.

Here’s my ballot this week:

1. Pittsburgh

2. Duke

3. Wake Forest

4. North Carolina

5. Connecticut

6. Oklahoma

7. Michigan State

8. Texas

9. Georgetown

10. Xavier

11. Clemson

12. Syracuse

13. Minnesota

14. Michigan

15. UCLA

16. Louisville

17. Notre Dame

18. Butler

19. Marquette

20. Villanova

21. Illinois

22. Memphis

23. California

24. Arizona State

25. VMI