Polls 2/23

[swok34]

AP:

1. Connecticut
2. Tennessee
3. Duke
4. Purdue
5. Texas (ouch, I think that was harsh)
6. Penn State
7. Louisiana Tech
8. Texas Tech
9. Kansas State
10. Stanford
11. North Carolina
12. Minnesota
13. TCU
14. Colorado
15. LSU
16. Baylor
17. Houston
18. Auburn
19. Georgia
20. Depaul
21. Miami
22. Michigan State
23. Oklahoma
24. Vanderbilt
25. Ohio State

[zip]

Doesn't bother me one bit - I think we play better with less attention - at least we did last year!!!

[JK]

I saw that one coming. I figured that Purdue's winning streak would be heavily considered -- and rightly so. However, I still don't understand why it is so easy for Tennessee and Duke to continually leap-frog us in the polls when we've beaten them both. Oh well, I guess it really doesn't matter that much.

[This message has been edited by JK (edited 02-23-2004).]

[Texan]

Well - it gives us something to play for, that is for sure!

[Texan]

Well - it gives us something to play for, that is for sure!

[Jelly Bean]

I do not like it one bit! We are fighting for a #1 seed in the
tournament! Purdue beats #20 Michigan State 57-54!! Wow am i
impressed!Texas teams will never get respect from the east coast
media.I must say the Horns looked awful yesterday! The post play
was awful,and we cannot hit a shot outside of 15ft.Where was
Heather for goodness sakes.This was a Team Effort;absolutely
looked as if they were moving in slow motion.Texas still holds
there own destiny! 3 Wins and either Champions or Co-Champions!
Tech you outhustled,outrebounded,and I am very proud of the
effort your team gave.We have bounced back before,so I still
have hope in the Lady Longhorns!!I need to go watch the movie
"miracle" or maybe "Dumb and Dumber!

[Jennifer]

I do think it's harsh that Texas dropped that far.
But,

Originally posted by Jelly Bean:
We are fighting for a #1 seed in the
tournament! Purdue beats #20 Michigan State 57-54!! Wow am i
impressed!
It was a win regardless of the score, something Texas failed to do against a lower ranked team.

Texas teams will never get respect from the east coast
media.I must say the Horns looked awful yesterday!

You know, I keep seeing some Texas fans who keep saying this about a lack of respect and I just don't get it. You were ranked #1. That's not respect? Your losses though few haven't really even been close. Plus yesterday's game was on national TV--so everyone saw them look awful. I think being #5 still shows a bit of respect.

[35TangoTango]

The other thing to remember is that this poll does not dictate the seeding.

What is Texas' RPI compared to Purdue and Duke?

Also, by the time the seeding is done, a lot more games will have been played!

[swok34]

Texas has been holding pretty steady at the #6 position in RPI..
SOS today is 10.

Haven't paid a lot of attention to...other than the Big XII, this morning it stands like this:

1) Tennessee
2) Connecticut
3) Duke
4) Purdue
5) Penn State
6) Texas

Everyone's SOS is in the single digit's.

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 02-23-2004).]

[redraider3414]

WHAT....these polls are CRAZY. just dont pay attention to them and we will show them in march when its a all big 12 final four!!!! C'mon i mean TTU beats the #1 team and we move up 1 spot????? La Tech is OVER RATED!!!!! as well as Purdue and they will lose to PSU this sunday.
GO BIG XII

[Moooooo]

Don't worry about where we stand in the polls TODAY. We have to continue winning, and we don't face anyone that's ranked ahead of us; that's the good news. Bad news is that the remaining times on our schedule are all good, although lower-ranked.

I don't see UConn or Duke losing again; Tennessee could get knocked off in the the SEC tournament. Penn State goes to Michigan State later this week, and Purdue travels to Penn State on Sunday. Plus, only one team can go unscathed in the Big 10 tourney.

UConn is a lock for the #1 seed in the East; Tennessee and Duke will also get #1 seeds. Penn State, Purdue, Texas, and K-State are fighting for the last one, and it will take going on a run to close the season in order to get it.

[YCN]

The rankings hit on Texas was harsh, but I pretty much expected it. Until the Big 12 crowns a national champion, we will always get less respect than we deserve from the national press.

And let's not forget that the number of televised games for the Big 12 has been woefully low this year. We must find a way to get more national exposure, because having the best conference in the country on television more can do nothing but increase interest in the women's game, as well as create more awareness in the type of ball we play in these parts.

One thing I really like though, is that there are five Big 12 teams in the top 16. I think that's the same number that we had in 2001-2002 just before the NCAA tournament, and that year we put seven teams in the one through four seedings group. The Big 12 that year finished in the final poll with seven teams in the top 16.

I'm surprised that OU didn't get dumped from the poll. After all, we were only 1-1 after beating CU and losing to Baylor...

A curious possibility that I could see happening is that OU could have a lower seed in the Big 12 tournament than in the NCAA tournament. Wouldn't that be strange? But it would be a testament to the overall strength of the conference this year.

If Texas wins out they will get a #1 seed, I guarantee it. The selection committee considers a whole lot of things, and road wins against Duke and Tennessee will carry a lot more weight than a possible #5 ranking in the polls.

I can't wait to see how we all do in the postseason, because I think the conference will acquit itself admirably this year.

[wbbcatfan]

Well don't feel to bad Texas fans, K-State wins two takes sole possession of 1st place in the Big 12 and drop a spot in the poles? Go figure..I'll take any win by any number of points on the road in the Big 12.

[YCN]

I'll attribute the K-State drop to a bunch of ignorant people thinking that KSU winning in two overtimes at Missouri isn't much of a feat.

Maybe their teams will want to schedule a Big 12 team more often in the future, since we are such a bunch of pushovers.

[Bob_Ballew]

I am also anxious to see how the Big XII fares in the NCAA tourney. It should be interesting. It would be great to get four or more teams in each of the regional finals. I certainly expect a Big XII team to make the final four, maybe more. I would say that most of the non-Big XII teams in the polls are not looking forward to meeting one of our teams in the tournament.

[This message has been edited by Zo3157 (edited 02-23-2004).]

[Bball Girl]

Coach Sharp said she thinks they'll give the #1 seeds to Duke, Tenn, UConn and the Big 10 champ even though she thinks the Big 12 Champ deserve the other #1

Yeah, I think this drop is harsh...but polls will be polls.

[Jimi]

Oh come on now folks. Kansas State dropped one spot because no one in front of them had a bad week (unless you count Texas) and the team one behind them (the Lady Raiders) beat the #1 team. If K-State is ever beats the number one team in the country I am going to be a little disappointed if they don't move up. Tech moved in front of KSU and I have NO problem with that. Look at last week's ratings and tell me who you would have knocked down to hold KSU equal or are you telling me that Tech did not deserve to move up?

I'm a B-12 homer but don't tell me we get no respect. Both Texas and Tech have been rated #1. We often have 4 to 6 teams in the top 20. Where is the lack of respect? There seems to be a general feeling around the country that the Big 12 is the best conference, sounds like lots or respect to me.

K-State is ranked about right. If we want to be higher we need to beat some more teams that are ahead of us. Would you be happy as a B-10 fan if one of their teams got dropped to make room for K-State because the Wildcats beat an unranked team in double overtime?

Imho we have nothing to complain about. If Texas or K-State wins the B-12 and/or the B-12 tourney they each have a legit shot at a #1 seed. If you don't belive that look up their RPI's and expected RPI's. K-State currently is ranked between 6th and 8th in the RPI's and about the same in power ratings. Most likely worst case for either the Wildcats or Longhorns is a 3 seed with a 2 seed more likely. Then look at Tech and Colorado. Most likely at least 3 seeds or better. Many pundits are talking about seven B-12 teams in with the possibility of eight and maybe four of them as 2 seeds or better. From ANY of the seeds especially 3 and above you get to make your own luck in the dance.

Want respect? Just win Baby!

[YCN]

Last I checked Tech had 4 losses in conference play. Once again this is disrespect toward the quality of the teams in this conference.

Saying that Tech deserves to be ranked above a team with three fewer conference losses and a better record overall does not make any sense at all.

But of course seeing a 5-loss Stanford move UP in an utterly mediocre conference is just another example of how clueless the pollsters are.

BTW, how many home games has KSU lost this year? And KSU would beat La Tech like a rented mule. No offense people: La Tech is a very good team. They simply are not in KSU's class.

End of story.

It really doesn't matter in the end. The scorched earth doesn't happen until a week after the end of the conference tournament.

[Jimi]

Originally posted by YCN:
It really doesn't matter in the end. The scorched earth doesn't happen until a week after the end of the conference tournament.

Ahh yes! There is a LOT we can agree on. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[spooky]

One other factor in how teams will do in the dance is one I had forgotten about. With the predetermined host sites, I remembered there were schools that are hosting first and second round games that probably will not make the tourney such as New Mexico (So sad http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif ) and ISU. What I had looked over was the large number of host schools who might make the tourney as a low seed.

Collegerpi.com in their latest bracket projection has 6 host teams getting in as a 9-12 seed. This means at least 6 relatively high seeds having to face a lower seeded team on their home court, either in the first round or the second. They currently project Baylor as a #5 at #12 Montana, K.State as a #2 with a potential second round game at #10 Ohio St., and #2 Colorado in the next round against #10 Arizona St. This could be a factor in the Big 12's success if we get seeded heavily into these brackets.

I know this is one of the potential results of having predetermined sites while still putting teams on their home floor, but I'm curious how much attention the NCAA will pay to spreading out the burden of which conferences get put into these situations.

[Jimi]

Originally posted by spooky:
I know this is one of the potential results of having predetermined sites while still putting teams on their home floor, but I'm curious how much attention the NCAA will pay to spreading out the burden of which conferences get put into these situations.

Given the complexity of seeding factors my guess would be none.

You raise a good point but then again we managed to lose to Notre Dame on our own floor last year. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/frown.gif I hope we can just win in any environment, but I sure do wish the old top four seeds at home format was still in effect.

[BeBe]

I'm with you 100% on that one Jimi. I still would have prefered to see the top 4 seeds in each region playing on their home courts until we reached the point where most of these are sellouts. Then and only then would it be time to start the move to neutral sites.

[dem]

This new system is supposed to reduce home court advantage and make the tournament more equitable. Instead, it hands home court advantage arbitrarily to teams that haven't earned it during the season. (And yes, I most certainly hope that Iowa State will be able to take advantage of that silly policy this year. But THEN we should get rid of it!)

As far as seeding, I think its true that if Tennessee, Duke, and Connecticut win out, and either Purdue or Penn State wins out including the Big 10 Tournament championship, it will be tough for a Big 12 team to get a #1 seed. But if Texas or Kansas State can also win out, the worst they would get is the top #2 seed. That would mean they could end up facing Purdue or Penn State on a neutral floor in the Regional Final -- same as would happen if the seedings were reversed and UT or KSU ended up with a #1. So, nothing really lost except a bit of prestige.

Now, if nobody in the Big 12 wins out (and my money is definitely on that outcome), the Big 12 tournament champion should still be a lock for a #2 seed, and if the conference champion is a different team they would also get a #2. In the end, a Big 12 team will have to beat one of the other top 6-8 teams to get to the Final Four. Well, there isn't a team in this conference -- including Texas A & M! -- that wouldn't say to that: BRING IT ON!!

[DingoBoy24]

Originally posted by Jelly Bean:
I do not like it one bit! We are fighting for a #1 seed in the
tournament! Purdue beats #20 Michigan State 57-54!! Wow am i
impressed!....

Purdue's home win over MSU wasn't impressive but you have to remember the Boilers beat them for second time this yr. Purdue won @MSU easily a few weeks ago, had a 14pt lead at halftime and pushed the lead to 20 with 3 minutes to go but a few 3 pters by MSU made the final score a respectable 77-67 ( http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/recap?gid=200401080358 ). MSU is a good team and already has a great win @Minnesota this year before Whalen was injured (ask Colorado and Penn St how tough it's to beat the Gophers at home). MSU wanted a payback @Purdue REALLY bad and a close game is all they got. Same as Ohio St, Purdue won @OSU easily and had 17 pt lead at halftime and held on to win 74-68, and then hosted the Buckeyes at home to only win by 3 pts! The same Ohio State that went on to win @Michigan St 72-53!!!
There's no homecourt advantage in the Big10 this year (every team has at least one home loss) that makes every game very exciting cause you never know what might happen. For the record, Purdue (at home) is shooting a mediocre 33% while averaging 66 pts/gm to Opponents' 54! Away from home the Boilers are shooting 43% while scoring 75 pts/gm to Opponents's 60, who else can say that? (Watch out Penn St, the Boilers are coming !!!)



[This message has been edited by DingoBoy24 (edited 02-24-2004).]

[YCN]

AP poll is out, and it is very similar to the coaches poll.

Jerry Palm has his latest bracket projection up. http://www.collegerpi.com/women/04/ncaaguess.html

He has Texas, Kansas State and Texas Tech ALL as #2 seeds; Colorado at #3, Oklahoma at #6 and Nebraska at #12.

If I can recall correctly, KSU and Tech both jumped from #3 last week, Texas slipped to #2, Baylor may have climbed, and OU jumped from #8. Nebraska debuted (I think) this week.

The assignments are interesting.

He has Nebraska at Florida State along with Miami-FL, Auburn, and Middle Tennessee.

Colorado is at host Minnesota with Mississippi and Western Illinois.

Texas Tech is at host Arizona State with Penn and Louisville.

KSU is at host Montana with Old Dominion and Austin Peay.

OU is at host Ohio state with TCU and Miami-OH.

Texas hosts Arizona, West Virginia and Marist.

Baylor is at New Mexico with Georgia, Utah and Maine.


We all know things won't turn out that way, but I think that this week's pairings are very favorable to the Big 12.