Comments on: RTC Top 25: Week Eight

By: KDoyle

KDoyle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:03:23 +0000

Garik, but it is more than just Indiana’s win over Ohio State. Look at both schedules and the wins each have had…hard to say that Ohio State should be ranked much higher than Indiana.

We can all say that Ohio State should be ranked higher because they ostensibly have more talent and “look” better, but the resumes would suggest that Indiana may be better.

By: rtmsf

rtmsf — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:03:13 +0000

In reply to nvr1983.

@garik16: I had Harvard in at last week, and it was very tough to drop them out this week, but felt that the teams I escalated into my poll knocked the Crimson down to #26. I had a lot of trouble ranking everyone from #20 down, but could have just as easily picked seven or eight teams for a tie at that position.

@Matt B: I think it comes down to the different ways in which people rank teams. Some rely completely on resume and that alone; others go with the eye test and that alone; while still others (like myself) use a combination of both. We do not tell our eight pollsters to subscribe to any particular method over another — it’s their decision. I’ve had Baylor higher than everyone else all season and until they lose, I don’t anticipate dropping them. I also believe UConn is much better than what they’ve actually shown (even with just the one loss), but if they start losing games, I’ll certainly amend my ranking accordingly.

By: garik16

garik16 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:56:18 +0000

Matt: UConn’s win over Harvard was at home. They didn’t get to play in Atlantis due to UConn’s loss to UCF.

KDoyle: Indiana’s rank lower than OSU is very easy to explain: they beat OSU by a single possession at HOME….that doesn’t spell better than, it says that the teams are probably close. That’s not inconsistent.

By: KDoyle

KDoyle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:48:49 +0000

Matt, I largely agree with you. I tweeted the other day that Indiana, along with all other teams who were unranked in the preseason, have a hard time climbing high into the rankings at this stage of the season. Their continued strong play will eventually get them higher, but right now I firmly believe their rank is a product of where they began the year.

Think of it this way: How can Indiana possibly be ranked lower than Ohio State? A resume that is just as good as the Buckeyes (maybe even better), PLUS they beat them.

If the Top 25 rankings didn’t exist until Week #5, Indiana is probably a Top 5 team right now. But, how could we fans survive without rankings? Just my .02

By: Matt B

Matt B — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:00:06 +0000

I’m curious as to why Baylor, Missouri, and UConn are all ahead of Duke, Georgetown, and Indiana. Baylor and Missouri are undefeated, which is always an accomplishment, but Missouri hasn’t beaten a single team who is even receiving votes in the poll and Baylor has only a semi-home win over #19 Miss St. UConn meanwhile, has a neutral court win over #23 Harvard, with no other wins over teams getting votes. They also have the worst loss of anyone in top ten losing to UCF. Meanwhile, Duke’s only loss was on the road against #4 OSU, and even though they got destroyed, they also have neutral court wins over #12 Michigan St, #13 Kansas, and #15 Michigan. Georgetown’s only loss came on a neutral court to Kansas, and they have one of the best road wins of the year, winning at #13 Louisville. All Indiana has done, meanwhile , is beat #2 UK and #4 OSU, while only losing at #12 Mich St. I understand the eye test, and that Mizzou has crushed everyone, while Duke and Indiana were beaten badly in their losses, but we’re just about halfway through the year, and the resume’s have to mean something by now.

By: garik16

garik16 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:57:59 +0000

Sorry right, I see the NRs marked up there. Still confused.

I like your ballot mostly NVR except I’m not sure I agree with KU being 18 and GTown 8 when KU beat GTown on a neutral floor.

But that’s not you alone I guess.

By: nvr1983

nvr1983 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:42:45 +0000

Not sure who put Xavier in the top 25. The three people who didn’t put Harvard in top 25 were rtmsf, Zach Hayes, and Brian Otskey.

My entire ballot made it in the top 25 so you can see where I ranked teams, but perhaps the others can come on here and “defend” themselves.

By: garik16

garik16 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:34:19 +0000

Who the heck is still ranking Xavier and is not ranking Harvard?