CBS Blog Poll: Basketball Style Week 4

by TrueCubbie on Mar 1, 2009 4:11 PM EST in FSU Basketball Comment 8 comments

Inside you will find my entry for this week's CBS Blog Poll...some movement...not a ton. Look forward to your thoughts.

Rank	Team	Delta

1	Memphis	1
2	Connecticut	1
3	Pittsburgh	2
4	North Carolina
5	Louisville	3
6	Duke	1
7	Missouri	2
8	Oklahoma	1
9	Michigan St.	1
10	Kansas	4
11	Clemson	5
12	West Virginia
13	Wake Forest
14	Marquette	1
15	Arizona St.	4
16	Gonzaga
17	Purdue	1
18	Villanova	1
19	UCLA	2
20	Florida St.	3
21	Washington	1
22	Louisiana St.	2
23	Brigham Young	2
24	Illinois	2
25	Utah
Last week's ballot

Dropped Out: Texas (#21).

So there it is...Remember, when I put my poll together I use the average score of my personal poll, Ken Pomeroy, and the two major polls to create an initial draft of the poll. I then make a couple of small tweaks to present you the poll above.

Memphis may be a crazy choice at number one, maybe a reach. However, they have the longest winning streak in the country. They have the best defense in the country. Their only 3 losses in the season were in late November and early December to Xavier, Georgetown and Syracuse. Since then, they have beaten Cincinnati, UAB, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Tulsa...as well as everyone else they have played. I look forward to hearing about this selection (Remember, UNC, Pitt, UConn and OU all have lost in the past week or so)

Obviously, I'm a bit biased and have moved the Noles into the 20 spot despite losing to BC on the road. Again, a bit generous, but I really do think we have an outstanding team and deserve some attention. We may move a little in the national polls this week.

Clemson drops with back to back losses. ASU takes a bit of a hit as well. They are a great team and suffered two back to back difficult losses. They may have been getting a bit ahead of themselves.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and potential changes. Again, group effort...so I am totally amenable to changes.

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Comments

This is a tough week for the poll

Many teams lost a game or two and things are really getting bunched up.
I think overall, your list is very good.

I also don’t think #20 for the Noles is biased at all. Our resume is beginning to look very strong. If we can somehow win the next two games, as well as one in the tourney, we could be a potential #3 seed in the tourney. Crazy, but true.

by Zach_Nole on Mar 1, 2009 5:20 PM EST reply actions

"not biased" I meant :)

by Zach_Nole on Mar 1, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions

Memphis is a very worthy choice for number one. Memphis has the top defense in the nation, as you mentioned. You did not mention just much better it is than even the second best defense in the nation.

Memphis (CUSA) 80.6 ( 1)
Louisville (BE) 84.1 ( 2)
Illinois (B10) 85.2 ( 3)
Connecticut (BE) 85.3 ( 4)
Purdue (B10) 85.3 ( 5)
West Virginia (BE) 86.2 ( 6)
Duke (ACC) 87.6 ( 7)
Kansas (B12) 87.8 ( 8)
Missouri (B12) 87.8 ( 9)
Florida St. (ACC) 88.3 ( 10)

The difference between Memphis’ defense and the next best defense is bigger than the drop from the 2nd best to the 7th best. Memphis doesn’t allow any offense. It would be easy to slack when playing some of the lesser teams Memphis plays. They have a great level of intensity.

Kansas needs to move up some, considering they spanked Missouri by what, 20?

If we didn’t drop UConn for losing Dyson, we can’t drop Purdue for losing Hummell. They handled Ohio State yesterday and I’d put them higher.

I would drop Marquette. After they lost James they have lost their defensive stopper on the perimeter.

Good job overall.

Tomahawk Nation: No-Holds-Barred Nole Analysis

by Bud Elliott on Mar 1, 2009 6:11 PM EST reply actions

Clemson should be farther down

They haven’t been playing well for the past two consecutive weeks. I believe they are 4-4 in the month of FEB. with lhome osses to virginia and virginia tech, and fsu, not to mention being sweept by fsu..

Yeah, right!

by truecolors on Mar 2, 2009 9:12 AM EST reply actions