Stop...I am dizzy from the new Hoops Ratings
by memphispete on Dec 12, 2010 10:21 PM EST
Email
PrintBruce Pearl, Tony Jones, Steve Forbes and the rest of the staff put together a phenomenal scout and game plan to enable the Tennessee Volunteers to destroy the Pittsburgh Panthers in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Unless they start saying "y'all" in downtown Pittsburgh (a few miles from Pitt's campus), it was effectively a home game for Pitt. There certainly wasn't anything neutral about it.
Most of the media reside in the cities around the Big East. Therefore, they pay too much attention to the BEast and wrongly view it as the basketball capitol of the civilized world. We upset their little (Big) Apple cart when we beat Nova at the MSG. Most rationalized it as a regional fluke, a tournament thing or a bad game by the Nova boys (happens to the best of us, right?). So, sure, the Nova win bumped us a few notches in the polls but let's not go crazy over one game.
But the Pitt stomping? Whew! That apparently has everyone's attention. After thoroughly whipping Pitt and beating Villinova soundly at MSG, the Vols own the Top 2 teams in the Big East. We now are officially worthy of a little buzz as the hottest thing in College Hoops.
And, in case anyone thinks I am just making fun of the Yankee media, let's go ahead and mention again that the Vols are destined to make the SEC Basketball Writers look thoroughly silly for picking them fourth in the SEC EAST.
Sorta begs the question though - Where should our beloved Vols be ranked? Still early days in a long season. Things are encouraging but the Pearl suspension looms for 8 SEC games. The Contrarian View still has a place in the discussion (welcome ASOB).
A few reference points linked for games thru last night and a poll after the jump. In your comments, please justify your ranking (who's better, currently vs. year end, etc).
How about #1 RPI at Realtimerpi.com and StatSheet.com ?
Or, #2 in the latest Yahoo Users Poll at Rivals.com ?
How about #3 on CBS Sports 25 And One by Gary Parrish?
How about #4 on Yardbarker by Jeff Goodman at FoxSports?
For the more pessimistic (realistic)?
UPDATE: AP Poll Release has Vols at # 7. Ahead of Pitt and behind K State, Syracuse, UConn, Kansas, Ohio State and Duke.
For the dark and gloomy,
* For reference, the old AP had the Vols at #11 and the old ESPN poll had us at #13. These two esteemed polls of the coaches and writers don't come out until (say it slowly) tomorrow - at which point this FanPost will be sadly outdated in the little world I like to call the Internet.
FanPosts are most often submitted by users. The views and opinions expressed in FanPosts do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions held by the editorial staff of Rocky Top Talk or SB Nation.
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Right now, we should be top four
But at the end of the season, I’m saying top eight. I’ll believe the breakthrough when I see it. But if any UT team can do it, it’s this one.
by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 12, 2010 10:23 PM EST reply actions
Well said, sir. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to you and yours.
The COEXIST bumper sticker is ridiculous. How are people supposed to get along when one side is flying planes into tall buildings or wearing sweater vests full of C4 and nails? The faiths are MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
Anyone know where I can find a "Tennessee Vols: 2010 Big East champs" t-shirt?
I want to add it to my collection with my “1998 Florida state champs” shirt (actual shirt I own.)
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
Oh, Joel - Gameday Depot.com offering being requested here...
The COEXIST bumper sticker is ridiculous. How are people supposed to get along when one side is flying planes into tall buildings or wearing sweater vests full of C4 and nails? The faiths are MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
by memphispete on Dec 13, 2010 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
Heh
That would be fantastic. Somebody want to try getting that licensing application approved with the Big East?
;-)
by Joel Hollingsworth on Dec 13, 2010 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
You just have to be creative
Something like:
“UT is the BIGgest
team in the EASTern division and will be
the sec CHAMPIONS!”
You should be in Marketing.
The COEXIST bumper sticker is ridiculous. How are people supposed to get along when one side is flying planes into tall buildings or wearing sweater vests full of C4 and nails? The faiths are MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
And, I meant that as a compliment. Really.
The COEXIST bumper sticker is ridiculous. How are people supposed to get along when one side is flying planes into tall buildings or wearing sweater vests full of C4 and nails? The faiths are MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
I would buy that shirt.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
IF we beat Uconn
I’ll try and get something together and sell it on cafepress at cost. We can crowd-design it here on a Fanpost.
Big if
And if. . . I’ll buy it.
by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 13, 2010 10:51 PM EST up reply actions
Put UT on the top line, by itself, so the all caps words line up:
UT:
BIG
EAST
CHAMPIONS
then arrange the other words appropriately around it.
Just getting a head start!
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
Updated accordingly. Thanks!
The COEXIST bumper sticker is ridiculous. How are people supposed to get along when one side is flying planes into tall buildings or wearing sweater vests full of C4 and nails? The faiths are MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
this team is definitely Final 4 material
but do I think they will actually make the final 4….. I don’t want to say
I like that Parrish called out some of the AP voters
http://gary-parrish.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/26421179
I like orange and I am a dog person
Parrish is my favorite cbb writer
And I would have said that regardless of how he ranked us.
...just apologize for not thanking me.
I agree
He actually blasted us from the rankings last year earlier than almost everyone else, and I agreed with him, even though most UT fans were in a hissy. His reasoning: “Sure, they returned everyone from last year, but last year they underachieved, got a 9 seed, and were a one and done. So why is returning everyone top 25 worthy.” Completely right. He understands more than most, and I think he has us pegged perfectly right now at #3.
by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 13, 2010 10:53 PM EST up reply actions
Parrish is pretty awesome. Memphis area guy (Horn Lake, MS) and he still calls it rightly regarding the Vols.
The COEXIST bumper sticker is ridiculous. How are people supposed to get along when one side is flying planes into tall buildings or wearing sweater vests full of C4 and nails? The faiths are MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
Yeah...
I’ve always liked him. I love his sense of humor.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
Note the margin of votes between UT at 7 and Pitt at 8
in the AP poll. The Vols received 1,316 points – just four less than Kansas State at 6, fifteen less than Syracuse at 5, and twenty-seven less than UConn at 4. But the Vols got 179 more points than Pitt at 8. That’s the largest margin between two consecutive teams in the entire poll – it’s early, but there’s clear separation between the Top 7 and the rest of college basketball according to the voters.
Also, Duke got all of the #1 votes (rightfully so), but check out how AP voters view the Vols – two voters (including one from Pennsylvania) have the Vols at #2 this week, five others put UT at #3, and other than one guy who put the Vols at 9, every voter has UT in their Top 8. Not bad for a team that was #24 two weeks ago.
I really like that AP Writer breakdown link, Will. "You guys have resources no one even knows about."
The COEXIST bumper sticker is ridiculous. How are people supposed to get along when one side is flying planes into tall buildings or wearing sweater vests full of C4 and nails? The faiths are MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
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