As I look at the NCAA college basketball Top-25 polls this week, I can't help but wonder what these sports writers are actually thinking. Or, more accurately, are they thinking at all?
I know it may seem that polls in college basketball are insignificant due to the 64-team tournament closing the season, but they are important. They help determine the seeds and regions in which the teams are placed. Therefore, I must question what is going on right now.
First off, No. 2 Connecticut. Second is a good spot for them right now-it is what they deserve. Duke lost a game in November in Alaska by two points to now-highly-ranked Cincinnati. UConn lost a game last Monday night at home to an up-and-down Syracuse team. Granted, two of their top players were out, but a loss is a loss.
As for the Huskies rebound win at Stanford on Saturday with the help of "superstar" Jake Voskuhl, it is not the amazing feat that it has been made out to be.
Look at Stanford for a moment. Everyone says, "Stanford has only lost to the top teams this year." True, but they also have not beaten any of the top teams. Their losses have come to the likes of North Carolina, Arizona and Maryland. Meanwhile, their wins have come over powerhouses such as Oregon, California and Mount St. Mary's. You have to win some big games to be called a "top team."
Stanford made a great run in the tournament last year and returned a bunch of players. Big deal. One solid stretch of games does not equal a great team next season.
Back to UConn for a moment and its claim to No. 1. How soon people forget the Huskies' buzzer-beater over Pittsburgh or overtime win against Miami. They didn't just cruise through their schedule and then lose a tough one to the Orangemen.
Keep in mind, the Blue Devils closest win of late was an eight-point victory over Georgia Tech Saturday. Not exactly a last second miracle win.
Numbers three, four and five I have no complaints with. Well, maybe just one. Who has Auburn really beaten this year? The Tigers have played one real game and lost it to Kentucky. Yes, Rupp is not an easy place to win, but one would think the third-ranked team in the country could pull it off. As for the rest of the SEC, this is not the conference's best year. With the appearance of Florida at No. 23, there are now a total of three SEC teams ranked.
Cincinnati at four is justified. To say its loss at DePaul was questionable is a gross understatement. Michigan State has been on quite a roll as of late. Fifth in the country? Sure, let them have it.
Stanford at six has already been discussed. Maryland at seven... I guess that's where getting blown out on the home court of the nation's best gets you. Two of the Terps' four losses were versus Duke, the other two were at Wake Forest and at Kentucky. As a side note, Auburn could also easily lose two to the Blue Devils and one to Wake.
Kentucky had a very solid past week. A substantial loss at previously unranked Florida followed by an embarrassing loss to obviously unranked Alabama. The Cats only drop from fifth to eighth. Let me repeat, 0-2 for the week. It really makes no... never mind.
UCLA at nine? I have no idea. I think it's called tradition.
Arizona checks in at ten, although I would say seven or eight would be a bit more accurate. They lose Bibby and Simon, but Lute Olsen's got them playing some great ball out there, including a win over "great" Stanford.
St. John's...if the Red Storm could only beat Miami what a wonderful world it would be. The Storm plays the nation's top two teams to the wire and then falls at home to Miami. Consistency gets you in the top 10.
Then there's the Tar Heels. The Smith-less Tar Heels, mind you. What happens when you lose by 15 to the conference's cellar dweller and then win at home against Florida State? Nothing, you stay where you are at No. 12. Obviously, the tough losses against College of Charleston and Georgia Tech combined with big wins over Virginia and Buffalo have UNC hanging around with the elite.
Skipping a few spots, can someone please kick New Mexico out of the polls? The Lobos have played around 18 home games to only five or six on the road. They lost to a Hawaii team that only had two total wins. Put those guys out of their misery.
Overall, there are definitely some problems. Yes, I am biased, but there are still problems. It appears that it is not how many games you win or lose but how much tradition your program has that gives you a ranking.
Kentucky, UCLA, UNC. Come on! These teams can fall in the rankings just like everyone else. If you don't believe me, ask Roy Williams and the Jayhawks over in Kansas. They're hanging on to the Top 25 by the ends of their fingernails.
In the end, there's no doubt that Duke and UConn are by far the top two teams in the country. The drop after those two is tremendous.
You want to know my top 12? Here you go: Duke, UConn, Cincinnati, Auburn, Michigan State, Maryland, Arizona, Stanford, St. John's, Utah, Kentucky, UCLA.
It just seems to make sense.
Brian Kane is a Trinity junior and an assistant sports editor of The Chronicle.
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