School noticeably absent in the national polls

[AdaSooner]

This has been a strange year in college basketball. When was the last time schools like UNC, Kentucky, UCLA, UCONN, Pitt and UCLA were nowhere to be found in the AP or the coaches top 25? Marquette and Oregon are two other schools who have frequented the polls over the years.

Did I miss anyone?

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings

 

[Crocker's Long Sleeves]

OU! Hopefully Kruger can get us back some national respect. When was the last time we were ranked? Was it in the Willie Warren, TMG, Gallon year before it all went downhill? That was a while ago.

Its not really a weird year though, its just how it is with the one and done rule. If your freshman do not come in and dominate you are in for a rougher year if you depend on those freshman. Which is most of the name schools.

The slow death of college basketball is horrible and sad to watch. Who really cares about college hoops now when it is just a one or if your lucky two year showcase for the NBA and they are gone. You cant invest anything of follow any team because they will be gone and bring in a new crop of kids that will all leave again.

Sorry Ada for hijacking this thread, I guess i'm just tired of this system college hoops has become, or Im just bitter on how far OU has fallen. Hopefully we can end this year on a high note and change my view.

 

[Sawyer]

UNC surprises me. They've landed a ton of highly rated recruits, and Roy obviously has a track record of success. They've lost a lot of talent to the NBA, but you'd think they'd have no less trouble reloading than teams like Kentucky (also not in the top 25, but they'll get there).

I do think UK and UCLA will be in the top 25 by the time the season's over.

 

[jerry]

I would not want to play Kentucky in the tournament if there healthy. They will continue to improve and peak about that time.

 

[AdaSooner]

UNC surprises me. They've landed a ton of highly rated recruits, and Roy obviously has a track record of success. They've lost a lot of talent to the NBA, but you'd think they'd have no less trouble reloading than teams like Kentucky (also not in the top 25, but they'll get there).

I do think UK and UCLA will be in the top 25 by the time the season's over.

Yeah, UNC surprises me more than anyone.

Crocker's LS makes a valid point about the one and done rule's effect on college basketball. But, despite that rule, UNC has continued to reload every year by bringing in practically any recruit they wanted to sign. Not this season. I don't recall seeing a Roy Williams coached team that is no better than average right now. That may change. But they're not off to a good start by going 0-2 in the ACC.

The same goes for UK. You and jerry may be right that Calipari's youngsters will continue to get better and peak at the right time. Still, any team that struggles to beat a 6-6 (now 6-7) Vandy team, even on the road, has a long way to go before they will be a factor in the post season.

 

[DenverSooner]

I think college coaches are just going to have to adjust to the new environment. Rather than recruit 5 guys that are one and done type players, I think coaches are going to learn to recruit a couple of guys every year that are likely to be long term players and then supplement them with a couple of great players if you are able to get those types of players. Perhaps the best teams will consistently have rosters with 8-10 guys that are three or four year players and 3-5 guys that are 1-2 year players.

There are positives to this new environment. Teams like Butler can now play with the best BCS schools at least until the coaches at those schools learn to change their recruiting from getting 5 McD AA every year to something else.

 

[AdaSooner]

I think college coaches are just going to have to adjust to the new environment. Rather than recruit 5 guys that are one and done type players, I think coaches are going to learn to recruit a couple of guys every year that are likely to be long term players and then supplement them with a couple of great players if you are able to get those types of players. Perhaps the best teams will consistently have rosters with 8-10 guys that are three or four year players and 3-5 guys that are 1-2 year players.

There are positives to this new environment. Teams like Butler can now play with the best BCS schools at least until the coaches at those schools learn to change their recruiting from getting 5 McD AA every year to something else.

Excellent points. I agree with everything you said.

 

[scrybe]

OU! Hopefully Kruger can get us back some national respect. When was the last time we were ranked? Was it in the Willie Warren, TMG, Gallon year before it all went downhill? That was a while ago.

Its not really a weird year though, its just how it is with the one and done rule. If your freshman do not come in and dominate you are in for a rougher year if you depend on those freshman. Which is most of the name schools.

The slow death of college basketball is horrible and sad to watch. Who really cares about college hoops now when it is just a one or if your lucky two year showcase for the NBA and they are gone. You cant invest anything of follow any team because they will be gone and bring in a new crop of kids that will all leave again.

Sorry Ada for hijacking this thread, I guess i'm just tired of this system college hoops has become, or Im just bitter on how far OU has fallen. Hopefully we can end this year on a high note and change my view.

I think you hit the nail on the head with this post, Crocker's LS. And the part I placed in bold – very sad indeed.