From the early polls I've seen we are not even in top 25. I kind of wonder if all the hype is just wishful thinking. Multiple rankings don't think much of our team. That is going to take some getting use to. I get it. It may even be worse to be ranked high in the pre-season just to lose your first game in the tournament. However, this is definitely different. Hopefully the roster isn't finished. It is weird to see teams like Alabama and Ohio State ranked higher than us. And Kansas keeps rolling. At least Arky ain't ranked.
Not Ranked At All
- Thread starter canebreak
- Start date
Two really good players from being top 15-20. Plenty of guys left who fit that mold but we need to get a couple of them. Top 25 doesn't matter at this time since there are still 1,000 plus kids in the portal.
As UK fans we’ve seen that preseason rankings don’t mean jack. There’s still a lot of movement with the portal, I wouldn’t put much stock into any of them at this point.
Class isn't even settled yet. Ridiculous to try and rank them already. Also we had plenty of highly ranked preseason teams that got knocked out by teams that were never ranked.
We also just replaced our entire staff and roster. Expecting more would be unrealistic. I like this team and the makeup of it and think we do better than a lot of people think but regardless it was a total rebuild and deserves a little grace.
stonethecrow
Sophomore
I remember a time we were ranked in the top 10, and ended the season with a "home" loss at Robert Morris in the NIT.
Gone are the days of us being pre-season ranked in the top 10 to top 5 only for us to crap the bed and not make the tournament or lose the first game. Give Pope some time to add the final pieces and let's roll baby. I love this new direction. Oh I do think Pope will get us back to top 10 soon enough on a regular basis but this first year and somewhat next year may be more about building a strong foundation than anything else. Plus I am of the opinion it doesn't matter what any of the preseason polls or talking heads say. We have learned that better than anyone the last few years lol. Time we prove it on the court.
Doesn't matter, If we are good we will eventually end up ranked. With Cal we went from ranked top 5 to 20th on a regular basis. With Pope we will go from not ranked or 20th to top 5 by season end, Ill take the Pope route every time.
We still have to finish the roster, but lets talk about what we have now. The truth is, and it's uncomfortable, but this doesn't appear to be a top 25 roster. Now, that does not mean this team can't win a lot of games and make the tournament. Honestly we don't know how good any of these guys or coaches will be and nothing is guaranteed. All you can do is take things at face value and try not to be swayed by emotions and hope.
I see this roster as being comparable to what South carolina had last year. They managed to make some noise in the SEC but ultimately didn't have the horses in March. There is just so much unknown about what we can do this season and Afterall, we still don't have a complete roster. I'm gonna need to see some dynamic playmakers at least.
I see this roster as being comparable to what South carolina had last year. They managed to make some noise in the SEC but ultimately didn't have the horses in March. There is just so much unknown about what we can do this season and Afterall, we still don't have a complete roster. I'm gonna need to see some dynamic playmakers at least.
Preseason rankings are useless and only used for talking points. If you go look at the last several years, you will find a handful of preseason top 25 teams that don’t make the tournament.
And, as we saw in the last several years, a high preseason ranking doesn’t guarantee postseason success.
And, as we saw in the last several years, a high preseason ranking doesn’t guarantee postseason success.
From the exact same polls that could never recognize that Cal hadn't gotten his team out of the first weekend in years. Who cares.
We currently do not have a Top-25 roster unfortunately. Just not in the cards as of yet.
Now, land 2 huge, high-impact guys like Robinson and Lanier (or Wooga), and suddenly that changes.
But yeah, we don't have a Top-25 roster currently.
A lot of Mark Pope's momentum is riding on landing a couple of big fish once the NBA draft deadline hits.
Can't have a disappointing first year otherwise it'll be harder to get top talent. Need kids believing in the vision of what he is building (him being a head coach that many of them had maybe never heard of before, certainly not a household name).
But I have full faith- the Lanier smoke seems real, and I do believe we'll get one of Robinson or Wooga, or maybe an out-of-the-blue commitment from someone like Kadary Richmond. I think Pope will close strong.
Now, land 2 huge, high-impact guys like Robinson and Lanier (or Wooga), and suddenly that changes.
But yeah, we don't have a Top-25 roster currently.
A lot of Mark Pope's momentum is riding on landing a couple of big fish once the NBA draft deadline hits.
Can't have a disappointing first year otherwise it'll be harder to get top talent. Need kids believing in the vision of what he is building (him being a head coach that many of them had maybe never heard of before, certainly not a household name).
But I have full faith- the Lanier smoke seems real, and I do believe we'll get one of Robinson or Wooga, or maybe an out-of-the-blue commitment from someone like Kadary Richmond. I think Pope will close strong.
He’s nailed all of the other pieces. I have faith he’ll stick the landing with these pieces too. Or maybe land someone else no one has been talking about. He seems to have that knack.
I think we will be in the top 10 by mid season.
Much rather be underrated at this point. Under cal they would almost sarcastically give us a top rank and then eat pop corn all winter watching us fall. No thanks.
Yet BYU’s team was projected as top 20 next year by a lot of these so called “experts” prior to Pope coming. Pope has a lot better players now so it makes little sense. Stop worrying.
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A lot of these preseason ranking were “finalized” when we still only had 3 players on the roster. Even if they are posted in the last week…reality is the ppl making the list aren’t putting much effort or attention into CBB roster rn and won’t until the season gets a little closer. It’s all NBA and CFB focused for now.
When they start getting updated closer to the season beginning we will likely be top20 w the roster as is. Top 15 with an additional piece or 2.
When they start getting updated closer to the season beginning we will likely be top20 w the roster as is. Top 15 with an additional piece or 2.
Meh, let’s play the games and let the rankings work themselves out afterwards.
People say that pre season rankings don't matter but they do. They are more indicative of tournament success than the finalized human polls. Polls tend to overvalue specific wins and losses.
But not right now tho. What we are on 5/7 when the roster isn't even finalized, it doesn't make any sense to put any stock into that.
But not right now tho. What we are on 5/7 when the roster isn't even finalized, it doesn't make any sense to put any stock into that.
Don't understand why fans get worked up over preseason polls.
Pollsters stop giving us the benefit of the doubt several years ago. When Cal first got here and was tearing up the recruiting world and getting to Final Fours, they would give us a lofty ranking. but how many times in the past few years have we languished in the middle to lower half of the Top 25 if not out of it all together. We'd complain about Duke, Kansas, UNC all getting the benefit of the doubt like they do. It's because those people voting in the polls, other coaches, writers, analysts, etc., all could see that Cal was just mailing it in and put us where we deserved to be.
yea i mean, it's gonna take a lot of getting used to being significantly over rated pre-season and sucking all year. i just don't think i personally can handle it. I need good feelings and baseless inflated numbers and propaganda to keep me in good spirits because i mean lets face it, the only thing that matters is how we feel inside. honestly i mean who gives a damn about reality ! !
It beats beats being pre season top 5, getting our hopes up and then watching the team fade in and out of the top 25.
I don’t know what to expect with Pope’s first team and I don’t think anyone else does either.
I don’t know what to expect with Pope’s first team and I don’t think anyone else does either.
#3 to be precise. Pollsters are dumb.
Pre-preseason polls.
Plus, anyone can produce a poll. Mine includes the Cleveland Pipers, the Bad News Bears, and the Hartford Dark Blues.
Worriers simply like to worry because worry seems almost like action. There was that gone-in-60-seconds movie with Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance ... Bridge of Spies. Whenever the Hanks character asked the Rylance character why he wasn't worried, the Rylance character answered, "Would it help?"
Pre season means nothing. It's a meaningless talking point. This is for all sports as well.
All that matters is how the team builds a quality resume for the ncaa tournament.
All that matters is how the team builds a quality resume for the ncaa tournament.
2023-2024
| School | Pre | 13-Nov | 8-Jan | Final |
| Kansas | 1 | 1 | 3 | 19 |
| Duke | 2 | 9 | 12 | 9 |
| Purdue | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Michigan State | 4 | 18 | ||
| Marquette | 5 | 4 | 11 | 12 |
| UConn | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Houston | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Creighton | 8 | 8 | 22 | 13 |
| Tennessee | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Florida Atlantic | 10 | 10 | 24 | |
| Gonzaga | 11 | 11 | 23 | 15 |
| Arizona | 12 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| Miami (FL) | 13 | 12 | ||
| Arkansas | 14 | 14 | ||
| Texas A&M | 15 | 13 | ||
| Kentucky | 16 | 17 | 6 | 20 |
| San Diego State | 17 | 19 | 17 | |
| Texas | 18 | 19 | 25 | |
| UNC | 19 | 20 | 7 | 7 |
| Baylor | 20 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
| USC | 21 | 16 | ||
| Villanova | 22 | 21 | ||
| Saint Mary's | 23 | 21 | ||
| Alabama | 24 | 22 | 3 | |
| Illinois | 25 | 23 | 10 | 6 |
*Preseason top-25, out of final polls
Preseason unranked, who finished in top-25:
| School | Final |
| Iowa State | 8 |
| NC State | 10 |
| Clemson | 14 |
| Auburn | 18 |
| Utah State | 22 |
| Washington State | 23 |
| South Carolina | 24 |
| Dayton | 25 |
I wouldn't expect to be ranked pre-season. Nobody knows how the coaching staff or the roster will work out. Everything is being built from scratch. We have reasons to be optimistic, so we can focus on that and let the voters pick other teams.
That's excellent. Chip should be firmly on our shoulders. Wouldn't have it any other way.
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