AP Poll Released

[BlueSince92]

We will have one of two completely different seasons based on whether or not we beat Duke. There’s really not much in the way of middle ground available. Come November 13th the powers that be will see us either as in the top third of the top 25 or as in the bottom third of the SEC. We could technically change either perception afterwards, but man it would be like swimming upstream in a mudslide.

Have to pummel Scheyer. Just have to.

 

[*CatinIL*]

The beauty of CMBB, there's a pretty good tournament that will sort out a champion.

 

[treyforuk]

I hope they don't shoot us up too high after we beat the he!! Out of Puke.....😎

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Meth is a helluva drug.
Mark’s Makers will humiliate the AP pollsters.

 

[G-PIP]

How is Rutgers ranked 25th with the 2nd and 3rd best players in the Country, and two of the top 3 draft picks?

 

[HerrosHeroes]

How is Rutgers ranked 25th with the 2nd and 3rd best players in the Country, and two of the top 3 draft picks?

Because they are not a traditional power.

 

[megablue]

I can't see the SEC having 8 teams in the top 25 for very long. The league will be very strong but I can't see 8 top 25 teams. At least a 1/3 of that list will drop out by mid season, possibly even half. Other teams from other leagues will have good seasons and deserve to be there. Some will be extremely over-valued.

It seems the SEC teams fade in the rankings every year ... not sure why.

 

[un4getables]

We will have one of two completely different seasons based on whether or not we beat Duke. There’s really not much in the way of middle ground available. Come November 13th the powers that be will see us either as in the top third of the top 25 or as in the bottom third of the SEC. We could technically change either perception afterwards, but man it would be like swimming upstream in a mudslide.

Have to pummel Scheyer. Just have to.

No we really don’t HAVE too. Geez

 

[PopesReignOverCardinals]

How is Rutgers ranked 25th with the 2nd and 3rd best players in the Country, and two of the top 3 draft picks?

 

[Myth Buster51]

Regardless of how much everyone is currently in love with Pope, if we finish the season outside the Top 20, this board will implode.

Meh. I’m gonna enjoy the up’s and down’s of this first-season ride. If nothing else, we have a head coach who actually can and will coach in-game and a roster of guys who want to win games and titles while wearing UK jerseys. Sounds sort of old-school…

 

[Short-Dawg-69]

New coach
New system
New team that has never played a NCAA game together yet.

I think it’s more than fair….
Now go out and prove everyone wrong.
Winning will take care of the rankings.

 

[billoliver40]

It really doesn't matter right now. Kentucky will have to prove itself.
20 won seasons have been yawners for the base. With a new coach, all new players, new system for most if them....I think a 20 win season would be pretty good for the heart.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Meh. I’m gonna enjoy the up’s and down’s of this first-season ride. If nothing else, we have a head coach who actually can and will coach in-game and a roster of guys who want to win games and titles while wearing UK jerseys. Sounds sort of old-school…

Let's not pretend the players under cal didn't want to win as well. Let's also not pretend the new guys aren't getting tons of NIL money to be here and it's a job for them. They also want to make it in the pros as well in their profession.

On the coaching aspect I 100% agree. Night and day and better for UK. I just can't buy into the made up story for the players. Sorry.[/QUOTE]

 

[Deli owl]

UK replaced every scholarship player and coaching staff and still ranked higher than U6.

 

[MegaBlue05]

I like it. Let’s earn our way into the top 10.

It can’t be any worse than preseason top 5 that’s sitting at 8-3 heading to conference play with one of those losses coming at home to some nobody.

 

[G-PIP]

North Carolina is a team that seems to me to be ranked way too high. To me it looks like RJ Davis & Cade Tyson and not much else to get excited about.

 

[JumperJack]

My, how times have changed in SEC basketball.

 

[jeffky]

Regardless of how much everyone is currently in love with Pope, if we finish the season outside the Top 20, this board will implode.

 

[BlueEmpire]

For returning .1% of our scoring, I’m fairly pleased with that.

 

[Myth Buster51]

Let's not pretend the players under cal didn't want to win as well. Let's also not pretend the new guys aren't getting tons of NIL money to be here and it's a job for them. They also want to make it in the pros as well in their profession.

On the coaching aspect I 100% agree. Night and day and better for UK. I just can't buy into the made up story for the players. Sorry.

[/QUOTE]
Reasonable minds can differ as to how committed the players-first-program was to winning games and titles. 9-16, St Peter’s, K-State, Oakland et al speak for themselves. I’m not going to invest the time tracking it down, but my memory is that Calipari stated years ago that winning championships wasn’t a priority/goal for his program. I’m sure you will correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think I am.

 

[Blueheart32]

North Carolina is a team that seems to me to be ranked way too high. To me it looks like RJ Davis & Cade Tyson and not much else to get excited about.

I hope you are right, but I believe you are short selling Cadeau and Jackson a little bit. I believe they will be solid contributors. Hopefully you are right, I am wrong, and they absolutely suck.

 

[G-PIP]

I hope you are right, but I believe you are short selling Cadeau and Jackson a little bit. I believe they will be solid contributors. Hopefully you are right, I am wrong, and they absolutely suck.

Man, I could be very wrong – and probably am given how the CBB world is ranking UNC. But I just think Cadaeu is a nice passer but will need to take a big step up (41.7-FG% 64.8-FT% 18.9-3p%), and I don’t put much stock in freshmen when thinking about winning plays (e.g., add more than they give away)

 

[UKAlum84]

I hope we at least meet this expectation in the rankings by the end of the season, not the beginning.


Coach Pope has the right mindset, whether we win though will be determined by the maturity and skill of the entire team.