Our new writers were eager to jump into our predictions and the Top 25 poll, so we welcome them. As you can see, their opinions helped skew some things a bit unexpectedly. The main one that stands out is Gonzaga, as neither of the new guys thought very highly of the Zags and they flip-flopped with Duke even after failing to lose this week.
Kansas maintains its spot as the highest ranked Big 12 team. Despite losing twice this last week, Texas managed to hold on to a spot in the poll. I'm not really sure whether this means that Texas is actually still good or if there just wasn't anyone else good enough to rank. The jump by Oklahoma was pretty surprising, but it looks like everyone ranked them in the same 3-4 spot range.
Just like in the AP poll, the Big 12 leads the way with 6 teams ranked, with the ACC trailing slightly at 5. But the ACC has all 5 of theirs in the top 12, so that league is very top-heavy.
Rock Chalk Talk Top 25
Rank | Team | Points | LW | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kentucky(8) | 200 | 1 | 0 |
2 | Virginia | 187 | 2 | 0 |
3 | Duke | 176 | 5 | 2 |
4 | Wisconsin | 174 | 4 | 0 |
5 | Gonzaga | 172 | 3 | -2 |
6 | Arizona | 164 | 6 | 0 |
7 | Kansas | 154 | 8 | 1 |
8 | Villanova | 146 | 7 | -1 |
9 | Louisville | 135 | 11 | 2 |
10 | Notre Dame | 123 | 9 | -1 |
11 | Utah | 117 | 10 | -1 |
12 | North Carolina | 112 | 12 | 0 |
13 | Iowa State | 101 | 15 | 2 |
14 | Northern Iowa | 99 | 18 | 4 |
15 | West Virginia | 86 | 17 | 2 |
16 | Oklahoma | 67 | 22 | 6 |
17 | Baylor | 66 | 19 | 2 |
18 | Wichita State | 64 | 13 | -5 |
19 | Virginia Commonwealth | 60 | 14 | -5 |
20 | Maryland | 54 | 16 | -4 |
21 | Butler | 33 | 25 | 4 |
22 | Ohio State | 32 | 25 | 3 |
23 | Georgetown | 30 | 21 | -2 |
24 | Texas | 22 | 20 | -4 |
25 | Southern Methodist | 14 | NR | 2 |
Others Receiving Votes: San Diego State 4, Arkansas 2, Michigan State 2, Dayton 1, Indiana 1, Stanford 1, Stephen F. Austin 1 |
New this week: Southern Methodist |
Dropping out: Miami(23) , Indiana(24) |
Biggest Movers (still in the poll): |
Wichita State -5, Virginia Commonwealth -5, Maryland -4, Texas -4 |
Oklahoma +6, Butler +4, Northern Iowa +4 |
As usual, here are the individual ballots.
Rank | misterbrain | Jim Hammen | PenHawk | mikeville | sax solo | J. Michael Winmore | FLJhawk | wkenefake |
1 | Kentucky | Kentucky | Kentucky | Kentucky | Kentucky | Kentucky | Kentucky | Kentucky |
2 | Virginia | Gonzaga | Virginia | Virginia | Virginia | Virginia | Wisconsin | Virginia |
3 | Gonzaga | Wisconsin | Arizona | Gonzaga | Gonzaga | Duke | Duke | Wisconsin |
4 | Wisconsin | Duke | Duke | Duke | Arizona | Arizona | Virginia | Duke |
5 | Duke | Virginia | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Duke | Gonzaga | Arizona | Kansas |
6 | Arizona | Arizona | Gonzaga | Villanova | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Kansas | Notre Dame |
7 | Kansas | Kansas | Kansas | Kansas | Villanova | Kansas | Gonzaga | Gonzaga |
8 | Villanova | Villanova | Villanova | Arizona | Kansas | Villanova | Villanova | Arizona |
9 | Louisville | Louisville | Louisville | Louisville | Louisville | Louisville | Louisville | Villanova |
10 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | Utah | Notre Dame | Utah | North Carolina | Notre Dame | Louisville |
11 | Iowa State | Iowa State | North Carolina | North Carolina | North Carolina | Utah | Iowa State | Utah |
12 | Utah | Utah | Notre Dame | Utah | Notre Dame | Northern Iowa | North Carolina | Iowa State |
13 | North Carolina | Northern Iowa | West Virginia | Northern Iowa | Oklahoma | Wichita State | Utah | Northern Iowa |
14 | Northern Iowa | North Carolina | Iowa State | Wichita State | Northern Iowa | Iowa State | West Virginia | North Carolina |
15 | West Virginia | West Virginia | Northern Iowa | Maryland | Wichita State | Notre Dame | Northern Iowa | West Virginia |
16 | Virginia Commonwealth | Virginia Commonwealth | Virginia Commonwealth | Iowa State | Baylor | West Virginia | Maryland | Baylor |
17 | Baylor | Wichita State | Oklahoma | West Virginia | West Virginia | Baylor | Oklahoma | Ohio State |
18 | Maryland | Maryland | Ohio State | Baylor | Iowa State | Oklahoma | Baylor | Oklahoma |
19 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Wichita State | Texas | Virginia Commonwealth | Georgetown | Wichita State | Maryland |
20 | Georgetown | Baylor | Baylor | Oklahoma | Butler | Virginia Commonwealth | Virginia Commonwealth | Virginia Commonwealth |
21 | Butler | Butler | Maryland | Virginia Commonwealth | Ohio State | Butler | Ohio State | Georgetown |
22 | Southern Methodist | Georgetown | San Diego State | Butler | Southern Methodist | Texas | Butler | Butler |
23 | Wichita State | Ohio State | Texas | Southern Methodist | Georgetown | Maryland | Georgetown | Texas |
24 | Ohio State | Southern Methodist | Michigan State | Georgetown | Maryland | Arkansas | Texas | Wichita State |
25 | Texas | Texas | Stanford | Stephen F. Austin | Texas | Indiana | Dayton | Southern Methodist |
So what did we get wrong? Are the new guys crazy, or did they help correct what we've been doing wrong all along?