OK, let's see if I can finish off this Top 25 list, plus maybe mention the best of the rest:
# 19 - Alabama = I'm not exactly sure where this optimism comes from. Yes, the Tide won the Western Division of the SEC last year, but half the teams in the Eastern half could have done so, and that only got them into the NIT. They haven't made the NCAAs in about 5 prior tries. They have only one senior and two juniors, and even with 2 foreign 7-footers on the squad (both sophs) they are considered small down low. Well, more power to them if they can make some noise, but they are still a football school, so don't expect them to stick around after the first month or two.
# 20 - Texas A&M = But the Aggies might be for real. They surprised a lot of people last year, and they have a lot of experience returning. Their biggest problem early may be a factor of the fact that their new coach Billy Kennedy (Joe's old buddy from Murray State) has benched himself due to illness: Parkinson's, which is no minor issue. If this does not distract the team too much, they may not only stick around, but also move up.
# 21 - Cincinnati = The Bearcats had a winning season in the tough Big East last year (11-7), which isn't an easy task. They have a nice balance of both experience and youth, and backcourt/frontcourt players. They may not compete for the top of their disintegrating conference, but they will come to play every night, and will most likely earn an at-large come March.
# 22 - Marquette = The Golden Eagles did NOT have a winning Big East season, going 9-9, but they won a few big games and shocked a few people. They might do so again this year, yet the problem I see is a lack of depth. Their official roster lists only 12 players, so a few key injuries could send them off the rails quickly. If they can avoid this, and maybe get a couple decent walk-ons (at least to practice against), they should be OK. However, I'm not sure they'll be OK enough.
# 23 - Gonzaga = Mark Few's crew had a see-saw season, and barely saved their well-earned rep before their year ended. I have enough respect for the coach and the program to give them the benefit of the doubt, at least for one more go-around, unless they prove me wrong. Still, their biggest problem has always been hubris: They always think they are much better than they actually are. Every year they whine that they don't get the respect they deserve, and brag they have the best guard, the best forward, the best whatever in the nation. And nearly every year they have a great regular season, then fall on their face in March because they DON'T. Until they can actually pull off a Butler or a George Mason or two, I'd expect the same from them.
# 24 - California = The Golden Bears had a "meh" season in the equally "meh" Pac-47 last year . . . which was a bit of a shock. According to them anyway, they have the most experience in the conference, and more depth than they did a year ago, which could put them above the "meh" mark in the league. It remains to be seen what that will mean on the national scale. As with many others, I'll believe it when I see it.
# 25 - Missouri = The Tigers make the 4th team from the Big-12 ranked in the polls, but none of them are foreseen to be a Top 10 squad. This may mean Missou has a shot as the conference champ, yet they may be more a factor of the league's slippage than this team's quality. We won't know that until conference play is nigh well over, as I see it. And we might not learn much early about this team, for all the "quality" opponents they face in the first few weeks . . . Notre Dame, Villanova, William&Mary, Illinois, and ODU . . . are not expected to be world-beaters. Aslo, I see a potential problem in their new head coach, Frank Haith. Shoot, if he couldn't get 'er done in Miami, what makes you think he can do it there?
There are a number of name-brand also-rans who got some votes too. Missouri made the cut with 139 AP points, and here's the best of the rest coming in between 131 and 21 each:
Florida State = They WILL move up.
Michigan State = They will to, of Izzo has to suit up himself.
Temple = By the time the tough A-10 gets rolling, so shall the Owls.
Washington = The last few years they got more respect than they deserved. This year, they likely got the right amount.
New Mexico = I am interested to see if this team can perform as well as they did last season. Other than that . . . ? ? ?
Butler = Hey, you really didn't think these guys could stick around forever, did you? Still, they surprised me last year, so do't give up on them yet.
Texas = What happened, did Rick Barnes not land a bunch of top one-and-dones again? Did Calipari steal them all away?
You may have noticed a few names you're used to seeing missing from the above. These include Villanova, Purdue, Belmont, WVA, and Illinois, all of whom have had success in the past, and all of whom got a little love from the voters. Perhaps more of a shock are several that got no points at all, most notably names like Georgetown, Maryland, and Kansas State. I'd espect a few of these handful to make a move upwards before the season ends, as I can't believe they all will suck. But I guess that's why they play the games . . . and it can't start soon enough to suit me.
Jump in anytime you wish with your comments, complaints, cheers, or whatever crap you want.