SEC Hoops Power Poll Draft Ballot: 1/15-1/21
by Gamecock Man on Jan 16, 2012 7:03 PM EST
in SEC Basketball
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PrintAny disagreements, let me know. I'll be back later tonight with an assessment of the Sands hire.
I'm assuming no one will contest this selection.
Nabbed a nice home win over Alabama over the weekend. Not clear yet whether this team is good enough for a deep March run, but that's true of everyone except for the 'Cats.
The win over South Carolina shouldn't impress anyone too much, but it does somewhat dispel the notion that the Gators can't win on the road, particularly considering how well they shot the ball. Granted, attendance figures in Columbia don't exactly suggest a brutal road atmosphere, so perhaps we shouldn't make too much of it, after all, but it's also worth taking into consideration how talented this team is, and how high it's ceiling is.
Vandy remains undefeated in the SEC, but it's played a really weak schedule. A road trip at Alabama will tell us whether the 'Dores deserve to move up the poll.
The Tide failed to nab a road win at MSU that would have helped them move up the poll.
No, they don't have a very good record, and yes, they do have two conference losses. However, this team has played a brutal, brutal schedule, and it's managed to avoid getting destroyed in the process. Those close losses to Kentucky, et al., will turn into wins when the Vols begin playing the lower-tier teams.
7. LSU Tigers
I'm having trouble deciding between Arkansas and LSU here. Ark. did beat LSU, but it lacks as many quality wins, and it also lost to Ole Miss this week, so I'm going with LSU and will assume the Tigers will avenge their loss when the Hogs come to Baton Rouge.
See above.
Now we get to the teams that are really struggling. Georgia has been more competitive in its many losses than some of the teams below, so I'm going to give them the nod for the ninth spot.
The Gamecocks have been something of a victim of a tough beginning to the conference slate, but their inability to take either Florida or Vanderbilt to the wire at home suggests that this team won't be winning many games against decent competition this year.
11. Ole Miss Rebels
Lost to Auburn in overtime at Auburn, but should beat them when they come to Oxford. Win over Arkansas showed a little fire. Still, a very bad team right now.
12. Auburn Tigers
Hard to imagine these guys winning many games this year. Barbee has a huge job ahead of him.
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Hmmmm
I totally agree with 1 through 9.
Auburn beat Ole Miss (at Auburn Arena) in 2OT 69-68 two days ago, so I think you need to flip the Tigers and the Rebels.
South Carolina is off to an 0-3 SEC start … granted against the top 3 eastern teams (if you’ll forgive using the old nomenclature in our first year of non-divisional play – or more precisely non-divisional rankings*). Georgia is off to an 0-3 start as well, having played probably the second toughest league schedule so far, but you’re right they’ve been more competitive in their losses. So I would put us dead last at 12th.
- Which begs the question why abandon the divisional standings since we always crowned a regular season champion based on overall record and used divisional ranks simply for seeding in the SEC tourney – hardly worth the effort to pretend that the divisions are gone when we still use them for scheduling
Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! UNIVERSITAS CAROLIN MERID. 1801 Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros (Ovid)
I'm basing this partly on who I think wins on a neutral court.
Do you think Auburn or Ole Miss beat us on a neutral court? Does Auburn beat Ole Miss on a neutral court?
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jan 16, 2012 9:37 PM EST up reply actions
The Colonial Life Arena
is practically a neutral court – shame on us.
The neutral court fiction is an important element in a power-rankings, I will concede, but I’d still give precedence to a recent head-to-head, real-life match-up.
Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! UNIVERSITAS CAROLIN MERID. 1801 Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros (Ovid)
Where would you rank Colonial Life Arena among other SEC arenas.
Obviously, Rupp Arena has to be the top of the list. It just seems like we are greatly underperforming with what I perceive to be facilities that are more than adequate.
- FOW
by skandrewj62j on Jan 17, 2012 9:25 AM EST up reply actions
I don't think he's questioning the quality of the facilities...
But, rather, the lack of fan support. I know the team is struggling, but in the past, people would go to games regardless. Now, everyone just says “we’re a football / baseball school” (hint: we’re not a football school) and decides they won’t go to any more games until the coach is fired. Sad.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jan 17, 2012 9:40 AM EST up reply actions
No, that was a side question from me.
It has been documented very well on this blog that the fans are not filling up the seats at the CLA.
- FOW
by skandrewj62j on Jan 17, 2012 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
Ah. Well, in that case, I do think the CLA is a good arena.
When the fans come, it’s a tough place for a visiting team, as we saw with Kentucky in 2009 and 2010.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jan 17, 2012 11:07 AM EST up reply actions
That is a great question
I’m not sure but somewhere down around 10-12
Rupp (UK), Thompson-Boling (UT), Auburn Arena (AU), Tad Smith (UM), Coleman Coliseum, (UA) Memorial (VU), the Pete Maravich Center (LSU) and Bud Walton Arena are all more alive than CLA.
Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! UNIVERSITAS CAROLIN MERID. 1801 Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros (Ovid)
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