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Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:47 pm EDT

Surprise, surprise: Kansas tops first Coaches' Poll of the preseason

By Eamonn Brennan

It's the last few days of October, which means our first Coaches' Poll has arrived. Hooray! The fun part about the Coaches' Poll is that it feels like it matters. It feels like a significant weight on the trajectory of the new season. But it really isn't. It's a semi-arbitrary collection of consensuses (consensii?) from people who don't have all that much time to familiarize themselves with the minutiae of 150 college basketball teams.

Anyway, there are some interesting results here. (Kansas at No. 1 overall is not one of them.) Michigan State at No. 2 is maybe a little high, at least at the beginning of the season; Tom Izzo's Spartans tend to stumble out of the gate and improve by leaps and bounds as the season goes on. No. 5 for Kentucky is maybe a bit low, especially considering North Carolina at No. 4. Both teams are almost equally youthful, and you could argue Kentucky has the better talent.

The conference with the most teams in the preseason top 25? That'd be the Big Ten, who in addition to Sparty gets No. 7 Purdue, No. 15 Michigan, No. 17 Ohio State, and No. 18 Minnesota on the list. This makes sense, in a weird circuitous way: The Big Ten is likely the deepest conference in the country this year, but it lacks the sort of elite nationally recognized talent that puts teams in the top 10. Ohio State's Evan Turner is probably the best pro prospect in the whole of the conference, and casual hoops fans could be forgiven for not knowing who, exactly, Evan Turner is. You get my point.

Anyway, there are always complaints to be made, so let's hear 'em. Who's got beef with the Board of Coaches?

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29 Comments

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  1. Peter D
    1. Posted by Peter D Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:53 pm EDT

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    Izzo will stumble hard out of the gate as usual, and Kentucky is signifiantly better than NC, people just hate Cal
  2. neal
    2. Posted by neal Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    Texas is overrated, Michigan State is overrated, and so are Kentucky and Kansas. Guard play is important, but everyone knows that a dominant front court is needed to bring home a championship. Where as Kansas is the most complete team, I don't think they have enough individual talent. Kentucky carries the names Wall and Callipari whom are already floundering with Wall's eligibility and Callipari's credibility after leaving Memphis in ruins. Michigan State has no post play and Izzo tends to falter during the early going. I'm not guaranteeing UNC for a repeat, but with such a dominant front court, and this John Henson kid, I favor them to cut down the nets this April.
    And on a side note, the ACC is severely underrated. Keep your eyes on Clemson, Georgia Tech, Duke, Wake Forrest, and even Virginia Tech. All of them will be playing late into March............
  3. SPORTSMAN OF LH
    3. Posted by SPORTSMAN OF LH Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:42 pm EDT

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    npatrick2004 hit it all on the head, except for Texas being overrated. they have their best player returning( Damion James), and they have the #1 recruit in the country( Avery Bradly Jr). and another 5 star recruit( Jordan Hamilton), and the transfer from Florida( jai Lucas) will all make HUGE contributions for Texas this year. i think that Duke(my favorite team besides Texas) not having Eliot Williams will have problems in the back court, but they got two AMAZING recruits in Ryan Kelly and mason plumlee each are 5 star recruits. i also think that John Wall,Demarcus Cousins, and Patrick Patterson will reek havoc in the SEC this year and possibly maker it to the final four. Cal is WAY overrated!!! UW needs to be in front of them if not in the top 10!!! KU is possibly if not THE best team in the country with Cole Aldrich AND Sharron Collins returning, they will make a deep run in march!!! the last team i will talk about is: West Virginia. they are one of the most overrated teams, i think that just having: ebanks, mazzula, and butler is not enough to9 be in the top 10!!!
  4. Jimmyboy
    4. Posted by Jimmyboy Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    how is michigan state over rated??? they have been to more final fours in the last8 years than ANY program. they went to the championship game last year beating the number 1 overall seed in Louisville and also UCONN. they have only really lost Sutton , which is a big loss but have a couple freshmen to fit right in where he is missed. they will lose a couple games early but thats only because they have a very tough schedule early on. if nobody gets hurt greatly, chalk up another final 4 and possibly another title.
  5. jjg1576
    5. Posted by jjg1576 Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    npatrick,
    the ACC has never been underrated. Michigan State seems to get the overrated tag every year, despite the fact that they have five final fours and a national championship to their credit in the past 11 years. Post play may be an issue, but Izzo has a couple of newcomers who have some potential & Izzo is very good at getting the most out of his players. Plus their guard play is top rate. Also who cares if Izzo stumbles out of the gate? It's only because he plays a real schedule and isn't afraid to travel.
    If you are looking for an overrated team & one that has been every year for the past 5 seasons, look no further then Duke. Depth will be an issue for them this year and they will likely underachieve when it's all said and done.
  6. neal
    6. Posted by neal Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:18 pm EDT

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    whenever the ACC is ranked behind any other conference in basket ball, it's underrated. I would also like to add Maryland, and Florida State to my teams that will be playing late into march........... and MSU is overrated because they don't finish. Who did UNC beat to reach the championship game back in '05? MSU........ they can get to the dance, but can't finish. Great coach, great players, but they need an extra push...................
  7. Shawn S
    7. Posted by Shawn S Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    Post #2: Does it hurt to be able to talk out of your ass? Seriously? Not enough "individual talent"? You then make some asinine assertion that Kansas alone is the only team that fires on all set forth standards by yourself, having even pointed out that a dominant front court is a must. You mention Kentucky, but you act like all they have is Wall. May I introduce you to Patrick Patterson, Demarcus Cousins, and Daniel Orton? I know the last two mentioned are just freshmen, but Cousins is already a projected first rounder for next year, and Orton is not too far off the same pace. While Patterson will be in the hunt for NPOY, as he's been every bit as dominant as most any teams big man inside, and all while playing out of position! Finally PP gets to play a true PF role, rather than being the teams default Center. Try checking your "facts" next time before making such retarded assertions in the future.
  8. K- DAWG
    8. Posted by K- DAWG Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:09 pm EDT

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    Who's writing this? It sucks! "MSU is overrated". Yeah right!!! " Kentucky is underrated". That's a laugh!!! It's only because of a freshman who will suck! "The Big Ten lacks an elite team". MSU is #2, that would be considered elite. C'mon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    npatrick2004, Kentucky is overrated, I agree. But MSU, Texas and Kansas are not.
  9. LARRY
    9. Posted by LARRY Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:57 am EDT

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    Good opinions. I'd like to add a couple things about overrated Kansas, just for the record.
    They received only 55 of 61 AP first place votes and 27 votes by the ESPN/USA today Coaches Poll. These people always overrate teams. Gosh.
    Of course Kansas only made it as far as the sweet 16 last year after losing nearly everybody to the Pros from '07-'08. They did have to use three freshmen, Taylor and the Morris Twins we all know how ineffective they were. But they have all matured, played nationally on TV, Competed well in the big one, and do have a somewhat ok coach.
    This year Kansas returns its top 9 scorers, and all 5 starters and 94% of every stat that is kept. So they shouldn't have nearly the problems they had last year.
    Recruiting was also a bust. Thomas Robinson, 6'9" Frosh Forward, #7 power forward and #24 overall. Then there's Xavier Henry 6'6" guard, #3 overall by ESPNU, OK player of the year who averaged 26.7 pts. Oklahoma never puts out good players.
    I agree they don't have one star to carry them, but maybe they have a whole bushel of stars who know the value, and are able to produce as a team.
    Oh, they should be at LEAST 9 deep, 10 when Brady Morningstar gets to play again. Maybe 11 when the new center heals.
    Overrated? Maybe? I do have doubts about that though. See you all in March!
  10. Brian V
    10. Posted by Brian V Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:40 am EDT

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    no one is overlooking UNC. PERIOD!!! yes we lost the potent scoring attack in Hansbrough, Lawson, Ellington, and Green, but with 6 guys at 6'9" or taller, good luck with getting a rebound. Backcourt is real shaky with Larry Drew, but he will be OK come tournament time, GInyard's leadership will prove invaluable to such a young team. They won't sneak up on anyone this year, but they will know they have been there. GO HEELS!!!!
  11. boulos_al
    11. Posted by boulos_al Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:38 am EDT

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    this might be the best jayhawk team ever.
  12. LARRY
    12. Posted by LARRY Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:15 pm EDT

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    I hope so. By the way did you see the last KU/NCU game????? :-)
  13. LARRY
    13. Posted by LARRY Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:18 pm EDT

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    I'm sorry, that's UNC. Love their coach though.
  14. mybubblebusted
    14. Posted by mybubblebusted Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    I just love how so many people think Kentucky is overrated..... Contact me when you team has the most wins in the entire NCAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It won't be Kansas, or Florida, or even DUKE!!!!!!!!! It is KENTUCKY!!!!!!!!!!
    Unless you are North Carolina, no need to even consider an argument!
    And all this talk about Texas? Don't worry they'll choke like they always do. I live in Texas and I am a blue blooded Kentucky fan but I would root for Tubby Smith and the Minnesota Gophers before Texas. They just don't play basketball like all the real basketball schools on the East side of the U.S. They need to still to football.......
  15. Karl Marx
    15. Posted by Karl Marx Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:28 am EDT

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    #14 Did you come up w/ that screen name after UK missed the Dance last year? Some would argue the best basketball is played out west. I believe UCLA has 11 titles, that may trump your most wins position. AZ has made 25 straight NCAA's 2nd longest streek in history, another west team. UCLA has also made 3 of the last 4 Final Fours, they did not cut the nets but it has been awhile since UK has (98).
  16. jim m
    16. Posted by jim m Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:59 am EDT

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    Sad fans don't get it yet.... guard play wins championships.... without great guard(s) ball is never put in the correct position on the court to win.... look at past champs.... notice each one had oustanding guard play... win games with big man etc.... but teams win championships with great guards... fact!
  17. steven h
    17. Posted by steven h Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:45 am EST

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    everyone has made some good points.but im a kentucky fan and just being back in the talk of a top ten team with a chance at a championship has us fans dancing with joy.its been awhile!!
  18. lfyman
    18. Posted by lfyman Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:38 am EST

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    Michigan State beat Kansas both times they played them last year. That's the same starting lineup that they are bringing back this year. Two of State's key players were playing sick. Roe was recovering from foot surgery and Morgan played half the season with walking pneumonia. In those two victories against Kansas, Suton was not a factor. Yes Suton is gone and that may effect how well State plays, but there isn't a coach in the NCAA that does a better job of working with the talent he has on hand. Louisville and UCON were supposed to be the better team, but State handled both. I'm not saying that Kansas is not worthy of a number one rating, maybe the coaches see a potential there but it didn't materialize last season. On the other hand, State's second ranking is based on real accomplishments last season and the fact that this team is returning practically the same with a great coach.
  19. neal
    19. Posted by neal Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:04 pm EST

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    jim m, you've got it all wrong. great guards are a dime a dozen. look at the teams the that had the best guards, with average to no post play. Syracuse, Villanova, Boston College, Duke, Wake Forrest, Florida State, and the best examples, Memphis(this past year) along with UCLA(this past year). yeah, they all dance around in the top 10 and even the top 5, but they didn't win championships. look at the previous champions, UNC(Hansbrough), Kansas(Khan/Arthur), Florida(Noah). All had ok guards, but their post was deep and dominant and that's who the rings and trophies rest upon.
  20. scott
    20. Posted by scott Sun Nov 01, 2009 4:56 pm EST

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    I'm not gonna argu with you people on here but I will with the DUMB A$$ that wrote this columb. I want say anthing about KU or MST no matter which one you pick first but stating that Kentucky at # 5 is too low especially with UNC at #4 and saying that Kentucky has more talent!! This guy needs to get off both Johns Balls (Calapari&Wall) !!! Kentucky has only one Veteran and will be starting fresman unlike UNC witch has the #2 recruiting class behind Kentucky but will be starting no more than one freshman. Every body else for UNC has NCAA experiance that Kentucky cant claim ! Plus this aint high school ball. If they all stay for one more year or start to prove it then blow that smoke @$$ monkey!!!!!!!!
  21. scott
    21. Posted by scott Sun Nov 01, 2009 5:02 pm EST

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    I'm sorry but I have to ask, did anybody watch the NIT last year? Was Kentucky even in that tournament? And there better than UNC this year? Who comes up with this crap!!!! I'm glade we get to play them this year so that argument can be put to rest.
  22. LARRY
    22. Posted by LARRY Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:47 pm EST

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    Dear My Bubble Busted. The past is no indication of the future.
    For everybody else, contact your bookie and put your money where your mouths are. Mine's still on Kansas.
  23. steven h
    23. Posted by steven h Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:20 am EST

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    to scott,You say KY has only one veteran.But they have 4-5 guys who played alot of minutes last year.They will play & improve under the calipari system.Will they be great players?of course not!! But they will be much improved this year.When you put KY & UNC rosters side by side,its almost the same.Both have lots of talent.So where they are ranked now makes no difference either way!As far as staying one year,do you think SYRACUSE would give their title back because melo stayed one year?Of course not! Im by know way saying KY will win it all.UNC is very good & could win it all.But sometimes in sports,expect the unexpected(REMEMBER THE GIANTS OVER THE PATRIOTS?!)

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