Mark Button's Top 25 Ranking (weird)

[KY Kid]

Preseason Top 25
Because it's never too early
Rank Team
1. Arizona
2. Kansas
3. Oklahoma
4. Connecticut
5. Pittsburgh
6. Duke
7. Georgia
8. Texas
9. Florida
10. Alabama
11. UCLA
12. Cincinnati
13. Maryland
14. Oregon
15. California
16. Mississippi State
17. Villanova
18. Gonzaga
19. Kentucky
20. Xavier
21. Miami
22. Notre Dame
23. Indiana
24. Western Kentucky
25. Marquette


First off why are we 19th?

2nd- why is Maryland 13th? Does this so called "expert" no anything about college basketball? They lost 4 off they're starters, the real player of the year, an NBA Lottery Pick, and one of the top centers in the country.

3rd- What is with Duke? 6th a little lofty huh? You could put the girls team out there and they'd still be put in the top 10. They lost nearly all of their scoring, a lot of the rebounding, their best gaurd, best forward, and only good center. They deserve to be about 15 or so. And that may be a little high!

Expert! Hah, he's an expert and I've won an Oscar!

The rest of the article talks about Arizona and stuff.

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/news/2002/06/22/offseason_beat/#ranking

[Tummygoat]

I can understand being rated so low because of our performance last season. I mean...who couldn't? We were pathetic. But I think we all know that our team is capable of much more and even enough to be the best team in the country. Maryland at 13 shows this guy doesnt really know much though. Thats just beyond reason. They have a good point guard and not much else to it. I see them as middle of the pack in the ACC next season let alone 13th in the country.

[SuperSport1]

First of all, who is Mark Button??? Vitale has UK ranked 4th in the nation and this guy has us 19th? Pitt has been a question mark at the 5 but Vitale has them 5th also. At least there is some sort of consistency with the preseason polls. UK should be in the top 10 imo, but it is nice to see two Kentucky teams on the list!

[KY Kid]

Sorry, Mark Button writes for CNNSI.

[SuperSport1]

No need to be sorry Kid.... I was being sarcastic because I don't like the spot he gave us! I honestly have never heard of him though.

[KY Kid]

I hadn't heard of him either. ;D

[4uktrey]

You know this guy doesnt know what he is talking about. Duke is middle of the pack, but will get in the NCAA tournament because of their name. Maryland will be one of those teams who dont make the tournament after winning the championship. Just another example of the eastern media who cant cope with the idea that the best Basketball isnt played on the east coast. ED

[SuperSport1]

Maryland will be a non factor this season. I'm assuming this guy is just giving them the benefit of a doubt? Villanova at 17? I'm gonna have to do some research on this team, didn't they lose Bradley? ;D

[SuperSport1]

Okay Villanova loses 6'10 Brooks Sales (avg: 10pts, 9rpg) and retains:

G Gary Buchanan 6'3" (18pts 4Rpg)
G Derrick Snowden 6'0" (10pts 2Rpg)
G Reggie Bryant 6'2" (9pts 2Rpg)
F Ricky Wright 6'7" (14pts 8Rpg)
F Andrew Sullivan 6'7" (6pts 5Rpg)

They have two big men from last year's roster 7'0" and 6'10" but neither saw much PT last season. I have no idea what type of recruiting season they had either.
Just trying to figure out why Button has them listed at 17 preseason when they went 17-12 last season with a bid to the NIT! They must have had one heck of a recruiting season. Their schedule and record was not impressive. Now don't you all feel better knowing this useless information?!

[Blueblood_Jim]

I had to e-mail him and attempt to show him the error of his ways. But obviously he had some questionable rankings there. I mean, Duke loses their three best players off of a team lacking depth and Maryland lost 4 starters and Kentucky lost basically one player and gained 5 and will be loaded next year. This guy did little or no research before coming up with that comical ranking

[KY Kid]

I hope he answers your e-mail, because I want to hear this guys reasoning, since their was none in the article.

[Blueblood_Jim]

Well, he did answer me, although he did not give any reasoning or support for any of the teams I mentioned in my response to him. Here is what I said and what he replied with...


Come on bro. That was pretty weak. And you get paid to analyze basketball? You realize Butler left UCONN early, right. You realize that Maryland lost 4 starters including their best three players. Did you know that Duke also lost their three best players off of a team with very little depth. And Kentucky at pre-season 19th. Have you seen how deep their roster is across the board? Kentucky will be top 5 pre-season, I promise. If they should lose Hawkins for the first semester which is being rumoured then they probably are still top ten. And about Pitt, come on. They played nobody pre-season last year and they will be this years Boston College. Don't believe the hype.

Peace

Jim

[/i]
Hey. Thanks for writing. Believe me when I say that I have already taken a BEATING for ranking Kentucky so low. I was most likely wrogn about that. Okay, i WAS wrong. I'll be moving the Wildcats up next time -- one thing to remember, though, is that it still isn't even July yet.

Thanks for writing.

Mark Button
CNNSI.com
College Sports

[/center]

[KY Kid]

Well at least he admitted the 'Cats were too low. I would however, like to see his reasoning behind Duke and Maryland so high.