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| Friday, December 7 Power 16 user comments ESPN.com |
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Want to start a debate? Just create a ranking of college basketball teams, offer users a chance to e-mail their comments about said ranking and post comments on a weekly basis. That is what ESPN.com has done with its Power 16, a weekly ranking of teams leading up to March. Below are some of the best e-mails received in the past week. Here's what users had to say about ESPN.com's Power 16 last week: "Despite early success, Marquette has faced less then competitive opponents in its race into the Top 25. The first true tests will come in December, when they play back-to-back away games at Wisconsin and Wake Forest."
"If you guys think that Oklahoma State. is a surer bet than Maryland, Illinois, Kansas, and Arizona you better think again! I'd take any of your No. 2s by 10 points over either Oklahoma State, Missouri, or Syracuse! Duke, by the way, needs its own celestial category after burning down Cameron with every Temple Owl inside! Go Devils!"
"That was a very good decision putting the Mizzou Tigers in the number one slot. They really weren't getting any respect from the Kansas fans. They still aren't. They are saying a one-point win over Iowa is no good. Of course for all you Kansas fans there is that one team called Ball State. They (Ball State) deserve to be in the top 16, too, after those 2 big wins. So for all you Kansas fans out there....THIS IS MISSOURI'S YEAR AND DON'T TRASH TALK UNTIL YOU CAN WIN A PRESEASON TOURNEY AND NOT LOOSE IN THE FIRST ROUND! P.S. Kareem please don't leave us until you have too!"
"Okay guys, just a few questions. What makes Syracuse and Oklahoma State No. 1 seeds with their perfect records, and Marquette only a No. 4 seed? Oklahoma State has yet to play a road game or defeat a ranked opponent. Syracuse did post an impressive road victory over No. 11 Michigan State, but so did Fresno State (not in the power 16 at 7-1, with only loss being by one point to Wake Forest). Meanwhile, Marquette has a road victory and a win against a ranked opponent. I'd say that makes them just as good, if not better, by your power ranking standards as Oklahoma State (if perception doesn't matter). Now, take into account that every No. 2 seed has at least one victory against another No. 2 seed, and neither OSU or Syracuse has really played anyone. I would think all of the current No. 2 seeds are better than possibly any of the No. 1 seeds with the exception of Duke. I suppose an argument can be made that Missouri is stronger than Illinois, but otherwise let's be real about the strength of those perfect records sitting in the No. 1 spots. If not, then put Marquette, Miami Fla, Ohio State, Butler, Mississippi State, and Butler (all unbeaten) into the Power 16."
" What's 10 points and 11 boards? Oh yeah, that's the backup Wayne Simien to the already best frontcourt in the college game today. Put that with a good night of 3-point shooting by Hinrich, Boschee, and Miles and lights out. Why Kansas is not a No. 1 on your list, it blows my mind. KU has also beaten some pretty good teams, does Wake Forest ring a bell how about Arizona? Let's look at Oklahoma State's wins: Oh, North Texas, New Orleans, Wichita State, Siena, Austin Peay, and TCU. Are you kidding me? I think that says enough."
"I don't understand how you have Maryland as a No. 2 seed. Outside of the their opening game loss to Arizona (who is currently in the top 10) they have steamrolled through their competition. They remain one of the only teams who have proven that they can hang with the Dukies. Maryland will just get better and better and its only a matter of time before you're forced to put them into your No. 1 seeds."
"Keep your eye on the undefeated University of Miami Hurricanes BASKETBALL team. In fact, it's been a LOOONG time since a men's team sport at Miami lost ... hmm, the baseball team rode a winning streak to the national championship, the football team is doing the same, now the hoops team is starting off hot. University of Miami might not lose another men's team game until mid-January."
"Watch out for the Irish. They are offsetting their lack of a traditional big man with speed, shooting, and depth. Add the best young point guard in the country, and I'm thinking Sweet 16."
"While I am surprised to see Marquette jump into the Power 16 so quickly, I am also thrilled. Tom Crean has put together a team that has Milwaukee excited. Cordell Henry is a point guard who deserves serious nationwide respect, and Dwyane Wade is taking games over with his explosiveness. They are playing hard defensively on every possession. They are gaining more confidence with every game, hopefully they can avoid a let down and remain undefeated through their non-conference schedule which includes a road game at Wake Forest."
"Thank you for giving Syracuse the recognition they deserve. Although they don't have the definite future NBA stars such as Duke does, they have much potential and could easily beat many teams come March."
"How could you rank B.C. as a No. 4 seed. They have the best backcourt tandem in the country in Sidney and Bell. How does the theory go? Good guard play carries teams in the tournament? These guards will carry B.C. to the Final Four."
"Oklahoma State and Syracuse as No. 1 seeds? Yeah right. A lot of teams could be 8-0 with their schedules. This will change with conference play. I admit Syracuse does have a shot in the Big East, but Oklahoma State will be crushed by Kansas and Missouri. When was the last time a team finished third in their conference and got a No. 1 seed?"
"Place which ever teams you want in the No. 1 bracket. They will all only be second-best to the Blue Devils this year. What other team in the Power 16 could play as poorly as Duke has to start the year and still blow away teams and be undefeated?"
"I agree with leaving Saint Joseph's out of the power rankings. They aren't nearly playing as well as they could be, although are still getting the wins. Once the Hawks figure out their problems on D and fully regain their chemistry, along with several nationally televised games, they'll earn the respect they deserve."
"All you Syracuse haters stop complaining. Syracuse hasn't done anything wrong or bad to be said that it doesn't deserve to be a the first Big East team to be in the Power 16, or to be on top of that a No. 1 seed. Syracuse always does great in November and have been consistent making the tournament and being in the top 25 rankings year in and year out. So all you other schools that are crying about your school not being in the power 16 or a No. 1 seed, don't be a player hater, just play harder."
"I agree we dropped out this week, one loss to Creighton at their place were they haven't lost in two years, we lost a double-overtime thriller. At Vanderbilt, we had our worst game of the year, everyone is going to have a bad game, we played our worst and without our All-American center, whom I might add has only been at best 50-percent healthy this year. He is out probably 4 weeks to heal up from a stress fracture, when he returns healthy you will see that Western Kentucky University is one of the best 10 teams in the country, and without him we are easily still a top 25 team. I will go out on a limb and tell you this team will finish the season with no more than four losses. Look at our schedule we have played good teams and 10 of our first 14 games will be on the road. Not one of the other teams you have listed above us can say that, check out their schedule. "
"Admittedly, Vic Williams and Mo Baker are our two best scorers. But no one has mentioned the other key players on the Cowboys this season. Fred Jonzen is an athletic big man that can hit the mid-range jumper. Ivan McFarlin in a monster on the boards. I don't know how he gets some of the rebounds he pulls down. And Shayne Gadson sees the court better than anyone I've ever seen play for O-State, including Doug Gottlieb. Anyone coming to Gallagher-Iba this year better watch out!"
" Come on. Iowa has two losses and is considered a No. 3 seed. Put Boston College, or maybe Marquette, in there and throw out Iowa all together. They are not the team that ESPN thought they were in the preseason. In other words, admit you made a mistake and put someone in there that deserves it. Recker has been playing very poorly against quality competition. Evans is in the same boat, but, he puts forth tremendous effort. Iowa's point guards are inexperienced at this point, although they are quicker than about anyone else on the floor. They do not have a reliable shooter when they play teams like Duke and Missouri."
"How can you leave Fresno State out of the Power 16? They beat Michigan State, avenging last year's loss to the previous defending nat'l champs and only lost one game by one point all year. They also stepped up to beat a ranked USC team and have won their last few games without their top starter. They continue to preform well despite losing one of the best point guards in the country (Maddox) early in the year, and even under scrutiny continue to win. Let's see how well some of these other teams do under the microscope and under pressure."
"Where is Alabama? I mean, come on, Marquette? The Tide has done everything it was told it didn't do last year, they have gone out and played the nation's best. They have one loss, a tough, close loss to Mizzou in Kansas City, and they handily defeated Memphis. Next Saturday they will show the nation by knocking off UCLA in the Wodden Classic."
"Kudos to people at ESPN and around the nation for finally giving not only Kareem Rush, but the entire Mizzou team the credit that they have earned through hard work and dedication. These guys are for real, and will prove it too the nation with their upcoming battles with Illinois and Iowa. They have proven that Rush is their man, but they can also do it without him being the main offensive weapon. This is a Tiger team that packs a mean bite! Watch out ACC, and here they come March Madness!"
"I feel that SIU has really surprised the college basketball critics with impressive wins this early season. But also, the Salukis still have to win their conference to propel them into "The Dance". By the looks of it Northern Iowa will be tough, and Bradley University should be a tough game as always. The Salukis game has gotten a heck of a lot better with the addition of forward Rolen Roberts. It gives guard Kent Williams better looks to the basket and opens the lane up better than the past couple of years. Also, the bench has come very valuable to coach Weber."
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