UCLA #2 in Preseason ESPN/USA Today Poll

by uclawarren on Oct 26, 2007 7:39 AM PDT Comment 18 comments

The ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll was released today with UCLA at #2, barely edged out by North Carolina, and barely edging out Memphis. UCLA received the most first-place votes (12). There are 6 Pac-10 teams ranked in the top 25 (#2 UCLA, #10 WSU, #13 Oregon, #17 Arizona, #18 USC, and #21 Stanford), and there are 2 other opponents of UCLA in the top 25 (#16 Texas on Dec. 2, and #8 Michigan St in the CBE Classic, assuming both UCLA and Michigan St advance):

North Carolina (10) 0-0 739
UCLA (12) 0-0 734
Memphis (8) 0-0 731
Kansas (1) 0-0 669
Georgetown 0-0 625
Louisville 0-0 620
Tennessee 0-0 598
Michigan State 0-0 503
Indiana 0-0 479
Washington State 0-0 464
Duke 0-0 390
Marquette 0-0 381
Oregon 0-0 360
Gonzaga 0-0 252
Texas A&M 0-0 252
Texas 0-0 216
Arizona 0-0 205
USC 0-0 189
Arkansas 0-0 173
Pittsburgh 0-0 160
Stanford 0-0 158
Kentucky 0-0 155
Southern Illinois 0-0 137
North Carolina State 0-0 119
Villanova 0-0 111

Others Recieving Votes:
Kansas State 94, Syracuse 69, Ohio State 65, Clemson 56, Connecticut 55, Butler 42, Davidson 39, Xavier 38, Alabama 31, Mississippi State 30, Florida 26, Wisconsin 21, Illinois 16, Washington 12, Brigham Young 12, Nevada 8, Bradley 7, Virginia 7, Virginia Commonwealth 5, Utah 4, Baylor 3, Old Dominion 3, Saint Joseph's 3, Fresno State 2, George Mason 2, Utah State 2, Notre Dame 1, California 1, Maryland 1.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

0 recs | Comment 18 comments

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NC and Memphis?

What a joke. A BH team with a quarter of the talent could destroy Memphis. Memphis has no discipline, no system, just 5 incredible athletes jacking the ball up.

NC is overrated.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Oct 26, 2007 8:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

But that's the great thing about college basketball. The polls don't really matter like football. As long as UCLA ends up with a top seed out west, nothing else really matters.

Anyway, UCLA has the most 1st place votes, and I think we should be hanging out around the top and be in first place for a good portion of the season anyway. Unlike some other programs at UCLA, out basketball team comes prepared for every game and won't give up silly upsets to horrible teams.

Gotta love basketball and Howland. Go Bruins!

by sfatoo on Oct 26, 2007 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sometimes, however

those silly losses did happen, even under Howland's watch. Remember last spring, after we beat Washington State and clinched the conference title ? We promptly lost to Washington and then exited early at the Pac 10 Tournament. Then there was that last seven minutes of the first half at Stanford,when the Cardinals stormed all the way back from what was it, a fifteen, sixteen deficit and buried us in the second half.

Ranked so high this early can be a negative sometimes.

by Htse005 on Oct 26, 2007 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take a silly loss here and there

Just give me a measly little six game winning streak at the end of the year.

by Fox 71 on Oct 27, 2007 6:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Suc at 18?

What a joke. I don't think so.

by Barnes2JJ on Oct 26, 2007 10:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

sounds about right for suc

He's a thug but he's good --- OJ2 that is. This is about what suc will be best case scenario this year ... A complete implosion wouldn't surprise me either. But I realistically see this trOJan team as about a 4-5 seed.

F-CK $c

by royobruin on Oct 26, 2007 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta disagree

They lost a bunch of their firepower and Juice Deuce is totally unproven at this point.

I don't think they will be very good this year.

by Barnes2JJ on Oct 26, 2007 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Im ok with this

We are a great team and we aren't going to sneak up on anyone. Last year I thought would be a good year but probably somewhat of a rebuilding year, Sweet 16, and lit turned out to be a great year. This year, I think this team is going to be better in many ways, but we have a new piece that is untested. So, #1 might be a bit too much too early. Still, who cares ... its what happens in March that determines final ranking. Let NC have the targets on their backs anyway. What I like most is that this team KNOWS that this ranking doesn't mean squat. In the end, they know what it takes to get there more than any other team ... and they will get there.

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Oct 26, 2007 11:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree, but with ONE exception...

... and that would be MEMPHIS.

Now if UNC gets picked ahead of us by some, fine, I can see that. Hansborough is their main man in the post, and he is certainly more experienced than KLove. Also, while we have TONS of experience in the frontcourt, we don't have all that many experienced scorers up front now that Josh has moved to the 2. I can respect that, even though I disagree.

But when "experts" say that Memphis should be ranked higher than us because they're coming off of two straight Elite 8 showings, I want to either laugh or puke.

Unlike our WCKO (West Coast by Karl Offense) philosophy in football, this is one time when going for 4 really IS much better than going for 8.

"Because I'm tired of it. Year after year after year after year having to choose between the lesser of 'Who cares?'"

by Meriones on Oct 26, 2007 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you

I didnt mention Memphis .. but I agree with you. Memphis fans have been saying the same thing since they were bumped from the tourney. It blows my mind that now some experts agree with them. But this is classic "never been there" euphoria and arrogance. Sort of like the Padres, the Chargers, the Clippers, the Cal Bears, the Mavericks, the Sacramento Kinds, etc. etc. Always thinking that they are going to win it all, deserve respect, etc. etc. and when the time comes they fall flat. Memphis will be a good club but will ultimately fall flat because they think they belong and deserve respect. They dont know that they have to go out and earn it first.

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Oct 26, 2007 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would add

Karl Dorrell's football team to that Memphis list.

correction: Sacramento Kinds = Kings

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Oct 26, 2007 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are wrong

Sacramento Queens.

by bluestreet on Oct 26, 2007 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Personally

I always preferred to call them the Excremento Kings.

GO BRUINS. HOOK 'EM HORNS (well, except on Dec. 2).

by uclawarren on Oct 26, 2007 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't mean to be harsh, but...

UCLA didn't exactly show up against Florida in either of the past 2 tourneys, exactly. Obviously, getting to the FF is better than getting to the Elite 8, but this team still has a lot to prove. I'm happy with a #2 pre-season ranking, but rankings are pretty meaningless in basketball. It doesn't mean anything.

by njbruin on Oct 27, 2007 6:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

To bef air, Florida jsut ahd the right guys...

... to coutner our strengths.

We play aggressive man defense, esp. in the post. What did they have? 3 frontcourt starters at 6-9 and up who could play inside-out ball.

We had a really great one-on-one guy at the 2 in the 6-5 AA. What did Florida do? They smothered him with a 6-9 SF who could keep up with him on D and force away from help D with his 3 ptrs.

We scored outside in, even when Hollins was on the floor, by driving for dump-offs and putbacks. Florida? They were inside-out in their offense, with kick-outs and screen and rolls.

We showed each time, but Florida just played better each time. It SUCKED, but there was no shame in it.

Now watch what happens with KLove starting, Mata and Aboya having more experience, and Luc improving his offense.

"Because I'm tired of it. Year after year after year after year having to choose between the lesser of 'Who cares?'"

by Meriones on Oct 29, 2007 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good Points, Meriones

I think too many people forget that the last two years were rebuilding years. I'll submit that they probably forget it because of how well we did in these last two tournies. Heck, we only had two upperclassmen last year, and neither of them were seniors.

This is the first year that we can say we are a complete team. And every year going forward will be no worse than a "reloading" year. Under Howland, "rebuilding" years are now a thing of the past.

by bornagainbruin on Oct 30, 2007 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

gotta love rankings

We are adding the best freshman in the nation...but he is still a freshman. We also lost our best player and our leader. No matter how much talent we have returning, that hole will be hard to fill. I see nothing wrong with ranking us anywhere from 1-5 in the preseason. I do have total confidence that Howland will get this team to improve as the season progresses, and I suspect that we will be absolutely awesome by the end of the season as Love matures and UCLA finds a way to make up for Arron's departure.

USC is IMHO ranked a little high because they lost three starters, all upperclassmen. That is not an easy thing to replace, regardless of the talent that is coming in. Throw in the chemistry issues from Hackett and Mayo's recent altercation and I can see USC taking some time to get going. Still, they have some very good talent coming in, they have Taj Gibson, and they have a good coach in Floyd. They may start out a little slow but I expect them to finish well, although given the strength of the Pac-10 I don't see them finishing any higher than 4th at best in the conference.

by ucladj89 on Oct 26, 2007 1:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I have no problems with this ranking.

I know the basketball Bruins will go out there and prove their worth. I don't care if we don't hit #1 all season long. As long as we hit #1 at the end of the tournament.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Oct 27, 2007 8:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs