i mean, i can see them going 19-0 before actually playing anyone. it seems to me like the ACC is vastly overrated this year, and i'm an unabashed ACC fan.

Well, as much as I don't like the ACC, I don't think it's overrated. Sure, Virginia Tech and Miami have watered it down. And Clemson, Florida State, Virginia, and possibly Maryland, are not very good. But Georgia Tech is a legit top 20 team. Maybe not top 10, but certainly top 15-20. Duke and Wake appear to be legit top 10 squads and North Carolina may be the best team in the country. There's no other conference that even touches that number of teams actually contending for the Final Four. I love my Big East but with Pitt and Uconn having off years, it doesn't hold a candle. Thank God for my Syracuse Orange(men).

Maybe 17-0, but I think some losses will pile up once they meet Georgia Tech, Wake Forest & North Carolina. Playing 6 games against those teams in just over 30 days will have an effect on them. But the ACC is pretty weak top-to-bottom.

I'm just holding out hope for Arkansas and Nebraska to make the postseason in some format.

it seems like the losses should come, but they're gonna be close to fully healthy by then. meanwhile, wake will have played something like 7 top-25 opponents by that point and the blue devils played temple and michigan state. man i hate those guys.

This expanded league sucks Monty's nads. I've not checked the schedules yet, but I assume UNC & Duke & WF & GT will only be matched up once this year versus the old at home & away schedule. Why jeopardize these classic rivalries? Ahh, the sweet smell of commerce.
MonUNC-Duke, WF, even GT look really strong and should contend for top 10 placement by season's end. UNC even moreso than Duke & WF. And djdan, I wouldn't write off GT just yet. Once Elder's healthy, they are going to be one nasty team to beat - Jack is already running the fucker on his own.

My team, KU, should fold during rounds 4 or 5 of the tourney, so I don't get too hyped about rankings or predictions. Esp. around mid-Jan.

Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk.

Arkansas is looking quite good this year. Heath seems to be getting a handle on the program. They played Alabama very close until the end--it would have been nice if they could have pulled that one out on their home floor.

as far Nebraska--I'm not quite sure what is going on, but the traditional "bottom" of the Big 12 is looking oddly passable this year. Many of those schools have strong win records right now. True, teams like K-State and A&M might not have had the nations strongest OOCs, but they're way better than last year..plus A&M coming off the Texas win is huge. and Nebraska is 2-0 in conference--a win this Sat. against UT on their home floor would be hardcore.

The ACC is definitely the best conference overall this year though. Top to bottom they definitely get the nod--and the top of their top is heavy.

Naah, bra. The 'Heels get to know what its like when the annual Roy Williams choke a thon starts. Jayhwaks won big with that deal, I think. Self is going to make everyone forget all about that asshat.

<------Jayhawks BBall fan, a bi-product of spending 5 years of my youth in KS.

I would love to see a post-season UNC-KU match-up. I still love Roy for all the years he gave us, and am warming up to Self. That frosh Giles is going to be POY next year. Nasty.

Loogar = Ft. Riley Brat?

careful there bud, or i'll have ayah kick your butt!

so the terps had a bad two game stretch against unc and wake. let's not forget we are talking about the defending acc champs here. they'll pick it up and get back into the top 25.

and carolina (as much as it hurts to say this) is by far the best team in the country right now.

oh, and fuck duke.

as a heel fan, the only way that i can see this ending is a late-season collapse and a second round exit. just peaking WAY too early.

86-88 = Ft. Leavenworth (NO NOT THE PRISON, Comedians)

89-92 = Ft. Riley

Bro in law went to KU, so, for football he's a UGA fan, and for BBall, I'm a KU fan.

ILL - INI

I think Michigan State and Illinois are both legitimate Top 10 teams. I cannot wait for that mathcup. In B-Ball I am a huge Spartan fan (due to both parents attending MSU).

Loog's ass

Hole in the ground

He doesn't know the difference

Nice hanging out at a board with so many Kansas BB fans. Not to be a party pooper, but I can't shake the feeling that KU may very well be the weakest #2 team the country has ever seen. Still, can't deny that they continue to find ways to win. Typical conversations 'round here start like this: "Great game last night!". Personally I'd prefer a great game end up winning by 20. Now that's a great game.

Yeah, I think Duke is the real deal but the Illini and Tarheels seem to me to be the best two teams in the country by a pretty wide margin. Look forward to seeing one or the other come March.

jc

You know, I've been singing this same tune for the past weeks, but the truth of it is, the team ain't that great, BUT other squads across the US just aren't strong either. The long & short: '04-'05 will offer no dominant teams this year, which could possibly spell, A) a long, boring season with mediocre teams playing mediocre games; B) over-average teams battling it out for under-average championship tourney; or 3) KU wins it all. It's a lose-lose-win situation.

Pleased to hear another Kansan's on board. Ya-hey, JC!

As many times as this Jayhawks fan has been burned, I wouldn't write this year's squad off so easily. There's a toughness there that's getting stronger everyday - and that's thanks to Couch Self.

Moxie - what part of KS are you from? I've lived in Parsons & Pittsburg, & now reside in KC.

Eh, I don't really see it, and I'm a Terps fan too. They have the same problem they've had before, in that there is no big guy inside--hell, Lonny Baxter wasn't big, he just played his ass off--and they have a tendency to panic which hurts the already suspect outside game. If they had lost in the first round of the tournament last year, I don't think they would have gotten a bid. I wouldn't be surprised to see them go NIT this year either.

I like Gary, like John Gilchrest, hell we even have Darryl Strawberry's kid, but they seem to lose their heads to quickly in the face of adversity. This then leads to an 8 minute span where they all attempt to break the backboard from behind the 3-pt. arc.

However, I agree 100% with Fuck Duke.

I'm pretty happy with my alma mater's start to the season. Washington in 13-2 and tied for 1st place in the Pac-10. They've had a few quality wins over Oklahoma, Alabama, NC State and Utah. Neither of their losses would I consider a "bad" loss, although they did give up a 21 point lead over UCLA at Pauley last week---should have won that one. The other loss was to Gonzaga on their home floor.

The Pac10 looks to be pretty solid and well balanced this year, but I like the Huskies chances to take it for the first time since '85. Go Dawgs!

If Gonzaga can get some consistency they should be a top ten squad. I just hope they don't lose anymore conference games and get a good seed in the tourney.

Yeah, Turiaff has to step it up. Is his ankle still bothering him?

i do agree with all of this, especially the "big man" problem. oh how i wish chris wilcox had stayed.

pretty good win against temple today though. if mike jones can knock down the 3 like he did today, and if caner-medley can at least be consistent if not awesome like today, we can compete.

Oh my god. I had forgotten about Wilcox. What a bastard. I didn't see today's game, I've been trying to re-organize all my work shit. I'm gonna have to start taking in more games.

man, caner-medley was on fire -- 35 points! he's gotta be the most frustrating player on the team, because he can totally dissappear for games at a time.

He had 19 points tonight and a few boards so i think he's getting better. He looked absolutely awful while playing with the bad ankle.

Go Zags

just here to name drop Andrew Bogut, the Utes' AUSTRALIAN forward/centre. His stock is ever improving and should be a sure fire top ten lottery pick come next draft day. He's a big man that can do it all, at 6-11 he can shoot the three, handle the ball, pass like a guard, and has some pretty damn good low post moves. What do you guys think of him?