ESPN/USA Today Basketball Preseason Poll

[gophersfan]

Gophers are 18th in the ESPN/USA Today Basketball Preseason Poll.

1. Kansas (27) 0-0 770
2. Michigan State (3) 0-0 732
3. Texas 0-0 676
4. North Carolina (1) 0-0 653
5. Kentucky 0-0 635
6. Villanova 0-0 620
7. Purdue 0-0 586
8. Duke 0-0 528
9. West Virginia 0-0 501
10. Butler 0-0 408
11. Tennessee 0-0 406
12. California 0-0 370
13. Washington 0-0 364
14. Connecticut 0-0 361
15. Michigan 0-0 279
16. Oklahoma 0-0 244
17. Ohio State 0-0 241
18. Minnesota 0-0 151
19. Mississippi State 0-0 149
20. Georgia Tech 0-0 136
21. Georgetown 0-0 134
22. Dayton 0-0 130
23. Louisville 0-0 123
24. Clemson 0-0 114
25. Syracuse 0-0 111




http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/usatpoll.htm

 

[SelectionSunday]

76 Classic

#9 West Virginia
#10 Butler
#18 Minnesota
#24 Clemson

As we already knew, impressive field for the 76 Classic. If the Gophers get 2 wins at this tournament (coming out of the winner's bracket), they'll have done yeoman's work. Win the thing and undoubtedly they'll be in the top 10 heading into the Miami game.

 

[Lincoln gopher]

#9 West Virginia
#10 Butler
#18 Minnesota
#24 Clemson

As we already knew, impressive field for the 76 Classic. If the Gophers get 2 wins at this tournament (coming out of the winner's bracket), they'll have done yeoman's work. Win the thing and undoubtedly they'll be in the top 10 heading into the Miami game.

Can't wait for that tournament. It will be a good time in Anaheim.

 

[ChemEGopher]

Five Big Ten teams in the top 18. Over half the conference in the top 27. This year is going to be very entertaining.

 

[SelectionSunday]

And Illinois is kinda' the team no one is talking about. They're a lot like the Gophers. ... they have a chance to be really good this season.

 

[Jike Spingleton]

And Illinois is kinda' the team no one is talking about. They're a lot like the Gophers. ... they have a chance to be really good this season.

A bit surprised Illinois was just outside the Top 25...

Feels good having the Big Ten firmly in the spotlight.

 

[ChemEGopher]

Where's Wisconsin?

 

[Jike Spingleton]

Gophers 25th in the AP poll. Illinois checks in at 23.

2. Michigan State
6. Purdue
15. Michigan
16. Ohio State
23. Illinois
25. Minnesota

 

[howeda7]

Good to see us ranked in both polls after we were kind of all over the map in the various preview magazines.

 

[From the Barn]

#9 West Virginia
#10 Butler
#18 Minnesota
#24 Clemson

As we already knew, impressive field for the 76 Classic. If the Gophers get 2 wins at this tournament (coming out of the winner's bracket), they'll have done yeoman's work. Win the thing and undoubtedly they'll be in the top 10 heading into the Miami game.

Or top 5. They'll jump just about everyone.

 

[MRJ]

Good to see us ranked in both polls after we were kind of all over the map in the various preview magazines.

I'm with ya on that one. It used to be that almost all the preview magazines were identical in terms of making predictions. But with how much parity has popped up in college basketball during recent years and the general unpredictability of the NCAA Tournament being what it is, making predictions with full confidence has become really difficult. This is why I count every win, regardless of who you're playing, as a good win. College basketball definitely is a sport where anybody can beat anybody in a one-game scenario.

 

[jovs]

Illinois and Wisconsin make seven tough teams.

Northwestern not that bad.

Penn State or Indiana could upset anyone on any given night.

Iowa will struggle.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Indiana

Will be an interesting case this season. The step I expect IU to make this season is being tough as nails at home. Can't see IU winning many Big 10 road games, but this season they're going to be good enough to knock off some of the better Big 10 teams at home. I suspect the Hoosiers will have some nice notches on their belt at the end of the season, all of them at Assembly Hall. I hope we're not one of those notches.