The ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll is out for the NCAA basketball preseason. It features UNC at number one, but that’s only because they have the people for it. Everyone knows that Roy Williams has really good chances when he has a superstar team from front to back. When he doesn’t, it gets iffy.
Kentucky is at number two as everyone holds out hope that John Calipari can eventually win a national title.
Ohio State is number three because Thad Matta can coach. UCONN is number four because everyone’s being nice. They have talent, but losing Kemba Walker to the NBA was big.
Syracuse is five because, well, everyone believes in Jim Boeheim. I believe in him too, but I don’t know if that’s enough to rank them this high.
Duke sits at six because they deserve it, and they’ll always be ranked this high. Vanderbilt is seven because, well, people think they’re funny. Yes, their basketball team could beat the football, at football, but that doesn’t mean this is the seventh best team in the nation. Top 15, sure. Top 10? I don’t think so.
Louisville is number eight, but I have lost faith over the last couple of years. Although, I do love the white suits.
Memphis is number nine, but I don’t know why. Sure, they have talent and they’ve managed to continue pretty well after Calipari left, but this won’t last.
Florida sits at number ten, because, well, it’s Florida and everyone believes in Billy Donahue. I think that’s a good bet to take, but I don’t know if we’ll ever see what the Gators had a few years ago when they won back to back titles. (That’s what everyone is hoping for, but I don’t see it.)
At the end of the day, this is a nice top ten, but I don’t see this as even close to definitive. There’s a little too much hopefulness here.
