These are the final regular season rankings that I wanted to get out before the major conferences started their tournaments. The Rant will have two more rankings this hoops season, one next week before the start of the NCAA Tournament and one following the conclusion of the tournament.
1. North Carolina Tarheels (27-3, 13-3)
59 votes (2 first place votes)
Last week: W vs #8 Duke 79-71
This week: ACC Tournament
Winning 13 of 14 in the second best conference in the country is not a bad way to finish out the season. Lawson’s toe injury will be interesting to watch, he makes this team click, if he cannot go neither will the Heels.
2. Pitt Panthers (28-3, 15-3)
58 votes (1 first place vote)
Last week: W vs #3 UCONN 70-60
This week: Big East Tournament
Two wins over UCONN is nice. It will be interesting to see how this team plays out the Big East Tournament. People always complain that they get worn down by playing in the rugged Big East and that is why they get knocked out early in the NCAA’s. WWJDD? What Would Jamie Dixon Do?
3. UCONN Huskies (27-3, 15-3)
53 votes
Last week: L @ #2 Pitt 70-60
This week: Big East Tournament
You wonder what this team would be like with Jerome Dyson. There may have been no stopping the Huskies.
4. Memphis Tigers (28-3, 16-0)
49 votes
Last week: W vs Tulane 74-47
This week: C-USA Tournament
I wish people would stop comparing this years team to last years Memphis team. Last year they have veterans that could step up and play and probably the best freshman in the country. This year they have the leftovers from that team that were not good enough to go pro and another freshman PG. Although Tyreke Evans is pretty fun to watch.
5. Louisville Cardinals (25-5, 16-2)
49 votes
Last week: W @ West Virginia 62-59
This week: Big East Tournament
16 wins in the best conference in basketball is really good. I wish they didn’t have those three terrible losses early on, it would be fun to see 3 Big East teams as 1-seeds, I think those loses will prevent it from happening though.
6. Oklahoma Sooners (27-4, 13-3)
44 votes
Last week: W vs Oklahoma State 82-78
This week: Big XII Tournament
I am sure that I am not the only one that thinks Austin Johnson looks a heck of a lot like Steve Urkel. Lose the headband, throw some glasses on him and pull up his shorts, he is a splitting image of the guy!
7. Michigan State Spartans (25-5, 15-3)
42 votes
Last week: W vs Purdue 62-51
This week: Big Ten Tournament
Double edged sword here, if the Spartans win out should they be rewarded for beating up on a weak Big 6 conference? If they lose, should they be punished for NOT beating up on a weaker Big 6 conference?
8. Duke Blue Devils (25-6, 11-5)
38 votes
Last week: L @ #1 UNC 79-71
This week: ACC Tournament
A lack of bench and scorers will kill this team in the tournament. Against UNC, with Singler and Henderson on the bench with 3 minutes to go, Jon Scheyer was the team’s only option on offense. He cannot create for himself, and they have no one else to control the ball to run him off screens.
9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (24-5, 11-5)
35 votes
Last week: W vs #16 Clemson 96-88
This week: ACC Tournament
Really? The ACC and the NCAA could not come up with a better game to close out the regular season then Wake v Clemson on a terrible FSN broadcast?
10. Villanova Wildcats (25-6, 13-5)
34 votes
Last week: W vs Providence 97-80
This week: Big East Tournament
Jay Wright, the Big East coach of the year, never looks rattled in any situation. He seems to ooze confidence and his team plays with that same confidence.
11. Kansas Jayhawks (25-6, 14-2)
32 votes
Last week: W vs Texas 83-73
This week: Big XII Tournament
Has any coach in America done a better job this season then Bill Self? This guy wins a national championship, loses 4 of 5 starters and by January is playing like this team could contend for the title.
12. Washington Huskies (24-7, 14-4)
25 votes
Last week: W vs Washington State 67-60
This week: PAC-10 Tournament
Isaiah Thomas (no not that one), Justin Dentmon and Jon Brockman are a tough threesome to match-up against. They could surprise some teams in the middle rounds of the tournament.
13. Gonzaga Bulldogs (26-5, 14-0)
22 votes
Last week: W vs Santa Clara 94-59, W vs St. Mary’s 83-58
This week: NO GAMES SCHEDULED
I would still love to see Patty Mills and St. Mary’s play this team at full strength. When they matched up in February, Mills and the Gaels were up big and Mills had 18 in the 1st half before he broke his hand and missed 6 weeks.
14. Missouri Tigers (25-6, 12-4)
18 votes
Last week: L @ Texas A&M 96-86
This week: Big XII Tournament
Can Mizzou beat anyone, and I do mean ANYONE after a big win? This team is the Virginia Tech of the Midwest. They are capable of beating any top level team one game and laying an egg against a glorified C-USA team the next game.
14. Syracuse Orange (23-8, 11-7)
18 votes
Last week: W @ Marquette 86-79
This week: Big East Tournament
I think this team could be a scary team that makes a run. They are playing good basketball right now, and when they get out against teams not as familiar with them, they will cause problems. This could be another Big East team capable of making the Elite 8 or maybe further.
16. Clemson Tigers (23-7, 9-7)
19 votes
Last week: L @ #9 Wake Forest 96-88
This week: ACC Tournament
What will Clemson have more of, non-conference loses or NCAA Tournament wins?
Others receiving votes:
Florida State 12, UCLA 10, Marquette 7, LSU 4, Butler 3, Xavier 2
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
PITT FLAG FLYING HIGH
My cousin Pete is currently in Iraq as a United State Marine. While over there he took some pictures I wanted to share with everyone.
HAIL TO PITT!
HAIL TO PITT!
Big East Awards and The Rant's Thought
Not 24 hours after the last game in league play was completed, the Big East announced their All-Big East teams. Take a look.
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, Jr., 7-3, 263, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Terrence Williams, Louisville, F, Sr., 6-6, 210, Seattle, Wash.
Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-3, 200 Chicago, Ill.
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, Jr., 6-8, 251, Schererville, Ind.
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, C, So., 6-7, 265, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sam Young, Pittsburgh, F, Sr., 6-6, 215, Clinton, Md.
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
A.J. Price, Connecticut, G, Sr., 6-2, 181, Amityville, N.Y.
Wesley Matthews, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 215, Madison, Wis.
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, G, So., 6-0, 185, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Dante Cunningham, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-8, 230, Silver Spring, Md.
Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia, F, Jr., 6-7, 225, Newark, N.J.
ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Jr., 6-1, 195, Indianapolis, Ind.
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, Sr., 6-7, 243, Brookline, Mass.
Earl Clark, Louisville, G/F, Jr., 6-8, 220, Rahway, N.J.
Levance Fields, Pittsburgh, G, Sr., 5-10, 190, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, So., 6-5, 185, Bronx, N.Y.
BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
Weyinmi Efejuku, Providence, G, Sr., 6-5, 210, Fresh Meadows, N.Y.
Dominique Jones, USF, G, So., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla.
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.
Alex Ruoff, West Virginia, G, Sr., 6-6, 220, Spring Hill, Fla.
BIG EAST ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, Fr., 6-9, 255, Cincinnati, Ohio
Kemba Walker, Connecticut, G, Fr., 6-0, 175, Bronx, N.Y.
Greg Monroe, Georgetown, C, Fr., 6-10, 240, Gretna, La.
Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F, Fr., 6-8, 240, Trelawny, Jamaica
Mike Rosario, Rutgers, G, Fr., 6-3, 180, Jersey City, N.J.
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, Fr., 6-9, 205, Long Island City, N.Y
Surprisingly, I actually I agree with the first team, for the most part. I think that Luke Harangody got on the team this year more based on his name and reputation then anything else, but he did put up big numbers. He led the conference in scoring and finished 2nd in rebounding. However, my argument is that his team stunk, and would not have been much worse without him. If you take any of the other five first teamers off their teams and there is a dramatic drop off in that teams play. Also, Harangody is 100% offensively driven. He was a matador on defense for the most part, making breaks down court to be the outlet and score easy baskets.
I would have put Levance Fields on the first team in place of Harangody. Fields is the premier point guard in the league and maybe the best in the nation, yet he gets third team All-Big East.
The Player and Coach of the year awards will be announced on Tuesday between sessions. My Coach of the Year would be Jay Wright. As much as I think that Jamie Dixon, Buzz Williams and Keno Davis all would be strong candidates, Wright took seven or eight good players and made them a great team. That is harder to do then most people think. He does not have a true center, and basically plays with four guards, but he made it work this season.
My Player of the Year is between three players. Terrence Williams of Louisville is what makes that team go. He can do a little bit of everything, and does. DeJuan Blair has become the face of the Big East. His smile and toughness can be seen every time he hits the floor. Putting up double-doubles all season also does not hurt his case for POY. The third player is Sam Young. Young flies under the radar a little because of Blair and the recognition he has gotten this season at Pitt. But it is Young who leads the team in scoring. It is Young who scored 25 in the first win over UCONN and 31 Saturday on his senior day. I could take the easy road and give a Co-POY to Blair and Young, but I won’t do that. If I had to cast my vote I would vote for DeJuan Blair. Not to take anything away from Young and Williams, but I think that Blair has more of an overall effect on the game than those two players.
I’ll have more the rest of the week with other post-season honors as well as the weekly rankings.
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, Jr., 7-3, 263, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Terrence Williams, Louisville, F, Sr., 6-6, 210, Seattle, Wash.
Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-3, 200 Chicago, Ill.
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, Jr., 6-8, 251, Schererville, Ind.
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, C, So., 6-7, 265, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sam Young, Pittsburgh, F, Sr., 6-6, 215, Clinton, Md.
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
A.J. Price, Connecticut, G, Sr., 6-2, 181, Amityville, N.Y.
Wesley Matthews, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 215, Madison, Wis.
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, G, So., 6-0, 185, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Dante Cunningham, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-8, 230, Silver Spring, Md.
Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia, F, Jr., 6-7, 225, Newark, N.J.
ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Jr., 6-1, 195, Indianapolis, Ind.
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, Sr., 6-7, 243, Brookline, Mass.
Earl Clark, Louisville, G/F, Jr., 6-8, 220, Rahway, N.J.
Levance Fields, Pittsburgh, G, Sr., 5-10, 190, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, So., 6-5, 185, Bronx, N.Y.
BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
Weyinmi Efejuku, Providence, G, Sr., 6-5, 210, Fresh Meadows, N.Y.
Dominique Jones, USF, G, So., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla.
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.
Alex Ruoff, West Virginia, G, Sr., 6-6, 220, Spring Hill, Fla.
BIG EAST ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, Fr., 6-9, 255, Cincinnati, Ohio
Kemba Walker, Connecticut, G, Fr., 6-0, 175, Bronx, N.Y.
Greg Monroe, Georgetown, C, Fr., 6-10, 240, Gretna, La.
Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F, Fr., 6-8, 240, Trelawny, Jamaica
Mike Rosario, Rutgers, G, Fr., 6-3, 180, Jersey City, N.J.
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, Fr., 6-9, 205, Long Island City, N.Y
Surprisingly, I actually I agree with the first team, for the most part. I think that Luke Harangody got on the team this year more based on his name and reputation then anything else, but he did put up big numbers. He led the conference in scoring and finished 2nd in rebounding. However, my argument is that his team stunk, and would not have been much worse without him. If you take any of the other five first teamers off their teams and there is a dramatic drop off in that teams play. Also, Harangody is 100% offensively driven. He was a matador on defense for the most part, making breaks down court to be the outlet and score easy baskets.
I would have put Levance Fields on the first team in place of Harangody. Fields is the premier point guard in the league and maybe the best in the nation, yet he gets third team All-Big East.
The Player and Coach of the year awards will be announced on Tuesday between sessions. My Coach of the Year would be Jay Wright. As much as I think that Jamie Dixon, Buzz Williams and Keno Davis all would be strong candidates, Wright took seven or eight good players and made them a great team. That is harder to do then most people think. He does not have a true center, and basically plays with four guards, but he made it work this season.
My Player of the Year is between three players. Terrence Williams of Louisville is what makes that team go. He can do a little bit of everything, and does. DeJuan Blair has become the face of the Big East. His smile and toughness can be seen every time he hits the floor. Putting up double-doubles all season also does not hurt his case for POY. The third player is Sam Young. Young flies under the radar a little because of Blair and the recognition he has gotten this season at Pitt. But it is Young who leads the team in scoring. It is Young who scored 25 in the first win over UCONN and 31 Saturday on his senior day. I could take the easy road and give a Co-POY to Blair and Young, but I won’t do that. If I had to cast my vote I would vote for DeJuan Blair. Not to take anything away from Young and Williams, but I think that Blair has more of an overall effect on the game than those two players.
I’ll have more the rest of the week with other post-season honors as well as the weekly rankings.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
BETology 3-8
This is The Rant’s daily look in at the Big East conference as we creep closer to the BET in New York City, which begins March 10th.
FINAL STANDINGS:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
Louisville Cardinals 16-2
Pittsburgh Panthers 15-3
Connecticut Huskies 15-3
Villanova Wildcats 13-5
Marquette Golden Eagles 12-6
Syracuse Orange 11-7
West Virginia Mountaineers 10-8
Providence Friars 10-8
Cincinnati Bearcats 8-10
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 8-10
Seton Hall Pirates 7-11
Georgetown Hoyas 7-11
St. John’s Red Storm 6-12
South Florida Bulls 4-14
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2-16
DePaul Blue Demons 0-18
YESTERDAY:
Pitt Panthers 70
UCONN Huskies 60
Seton Hall Pirates 67
Cincinnati Bearcats 63
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 45
South Florida Bulls 42
Syracuse Orange 86
Marquette Golden Eagles 79
Georgetown Hoyas 48
DePaul Blue Demons 40
Louisville Cardinals 62
West Virginia Mountaineers 59
NEXT UP:
TUESDAY – 1st Round Games of the Big East Tournament
NOON- Cincinnati vs Depaul
2:00- Georgetown vs St. John’s
7:00- Notre Dame vs Rutgers
9:00- Seton Hall vs South Florida
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
WEDNESDAY
NOON
2:00
7:00
9:00
THURSDAY
NOON
2:00
7:00
9:00
FRIDAY (SEMIFINALS)
7:00
9:00
SATURDAY (CHAMPIONSHIP)
9:00
TEAMS TO BE DETERMINED, ALL GAMES ON ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati
Vs
16 – DePaul
2:00
12 – Georgetown
Vs
13 – St. John’s
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Marquette
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Villanova
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
FINAL STANDINGS:
Big East Official Tie-Breaking formula
Louisville Cardinals 16-2
Pittsburgh Panthers 15-3
Connecticut Huskies 15-3
Villanova Wildcats 13-5
Marquette Golden Eagles 12-6
Syracuse Orange 11-7
West Virginia Mountaineers 10-8
Providence Friars 10-8
Cincinnati Bearcats 8-10
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 8-10
Seton Hall Pirates 7-11
Georgetown Hoyas 7-11
St. John’s Red Storm 6-12
South Florida Bulls 4-14
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2-16
DePaul Blue Demons 0-18
YESTERDAY:
Pitt Panthers 70
UCONN Huskies 60
Seton Hall Pirates 67
Cincinnati Bearcats 63
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 45
South Florida Bulls 42
Syracuse Orange 86
Marquette Golden Eagles 79
Georgetown Hoyas 48
DePaul Blue Demons 40
Louisville Cardinals 62
West Virginia Mountaineers 59
NEXT UP:
TUESDAY – 1st Round Games of the Big East Tournament
NOON- Cincinnati vs Depaul
2:00- Georgetown vs St. John’s
7:00- Notre Dame vs Rutgers
9:00- Seton Hall vs South Florida
UP COMING GAMES ON NATIONAL TV:
BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
WEDNESDAY
NOON
2:00
7:00
9:00
THURSDAY
NOON
2:00
7:00
9:00
FRIDAY (SEMIFINALS)
7:00
9:00
SATURDAY (CHAMPIONSHIP)
9:00
TEAMS TO BE DETERMINED, ALL GAMES ON ESPN
BETology:
TUESDAY
March 10th:
NOON
9 – Cincinnati
Vs
16 – DePaul
2:00
12 – Georgetown
Vs
13 – St. John’s
7:00
10 – Notre Dame
Vs
15 – Rutgers
9:00
11 – Seton Hall
Vs
14 – South Florida
WEDNESDAY
March 11th:
NOON
8 – Providence
Vs
Tuesday NOON winner
2:00
5 – Marquette
Vs
Tuesday 2:00 winner
7:00
7 – West Virginia
Vs
Tuesday 7:00 winner
9:00
6 – Syracuse
Vs
Tuesday 9:00 winner
THURSDAY
March 12th:
NOON
1 – Louisville
Vs
Wednesday NOON winner
2:00
4 – Villanova
Vs
Wednesday 2:00 winner
7:00
2 – Pitt
Vs
Wednesday 7:00 winner
9:00
3 – UCONN
Vs
Wednesday 9:00 winner
Check back tomorrow for another update!
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