IL25 Poll: Stranglehold
January 31, 2005 6:20 PM
Beware the heat that comes with the IL25 poll's #2 ranking. Today the Tar Heels of North Carolina become the third team in as many weeks to assume the position of second in command. Two weeks ago #2 Kansas was three-point carpet-bombed out of the building at Villanova. Last week the #2 Duke Blue Devils' ferocious reputation for home court advantage was besmirched by unranked Maryland. Pay heed to the warning Tar Heels when you visit Tallahassee Sunday.
IL25 Poll administration, audit, and commentary by IlliniNYC.
| IL25 Poll: Jan 30 | |||
| Rank | Team | Points | Previous |
| 1 | Illinois (4) | 100 | 1 |
| 2 | North Carolina | 94 | 4 |
| 3 | Boston College | 93 | 6 |
| 4 | Kansas | 84 | 6 |
| 5 | Kentucky | 79 | 9 |
| 6 | Duke | 78 | 2 |
| 7 | Syracuse | 76 | 3 |
| 7 | Wake Forest | 76 | 4 |
| 9 | Oklahoma St. | 66 | 8 |
| 10 | Michigan St. | 62 | 14 |
| 11 | Louisville | 55 | 13 |
| 12 | Arizona | 48 | 11 |
| 13 | Washington | 45 | 10 |
| 14 | Alabama | 44 | 19 |
| 15 | Pittsburg | 40 | 18 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 40 | 16 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 37 | 15 |
| 18 | Connecticut | 29 | 17 |
| 19 | Texas | 28 | 12 |
| 20 | Gonzaga | 24 | 20 |
| 21 | Cincinnati | 22 | 23 |
| 22 | Utah | 20 | NR |
| 23 | Georgia Tech | 13 | 22 |
| 23 | Villanova | 13 | NR |
| 25 | Mississippi St. | 12 | 21 |
(Also receiving votes: Florida 7, Georgetown 4, Maryland 3, Charlotte 2, Pacific 2, UTEP 2, Wichita St. 2. Dropped out: Iowa, Charlotte. First place votes in parenthesis.)
Illinois' stranglehold on the top spot continues while the revolving door at number two goes on. Two weeks ago Kansas yielded the spot to Duke after an utterly embarrassing loss at Villanova. Last week, a former—rather large—resident of Illinois found herself watching second-rate basketball at the glorified high school gym also known as Cameron as Duke dropped an ugly game to Maryland. North Carolina returns to the second spot this week hoping for an Illini loss at East Lansing while holding serve at home against N.C. State and on the road at Florida St.
An embarrassment to polling communities everywhere is Boston College. This writer cannot believe that it took this long for the Eagles to crack the top five. It is the last week of January and it took this long for an undefeated team from a major conference (not just from a major one, but the best one in the eyes of this author) to reach the top five? Unacceptable. The early season favorite teams are faltering, but no one was willing to give BC their due and drop them in (and in some cases, from) the rankings.
Case in point: Connecticut. The Huskies have losses in four of their last eight games: Boston College at home, Oklahoma on the road, Pittsburgh at home and Notre Dame on the road. Two home losses and each loss worse than the next. This voter reluctantly included Connecticut at #23, but with five remaining difficult games, is beginning to wonder if a resume whose top victories are over the likes of Indiana, Georgetown and West Virginia is worth considering for the tournament. Time will tell, but Connecticut must show something or risk being left out.
Speaking of the Big East, there are currently five teams ranked with another receiving votes. The Big East is the only conference with a legitimate shot (the Connecticut comments aside) at six teams in the field of 65 this year. The ACC deserves four (maybe five, but that is a stretch), the Big 12 four, the Big 10 three and so on. Every year the gap between top and bottom closes and every year there is a stronger argument for more mid-majors. I for one have fought the mid-major argument, but every year it gets harder and harder to try to justify keeping more of them out.
Final thought: What a glorious sight to see so many past players at the Centennial Celebration for the Illini on Saturday (and a HUGE thanks for broadcasting it over the internet). Everyone remembers the recent players and the great players from the 80's and 90's, but it was wonderful to see guys like Don Freeman and Nick Weatherspoon, arguably two of the greatest to ever play for the Illini. Others like Perry Range, Levi Cobb and, of course, Steve Roth really remind us what an amazing history and great diversity the program has enjoyed through the years. The fact that the 2005 team was on the floor playing great basketball hopefully made it all the more wonderful for everyone who was back. The great heritage of Illinois basketball is responsible for getting the program to this point in time, and I do not think that fact was lost on those responsible for the history or those who are living it today.
Illinois Loyalty Forum members are authorized to vote in the IL25 Poll. Ballots are due no later than 12:00pm (noon) CST on Monday. Filed under: Illini Basketball
