Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
It's a grand tradition in sports to hate on the teams at the top. For fans who feel that way about the defending NCAA champion North Carolina Tar Heels, today's AP Top 25 poll probably won't discourage them.
Riding a two-game losing streak and the most embarrassing loss of Roy William's tenure at the College of Charleston, most people will probably howl favoritism when they see North Carolina still hanging on at No. 24. Sure they are the only team with six losses in the poll, but when three of those losses came to the current No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 teams, there is at least something to be said about the quality of their losses. Along with that win over Michigan State, there is more than enough justification to leave them in the poll over the likes of Vanderbilt or Connecticut.
I am just as eager as any to hate the Tar Heels, but I and all the Heel haters are more than likely going to have to wait another week to dance the dance of celebration and spite.
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Over Vandy? Please
1) Vandy CRUSHED them in a scrim to start the season. Yes yes. This was a scrimmage. After Vandy beat #1 UNC in Memorial Gym in 1987, UNC will probably never play Vanderbilt at Memorial Gym during the regular season.
2) Take away the names, and it’s easy to pick Vandy over UNC:
from kenpom (though you could replace kenpom with sagarin or rpi and the effect is the same) -
Team 1: #46 overall, 12-6 (1-2) record, SOS overall 45, non-conference 145, offensive efficiency 110.6 (47th), defensive efficiency 92.6 (54), 7-5 in last 12.
Team 2: #22 overall, 14-3 (3-0) record, SOS overall 34, non-conference 117, offensive efficiency 115.4 (14th), defensive efficiency 92.1 (51), 10-2 in last 12.
UNC gets a pass because of the name on their jersey. Take the name away and this is all nonsense.
Sure, UNC has played some tough opponents, but they’ve only won against the larger number of cupcakes that they’ve played.
Quality losses is just another phrase for “it’s UNC”
Anchor of Gold
by KingJamesIV on Jan 18, 2010 3:24 PM EST reply actions
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