Do we know what the ratonale for this is? I mean, I don't understand where Kansas State of all programs comes from, or how a Division I nobody like NC A&T comes in far ahead of a Loyola-IL team that won a national title...
Well, I'm assuming that's why you'd pay the $6.99. I was surprised to see Tennessee in the top 100 myself (although they were good back before I was born).
(EDIT: $6.99 is the cost of the full thing in the article that was linked.)
Since I am a giant Kentucky mark it is nice to see them #1. I think that's the right spot for us! But really you could have also put UCLA, Kansas, North Carolina, and Duke at #1 and not heard much grumbling. But hey we will take our 1800+ wins, 42 SEC Conference Titles, 25 SEC Tourney Titles, and 7 National Championships and pitch a tent in that #1 spot!
I am shocked to see Mississippi State ranked so low (#99). They just went to the final four a few years ago. When Kentucky goes down there the crowd is always loud and the countless times I have watched them on JP Sports over the years they always seemed to have a good crowd.
If only everyone else hadn't caught on to our great "black people who can play basketball can play basketball for US" innovation.
The easly explaination about them being low is - outside the NC and a good run in the 80's which looks worse when everyone from it flopped in the NBA - they've been a pretty below average school in below average confrences. Possibly, the biggest thing that's happened on campus in the last five years was Yao Ming doing a pre-draft workout. (The immortal UIC/Loyola 2OT Horizon League Tournament Final which still makes me depressed to this day was at Cleveland State - I think.)
The identity of being a NC team with four black starters and one white starter is diminishined by the following year being the "5 black guys vs 5 white guys" milstone. They did get a SportsCentury out of it! (which was aired, like, ONCE, not that I'm bitter about missing it.)
Providence has 2 Final Four appearances, a few Elite 8 appearances, 2 NIT Titles in the days when the NIT actually meant something, and we are behind Idaho State and Boston College?
I am shocked to see Mississippi State ranked so low (#99). They just went to the final four a few years ago. When Kentucky goes down there the crowd is always loud and the countless times I have watched them on JP Sports over the years they always seemed to have a good crowd.
They're kind of new to this whole "winning" thing, though...that final four must be the only reason they're in the top 100. the 90's were a breakthrough decade for them. Of course you know that I'm gonna say that Vandy got robbed. If you take all the criteria mentioned for what the magazine used, we're top 5 in the SEC easily behind UK, Ark, UT (damn the Mears + Ernie and Bernie era), and Bama...
So do ya think UK can go undefeated in the SEC this year again in what was supposed to be a rebuilding (or maybe I should say re-loading) year?? Tubby is just un-human. Best coach in America IMO.
Holy Cross is listed 68th in Street & Smith’s 100 greatest men’s college basketball programs in the magazine’s January edition.
The Crusaders are well documented with a whole page written and prepared by Patrick Maloney, former assistant media relations director at the college.
Considerations in selecting the top teams included NCAA tournament appearances, total NCAA wins, Final Fours, NCAA finals, NCAA championships, NIT championships, conference regular-season championships, conference tournament championships, independent championships, all-time won-loss percentage, graduation rate, NCAA infractions, and first-round draft picks.
This year marks the 86th season of Holy Cross men’s basketball. The Crusaders have a record of 1,189-775 (.605), and have made 22 postseason tournament appearances — 11 NCAA tournaments and 11 NIT tournaments. Holy Cross is one of only 16 schools to win the NCAA Tournament (1947) as well at the NIT (1954).
Throughout its storied history, Holy Cross has produced six first-team All-Americans — Bob Cousy, Togo Palazzi, George Kaftan, Tommy Heinsohn, Jack “The Shot” Foley and Ron Perry Jr. HC has sent nine players on to play in the NBA and had four players inducted into the Hall of Fame. Twenty-three players were drafted by professional teams. Three Crusaders have gone on to coach in the NBA — Cousy, Heinsohn and Joe Mullaney — while 15 graduates have coached in college, including current men’s coach Ralph Willard.
A highlight of Crusaders history came during the 1953-54 season when the Crusaders won the NIT championship with Palazzi gaining MVP honors. Palazzi also had a great performance in the 1952 Dixie Classic, scoring 75 points and grabbing 78 rebounds in three games.
In 1956 games, Heinsohn scored 51 points and had a New England-record 42 rebounds. Foley scored 55 points in a game, and in 1962 against Connecticut poured in 56 points, 39 in the first half, both New England records.
Ron Perry Jr. had a big night against Connecticut when he scored 46 points, a Boston Garden collegiate record. Jim McCaffrey had 46 points and 15 assists against Iona in 1985.
“I can see why Holy Cross is rated only 68th,” Palazzi said. “Back when Holy Cross was the king of New England basketball, both the NCAA and NIT had under a dozen teams playing. Today, the NCAA has 64 teams in the fold and the NIT many more teams. I’m sure that Holy Cross would have had many more invites.”
Originally posted by FfejSince I am a giant Kentucky mark it is nice to see them #1. I think that's the right spot for us! But really you could have also put UCLA, Kansas, North Carolina, and Duke at #1 and not heard much grumbling. But hey we will take our 1800+ wins, 42 SEC Conference Titles, 25 SEC Tourney Titles, and 7 National Championships and pitch a tent in that #1 spot!
I am shocked to see Mississippi State ranked so low (#99). They just went to the final four a few years ago. When Kentucky goes down there the crowd is always loud and the countless times I have watched them on JP Sports over the years they always seemed to have a good crowd.
I may be an even bigger Wildcat mark than Ffej, but I'll say that only UCLA could make a valid argument on number 1, and that would only be via the 11 NC v. 7 NC, but I would argue if the 'Cats weren't # 1.
I do agree with Chuck that I feel that over time Vandy has been as stout if not stouter than Mississippi State.
I hope the 'Cats can go undefeated in the SEC this year and while I think they can win out, I think they'll trip somewhere along the way. I sort of want them to, in a "not really" way, but I'm more concerned about winning 6 in a row from March to April and I think a loss would help grab their attention.
Florida is a big game tonight in Lexington and they still have to go to Gainesville, MSU at Lexington, 'Bama in Tuscaloosa, and a trip to South Carolina (given the way USC played at Rupp, that could be a tough game). Gotta appreciate the Tubby love though Chuck.
It looks like a trip to the local news stand is in order to see what the ranking criteria was for this list since the Street & Smith's website is basically a piece of informational junk. I'm just glad to see some recognition for the 2 Ivy league powerhouses - Princeton & Penn. Both schools continue to respresent well in an age where academics & graduation rates have taken a backseat to making the Big Dance.
Golf is harder than Baseball. In Golf you have to play your foul balls.
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 10 points each NCAA Tournament Wins: 4 points each NCAA Final Fours: 14 points each NCAA Tournament Finals: 16 points each NCAA Championships: 25 points each NIT Championships: 10 points each Regular-Season Conference Championships: 12 points each Conference Tournament Championships: 6 points each Best Record for an Independent: 6 points each All-Time W/L Percentage: Winning PCT x 40 Graduation Rate: NCAA's 2002 four-class graduation average x 10 NCAA Infractions: -3 points each First Round Draft Picks: 1 point each Mascot Ferocity: +/-5 points
For example's sake, the top ten: Kentucky Wildcats: 5 UCLA Bruins: 5 North Carolina Tar Heels: -3 Kansas Jayhawks: 3 Duke Blue Devils: 2 (he's wearing a headband!) Indiana Hoosiers: 1 Louisville Cardinals: 1 Arkansas Razorbacks: 3 Connecticut Huskies: 3 Cincinnati Bearcats: 2
EDIT!: AND the magazine also gives #101-105: 101. Florida State 102. Manhattan 103. Louisiana Tech 104. Columbia 105. Ball State
I'm sorry, when the Arizona Wildcats ended up playing the Kentucky Wildcats for the National Championship (who won that game again? ) you should automatically lose all of your "Mascot" points. Originality counts.
And personally on the ranking scale? Plays in the ACC: +10 points.
-Jag
(edited by Jaguar on 8.2.05 1942) I look at all the choices I've made these past few years, and it seems like I've been playing "Marty-ball" with my life. Ugh.
Vic Rouse's tip in at the buzzer to beat Cincinnati in the 1963 NCAA was always one of Chicago's greatest sports moments. It's kind of moved down the list in the post-Jordan era in Chicago people's consciousness. In the early Eighties, Loyola made its comeback in the wake of the great DePaul run (Aguirre/Cummings) with the emergence of Alfredrick Hughes (although DePaul was still pretty good with Dallas Comegeys). Hughes was a dynamite scorer and those teams were FUN!
Utah at # 11?
This is really the only one of the top 40 that made me say WTF!
(edited by NickBockwinkelFan on 8.2.05 2202) "Well, you can't involve friendship with business. It has to be one or the other. It's either business or friendship, or hit the bricks!" --Life Lessons from "The Tao of Bobby the Brain Heenan" Uncensored 2000 preview
"As long as the check don't bounce, I guess he's okay with it!" --Former All Pro Giants LB Harry Carson on Bill Parcells joining the hated rival Dallas Cowboys
Thanks Feely, now I see how they got the rankings they did. Although I am suprised UK's two run ins with the NCAA (in the 50's for point shaving and 80's when Eddie Sutton thought stuffing cash into envelope and MAILING it was okay) did not drop us down below UCLA.
I hope the 'Cats can go undefeated in the SEC this year and while I think they can win out, I think they'll trip somewhere along the way. I sort of want them to, in a "not really" way, but I'm more concerned about winning 6 in a row from March to April and I think a loss would help grab their attention.
I couldn't agree more. Had the '96 team not lost to Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament I don't think they could have won out. Sometimes in sports you need that loss if you have been a roll for a while. That said I am glad it did not come from Florida tonight. I just don't like Matt Walsh, the kid is so Laettner-esque it's disturbing.
Tubby is just un-human. Best coach in America IMO.
While I love Tubby to death I have to say Coach K and Rick Pitino are better college coaches than Tubby. I may even be tempted to put Roy Williams a notch above Tubby, but Tubby has a National Title and Williams does not. It's just a matter of when in the next 3 or 4 seasons Pitino wins a title at Louisville and you know Coach K will have the Dookies in the Final Four at least twice in the next five years. Keep in mind I like Tubby much better than either Governor Pitino or Coach K, I just think the record states they can Coach better than Mr. Smith.
I'm sorry, when the Arizona Wildcats ended up playing the Kentucky Wildcats for the National Championship (who won that game again? ) you should automatically lose all of your "Mascot" points. Originality counts.
Touche' And to make matters worse our Wildcat went through the "Penis for a tongue" scandal.
Good thing the Ducks got their 1939 NCAA Tournament Championship. But I was still surprised to see their name on the list. I'm pretty sure we got a -5 for mascot ferocity.
I have to say, I think Kentucky winning out is a great possibility. The SEC has been pretty crazy this year. It seems like Alabama, Mississippi State, and Florida are really good one game and then they very next game get blown out. But the one thing that has stayed constant is that Kentucky wins, and they will keep on winning. I would've been really interested to see Bama/UK if Bama won all their games up until then, but now I don't see anyone beating the Wildcats and I'm convinced my Gators will never ever beat them again.
I hadn't heard this before. All I've heard is: $$$ (to the Chinese govt and his team), a deal to do camps or such in Shanghai and knowing that Ming will leave the team whenever China has to play int'l competitions, like the Worlds or Olympics.