Cats back in the AP poll #23

[senonesy]

NCAA College Basketball Rankings: AP Top 25 Basketball Poll

The official page for the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll. Keep up to date and view the latest NCAA men's basketball ranking updates each week for the 2025-26 season.

apnews.com

 

[CatEye2010]

Great! Keep winning, Cats!

NCAA College Basketball Rankings: AP Top 25 Basketball Poll

The official page for the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll. Keep up to date and view the latest NCAA men's basketball ranking updates each week for the 2025-26 season.

apnews.com

 

[MdWIldcat55]

I wonder how many other programs have played #2, #3 and #4. I'd say approximately - ZERO.

The Cats didn't beat any of the three but played them all well before Kentucky had jelled into the team it was as of Saturday. [NOTE: For those not experienced at reading "well before" means a significant period for time before. For example: "Did you see the comet that was visible at 3 am? No, that was well before I woke up at 7am..."]

 

[Leroy Carr]

I wonder how many other programs have played #2, #3 and #4. I'd say approximately - ZERO.

The Cats didn't beat any of the three but played them all well before the team had jelled into what it was as of Saturday.

Huh??? Are you serious? Alabama beat us by 26. We quit in that game. UCLA beat us by 10 and it wasn't that close. Kansas was a 9 point loss but I felt we were competitive in that one at least.

 

[kydmb99_rivals103809]

I wonder how many other programs have played #2, #3 and #4. I'd say approximately - ZERO.

The Cats didn't beat any of the three but played them all well before the team had jelled into what it was as of Saturday.

lol did we watch the same games?

 

[BBNWildcat]

I wonder how many other programs have played #2, #3 and #4. I'd say approximately - ZERO.

The Cats didn't beat any of the three but played them all well before the team had jelled into what it was as of Saturday.

Dude you are a joke.

 

[ORCAT]

Just keep winning and climbing at right time of the year.

 

[akaukswoosh]

 

[akaukswoosh]

UCLA beat us by 10 and it wasn't that close

That game was close till the end. UK missed lots of FTs (5-13) and Wheeler had a ton of TOs (6). 18 TOs total. That's one team I'd like to play again.

 

[WeWant9]

That game was close till the end. UK missed lots of FTs and Wheeler had a ton of TOs. That's one team I'd like to play again.

Yeah, me too. I went to their game yesterday in Boulder vs CU. I was not very impressed watching them in person.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

Huh??? Are you serious? Alabama beat us by 26. We quit in that game. UCLA beat us by 10 and it wasn't that close. Kansas was a 9 point loss but I felt we were competitive in that one at least.

You and some of the others responding to me are reading challenged. I didn't say they were close games, or that they were not close games for that matter. I said Kentucky played them WELL BEFORE -- as in a considerable period of time before -- the Cats jelled as a team, which has only happened in the past couple weeks. Go back and read it again.

My point is nothing more than that the Cats have played a tough schedule and some of those games came before the team found itself.

 

[struggler]

I wonder how many other programs have played #2, #3 and #4. I'd say approximately - ZERO.

The Cats didn't beat any of the three but played them all well before the team had jelled into what it was as of Saturday.

Let's please don't aspire to moral victories and "what ifs". Playing better it appears right now - sure and will take it - but what happened, happened. Work to continue winning - but don't fool yourself into thinking that we were close to winning any of those games - or make excuses why we lost.

Results are what count and are all that are remembered. Don't lower the bar.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Dec. 26? The winter of our discontent.

 

[chattanoogawildcat]

Huh??? Are you serious? Alabama beat us by 26. We quit in that game. UCLA beat us by 10 and it wasn't that close. Kansas was a 9 point loss but I felt we were competitive in that one at least.

Reread

 

[chattanoogawildcat]

Dude you are a joke.

Reread newb.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Yeah, me too. I went to their game yesterday in Boulder vs CU. I was not very impressed watching them in person.

They had routed Maryland the game before, but we were in striking distance but shot ourselves in the foot playing awfully.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Love the lack of reading comprehension from posters who don’t understand the meaning of “well before”

 

[bluedog79]

Huge advantage to have played 3 of the 4.. #1 seeds.

None of those teams would want the rematch in the tournament but I bet Kentucky players wouldn't mind it playing em' again. No Fear

 

[Kingslayer07]

Huge advantage to have played 3 of the 4.. #1 seeds.

None of those teams would want the rematch in the tournament but I bet Kentucky players wouldn't mind it playing em' again. No Fear

plus the revenge factor if we did match up again. I'd like our chances.

 

[Montana81]

Played 4 of the top 10. Sure would have been nice to win a couple of those. 0-4 with an average margin of 15. Oof.


Oh well, at least we seem to be playing better now. Hopefully we can finish strong.

 

[bluedog79]

If Houston played in the Big 12 or the SEC.......
I'm sorry but it's the same as Gonzaga. You're overrated and you'll lose eventually. Every damn time.

Houston lol ok.... I got a hundred says they don't reach the final four.
Let me guess there's tournament games down in Texas this year. Probably in Houston LOL or real close by. Is that where the final four is? That make a lot of sense.

You're a mid major and you've lost twice. No sorry you shouldn't even be close to the top five. How i see it

 

[FinancialPlannerZac]

Dec. 26? The winter of our discontent.

Great reference. I'm a huge Steinbeck fan.

 

[johndeerefan]

Why is Arkansas and Creighton net rankings so high? Record against quad 1 is subpar and losing road records. K-State is undervalued going by the numbers.

 

[UKAlum84]

We are trending up. Especially towards the end of reg season.

I still think vandy and arkansas will give us fits. its the sec.

 

[STL_Cat]

If Houston played in the Big 12 or the SEC.......
I'm sorry but it's the same as Gonzaga. You're overrated and you'll lose eventually. Every damn time.

Houston lol ok.... I got a hundred says they don't reach the final four.
Let me guess there's tournament games down in Texas this year. Probably in Houston LOL or real close by. Is that where the final four is? That make a lot of sense.

You're a mid major and you've lost twice. No sorry you shouldn't even be close to the top five. How i see it

I haven't seen Houston much this year, but it probably should be noted that as a 5 seed they did run all the way to the Elite Eight last year, beating a 1 seed on their way there. They are a well-coached team and are capable of making noise in the tournament. Betting against them to make the Final Four is fine but I still don't think you're giving them enough credit.

 

[Montana81]

If Houston played in the Big 12 or the SEC.......
I'm sorry but it's the same as Gonzaga. You're overrated and you'll lose eventually. Every damn time.

Houston lol ok.... I got a hundred says they don't reach the final four.
Let me guess there's tournament games down in Texas this year. Probably in Houston LOL or real close by. Is that where the final four is? That make a lot of sense.

For whatever reason the computers ratings…like everyone of them, favor dominant mid majors.

They still haven’t figured out how to adjust these models for strength of schedule. There’s a curve when it comes to running up the score in mismatches. At a certain point…i just don’t think you’re any better for beating directiona U by 70 than you are for beating them by 30.

At this point Houston and Gonzaga are top 10 programs in mid major conferences.

Houston is going to get a 1 seed despite having only 4 quad 1 wins and playing half their schedule against the bottom half of D1.

 

[Bill - Shy Cat]

We should stomp the dog **** out of Vandy because I think we have actually improved.

 

[STL_Cat]

For whatever reason the computers ratings…like everyone of them, favor dominant mid majors.

They still haven’t figured out how to adjust these models for strength of schedule. There’s a curve when it comes to running up the score in mismatches. At a certain point…i just don’t think you’re any better for beating directiona U by 70 than you are for beating them by 30.

At this point Houston and Gonzaga are top 10 programs in mid major conferences.

Houston is going to get a 1 seed despite having only 4 quad 1 wins and playing half their schedule against the bottom half of D1.

Not wrong, but like I said in the last post I think they're also getting some love (and did leading into this year) because of their strong run in the NCAA tournament last season. They beat a 1 seed on the way to the Elite Eight last year so there was some preseason hype there that has helped them as well. Sampson is an excellent coach.

 

[bluedog79]

I haven't seen Houston much this year, but it probably should be noted that as a 5 seed they did run all the way to the Elite Eight last year, beating a 1 seed on their way there. They are a well-coached team and are capable of making noise in the tournament. Betting against them to make the Final Four is fine but I still don't think you're giving them enough credit.

When a mid major actually wins the tournament I'll give them credit. Until then unless you're undefeated or have one loss..... Mid-majors belong out of the top five. You don't play anybody for 25 games of the season. I'm tired of them getting number one and number two seeds. THEY CANT WIN 6 STRAIGHT AGAINST QUALITY COMPETITION. ever ever


Houston is 11-7 in the SEC if they lucky. 100x

 

[STL_Cat]

When a mid major actually wins the tournament I'll give them credit. Until then unless you're undefeated or have one loss..... Mid-majors belong out of the top five. You don't play anybody for 25 games of the season. I'm tired of that.

I mean only one team wins the whole thing, that's a pretty lofty standard to be the only way you give out credit. jmho. Houston was legit last year at least and made a really good run in the tournament.

 

[MidseasonTweak]

I'm okay with #23. Can still fly under the radar around that rank.

 

[Montana81]

Not wrong, but like I said in the last post I think they're also getting some love (and did leading into this year) because of their strong run in the NCAA tournament last season. They beat a 1 seed on the way to the Elite Eight last year so there was some preseason hype there that has helped them as well. Sampson is an excellent coach.

I mean looking around…i think they’re probably a top 5 team. But it’s like Gonzaga in recent years. If you believe the computers they’re the clear cut #1 and i’m confident that is not the case. I think they’re in the mix with about 4 or 5 other teams.

Also how awesome is it that Kelvin Sampson didn’t stick at IU? Can you imagine? Dude has taken Oklahoma and Houston to final fours and i have no doubt if he was still at IU they’d have a couple more by now as well. Thank the basketball gods that didn’t work out because he’s easily the best coach they’ve had since Knight.

 

[bluedog79]

I just side with history. No mid majors every won the tournament really. We gave them all the number one and number two seeds you can. They cannot win six straight.
We can keep giving them all the edges in the tournament but it don't matter. I don't know how many NCAA tournaments we had but.... They ain't won a damn thing. And they never will.

My opinion mid-majors should be barred from the top four seeds of the tournament. I don't respect the conferences and their competition 25 games of the season.
Give them their own little tournament. Lol *** em!!!

 

[DreadLox]

I mean only one team wins the whole thing, that's a pretty lofty standard to be the only way you give out credit. jmho. Houston was legit last year at least and made a really good run in the tournament.

I think I watched them in the tournament last year. IIRC, they looked confused in their loss.

 

[STL_Cat]

I just side with history. No mid majors every won the tournament really. We gave them all the number one and number two seeds you can. They cannot win six straight.
We can keep giving them all the edges in the tournament but it don't matter. I don't know how many NCAA tournaments we had but.... They ain't won a damn thing. And they never will.

My opinion mid-majors should be barred from the top four seeds of the tournament. I don't respect the conferences and their competition 25 games of the season.
Give them their own little tournament. Lol *** em!!!

That's fair, you're entitled to your opinion. I just think it's a little misguided on Houston. They're a well-coached team that has performed well in the NCAA tournament since Sampson has been there. They've been to a Final Four and an Elite Eight and have won 7 games in the tournament since the last time we even won a tournament game. And ironically in this conversation our last tournament win was against ... Houston. In a hard fought, tough game. Thankfully Herro saved our butts in that one.

 

[DreadLox]

I just side with history. No mid majors every won the tournament really. We gave them all the number one and number two seeds you can. They cannot win six straight.
We can keep giving them all the edges in the tournament but it don't matter. I don't know how many NCAA tournaments we had but.... They ain't won a damn thing. And they never will.

My opinion mid-majors should be barred from the top four seeds of the tournament. I don't respect the conferences and their competition 25 games of the season.
Give them their own little tournament. Lol *** em!!!

The first NCAA tournament I ever watched. 1963. Cincy vs Chicago Loyola. Cincy had beaten my OSU team two years running. (Jerry Lucas, John Havilcek, and Larry Siegfried etc.) So, I was really rooting against them. Loyola won on a tip-in in overtime. Loyola wasn't even a mid-major.

 

[Blue Bigfoot]

Would of, could of, should of.
We can prove we are legit Saturday.
To be the man, you got to beat the man. Let's put up and shut up.
Ok, I'm out of cliches.

 

[TheDude73]

We should stomp the dog **** out of Vandy because I think we have actually improved.

Agree, but we'll need good refs with eyes that work, because Vandy will be playing the typical Stackhouse hack 'em to death and see how many fouls the refs are willing to call (or even see).

 

[bbnkat02]

Reunited and it feels so good!


We should NEVER be out of the T25. That being said. Im glad our boys clawed back in it.

 

[TheDude73]

What a wacky year. Just look at the records of all of the T25 teams. We have 7 and 8 loss teams in the top 10. And 8, 9 and 10 loss teams in the middle teens!

Just get these last two games as Ws, win a couple in the SECT, snag that 5-6 seed (or better) and let's see what we can do. Going to be a wild NCAAT.