I know this is going to sound like the self-important whining of a biased fanboy. Maybe it is. Regardless, this is what’s in my heart, and you’re going to read it. Or not, I guess. But if you’re already here, it’s a good bet that you will.
The ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll was released today, with UConn tied with Purdue for the #24 spot in the country. As you may have imagined, my brethren at ADimeBack.com and I feel that this ranking is too low for our favorite team.
To start with, this team has too much talent to be ranked as low as they are. I’m sure that most of the folks who vote on these things just look at last year’s record and who was lost and say “Oh, they probably won’t be that good.” If you’re one of those people, get it together. You’re a professional. Look at the actual roster, and maybe you might come to a different conclusion.
As I’m sure I need to remind no one who actually reads this blog, the Huskies have added All-Ivy PF Shonn Miller and All-Big East PG Sterling Gibbs since last season, in addition to 5-star freshman guard Jalen Adams and 4-star freshman big man Steve Enoch. Yes, they lost stalwart PG Ryan Boatright, but certainly the additions outweigh the subtractions in this case. The number of teams in the country who have better, more well-rounded lineups than UConn can be counted on one hand.
Before you say “but they need to prove they can play together,” please take a look at the top of that poll, where Kentucky resides. The Wildcats lost their top seven players to the NBA after last season, but somehow there are no questions about their new-look roster being able to gel. And that’s fine; they’re probably going to be very good (unless Skal Labissiere is ruled ineligible, but John Calipari has promised that won’t happen, and he always tells the truth). But let’s try to apply our logic consistently, shall we? If UConn has one of the best rosters, the only reason they should be ranked so low is if their head coach generally oversees underachieving teams, like, say, Tom Crean or Cuonzo Martin (note: Martin’s Cal and Crean’s Indiana, who went a combined 38-29 last year, are ranked 14th and 15th, respectively).
With the possible exception of last season, Kevin Ollie has no history of underachieving, despite the media’s attempts to color the 2012-13 season as a disappointment. Ollie took a #7 seed and marauded through the NCAA tournament in 2014, beating 5 different former National Coach of the Year award winners (Phil Martelli, Jay Wright, Tom Izzo, Billy Donovan, John Calipari). This is not a coach who can’t be counted on. His players are engaged and committed. Given their collective talent level, and Ollie’s pedigree, this team should be ranked in the low teens at worst.
Perhaps this is the new normal. After being left out in the cold following the breakup of the Big East, UConn is no longer part of the establishment. The Coaches poll, the AP poll, and all other similar nonsense are the establishment’s opinion. Gentlemen, it’s up to you to change the minds of the nation, and I’m sure you know what that means.
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