The Rivalry

The recent release of the basketball polls leaves me wondering how some of these AP writers and ESPN coaches have votes. But maybe I’m just viewing things from my Orange colored glasses! So without looking up what team is what, let me know how you would rank the following 6 teams? The poll rankings are based on the Coaches Poll and reflect what the ranking of the opponent was at the time of play. The RPI is current rankings. A good win is top 25 in the coaches poll or top 50 rpi.

Side note: written before games on 02/08/10

Team 1 (19-3):

• Good Wins (4): Neutral court, #11, rpi 18; home, unranked, rpi 16; home, #6, rpi 4; home, #16, rpi 9
• Losses: Road, #20, rpi 9; home, unranked, rpi 38; road, unranked, rpi 66
• Other Notes: Two uncounted (meaning outside of “Good Wins”) wins vs. rpi 51-100; one at home, one on road.

Team 2 (22-1):

• Good Wins (6): Home, #11, rpi 79; neutral, #12, rpi 57; home, unranked, rpi 42; road, unranked, rpi 48; home, #23, rpi 19; home, unranked, rpi 36
• Losses: Road, unranked, rpi 70
• Other Notes: Three uncounted wins vs. rpi 51-100; all at home

Team 3 (23-1):

• Good Wins (7): Neutral, #12, rpi 26; neutral, #4, rpi 79; home, unranked, rpi 49; neutral, #11, rpi 48; home, unranked, rpi 50; road, #9, rpi 4; home, #11, rpi 8
• Losses: home, unranked, rpi 22
• Other Notes: Six uncounted wins vs. rpi 51-100; three at home, three on road

Team 4 (20-2):

• Good Wins (5): Neutral, #21, rpi 33; neutral, unranked, rpi 38; Neutral, unranked, rpi 44; road, unranked, rpi 42; home, #11, rpi 8
• Losses: Road, unranked, rpi 17; road, #8, rpi 8
• Other Notes: Six uncounted wins vs. rpi 51-100; four at home, 2 on road

Team 5 (22-1):

• Good Wins (7): Home, unranked, rpi 26; road, #19, rpi 17; home, unranked, rpi 49; home, unranked, rpi 32; home, unranked, rpi 29; home, unranked, rpi 47; road, #13, rpi 7
• Losses: Road, #15, rpi 18
• Other Notes: Two uncounted wins vs. rpi 51-100; one at home, one on neutral court

Team 6 (19-3):

• Good Wins (6): Neutral, unranked, rpi 20; home, #21, rpi 36; home, #25, rpi 38; road, unranked, rpi 50; home, unranked, rpi 42; home, #21, rpi 22
• Losses: Road, #4, rpi 11; road, unranked, rpi 59; home, #5, rpi 2
• Other Notes: Six uncounted wins vs. rpi 51-100; two at home, two on road, two on neutral court.

To me it seems obvious who the top two teams should be, with a clear edge to one right now. #’s 3 and 4 are also pretty clear and in my mind a toss-up for rankings. There is a good case for a fifth team in this “top 6″ according to both polls released today, but I really have to question the validity of the last team on this list.