AP Top 25 Ranking for Dec. 21, 2015 [Archive]

FIGHTING MUSKETEER

12-21-2015, 03:39 AM

Up early getting some work done. Took a break and looked for some Top 25 ballots. Here's what I found - link provided. If these ballots are representative, we should be 5th in today's AP Poll.

#4

https://twitter.com/andyj0seph

#5

http://www.wdrb.com/story/30797097/bozich-my-weekly-ap-college-basketball-top-25-ballot

http://kentucky.247sports.com/Bolt/Kentucky-freefalls-on-Seth-Davis-AP-ballot-42182834

#6

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/columns_and_blogs/blogs/courtside/blog-virginia-moves-up-to-no-in-my-top-ballot/article_1969f10e-a799-11e5-b54f-a3f4d7d569bc.html

#7

http://borgesblognhr.blogspot.com/2015/12/my-ap-top-25-this-week-this-was-tough.html

UCGRAD4X

12-21-2015, 06:44 AM

Gotta love Andy Joseph of the Arizona Republic. Seems like a very intelligent individual.

FIGHTING MUSKETEER

12-21-2015, 07:25 AM

Gotta love Andy Joseph of the Arizona Republic. Seems like a very intelligent individual.

What about this guy? LAST week he gave us a lot of love and placed us at #3. That was a little crazy.

http://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll-voter/aaron-brenner

UCGRAD4X

12-21-2015, 07:32 AM

What about this guy? LAST week he gave us a lot of love and placed us at #3. That was a little crazy.

http://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll-voter/aaron-brenner

Why is this crazy?

bleedXblue

12-21-2015, 08:25 AM

I think we check in at #6 in both AP and USA

XfansinKy

12-21-2015, 08:29 AM

I think we check in at #6 in both AP and USA

My pick is 6th but I sure like your's better. That would have us all over basketball news/media.

FIGHTING MUSKETEER

12-21-2015, 08:42 AM

Why is this crazy?

Because last Monday I was not expecting the media to consider us #3. In addition, we were #12 on the Dec. 7 poll and I was not considering such a leap was possible considering the results of other teams that were ahead of us in the ranking.

XUOHTX

12-21-2015, 08:44 AM

I keep reading we are Final Four good. OK, then put us in the top 4.

XMuskieFTW

12-21-2015, 08:48 AM

I want a number one vote.

FIGHTING MUSKETEER

12-21-2015, 08:58 AM

Another #5 and #6 votes.

http://www.abqjournal.com/694294/sports/geoff-grammers-ap-top-25-mens-basketball-ballot-for-dec-21.html

http://www.app.com/story/sports/college/2015/12/21/jerry-carinos-associated-press-top-25-ballot/77685882/

GoMuskies

12-21-2015, 09:05 AM

Xavier is #3 in the new Massey Composite.

xumuskies08

12-21-2015, 09:08 AM

Gotta love Andy Joseph of the Arizona Republic. Seems like a very intelligent individual.

I know his stuff well. He used to cover KU. He knows how to recognize good basketball...and the flagship of a conference.

muskiefan82

12-21-2015, 09:17 AM

I want a number one vote.

I swear X got one once, but I might be hallucinating.

XMuskieFTW

12-21-2015, 09:20 AM

I swear X got one once, but I might be hallucinating.

I think someone said a few weeks ago that we got one in 96-97.

Roach

12-21-2015, 09:23 AM

I swear X got one once, but I might be hallucinating.

Yes, they did. It was the AP Poll of Dec. 1, 1997. But then later that week we shat the bed against Miami, and promptly lost the vote, as well as the #7 ranking in both polls.

paulxu

12-21-2015, 09:32 AM

We should be #4.

FIGHTING MUSKETEER

12-21-2015, 10:09 AM

After these, I'll wait for the official poll this afternoon.

#6 http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2015/12/tyson_algers_ap_top_25_mens_ba_6.html

#7 http://www.fayobserver.com/blogs/sports/acc_basketball/bret-strelow-s-ap-top-ballot-for-dec/article_1f6caa14-a79f-11e5-89ad-1f039b05f336.html

It looks like we are going to be #5 or #6.

X-Fan

12-21-2015, 10:11 AM

I want a number one vote.

This.

blobfan

12-21-2015, 10:35 AM

We should be #4.

So they put us at #6 and we are still underrated. Keep the hunger!!

Muskied

12-21-2015, 10:36 AM

This.

The way the schedules appear, we could have a shot through the next few weeks. MSU is at Iowa on the 29th, Kansas hosts Baylor and Oklahoma before 1/5, Oklahoma has Iowa State and Kansas before 1/5. Virginia has ND on 1/2. If we could somehow get through these next 3, and roll into an easier 5 game stretch in January….things could get VERY VERY interesting, obviously depending on the teams ahead of us. I could see a scenario of passing a few of them depending. What an exciting time of year…All Aboard!

X-Fan

12-21-2015, 10:40 AM

The way the schedules appear, we could have a shot through the next few weeks. MSU is at Iowa on the 29th, Kansas hosts Baylor and Oklahoma before 1/5, Oklahoma has Iowa State and Kansas before 1/5. Virginia has ND on 1/2. If we could somehow get through these next 3, and roll into an easier 5 game stretch in January….things could get VERY VERY interesting, obviously depending on the teams ahead of us. I could see a scenario of passing a few of them depending. What an exciting time of year…All Aboard!

Ya, the next three games will be extremely telling. They aren't the end all be all, but if X starts out 14-0 with their last two wins over Nova and Butler...OMG!!!!

Can't wait to see how this plays out. This team is VERY GOOD. They have been playing great, and they have the potential/upside to play EVEN BETTER. That's the scary/crazy part.

Lets Go X!!!!

blueblob06

12-21-2015, 10:43 AM

The way the schedules appear, we could have a shot through the next few weeks. MSU is at Iowa on the 29th, Kansas hosts Baylor and Oklahoma before 1/5, Oklahoma has Iowa State and Kansas before 1/5. Virginia has ND on 1/2. If we could somehow get through these next 3, and roll into an easier 5 game stretch in January….things could get VERY VERY interesting, obviously depending on the teams ahead of us. I could see a scenario of passing a few of them depending. What an exciting time of year…All Aboard!
I love it....trying to stay focused on Xavier's next game. One at a time, as I'm sure the team is preparing as well. It's hard not to think though. Today could well be Xavier's highest national rank ever today (I'm pretty sure #7 is our highest that I can remember, is that right?) and it'd be so cool to see Xavier at #1 in the nation!

muskiefan82

12-21-2015, 10:49 AM

I love it....trying to stay focused on Xavier's next game. One at a time, as I'm sure the team is preparing as well. It's hard not to think though. Today could well be Xavier's highest national rank ever today (I'm pretty sure #7 is our highest that I can remember, is that right?) and it'd be so cool to see Xavier at #1 in the nation!

#1 in the nation AND in the city. It would be the only appropriate headline.

Muskied

12-21-2015, 10:57 AM

Ya, the next three games will be extremely telling. They aren't the end all be all, but if X starts out 14-0 with their last two wins over Nova and Butler...OMG!!!!

Can't wait to see how this plays out. This team is VERY GOOD. They have been playing great, and they have the potential/upside to play EVEN BETTER. That's the scary/crazy part.

Lets Go X!!!!

exactly! And if Butler opens with a win against Providence…Xavier will be 14-0 with 2 big wins in conference against top 12 teams, separating themselves from the next 3 very quickly. Hard not to imagine, will be a blast watching it play out these next few weeks. 1 game at a time!!!

XUFan09

12-21-2015, 10:58 AM

I bet there's still at least one moron who has Xavier outside the top 10. There were a number of them this past week.

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THRILLHOUSE

12-21-2015, 11:11 AM

I'll also predict X comes in at #6. (Behind MSU, OU, Kansas, Virginia, Maryland)

xufan2434

12-21-2015, 12:06 PM

XUFan09

12-21-2015, 12:12 PM

Darrun Hilliard was understandably a big loss, but I think they are particularly hurting from the loss of Jayvaughn Pinkston. He was the perfect 4/5 for their offense.

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muskieindent

12-21-2015, 12:17 PM

We better be ahead of Duke and UK.

GoMuskies

12-21-2015, 12:19 PM

We better be ahead of Duke and UK.

Not sure about Duke, but we'll be WAY ahead of UK. UK is taking a big tumble based on the voters who have publicly released their votes.

X-Fan

12-21-2015, 12:30 PM

Love the excitement with this year. Should get a pretty nice ranking today. Would agree we'll probably be 6-7. Can't fall into a trap tomorrow night though. I don't think this team will, but still would suck heading into Nova game.

What is everyone's thoughts on Nova? Don't wanna get ahead of myself here but they haven't really played like typical Nova teams yet. I 100% expect them to all of a sudden catch fire and start hitting 3's on the 31st, but nonetheless they kind of look lost sometimes this year. Just uncharacteristic of a Jay Wright team the last couple of years

Tomorrow is a trap because it's on the road and WF is a pretty decent team. Was looking over their wins/losses. They are 8-2, won 5 in a row (wth some pretty good wins), and they just got their best scorer back. This is going to be a very tough road test.

In some ways I like to think of the non-conference this year as a "Revenge Tour" for X. The last time X played at WF they lost 66-59. Farr, Myles, and Reynolds were Freshmen on that team. It's a bit of a stretch, but it's something. Also, that would be ACC RoadKill, and the first Xavier team to go undefeated in Non-Conference play...so there's that.

Regarding Nova. I haven't watched them for more than a few minutes this year, but on paper they have a TON of talent. I fully expect them to catch fire as well.

waggy

12-21-2015, 12:33 PM

Does Nova have any post depth?

XUFan09

12-21-2015, 12:38 PM

Does Nova have any post depth?
Darryl Reynolds is having a solid year as Ochefu's backup, albeit with too many turnovers.

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waggy

12-21-2015, 12:40 PM

Never heard of him.

THRILLHOUSE

12-21-2015, 12:42 PM

Michigan State just announced that Valentine will be out 2 - 3 weeks with a knee injury.

Milhouse

12-21-2015, 12:48 PM

Michigan State just announced that Valentine will be out 2 - 3 weeks with a knee injury.

Schedule wise this is probably the best two weeks he could be out all things considered.

Muskie1000

12-21-2015, 12:48 PM

I watched Nova play a few weeks back and what I noticed is that when they aren't hitting three's (which they weren't), they are very vulnerable. That being said, I fully expect them to be firing on all cylinders when they play us.

THRILLHOUSE

12-21-2015, 12:50 PM

Schedule wise this is probably the best two weeks he could be out all things considered.

At Iowa will be tough, but as long as it doesn't become a nagging injury they should be fine.

THRILLHOUSE

12-21-2015, 12:52 PM

I watched Nova play a few weeks back and what I noticed is that when they aren't hitting three's (which they weren't), they are very vulnerable.

That's basically been the story for Nova the last couple of years. Good team, but rely way too much on the 3 pointer. Which of course means they will be on fire from long range when they play us on NYE.

xeus

12-21-2015, 12:54 PM

6 in the Coaches poll (http://sportspolls.usatoday.com/ncaa/basketball-men/polls/coaches-poll/)

D-West & PO-Z

12-21-2015, 01:02 PM

6 in the Coaches poll (http://sportspolls.usatoday.com/ncaa/basketball-men/polls/coaches-poll/)

Love UC being ranked 1 spot below GW, who they beat.

chico

12-21-2015, 01:25 PM

6 in the Coaches poll (http://sportspolls.usatoday.com/ncaa/basketball-men/polls/coaches-poll/)

Sean Miller on Xavier being 2 spots ahead of him, "Is that a Buick?"

xeus

12-21-2015, 01:28 PM

AND 6 in the AP!

(http://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll)

GoMuskies

12-21-2015, 01:29 PM

30% of our league is in the top 10!

Masterofreality

12-21-2015, 01:29 PM

AND 6 in the AP!

(http://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll)

And THREE Big East teams in the Top 10!!!

xeus

12-21-2015, 01:29 PM

AND 6 in the AP! (http://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll)

Butler 9, providence 10, and Nova 17

THRILLHOUSE

12-21-2015, 01:31 PM

And THREE Big East teams in the Top 10!!!

Who would've predicted at the beginning of the year at this point there would be 3 Top 10 Big East teams and none of them are Villanova?

chico

12-21-2015, 01:38 PM

AND 6 in the AP!

(http://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll)

Go for the rankings, stay for the delusional UD fan in the comment section.

SemajParlor

12-21-2015, 01:39 PM

Is #6 highest in school history?

SemajParlor

12-21-2015, 01:40 PM

Go for the rankings, stay for the delusional UD fan in the comment section.

I don't even know why people give them time of the day. Dayton is irrelevant.

GoMuskies

12-21-2015, 01:42 PM

Is #6 highest in school history?

Indeed it is

chico

12-21-2015, 01:58 PM

I don't even know why people give them time of the day. Dayton is irrelevant.

Pure entertainment value.

Kahns Krazy

12-21-2015, 01:59 PM

I thought Nuts was the highest in school history.

XU 87

12-21-2015, 02:12 PM

Not sure if this has been posted, but:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2015/12/21/xavier-might-be-the-best-team-in-college-basketball-no-really/

paulxu

12-21-2015, 02:19 PM

That article will just about completely kill off any sneak up plans.

On a side note, I wonder if we've ever been ranked higher than Duke and UNC at the same time.
(Important for local pissing contests)

FIGHTING MUSKETEER

12-21-2015, 02:21 PM

And THREE Big East teams in the Top 10!!!

And if my memory serves me right, none of those 3 teams were ranked in the preseason.

Muskie

12-21-2015, 02:31 PM

I swear X got one once, but I might be hallucinating.
We received one once before. But I'd have to see when that was.

THRILLHOUSE

12-21-2015, 02:32 PM

And if my memory serves me right, none of those 3 teams were ranked in the preseason.

Butler was #24 in the preseason poll.

mid major

12-21-2015, 02:52 PM

Butler was #24 in the preseason poll.

Thrill, you are going to have to excuse Fighting Musketeer. Boxing under the tutelage of one Rollie Schwartz in the mid eighties he may now find himself punch-drunk.

mid major

12-21-2015, 03:01 PM

I don't even know why people give them time of the day. Dayton is irrelevant.

Duck Fayton!

Xtemporaneous

12-21-2015, 03:03 PM

Here's a live lookin on Sean Miller's view -

1875

FIGHTING MUSKETEER

12-21-2015, 03:06 PM

Thrill, you are going to have to excuse Fighting Musketeer. Boxing under the tutelage of one Rollie Schwartz in the mid eighties he may now find himself punch-drunk.

My bad. But who needs memory. Lets all get Rum punch-drunk when we become #1... and lets toast to those fellow fans that were not able to see the moment.

X-Fan

12-21-2015, 03:08 PM

Not sure if this has been posted, but:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2015/12/21/xavier-might-be-the-best-team-in-college-basketball-no-really/

Nice article! Thanks for posting!

What's interesting about this season is that it didn't start with a preseason raking or extreme hype. The current ranking, undefeated record, and national recognition have all been EARNED. I think that is what will define this team. They knew how good they could be, but no one recognized. Now, let's spend the rest of the season "letting them know".

Let's Go X!!!!

STL_XUfan

12-21-2015, 03:38 PM

XUFan09

12-21-2015, 03:46 PM

This week we hate: Bob Sutton and Randy Rosetta who are clearly mindless idiots.

This week we love: Aaron Brenner, Cecil Hunt, Doug Haller, Graham Couch, and Kevin Lyttle who are all gentlemen and scholars.

http://collegepolltracker.com/basketball/team/xu/2015 (http://collegepolltracker.com/basketball/team/xu/2015)
Predictably, Sutton and Rosetta's top 10 ahead of Xavier include a who's who of elite programs, regardless of their actual performance so far this season.

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GoMuskies

12-21-2015, 03:50 PM

Rosetta has Butler #21. LOL

X-band '01

12-21-2015, 03:59 PM

Predictably, Sutton and Rosetta's top 10 ahead of Xavier include a who's who of elite programs, regardless of their actual performance so far this season.

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Sutton has SMU at #10 - not exactly a blue-blood program.

X-Fan

12-21-2015, 04:01 PM

Sutton has SMU at #10 - not exactly a blue-blood program.

I'll take this one....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAC bias.

boozehound

12-21-2015, 04:15 PM

That's basically been the story for Nova the last couple of years. Good team, but rely way too much on the 3 pointer. Which of course means they will be on fire from long range when they play us on NYE.

But crap down their leg in the NCAA tournament, of course!

This is the best perimeter defense I have seen from a Xavier team in a while. It will be interesting to see if we can shut down Nova's perimeter game enough to win...

ballyhoohoo

12-21-2015, 04:19 PM