[PaintTouches]How predictive is the AP poll for Marquette?

[PaintTouchesSays]

How predictive is the AP poll for Marquette?

It's like clockwork. The AP will release its poll. Twitter will rise up in anger over so and so being too low and so and so's rival being overrated. In response to that response a chorus of Tweets will ensue about how it's just a meaningless poll and people should stop obsessing over it. Back [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=painttouches.com&blog=28348875&post=9026&subd=painttouches&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />

Source: How predictive is the AP poll for Marquette?

[SaveOD238]

Can someone explain to me how MU was ranked #7 in the final poll of the 1977 season?  Didnt winning the title count for something?

[GGGG]

I wonder if the "Final Poll" back then was the last poll before the tournament.

[bilsu]

Travis Diener was not hurt in 2003-2004. He was hurt in 2004-05. The 1977 ranking might of been before the championship game. However, if that was the case it had to be after MU made final four. Outside of that the team that wins the championship is not always the best team.

[PaintTouches]

Thanks bilsu, correction has been made.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Can someone explain to me how MU was ranked #7 in the final poll of the 1977 season?  Didnt winning the title count for something?

Because the best team doesn't always win the championship.  It just means you won the tournament. Even Al McGuire said that about his '77 team.

[hoyasincebirth]

The AP final poll is always before the start of the NCAA tournament. There is no post tournment AP poll or at least there hasn't been as of late. The coaches poll does a post tournament poll but the last AP poll is the Monday after selection Sunday I believe.

[keefe]

Because the best team doesn't always win the championship. 

As we witnessed last season when the clear pre-season favorite, featuring two future NBA Lottery Draft Picks, was humiliated early on in the tournament and failed to win the National Championship. Such failure can only be attributed to deficient coaching. I can only imagine the burn of such shame. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

As we witnessed last season when the clear pre-season favorite, featuring two future NBA Lottery Draft Picks, was humiliated early on in the tournament and failed to win the National Championship. Such failure can only be attributed to deficient coaching. I can only imagine the burn of such shame. 

Consensus now is only clear?  I see you are getting weaker Colonel. 

Reminds me of a baseball team with Kershaw and Greinke, not getting to the World Series.  A baseball team with Scherzer and Verlander, not getting there.  A basketball team with Wade, Lebron, Allen, Bosch needing a miracle 3 to force a game 7.  Or a MU team losing to Miami (OH).

That's what is great about sports, a lot of things can happen.  Usually the players decide games, unless of course you don't like the coach then it's the coach's fault.   

[Lennys Tap]

Consensus now is only clear?  I see you are getting weaker Colonel. 

Reminds me of a baseball team with Kershaw and Greinke, not getting to the World Series.  A baseball team with Scherzer and Verlander, not getting there.  A basketball team with Wade, Lebron, Allen, Bosch needing a miracle 3 to force a game 7.  Or a MU team losing to Miami (OH).

That's what is great about sports, a lot of things can happen.  Usually the players decide games, unless of course you don't like the coach then it's the coach's fault.   

Well, you're a little bit right. Last year's Hoosiers weren't the first team (of 12) with two top 5 picks not to make the Final Four. Two other teams also lost early, but barely. Indiana has the distinction of being the only team in that illustrious group to be routed in the round of 16. Banner worthy.

[Benny B]

The AP final poll is always before the start of the NCAA tournament. There is no post tournment AP poll or at least there hasn't been as of late. The coaches poll does a post tournament poll but the last AP poll is the Monday after selection Sunday I believe.

Really, Scoop?  We had to have a Hoya answer this for us?

[keefe]

Indiana The Bronzed Beast has the distinction of being the only team coach in that illustrious group to be routed humiliated in the round of 16. Banner worthy.

Mr Bernstein, let's not put lipstick on a pig. Humiliation more aptly captures the shame of that ignominious defeat.

[Lennys Tap]

Mr Bernstein, let's not put lipstick on a pig. Humiliation more aptly captures the shame of that ignominious defeat.

Crash - honored to have you as my editor.

[Dawson Rental]

Can someone explain to me how MU was ranked #7 in the final poll of the 1977 season?  Didnt winning the title count for something?

It got MU back in the top ten.  

1977 History Flashback (without the rose colored glasses).
IIRC, MU was literally the last team to make the tournament that year.  After his final home game, a loss to Wichita State and the team's third straight home loss, McGuire was booed  by fans convinced that MU had just eliminated itself from the tournament.  This happened during a presentation by the school honoring him for his 13 years as head coach!

Bill Neary did not forget, at some time during the victory celebration-during the victory parade IIRC-Neary gave the crowd of adoring fans the finger.

[Lennys Tap]

Because the best team doesn't always win the championship.  It just means you won the tournament. Even Al McGuire said that about his '77 team.

During the regular season the 77 team wasn't the best team. When Al announced his retirement I'm sure he hoped to use it as motivation. It backfired, and instead of focusing the team it was a major distraction. But that team had great players (Ellis, Lee, Whitehead, Boylan, Toone, Rosenberger) and were ranked #2 in those "worthless" preseason polls.  A refocused, uber talented team exonerated those pollsters and WAS the best team when it matters most.