Do rankings matter? Seth Davis sure thinks so

[cheebs09]

Hoping to get ranked so I can watch Gameday again. It's a bummer when you know they won't talk about your team.

[skianth16]

I do love a good Saturday morning watching Gameday, especially when MU is key talking point.

[Cheeks]

Some of this validates the points that Davis made. The rankings get people talking, encourage a focus on teams that are collectively agreed to be good, and they stir debate. Even if they're not very accurate until later in the year, the game benefits overall from having rankings from the preseason through to the end of the year.

And on that I continue to agree, it allows the fans to argue back and forth. Seth does his own top 25 every Sunday night on twitter and he lives the bickering back and forth.  100% agreement with that.  My issue is with the hype vs the reality.  USC #10 last year? Ouch.  Minnesota and Northwestern ranked?  Neither made tournament.  Arizona number 3, they were a 4 seed and knocked first round.  UCLA barely made tournament but ranked preseason.  Notre Dame, ranked but didn't get in (injuries). St. Mary's the same.  Baylor another.  7 of the top 25 didn't make tournament and that is decent by their standards...some years it is double digit teams missing.  7 missing is 28% of the top 25 unable to qualify for a tournament with 68 slots (granted about 45 or so that are applicable due to auto bids).

[cheebs09]

And on that I continue to agree, it allows the fans to argue back and forth. Seth does his own top 25 every Sunday night on twitter and he lives the bickering back and forth.  100% agreement with that.

Honestly, that's up there with Jon Rothstein as one of the most annoying things on CBB Twitter. I had to unfollow him due to that.