Voting in the AP basketball poll
I’ll be voting in the weekly Associated Press men’s basketball poll this season. The poll is not particularly significant because the NCAA Tournament determines the national champion each season, but it’s still enjoyable to be a participant. The preseason Top 25 is due to be released Thursday and the All-American team on Monday. The Big 12 often tops preseason football polls. Kansas and Texas provide the same optimism in basketball. Here is how I voted in the first poll:
PRESEASON TOP 25
1. Kansas: Jayhawks are experienced, talented and deep.
2. Texas: Overflowing in athleticism; a title contender.
3. Michigan State: Kalin Lucas leads 2009’s sentimental pick.
4. Villanova: Shotmaker Scottie Reynolds is (finally) a senior.
5. Purdue: Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore.
6. North Carolina: Defending champs reload with Davis and Henson.
7. Duke: Will be led by multi-talented forward Kyle Singler.
8. West Virginia: The Da’Sean Butler and Kevin Ebanks combo.
9. Butler: Big-time front court in Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward.
10. Kentucky: Potent, but new players and a new coach must mix.
11. UConn: Thabeet, Price and Adrien gone, but talent remains.
12. California: Explosive and obvious choice for Pac-10 crown.
13. Tennessee: Last year’s entire roster returns, led by Tyler Smith.
14. Georgia Tech: Freshman center Derrick Favors is big-time good.
15. Oklahoma: Blake Griffin is gone; this is Willie Warren’s team now.
16. Syracuse: Frontcourt formidable; Flynn and Devendorf missing.
17. Ohio State: Evan Turner bypassed NBA to rejoin talented team.
18. Mississippi State: Five starters return, led by C Jarvis Varnado.
19. Vanderbilt: Experience, plus heralded freshman John Jenkins.
20. Washington: Slew of role players give Huskies the right stuff.
21. Maryland: Four returning starters, plus some big-time recruits.
22. Siena: Talented and led by Edwin Ubiles and Ronald Moore.
23. Michigan: Wolverines continue slow march back to prime time.
24. Minnesota: Tubby Smith returns top nine scorers from last year.
25. Dayton: Ten of top 11 players from secon-round team return.
Whenever possible, I prefer a conventional starting five when selecting All-American teams. This year fits that mold. AP simply wanted one All-American team (no matter what position). Here’s my first team, and also my and third second and third teams.
ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS
First team
G – Sherron Collins (Kansas)
G – Scottie Reynolds (Villanova)
C – Cole Aldrich (Kansas)
F – Kyle Singler (Duke)
F – Evan Turner (Ohio State)
Second team
G – Kalin Lucas (Michigan State)
G – Willie Warren (Oklahoma)
C – Luke Harangody (Notre Dame)
F – Patrick Patterson (Kentucky)
F – Greg Monroe (Georgetown)
Third team
G – Nic Wise (Arizona)
G – Isaiah Thomas (Washington)
C – Craig Brackins (Iowa State)
F – Robbie Hummel (Purdue)
F – Tyler Smith (Tennessee)
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