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Tuesday, December 26, 2000
Duke's loss not necessarily Stanford's gain
ESPN.com
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Want to start a debate? Just create a ranking of college basketball teams, offer users a chance to e-mail their comments about said ranking and post comments on a weekly basis. That is what ESPN.com has done with its Sweet 16, a weekly ranking of teams leading up to March.
Below are some of the best e-mails received in the past week. It seems Duke's loss to Stanford has created quite a controversy. And guess what, Wake is gaining some respect outside Winston-Salem.
Here's what users had to say about the Dec. 25 Sweet 16:
"It's bad enough the major polls couldn't give Stanford justice. I expected more from you guys. If the No. 3 team beats the No. 1 team, No. 2 shouldn't get to be first by virtue of failing to lose against a few good, but not top-5, teams. Give Stanford its due."
Mcverbs
Mountain View, Calif.
"As a Spartans fan I do not feel the need to gloat. The need to say, 'I told you so,' or we should have been there all year. Just another workman-like season and a quiet, hard-working run to another year of national glory."
Eric Sandrick
East Lansing, Mich.
"It's my theory that whoever was responsible for coming up with ESPN's Sweet Sixteen this week went to Cal Berkeley. That's the only rationale I can see for ranking Stanford second behind Michigan State. We beat Duke and we're still undefeated. That makes us No. 1 no matter what the media says."
Rustin McCullum
Stanford, Calif.
"I think that the seeding are correct. Michigan State should be No. 1. Just because Stanford beat the No. 1 team doesn't mean they should get to be No. 1. Because Stanford may not be able to beat Duke again. They might have just had a good game. Remember the game was dominated by Duke until the last five minutes or so. You shouldn't be able to jump ahead of a team that's higher than you unless that team loses such as Duke. Stanford jumped ahead of Duke because they lost. But Michigan State has not lost and has been ranked higher than Stanford all year. So until Michigan State loses, Stanford should not get to be No. 1."
"Finally, the AP jumps on the bandwagon as well with Wake. Now everyone who whined that Wake doesn't belong will finally find themselves saying they're a more credible top seed because of the AP. Same team though, just getting better. Never doubt a team that wins the NIT and returns the entire team the next year! Sure it was the NIT, but the point is we figured out how to win then, and these others teams who are getting to used to playing with different faces are New Year's hors d'oeuvres for team out to show the world that there is more to the ACC than Duke, UNC, and Maryland (see ESPN's preseason analysis of the ACC). I boldly predict sweeping the series against the above three in ACC play."
McHenry Kane
Epernay, France
"Wake Forest has been AWESOME this year! They are arguably the DEEPEST and most experienced team in the ACC. Howard, Songalia, O'Kelley, Dawson, Shoemaker ... get used to hearing these names. And the Wahoos, Tarbabys and Dukies better get ready for the DEACON EXPRESS. You saw what happened to Duke when Battier and Boozer fouled out. Collapse with a CAPITAL C (as Dickie V would say!). Those who don't respect Wake now will have to come March!"
Jonathan Kent
Holly Springs, N.C.
"Don't all you doubters feel foolish? Wake Forest continues to prove that they are totally for real. The win up at Temple proves they can fight off an opposing team's charge at the end of a game. With so many scoring threats, the Deacs are set to contend with Duke for the conference title."
Ben Baldwin
Greensboro, N.C.
"Woah there, Bessy. You pulled the Cavaliers' reins despite an impressive win against Tennessee and only placed them as a second seed? Meanwhile, Duke loses to a better Stanford team and still keeps its No. 1 seed? Correct me if I'm wrong, but a team that cannot even shoot 70 percent from the free throw line should not regarded as a cut above other high-quality Division I teams. How about you show some sense and give UVa the seed it deserves. Hey, what's a little squabble amongst the best conference in the country?"
Tyler Cox
Lexington, N.C.
"It's great to see Pete Gillen and the Hoos getting the respect they deserve. Now how about getting Donald Hand some Wooden consideration, he has been a true leader and a great player. January 2: Hoos vs. the Deacs -- it's gonna be awesome, the ACC is back."
Stephen Parker
Charlottesville, Va.
"The ACC has slipped in recent years, but they are back and better than ever. Five teams in the sweet 16, what other conference can claim that?"
Nick Eason
Huntersville, N.C.
"Right on the mark with MSU, Duke and Stanford -- but Wake Forest is way overrated. They are in for a big letdown. And all of you Illinois fans that think that the team this year is God's greatest creation -- you are in for a let down too. All I here is whinning about their schedule and how tough it is. Real teams would have won those games. Just wait till MSU come to town and destroys them, then you can see what Big Ten basketball is all about."
James Dugan
East Lansing, Mich.
"Ummmmm....no Georgetown or Ole Miss? Are you guys OK?"
"Finally you guys realized true talent when you saw it and put UNC in the top 16. Although I think they will be a national title contender when the point guard position is figured out during the conference season, I'm content with them being very underrated and therefore not respected as much going into the ACC's. Look for them to go 12-4 during the conference stretch and at least go to the Elite Eight. Go Heels!"
Kris Sarosiek
Kansas City, Kan.
"What about Texas? I think this team has a potential to be right up there. They have a tough schedule coming up including Connecticut, Utah, and Arizona and the start of conference (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Iowa State), but a lot of these games are at home, where they are tough to beat. I project this team could come out of conference play with as little as three losses, which would put them up there, and that seems like it's worth a mention for a high seed this year. Give it some thought."
Daniel Deans
Houston, Texas
"How can you have Kansas and Virginia ahead of Florida?! Florida does have one loss, but that was to Michigan Sate! Why don't y'all give the Gators the respect they deserve? (By the way Tennessee is gonna be like a six or seven seed)."
Chris Womack
Brentwood, Tenn.
"All I ask is that you (and the polls for that matter) are as kind to the ACC teams as you have been to Illinois once the conference season start. Texas is not a "tough" loss."
"It's interesting to me how you can have Illinois further ahead in the top 16 than the Vols! I know you get rewarded for a tough schedule, but how many tough losses can you have, before that just becomes an excuse for a team that can't get it done when it counts!"
Ted Goodlake
Portland, Ore.
"I agree with your rankings for the most part. But how many losses is it going to take to show that Illinois is NOT a good team. Way over-ranked and they are certainly showing it. Also, while I agree with putting Virginia so high, I predict they will be one of the top four teams very soon. Wake Forest will fall to them. Virginia is just a solid, good team this year with a lot of postseason potential (championship?)."
Dave Anderson
Durham, N.C.
"Once again, the Iowa Hawkeyes get no respect. They should be in the top 16, easily. They had one little slip up at K-State, but come conference time, I think they will be competing in the upper half of the Big Ten. One of the nation's best backcourts in Dean Oliver and Luke Recker have shown poise in crucial times, and show they know how to win. Look out for this team come March. Oh yeah, did I mention Reggie Evans, the best rebounder in the country! Eddie Griffin who? Look out America, Alford has the Hawkeyes on the rise!"
Greg Draper
Sutherland, Iowa
"The No. 3 seed for the Orangemen is perfect. An ugly game at Tennessee made the nation skidish of proclaiming SU a top team, but watch out -- Shumpert and Williams won't be quite forever and their zone defense can pester the best offense. I see a strong start to the New Year when we welcome Notre Dame to the dome. GO 'CUSE."
Chuck Vertucci
Syracuse N.Y.
"Not having Cincinnati in the top 16 is a disgrace. They just beat a really good Alabama club in Puerto Rico. By the end of the year they will gel and with Leonard Stokes, Steve Logan, and Kenny Satterfield in the backcourt, they will be really tough to beat. After they beat Wake Forest this upcoming month you guys will realize that Cincinnati is for real. I can only wait until I see them in the top 10 at the end of the year. Huggins always pulls through."
Dana Arsenault
Fairfield, Ohio.
"What happened to USC? Shouldn't the 13th-ranked team in the nation be in there with the top 16? Sure their wins might have not been blowouts, but considering a win over a Utah team ranked 18th at the time, and without their most athletic player, senior Jeff Trepagnier, they should at least get a little recognition."
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ALSO SEE
ESPN.com's Sweet 16
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