Monday, February 7, 2011

Rankings Released: Commodores Remain Ranked in Both Polls

Vanderbilt's 1-1 week was good enough to keep the Commodores inside the Top 25, finishing 23rd in the AP Poll, and 24th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Perhaps for the first time ever, pundits think more of the Commodores than Vanderbilt fans do.

This is a huge week for Vanderbilt
, facing Alabama (7-1 in SEC play) Thursday night, with a quick turnaround against Kentucky on Saturday. Joe Lunardi has the Commodores as a firm 6 seed in his latest Bracketology, as does SI.com's Andy Glockner.

10 comments:

Seamus O'Toole said...

#19 RPI.

This year's team has shown more sticking power in the polls than any other I can recall. I'm sure there are many reasons for this, RPI being one, but stepping back you have to consider that all but one loss have been overtime or one-possession games. The fact that NCAA basketball in general and the SEC in particular are down this year probably helps us out, as does the fact that we have two guys (Taylor and Jenkins) with significant name recognition.

Noteworthy that five teams we've played (UNC, WVU, Missouri, St. Mary's, and Florida) are ranked in at least one poll this week, and UT's RPI is #21.

Anonymous said...

But make no mistake about it. ut sucks. They blow fanny. 24/7/365

HeimThyme said...

Surprised to see us still in the polls, but think it shows a great start to what will be a big week. Go 'dores.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha how are we still ranked? Since SEC play started we have beaten Ole Miss, Georgia, Mississippi St., and South Carolina. Dont get me wrong, Im happy we are ranked but this must have been an awful week for teams right outside the top 25

Drew said...

We're still ranked because we have a nationally televised game with UK coming up. It looks a lot better to have numbers in front of both teams. But that can't have anything to do with it, right?

Anonymous said...

so cynical - Had one really bad game and will probably win these fairly easily.
It's a good time to get Alabama and UK can't win on the road.

Anonymous said...

Here's to you, JT.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110206/COLUMNIST0202/102060377/-1/RSS0201/David-Climer-Vanderbilt-tweaks-Jeff-Taylor-s-defense-improve-offense

Anonymous said...

David Clymer's piece in the Tennessean on JT is enlightening, but ultimately fails to inspire much confidence. Essentially CKS thought that by putting JT on the Gamecocks' best shooter, it would take his mind off his own shooting struggles, allowing him to hit permimeter jumpers. The problem is that Ellington was getting some wide open looks and couldn't get them to go down. Unfortunately, the tide turned in the 2nd half and Ellington I believe finished with a respectable 15-17 pts., which might have been 26-27 had he shot well early.

JT doesn't have to play lights out for VU to win, but he can't disappear ala the FL, UT and WVU losses.

AD said...

I was looking at a tv last night but there was no volume. Did I see correctly that St. Mary's is ranked one spot ahead of Vandy on ABC/ESPN poll?

I know the rankings are about more than head-to-head matchups, and I'm not sure that we should be ahead of either St. Mary's or UNC, but I suppose it's helpful to have the teams you play (and beat) do well after you play them.

AD said...

I was looking at a tv last night but there was no volume. Did I see correctly that St. Mary's is ranked one spot ahead of Vandy on ABC/ESPN poll?

I know the rankings are about more than head-to-head matchups, and I'm not sure that we should be ahead of either St. Mary's or UNC, but I suppose it's helpful to have the teams you play (and beat) do well after you play them.