New Top 5?

Man, I'm darned if I criticize or I defend Florida. Nobody's in the middle with the Gators. Everyone's either a homer or a critic. I guess that's what happens when a team has sustained success. It's tough to see clearly. I don't even like Florida, but I follow them because they've had a great season and seem to be improving.

Why am I even attempting to answer your question? The facts are published all over the place and I'd assume that the analysis is rather obvious.


But here it goes:

Florida's margin of victory is off the charts-notably against good teams. Their defense is superb. Mississippi is the only team since December who scored more than 60 points vs the Gators- yet they lost by 14. 5 of those recent teams were held below 50 points. The average margin of victory has been astounding: In conference, they beat 4 teams by 30pts or more. Their closest was the 17pt victory over Georgia. They beat Mizzou by 31 and Ole Miss by 14.

Compared to Indiana? Okay. They had two common opponent: Georgia...IU 66-Georgia 53; and...uhhh... Wisconsin...yeah, you knew I'd go there and I did...Florida 74 Wisconsin 56; IU 59 Wisconsin 64.

Vs. teams who have been ranked this year: Indiana- 4-2 (won by average of 10 pts); Florida- 5-2 (won by average of around 28 pts!)

Wins: Both teams have 8 wins over teams in the top 100 (RPI) and 5 over top 50- Indiana's wins over the best teams in the B10 are better than Florida's wins.

Losses: IU: Butler (#14), Wisconsin (#50); Florida: Arizona (4), K State (24) (RPI)- Indiana's home loss to Wisconsin was the worse loss of either team.

Strength of Schedules: Indiana- 23; Florida- 7

RPI: Indiana- 9, Florida- 3


Look, Indiana will be #1 tomorrow because that's how the AP poll works. Florida will be #2. It's all good, but Florida has a slightly better overall resume mostly because of the gaudy margin of victory. Both teams are quality and were never beaten badly and both lost to quality teams.

You still didn't answer the question.  I simply asked you to expand upon what you said, but you were wrong.  Recent success?  Nobody had a better week than the Hoosiers.  There's honestly no doubt about it.

There's  a couple different ways to look at polls.  There's margin of victory no matter the opponent (you) and there's quality of win over a quality opponent (me).  I guess I just need to accept this.  IU's quality wins are greater than anybody's recent wins.

Not sure why everyone thinks Butler would drop out of the top 20.  They were not even the favorite against St. Louis.  It's very tough winning on the road against a tough opponent.  Butler will have a win over #1 Indiana and also top 10 Gonzaga.


Indiana has looked good at home but they don't really have any quality road wins.  Let's see how they do at Ohio State, Michigan State & Michigan. 


It's a long way to go.   

Butler only beat IU in OT in a home game, yet lost to Xavier by 15, got worked by Illinois by close to 20, only beat the Zags by a point at home, and lost at LAS AND SLU (by 18)....so now 18-4....not looking so great anymore. Still one of those teams that can get on a hot streak....don't sleep on them IMO:)

Geez, I gotta go along with you on this one. It may take away from I.U. a little getting beat by them but America's little darlings are not all that good. If they keep it close they are tough and can make plays at the end sometimes but they aren't going to blow out any good teams. IMO, Butler = Wisconsin. Just so happens those snails are the ones that give Indiana and other teams that like to get out and run trouble sometimes.

Also, Indiana does not have any quality road wins. What quality road wins does Florida have? Just curious.

You still didn't answer the question.  I simply asked you to expand upon what you said, but you were wrong.  Recent success?  Nobody had a better week than the Hoosiers.  There's honestly no doubt about it.

There's  a couple different ways to look at polls.  There's margin of victory no matter the opponent (you) and there's quality of win over a quality opponent (me).  I guess I just need to accept this.  IU's quality wins are greater than anybody's recent wins.

I don't know what to say.  IU will be #1 today, and that should be good enough for you.  All I wrote was passing along public information.  Florida has been playing better basketball than anybody else this season and they've done it against better competition overall.  Michigan and Michigan St were great wins for IU, but it's not all about great wins though...Vilanova has better wins...

One thing, the last thing I would want going into road games @ Illinois and Ohio State would to be #1. 

Much agreed, lobo. IU will be #1. Though it really may be the worst possible curse going into those games. The OSU already beat Michigan early and that made me happier than being top 10, though that is going to be a nice bonus in terms of confidence going into a game like that. Will be a good game, no doubt!

I'm still waiting for Florida's quality road win. Plus, Indiana has the top offense in the country and the #1 defense on opponents shooting %. I would love to see Florida and I.U. play tomorrow strictly for entertainment purposes. I.U. has 2 guys that no team out there really matches up with very well and unforced turnovers are their only real weakness at this point of the season. heck, they're even starting to hit most of their free throws, which they get quite a lot of BTW.

Ohiostateman,


ummm, Butler over Indiana was not a home game for Butler.  It was a neutral site at Conseco Fieldhouse and it was very much a pro Indiana crowd.


Beware the Butler Bulldogs come tourney time.     

Florida has been playing better basketball than anybody else this season and they've done it against better competition overall.

Better competition overall?  The best teams Florida has played are Arizona and Kansas State...and they lost to both of them.  Who is the better competition you're referring to?  Please answer that.

Because IU sure looks like they've beaten better competition than Florida has.  Forida's best win seems to be #21 Missouri.  IU has beaten 3 teams ranked higher than that.

Can you please explain?

ummm, Butler over Indiana was not a home game for Butler. It was a neutral site at Conseco Fieldhouse and it was very much a pro Indiana crowd.

The crowd was half IU and half Butler/Purdue/Notre Dame fans who were rooting against IU.  It was very much an even crowd.

Not that it really matters, Butler won regardless.

Josh,


Not even close.  According to the Indianapolis Star it was a heavily favored IU crowd.  Tom Crean was mocked for his crying about it being a road game.    

So......even though they sold equal amount of tickets to all four schools, it was an overwhelming I.U. crowd? Nice to have the love of the Purdue/Notre Dame fans then. Never thought I'd ever hear that.

It's irrelevant, but no, it wasn't an Indiana crowd.....unless Purdue fans all of a sudden started rooting for IU. It was a neutral site game, and who cares.

True that. I just hope I.U. gets to play Butler again this year but not in the NIT.

The only way I want to see Butler again is in the Final 4.

All this great analysis about Florida rising, and the Razorbacks go and blow it all to dust. 

This is indeed the most interesting of seasons!

Well in Florida's defense, they were on the road against a highly rated team, the sun was in their eyes, the wind was blowing, the rims were tight, the refs were terrible, the fans booed them, and that's all I have for now.

Can't say too much. The Same thing is prolly gonna happen to I.U. on Thursday.

Since when is Arkansas a highly rated team?

Arkansas is not highly rated? Wow. They shore made that great Florida team look awfully bad. Ah well, it's early.