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Vols finish fifth in final poll of season
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North Carolina, the overall No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament, finished No. 1 Monday in The Associated Press’ final poll of the season.
It was the sixth time, and first since 1998, the Tar Heels (32-2) led the final rankings. UCLA and Kentucky have finished No. 1 in the final poll eight times and Duke has done it seven. Ohio State was No. 1 in the final poll last season and the Buckeyes went on to lose to Florida in the championship game.
North Carolina, the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season and tournament champions, was No. 1 for the last three weeks of the season and for a total of 14 weeks, including the preseason poll.
The only others to reach No. 1 this season were Memphis for five weeks (three unanimous) and Tennessee for one week.
A record 49 schools were ranked this season, one more than in 1992-93. The poll started in the 1948-49 season and expanded to its current 25-team format in 1989-90.
North Carolina received 53 first-place votes and 1,779 points from the 72-member national media panel.
Memphis, UCLA and Kansas, the other No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, were second through fourth and were the only other schools to receive first-place votes.
Memphis (33-1), the Conference USA regular-season and tournament champions, was No. 1 on 13 ballots and had 1,710 points. UCLA (31-3), which swept the Pac-10 titles, had five first-place votes and Kansas (31-3), which shared the Big 12 regular-season title with Texas and then beat the Longhorns in the tournament championship game, was No. 1 on one ballot.
Tennessee was fifth after changing places with Kansas from last week and the top 10 was completed by Wisconsin, Texas, Georgetown Duke and Stanford. Butler was 11th, followed by Xavier, Louisville, Drake, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Vanderbilt and Purdue.
The last five ranked teams were Washington State, Clemson, Davidson, Gonzaga and Marquette.
Clemson (24-9) moved back into the poll after being out for one week following its win over Duke in the ACC semifinals and a loss to North Carolina in the title game.
Indiana (25-7) fell out of the poll for the first time this season. The Hoosiers, who were 22nd last week, lost to Minnesota in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament, their third loss in the last four games.
Ten schools were ranked in every poll this season, with North Carolina, UCLA, Memphis and Kansas spending the entire season ranked eighth or higher. The others ranked all season were Georgetown, Tennessee, Michigan State, Washington State, Duke and Texas.
Indiana, Butler and Marquette were ranked for all but one week. Kentucky, Syracuse, Virginia and Kent State were this season’s one-week wonders making just a lone appearance in the Top 25.
Nine schools from the 16-team Big East were ranked this season. The Pac-10 had seven and the ACC and Southeastern Conference had six each.
© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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- Prince admits he played most of season with dislocated shoulder
- Cobb adds instant offense at quarterback
- Vanderbilt ambushes South Carolina, 24-17
- Next Bradshaw? UT gets commitment from combo guard Craft
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Posted by utvolz on March 17, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Final regular season rankings mean absolutly nothing now. It's TOURNAMENT TIME VOLS!
Frank in Miami
Posted by juicetke on March 17, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This does not matter to me. In the words of John Pelphrey - STFU and lets play some basketball.
Posted by invisiblekid on March 17, 2008 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remind me to care about the rankings after April 7th.
Posted by Silent_Fulmer on March 17, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets get that title so Bruce and Pat get raises over Fulmer, LOL!!!!
Posted by TommyJack on March 17, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This rating means diddly. On the court now. Lace'em up. Lose the black shoes.
Posted by BOASoldier on March 17, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Feelmore is stalking people!!! ha ha ha that's awesome he's a blogstalker. what a loser. It's OK Ashley he hasn't been out of his mother's basement in the last few years ... he's delusional
Posted by BOASoldier on March 17, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How can you own someone when you don't even own your own house or car or rent-a-center computer. Oh that's right you're a day trader ...or atleast you like to buy low and sell high. that's your motto... (side note) for all of you day traders out there that make an honest living researching the companies stock in which you buy and sell, please forgive me for mentioning feelmore in the same class as you fine individuals. he may lack the intelect and mental aptitude to earn such a title so once again I apologize for the general characterization.
Posted by BOASoldier on March 17, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As far as the rankings go. Wasn't it John Pennington a.k.a Adams Lite, who said that the VOLS were well respected amongst the rest of the nation and powers that be. Hmmmm ... for some reason the number 4 two seed doesn't seem respectful with the type of play we have demonstrated throughout the year. Oh well, GO VOLS time to show everyone the mistake that they made.
Posted by GoVol on March 17, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TJ - I agree lose the black shoes.
VOLS - must play Defense to win games...its not all about simply scoring...its about scoring more than your opponents.
Good luck VOLS!
Posted by juicetke on March 17, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ADAMS LITE!!!!! Ha ha ha ha. I don't care who you are that's funny right there!!!
That is so true.
That's pretty sad that some people on here wait around for come backs on their attacking comments. I guess it makes them feel better to attack and belittle people they don't know and know that they can't be found.
Can't we all just get along.
Posted by pdhuff on March 17, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TJ- 4:18 I remember a diddily, name of Bo.
He used to get 'em moving not unlike the Vols when they're on.
Any tornadoes around Boerne? Hope not.
Posted by TommyJack on March 17, 2008 at 6:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PD: I remember ole Bo as well. Johnnie B. Good..or was that Chuck Berry?
Thunderstorms forecast for the metroplex, Boerne/Comfort. :)
Posted by IPOrange on March 17, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Somebody explain to me how #5 nationally equates to the last #2 seed in the tournament. I don't get it, Big Dan.
TJ - Chuck Berry did "Johnnie B. Good", as well as the classic "My Ding-A-Ling". Bo Diddley performed such songs as "Who Do You Love" and, well, "Bo Diddley".
I got a chance to see Bo Diddley in concert a while back when he opened up for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He's old but can still pick that guitar. What memories!
Posted by rabidvolfan on March 17, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank God it's not football time. Although it does mean basketball season is around the corner.
Posted by pdhuff on March 17, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IPO - Does Bo D have a beat or what. He played a college dance (hop ?) and he must have ran on for 5-7 minutes each song.
Never thought I see the Orange becoming the Dook of the Smokies. Basketball school.
Posted by TommyJack on March 17, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IP: Sounds right. Ole Bo must be 112.
Posted by IPOrange on March 17, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PD - Ole' Bo can make those strings sing!
Maybe this fall the Big Orange will put it all together on the gridiron - am I dreaming? Meanwhile, I'll keep cheering on both B-ball teams.
Posted by IPOrange on March 17, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TJ - it does seem like he's been around forever..... the man can play some blues, now.
Posted by topgun on March 17, 2008 at 8:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Foolmore
You are one the most boring posters in history. You are just a broken record. Put a sock in it and give us all a break.
Posted by foreverorange on March 17, 2008 at 9:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
doesn't matter to me, even if this seeding is a huge slap in the face we would still have to beat NC somewhere in the tournament. Us vols fans are used to being insulted by ESPN and anybody who has to do with rankings. Like someone smarter than I once said, if you want something done right you gotta do it yourself. GO VOLS!
Posted by LargeOrange on March 17, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BOASoldier, what is a Dunce Face? Never mind, I will ask my 11 yr old in the morning. Jeez, we got RabiesVol, Foolmore, PearlownsFulmer all together at one time, too bad this is an AP article about our top 5 ranked BB team (not Fulmer), at least it is not an Adams article then we would also have to skip over posts from yabadabadoo and nafslov(ssabmud) too. Then we would have the quintella of morons.
Posted by hodocka on March 17, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree foreverorange. Just doesn't make much sense though that were #5 in the poll with our RPI and road wins and then essentially #8 seed in the tournament.
Posted by dfreeman on March 17, 2008 at 10:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
foolmore - when you say "US" do you mean you and the eighteen voices sharing time in that teeny little head of yours?? I don't see anyone else on here that likes you!
Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on March 17, 2008 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lmao @ dfreeman's comments!!!!
Posted by BigOrangeInCarolina on March 17, 2008 at 11:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Both teams in the top 5 final pre-tournament rankings. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. Now it's time for both teams to step it up a notch and take no prisoners in their respective tournaments. Let's show Dick Vi-mouth, Billy Fudge-Packer and the rest of the country what the Big Orange is all about! GO VOLS!!!!
Posted by oldorange on March 18, 2008 at 5:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As each of us know, NCAA basketball has two seasons. Congratulations Vols on getting to number 5 in the first season. Good luck in the upcoming 2nd season.
GO VOLS..........
Posted by govols33 on March 18, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ok then why the hell did we not get the no. 1 2 seed in the tourney because we have no. 1 rated rpi?! it doesn't make any sense because we beat memphis at their own place and the sec is one of the hardest conferences. gosh, and who hear thinks were gonna beat louisville in the sweet sixteen?
Posted by overatedvols on March 18, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After Memphis game rank 1
Now rank 5.
That's what 2 loses gets you. Not to mention the toughest 2 seed in the history of the ncaa tournament.
You're not suppossed to beat number 1 and then lose the next game and struggle with all the remaining games..almost losing in your first sec tournament game and losing the second.
Still, i see where Seth Davis and a few others have you in the final 4. So, no problem right?
Posted by BOASoldier on March 18, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and what team do you pull for overated?
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