A constant story this year (and every year) has been the AP Poll misrepresenting the true best teams in the country. What is a team that you think the national perception is completely off about? It could be a matter of a mistake by AP voters or the team is simply over/under performing to a high degree.
Featured image credit to San Francisco Dons Athletics
CBB Review contributors give their opinions.
George Bagwell: The answer I so often default to rings true yet again. Mike White and the Georgia Bulldogs aren’t getting the media attention that some of their conference counterparts are getting. They’re talented, well-coached, and have several high-floor leaders in the backcourt, (Thomasson, Hill, Abdur-Rahim, Cain, Demary Jr.) as well as a general consistency and vibe around the team that bodes well for March. Keep in mind they just did something Kentucky couldn’t: defeat South Carolina on the road.”
Kyle Nachtsheim: For years, the media has been enamored with Gonzaga. This has allowed them to overlook another team starting to make their way up the standings, the San Francisco Dons. Chris Gerlufsen, in his second season, brings a renewed enthusiasm not seen since their National Champions teams of the 1950s. Jonathan Mogbo is one of the best shooters in the nation, while Marcus Williams also helps the scoring effort with averaging 3.7 assists per game. This team has been in every game this season, including a neutral site win over Minnesota. With Gonzaga having what looks like a down year, the Dons are looking to reshape the WCC pecking order.
Jason Draven: With two ranked teams, the American has a sleeper team that is ranked 35 in the NET. It’s 1-5 in quad 1 and 2 with mostly close losses. The SMU mustangs have changed its persona. This team has become a defensive team that according to Bart Torvik has the second best 3 point defense. Bart also has them ranked 20th. What this team is missing is that staple win. Coach Rob Lanier has done an excellent job with Zhuric Phelps a hold over and Butler transfer Chuck Harris bring experience and maturity. With the AAC log jam at the top, SMU could land an at large.
Drew VonScio: After watching the ACC for many years, I am once again not surprised that national reporters are obsessed with Duke and still live in the past. This is Jon Scheyer’s second season leading the Blue Devils and while his team has talent, the entire offense runs through Kyle Filipowski. This team sits in the middle of the pack in the ACC without Filipowski and without the history of Duke basketball and Coach K, I don’t think this team would be ranked if it was at another school. Very few teams are given as much benefit of the doubt as Duke receives, and it’s hard to buy in to this group when one player accounts for almost 25% of its total offense.
Dan Siegel: I fully agree on Duke, and to take it a step farther, I don’t fully believe in Kansas as a top 10ish team either. I don’t think this is as much a national bias issue (I had them ranked 7th based on resume) as much as I believe they’ve simply been over-performing their true ability. The Jayhawks have been playing with their food against seemingly inferior opponents and finally it came back to bite them against West Virginia. Their big four — Hunter Dickinson, Kevin McCullar, KJ Adams, and Dajuan Harris are as good as it gets. Even Johnny Furphy is emerging as the fifth guy. But that bench is not a normal drop off; they are almost useless on a regular basis.
Bailee Tucker: With a net ranking of 69, the Northwestern Wildcats have been overlooked by much of the media this season. They currently have a 4-4 record when it comes to quad 1 wins. Two of those wins are over big time teams like Purdue and Illinois. In a pretty competitive Big Ten conference, they just miss the mark of an AP ranking which they should obtain if they can continue to beat other highly talented teams. Head coach Chris Collins was named Big Ten Coach of the Year last year and continues to prove why his program is one that should be talked about more. Come March, this team could make a lot of noise if they continue to make shots and limit turnovers.
Ariel Puterman: It’s hard to call a top 10 team underrated, but Arizona hasn’t gained the attention they should be after a few road losses in conference play. Yes, they weren’t against the best teams, but if this season has proven anything, there’s nothing harder in college basketball than winning on the road. The matter of the fact is, this is the team to beat in March. In the non-conference, they proved themselves, beating Duke on the road, crushing a solid Wisconsin team by 25, and easily beating a rising Alabama team by 13. Yes, there are some bad losses in there, but when everyone is on their A game, they’re the team to beat. Down low, they have an elite post presence in Oumar Ballo. Then, at the guard and forward positions, you can take your pick of Boswell, Love, and Larsson, all who could score 20 points on any given night. That’s not even including the depth players, who have come big in several moments this year. If there’s a time to buy stock in now, it’s Arizona, because they are much closer to the best team than the #9 team, where the voters have them ranked.
Mat Mlodzinski: I think it’s time we start giving Dayton more credit. Is this the same Flyers team that had Obi Toppin and was in play for a 1 seed? No. But Daron Holmes has been one of the quietest superstar bigs in the country. He helps Dayton pass the eye-test alone. The Flyers rank top 75 in assists and shoot over 40% from three as a team. That can of offense can help them win against any team. In terms of metrics, the Flyers are top 25 in the NET Rankings, KenPom, BPI, and SOR. They’re 4-1 on the road and have a great coach in Anthony Grant. The Atlantic 10 might be down, but Dayton is up.
Matt Waldman: The Mountain West has been getting plenty of love over the past few seasons, and San Diego State finally gave the league some credibility for the number of teams that have gotten bids recently with their national runner up finish a season ago. Yet, one team that seems to be getting left in the peripheral thus far in 2023-24 is Boise State. Perhaps the Broncos’ NET of 56 has something to do with that, but if we buy the Mountain West to be as strong as advertised, than wins over Colorado State, San Diego State, and Nevada this season have to mean something. At 5-1, Boise State is currently tied for first place and can take sole possession of 1st place with a victory over Utah State on Saturday. Don’t sleep on the Broncos.