BleedCubbieBlue81

I'm not saying it's head and shoulders above it. They're definitely close. It's just my opinion that the Big East is better. But I wouldn't go as far as to call RPI reliable. The polls are probably more reliable in my eyes. They generally pick a more accurate top 25 than RPI does. I can tell you right now, there is no way that Wisconsin is a top 10 team. And there is surely no way they should be ranked ahead of UConn. EDIT: I missed the word "fairly" in front of reliable in your post. My mistake. Fairly reliable changes things a bit.

For the record, I don't like the ACC. I was an athlete at DePaul. So the only conference I've ever really liked was the old Conference USA. I think an Illinois/UNC game now would be another close game. Not sure who'd come out on top though. Duke would probably manhandle Indiana now. NC State showed a lot of weakness against Seton Hall. Etc. etc. It'd be really interesting to see them play all those games over later in the season.

Because I think we've all learned from the BCS that a computer isn't an accurate way to tell what team is better. Louisville has lost a lot of games that it shouldn't have, you're right. But they're still a very good team. Is Tennesee a better team than Illinois? Probably not. Is unranked Wisconsin better than #1 ranked UConn? I'd say no. But according to RPI, they are better.

I honestly believe that if they would play that challenge again now, the Big Ten would win. ACC is in a down year, Big Ten is having a pretty good year. But you're right, the bottom of the barrel teams don't help the Big Ten much in that.

Eh, until the Big Ten can beat the ACC in the Big Ten/ACC challenge at least once, I won't give them any credit. (Kidding) Big 10 is solid this year, can't argue that. But I don't see any way that they are better than the Big East. RPI be damned. How many different teams has the Big East had in the top 10 this year? How many in the top 25? Receiving significant votes? The Big Ten is also having a great year, and anyone can win that conference this year, but I still put them behind the Big East. Does anyone else think they should start a Big East/ Big 12 challenge? And a Pac 10/ SEC challenge? With the success of the ACC/ Big Ten, you'd figure the other major conferences would want to follow suit.

It's amazing, Louisville was ranked as high as 4th this season, and they might not even make the conference tournament in the Big East. Conference is STACKED. Final Four last year + get most of your good players back (exception F. Garcia) + C-USA to Big East = no top-12 conference finish. Last week, Seton Hall, a middle of the road Big East team at best, walked into Raleigh, home of the 3rd best team in the ACC (NC State) and crushed them. Georgetown beat Duke, which no one other than Va Tech has even come close to this year. The conference is obscene. It's also a relatively down year for Cincinnati, DePaul, and Marquette. Eventually I think they're going to have to split it into two divisions.

It's amazing, Louisville was ranked as high as 4th this season, and they might not even make the conference tournament in the Big East. Conference is STACKED.

Yeah, they are slowly starting to play better. They're receiving votes in the polls this week too.

Last time I talked to anyone from the sports information office, he was only suspended. Not sure why, or for how long. But that was a few days ago, so he may have left the team. I sure hope not though, he's a really good player.

DERWOOD! I didn't know you were a Blue Demon too! I recently graduated, they were still Conference USA when I was there. C-USA was fun, but I wish they would've switched the Big East when I was there though. I would've loved to compete with those teams for a change. DePaul happens to be in a rebuilding year, which is understandable. Two years ago they won the C-USA regular season title (over Louisville, Cincy, Marquette, etc), last year they were a bubble team that blew it at the end. This year they have a new coach, and no real scorers or shooters outside of Sammy Mejia. (although I will say some of these young guys look like they're going to be really good. Chandler especially) Give them a few years, they'll be back to decent form. They already beat Wake Forest when they were #16 this year, and then beat Notre Dame, who they always struggle with. They just keep on losing the close ones that they should win. At least the Blue Demon women are tearing it up. Ranked 10th right now (until the new rankings come out anyway)

I like this signing. If he ever gets healthy and returns to old form, he's a steal. It's a low risk/ potentially high reward deal. If they would've paid more, or went more than one year, I'd be pretty upset though.

Yeah, that's like Leinart saying that USC was still the better team after they just lost to Texas. While it may be true, he just picked a really bad time to say it.

Wow, when was the last time the only three unbeatens left in the country all lost on the same day... all to unranked teams? Simply amazing. That's why I love college sports. So much more passion...

Another good way to beat Duke is to take the ball at Sheldon Williams early and often. Get him in foul trouble like today, and Duke is in a lot of trouble. McRoberts is going to be a great player someday, but he's not ready to handle the lane all by himself yet.

Yeah, I'm getting sick of these early season games against Little Sisters of the Poor that a lot of these teams schedule. If teams aren't ready for real competition, they should've prepared better. You can only watch Duke play St. Alphosis Bible College, and Texas play Northeastern Idaho State University so many times before you want to switch over to Gilligan's Island reruns.

The Big 10 is first in conference RPI, ACC second, and the Big East a tight 3rd. IMO, the B10 is the strongest conference this year followed by the Big East. RPI isnt' a very accurate way to judge those things. To say that the ACC is tougher than the Big East (I know you didn't say that, but that's what RPI implies) is ridiculous. The Big East just has too many great teams. They've had what, four different teams in the top five this year? Big Ten is good, but I don't think they top the Big East Big East- #3, #7, #9, #15, #17, #20 avg: 11 Big 10- #5, #11, #12, #13, #19, #25 avg: 14 There's not much distinguishment there. Big East has had I think 7-8 teams ranked at some point this year. Any given week, a new Big East team can step into the rankings. Just last week, Cincinnati was ranked, and now they're barely getting votes. The conferences are definitely close. But in my opinion (and not even an expert opinion at that), the top teams in the Big East are better than the top teams in teh Big Ten.

Oh, tournament could go to anyone right now. And I do agree with what you said about Brown. If he has an off night, they are a beatable team. I think the team that everyone needs to watch out for in the Big Ten is Ohio State. Everyone's beating each other up at the top, they could do some serious damage. The Big East will be a crapshoot. The problem with having that many powerhouses in the same conference is that they all have to play each other. A lot of losses will pile up, but that conference will be ready for NCAA tournament play.

The Big 10 is first in conference RPI, ACC second, and the Big East a tight 3rd. IMO, the B10 is the strongest conference this year followed by the Big East. RPI isnt' a very accurate way to judge those things. To say that the ACC is tougher than the Big East (I know you didn't say that, but that's what RPI implies) is ridiculous. The Big East just has too many great teams. They've had what, four different teams in the top five this year? Big Ten is good, but I don't think they top the Big East

I know what you're saying that Illinois beat Georgetown, but please don't tell me you're one of those people that thinks Illinois is better than Duke this year. I have a friend that has been calling everyone he knows saying Duke should be ranked behind Illinois right now. hard to say who is better - I think Illinois could beat Duke when they play well. That is, Duke is far from great and is beatable (obviously). Illinois hasn't been too impressive lately but is good enough to be dangerous. I wouldn't argue they should be ranked ahead of Duke though. It's just my opinion, but I think that Illinois, like Louisville this year, is one of the most overrated teams around. They can be dangerous if they get hot, but Georgetown just showed that they have the same power. I haven't watched too many Illinois games this year, but from the few that I have seen, it looks like just a two man game with Brown and Augustine. And Iowa showed how to shut that down. I don't know if Florida has played a tough enough schedule to take over number one right now. And UConn and Nova have lost recently, so I don't see either of them making the jump. I think that Duke will hang on to the #1 ranking, but just barely. As of this week, they have every first place vote in the AP poll, and all but one in the coaches poll.

Definitely, Big East is the best conference now. And in my opinion, the Big Ten has jumped to number 2 this year. Other than Duke and maybe NC State, the ACC is in a rebuilding year this year.

I know what you're saying that Illinois beat Georgetown, but please don't tell me you're one of those people that thinks Illinois is better than Duke this year. I have a friend that has been calling everyone he knows saying Duke should be ranked behind Illinois right now.

Paulus blew it. Definitely showed he was a freshman. I don't know how any team doesn't find a way to get the ball in Redick's hands right there.

Wow, I don't like Duke very much, but there's a lot of haters in here. Anyone think Florida takes over #1, or does Duke hang on by a thread?

3 for me. This one, my roommate has a website that all of our friends post on, and wakeboarder.com on occasion.

All I've read in the paper is that Dusty and Hendry are being booed heavily. Prior got a very nice ovation, and said he's happy to still be a Cub. And I think I read somewhere that Hendry said Prior won't be traded. I wish there was a call- in line. I'd love to join in the booing of Cheech and Chong.