As we know by now, you can’t trust the polls.
When the ESPN college basketball preseason poll came out a couple of weeks ago, the Tar Heels were ranked No. 15. The AP projections this week have Carolina one spot lower, at No. 16.
Shouldn’t we be wary, after last week’s miscalculated election, that the pollsters are not to be trusted. I won’t go as far as to call them Fake Polls, and I know Liberty’s undefeated ranked football team beat Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, but a few things I don’t quite get.
Despite a storied heritage, Roy Williams’ 18th UNC entry should not be judged by what his past teams have done, winning three national championships and reaching five Final Fours.
UNC is in the preseason poll for the 15th consecutive year, which also includes the NIT season of 2010 and last year’s collective egg was Ol’ Roy’s first-ever losing record as a college coach, and that team opened at No. 9 in the country and finished 14-19.
Look folks, as president-elect Biden likes to say, why do we have polls before teams have play any games? The top four teams in both preseason polls are Baylor, Gonzaga, Villanova and Virginia. I’ll give you any of those to win it all, and I’ll take the rest of the field.
Especially with COVID hanging over hoops’ head with players and coaches (did you see where Tom Izzo tested positive?), how do we know how many games will be played and who will participate?
Football can field a team with 15 players out. In basketball, minus five is probably the limit.
Duke and Kentucky are Nos. 9 and 10 respectively in the AP poll, and neither has an all-conference player back. So how is Carolina No. 16, with All-ACC senior Garrison Brooks returning and the second-best recruiting class in the nation, with four five-stars?
Those observers who have seen some practices say the new Heels will be fun to watch and grow. With Day’Ron Sharpe already being touted as their second-best player behind Brooks, and as deep a team as Williams has ever had, I say recount the votes!
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
