LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Props to the Associated Press.
For as long as I can remember, the final ballot of the college basketball season came on the day after Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament. The final poll never synched with the final results.
This year that will change.
The AP added a post-tournament ballot and will release a final Top 25 on Tuesday.
Here is how I voted:
1. UConn (37-3) — Jim Calhoun was 62 when he won his second national title at UConn. Danny Hurley is 52. Beware.
2. Purdue (34-5) —If the Boilermakers keep winning Big Ten titles and doing the things Matt Painter does, they’ll get their national title.
3. Houston (32-5) — Injuries affect every team but injuries certainly stopped the Cougars from reaching their potential.
4. Tennessee (27-9) — The Vols needed two things: Another scorer to assist Dalton Knecht and a different route than playing Purdue.
5. North Carolina (29-8) — The Tar Heels soiled a solid regular season by failing to win the ACC Tournament and by burping against Alabama in the Sweet Sixteen.
6. Illinois (29-9) — Other than being on the wrong end of that 30-0 run by UConn, the Illini delivered a solid season.
7. Duke (27-9) — There’s no shame in losing in the Elite Eight — unless the loss comes against a North Carolina State team that had a losing ACC record.
8. Iowa State (29-8) — The Cyclones won the Big 12 Tournament but didn’t have enough juice to beat Illinois.
9. Marquette (27-10) — Another good team that was on the wrong side of the N.C. State Cinderella Express.
10. Arizona (27-9) — Princeton last season, Clemson this season. That’s back-to-back seasons the Wildcats have underachieved in the NCAA Tournament.
11. Alabama (25-12) — Nate Oats took a No. 6 seed to the Final Four after getting beat in the Sweet Sixteen with the overall top seed in the tournament. Explain.
12. Creighton (25-10) — I had Creighton in the Final Four. I was wrong.
13. Auburn (27-8) — The Tigers are in the Top 5 in at least two analytics’ power rankings.
14. Gonzaga (27-8) — Another team that did not have an answer for Zach Edey. Join the club.
15. Baylor (24-11) — Scott Drew got knocked out in the second round of the tournament by Clemson, in case you were wondering what kind of year Drew delivered.
16. San Diego State (26-11) — Brian Dutcher always finds a way.
17. Clemson (24-12) — Brad Brownell delivered his best season in 14 years but after beating Alabama in November, the Tigers couldn’t do it again in March.
18. North Carolina State (26-15) — From 17-14 to the Final Four, Kevin Keatts was one of the biggest winners in March, adding two more years to his contract.
19. Seton Hall (25-12) — The Pirates had more fun winning the NIT than they would have had losing on the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
20. South Carolina (26-8) — The surprise team in the Southeastern Conference this season, the Gamecocks took a hit after the season when guard Meechie Johnson announced he was transferring back to Ohio State.
21. Kentucky (23-10) — Oakland?
22. Indiana State (32-7) — The Sycamores wonderful season lasted two minutes too long in the NIT — and then Josh Schertz sprinted to St. Louis.
23. Kansas (23-11) — Losses to UCF, West Virginia and Cincinnati?
24. Saint Mary’s (26-8) — The Gaels outperformed Gonzaga until it mattered, flopping against Grand Canyon in the NCAA Tournament.
25. New Mexico (26-10) — Richard Pitino delivered a very solid season in Albuquerque.
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