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Mike Miller

Mike Miller has been NBCSports.com's college basketball editor since 2003. It's a position he relishes; no wonder considering he transferred to Kansas to watch Paul Pierce play. Most of his favorite sports memories involve college hoops, usually during March, when every waking moment is spent thinking about March Madness.



Rankings guaranteed to infuriate/delight you

Posted: Monday, October 05, 2009 1:25 PM
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Here’s a question: What has more than 1,000 pages and is guaranteed to both infuriate and delight readers?

OK, as a guy who took part in “Infinite Summer,” I realize there’s probably more than one answer to that question. But this is a college hoops blog. The correct answer is “ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men’s Game.”

That’s right, “Complete History.” In other words, the book that can sit on your coffee table for the next 20 years and you’ll always have something to read. And, thanks to the rankings in the back of the book, fans can argue for the next 20 years as well.

Check out the rankings here. Jeff Sagarin had his computer rank 330 D-I teams, using a couple of factors he calls CHESS (which considers only wins and losses) and PREDICTOR (which considers scoring margin). Combining the two produces the rating for all 330 schools.

(Seriously, it’s just those two factors. The recent Binghamton kerfuffle wasn’t why the Bearcats were No. 330.)

Some tidbits:

  • Illinois (6th) is the highest ranked without an NCAA title. Holy Cross (101) is the lowest ranked champ.
  • Rutgers is the lowest BCS school (149). Utah (19) is the highest non-BCS program.
  • Oklahoma State, Kentucky, UCLA, North Carolina and Duke were deemed the top teams by decade, starting in the 1930s. (Bruins and Wildcats were tops twice.)
  • In just 32 seasons, UAB came in at No. 45. The rest of the top 50 has at least 70 D-I seasons.
  • Nos. 2 through 6 are separated by less than 1 point in his ratings. 1.

Like any greatest ever rankings, there are some puzzlers. But more puzzling? Pat Forde, ESPN’s lead basketball columnist, wrote about how crazy the rankings were. (Whoa. It’s a meta-rankings set-up.)

His gripes? Illinois is one spot ahead of Duke (7). Iowa (No. 10) and Minnesota (No. 14) are ahead of Michigan State (No. 15.) UConn at No. 54. Georgetown at No. 42. Kentucky at No. 1…wait, what?

Man, no matter how you feel about Kentucky, it’s impossible to deny the Wildcats are No. 1. Then again, that’s the beauty of these things. You never, never get to please everyone. Never.

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Comments

Wow, I guess that 'small penalty' is what kept Duke at number 2 vs. Kentucky in the 90's.  Otherwise the math puts Duke ahead.

Tim, San Antonio, TX (Sent Monday, October 05, 2009 7:25 PM)

Duke and UK both had two titles in the 90's, but remember UK was ineligible for two of those seasons (although posted remarkable 14-14 and 22-6 records in the 90-91 campaigns). In the eight tourneys UK played in the 90's, 7 resulted in at least a trip to the Elite Eight, to go along with four F4s and back-to-back-to-back title games (only an overtime loss to Arizona prevented a three-peat). Just my opinion, but I don't think we'll ever see a team play in three consecutive title games again.

Rob, Louisville, KY (Sent Tuesday, October 06, 2009 12:36 PM)

Rob is correct.

God, Heaven (Sent Wednesday, October 07, 2009 8:12 AM)

We know that UK is first.  Just ask anyone here in Lexington.  

Ed Neinabor (Sent Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:20 PM)



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