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Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:42 pm EST

Poll Dancing: The coaches poll's strange infatuation with UCLA

By Chris Chase

There are always slight differences between the Associated Press media poll and the ESPN/USA Today coaches rankings. The coaches always seem to like Duke more than the media (while giving Tennessee less respect), while the press is quicker to drop undeserving teams out of their top 25. But, on the whole, the rankings are usually fairly consistent with one another and neither poll trends more favorably (or disfavorably) to any team ... except for UCLA.

For some reason, the Bruins have been getting a lot more love from the coaches than the media all season long. With the exception of two early-season polls, UCLA has been ranked considerably higher by the coaches all year, especially this week when they are a full five spots higher in the ESPN/USA Today rankings. No other team has had such a discrepancy in either poll.

Week AP rank Coaches rank
14 11
 6
13
 15
 12
12 17
 16
11
 13
 11
10
 9
 7
9
 10 7
8
 12 9
7
 13 10
6
 14 12
5
 16
 14
4
 12 9
3
 13 11
2
 4
 4
1
 4
 4

So are the coaches ranking UCLA too high or is the press slotting the Bruins too low? It's like a chicken and the egg situation, if the chicken had won 11 national titles.

And that's probably what it has a lot to do with; UCLA's name recognition. Since coaches who vote in the poll likely don't watch too much of the Bruins (weekday games are on late and not telecast on ESPN), they see the gaudy record, know that Ben Howland's team has had recent success and figure that the team deserves a high ranking.

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359 Comments

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  1. Adam
    1. Posted by Adam Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:28 pm EDT

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    i hate ucla...first!
  2. dornbri
    2. Posted by dornbri Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    Why is UCLA ranked so high when they have only played two teams ranked in the top 25 and LOST to both of them?!
  3. Pat
    3. Posted by Pat Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:02 pm EDT

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    Basketball Prospectus had an article on UCLA yesterday. I think it's safe to say that Gasaway sides with the coaches on this one. http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=536
  4. DMM
    4. Posted by DMM Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    Or maybe UCLA is that good?
  5. Chris L
    5. Posted by Chris L Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    http://kenpom.com/team.php?team=UCLA
    #6 here
  6. a.moini
    6. Posted by a.moini Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:42 pm EDT

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    UCLA has won the more NCAA championships than any other school in the nation in sports. It has won more national championships in mens basketball than anyother school. And, it has gone to the final 4 the last three seasons...
    Just remember, a Trojan is only good once, but a bruin lives forever
    Damn, USC (University of Spoiled Children) suck-ups
  7. Bryan H
    7. Posted by Bryan H Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    Perhaps the coaches value defense (the Bruins' strength) whereas the media values offense higher (even a proud UCLA alum like me has to sometimes cringe at the bruins' "offense").
  8. popio89
    8. Posted by popio89 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:16 pm EDT

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    UCLA is probably one of the most overrated teams in the nation
  9. William
    9. Posted by William Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:49 pm EDT

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    They're that good
  10. Lief H
    10. Posted by Lief H Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:50 pm EDT

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    Maybe the coaches know something the east coast homers don't? Tennessee respect what?
  11. bruinfan95
    11. Posted by bruinfan95 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    UCLA deserves the coaches pole ranking. Last four games they've one by an average of twenty plus points. How can any1 say they dont have an offense when they are also averaging 80+ pnts on that stretch.
  12. pacbball
    12. Posted by pacbball Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:55 pm EDT

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    They've played very well the last 4 games. Didn't look too good earlier, but they've definitely kicked it up a notch and are playing much better ball since the uw loss.
  13. carl
    13. Posted by carl Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    bruins are beating teams by 20 lately, and 3 of 4 losses are by 4 points or less. they dont match up well against teams with proven high-scoring big men, but play the double team well inside as they did against harangody and notre dame last week. i'd say they are somewhere in the middle of the two polls based on play and stats, but tournament experience, depth, and howland's d will make them a real contender even with an undersized lineup. coaches know this, thus they rank the bruins higher.
  14. CD
    14. Posted by CD Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    They struggled early but have you watched the bruins lately? They're going to be hard to beat the rest of the way.
  15. J V
    15. Posted by J V Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    bruins are beating teams by 20 lately, and 3 of 4 losses are by 4 points or less. Oh yea, and they DESTROYED U$C...twice!
  16. Holly H
    16. Posted by Holly H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    is dornbri a complete retard? look at their schedule
  17. Robert F
    17. Posted by Robert F Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    I have always favored the coaches poll. The coaches know who they would rather play, and who they need to prepare the most for. That's why they get the big bucks. It's the Easty press that doesn't watch enough west coast ball.
  18. Mo Giggity
    18. Posted by Mo Giggity Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    I hate UCLA as an Arizona Wildcat fan, but they have one of the best PGs in the nation. You ever heard of any guys named Nate Robinson, or Jerryd Bayless? Well, Collison's better. A lot better - and those dudes are seeing just as much playing time as the Shane Battiers of the world. So, while I'll be rooting for UCLA to lose, they're ranked high because they have a solid team, a solid gameplan, and they're playing in the ONCE AGAIN UNDERRATED Pac-10, which will ONCE AGAIN send 5 or 6 teams to the tourney. Sorry to all you East Coast biased punks... maybe you should ask Mama if you can stay up real late one night and actually watch a few Pac-10 games.
  19. Frrrrredy
    19. Posted by Frrrrredy Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:29 pm EDT

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    UCLA is that good.
  20. Robert F
    20. Posted by Robert F Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    All you Eastys were saying the same thing about UCLA the last 3 years, and they made the final four in each of them. Think about it...see how you have been brainwashed to think a certain way by the Easty media, and by not being in tune with anything that happens out west. Open your blind eyes, wake up--stay up and watch a few games before you judge and embarrassed by you statements once again this year.
  21. Frrrrredy
    21. Posted by Frrrrredy Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:29 pm EDT

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    As a Bruin, I really would prefer if we went into the tournament ranked 30th or so.....polls don't matter in BBall.....only March matters.
  22. DCL
    22. Posted by DCL Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    Except they have gotten to 3 final fours in a row, sounds like an awefull program! Seriously, of all the biases in college sports (Heavy east coast in basketball, heavy south in football) talking about biases TOWARDS any pac-10 team is ridiculous.
  23. ovs831
    23. Posted by ovs831 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:47 pm EDT

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    Alright J V, I hate S. U. C. as much as the next Bruin Alum but we didn't destroy them the first time. It was only a 4 point victory.
    You are maybe right dornbri, I can only recall playing a ranked Texas team early in the season, but that is part of my point. That was the team that was just getting to know each other. That was what? Their 3rd or 4th game of the season. They are a much better team right now. Coach Howland has finally done what I had been hoping he would do since Collison became the starter he has released him off his "leash" and he has let Collison play his game....FULL SPEED AHEAD!!!! No more of that stagnant pass-it-around-the-perimeter-and-milk-the-clock-offense.
  24. A.D.
    24. Posted by A.D. Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    I was wondering why they were ranked so low in the Ap poll the whole year...with all the other teams losing so much lately. Big East is totally overrated, and the Acc, is not so hot either. Ucla, will be my final four pick again this season.
  25. Drakanne
    25. Posted by Drakanne Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    you shall be punished for talking trash about my fellow bruins !

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