Lies, damn lies, and statistics
However you slice it up, things ain't lookin' good for the ACC.
In the Jeff Sagarin power ratings, we had exactly three teams - that's right, three teams - in the top 25, Virginia Tech at #7, Clemson at #15 and Boston College at #19.
League powers Florida State (#32) and Miami (#49) are way, way back in the pack - this in spite of the fact that they had the obvious power-rating boost of having already played each other in Week 1.
More teams - four - were ranked in the bottom half of the Sagarin ranking of the 119 I-A teams than were in the top 25. Virginia, somehow, some way, came in at 60, despite bad losses to Pittsburgh and Western Michigan and a narrow win over lowly Wyoming, with North Carolina State 72nd, North Carolina 74th and Duke 118th.
It's sad to say, but Sagarin gives the ACC more props than Sports Illustrated college-football writer Stewart Mandel, who did have four ACC schools in his top 25 (Clemson at #17, Virginia Tech at #18, Boston College at #20, and Florida State at #22).
Mandel also had five ACC schools in his bottom half - Wake Forest, despite a 3-0 record, at #62, North Carolina at #68, Virginia at #84, North Carolina State at #113, and Duke at #118.
I've been saying since the dust settled after Week 1 that it is going to be a long year. But it looks like there is a glimmer of sun on the horizon - the first basketball practice is only three weeks away.
- Chris Graham
posted by ACC Nation @ 10:17 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
The way I see it is as follows:
The ACC cares about the fact that students actually get an education and graduate college. This means that the standards for entrance into the colleges has to improve. As this happens the individuals colleges have to start improving who they accept into the college. Hence, they can no longer take in the best player who are just ball players and do not go to class and do not graduate. To me it is interesting how the new Big East, Louisville and Cincinnati, schools are playing so well against the ACC schools. Give them a few years where they have to start carrying about the graduation rates in the Big East and they will not be power houses like they are now. The reason that Boston College does such a good job, is that so long as they go to a bowl game ever year and it is in a worm place like the south they are happy. They will never be in the top ten but if they are in the top twenty-five they have meet their goal. It is for this reason that, the ACC dropped the ball when they took VT instead of Syracuse. Give VT time and they will have the same problems that Miami is having now. At least with Syracuse the ACC would not have to worry about the graduation rates and would have gained a respectable basketball power in the Northeast. Just a thought from a northern boy.
Be well and God bless
John Johnson
listforjohn@yahoo.com
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