ESPN’s Dick Vitale has left MD out of his pre-season Top 40.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/dickvitale/news/story?id=4361336
I find this interesting, since the Terps are returning 10 players, and adding 2 players that should be able to help address the most glaring weakness.
Fellow college-basketball commentators Andy Katz, and Mike DeCourcy have MD in their Top 25.
It would be interesting to hear the rationale of why Vitale has ommitted MD. Clearly he does not believe in the talent returning.
Interestingly, he has California as his 14th overall-team, the same Cal Bear team that MD beat by 13 on a neutral-court in the 1st round of the NCAA’s.
MD will get the opportunity to prove where they belong on the court, but I object to those that state pre-season rankings have zero meaning.
They do matter with perceptions. If you are perceived to be outside of the Top 40, it is going to take you awhile to gain national notice, and move into the rankings; even with wins.
While the NCAA Selection Committee does not use the polls to seed the tourney, you can not tell me that a team’s National ranking has zero-effect on the perception of a team.
Additionally, pre-season rankings could impact recruiting. If you are after a prospect, and you want to show 3rd-party comments that the program is among the national-elite; it is a harder arguement to make if you are not ranked. Made even harder if the competetion, can show they are.
I would hope that the Terps do not have to use this for internal-motivation, but if it helps increase their hunger, that works as well.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.