:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2083013/141384372.0.jpg)
Preseason polls trickle out early and often in the world of college sports. While it's just plain silly to put stock into those admittedly "way too early for next season" lists in April and May, a general consensus has slightly more validity come November when the season starts.
As we take a quick look at where Wisconsin is being projected this year, keep in mind that many of these publications' polls came out before Josh Gasser's season-ending knee injury.
The Sporting News: No. 17
USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll: No. 21
CBS Sports: No. 21
Sports Illustrated: No. 22
SB Nation: No. 22
Associated Press Poll: No. 23
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook: No. 23
FOX Sports: Not Ranked
NBC Sports: Not Ranked -- and not receiving votes either!
(Though Rob Dauster seemed to realize his error later and put UW above Michigan State in his Big Ten breakdown. Go figure.)
If you enjoy advanced statistics or predictive models, you'll probably have to pick a side based on these two wildly disparate angles. The crazy part is that both KenPom and BP claim to take Gasser's absence into account.
Ken Pomeroy: No. 5
Basketball Prospectus: No. 33
And finally, for all those aspiring bracketologists out there, the first predictions are out regarding way too early tournament seeding. Full disclosure: I did let loose with a satisfying giggle when I noticed neither Joe Lunardi not Chris Dobbertean projected Iowa in the 68-team field.
ESPN Bracketology (Lunardi): No. 9 seed, South region vs. New Mexico
(7 Big Ten teams IN)
SBN's Blogging the Bracket (Dobbertean): No. 8 seed, Midwest region vs. Davidson
(6 Big Ten teams IN)
---
Join the Badger conversation on Facebook! Go to our Facebook page and "like" us!
For more Wisconsin basketball coverage, follow Phil on Twitter @hoopsmarinara.