NCAA Basketball: 3 thoughts on debut AP preseason top-25 poll for 2018-19

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 17: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts as they take on the Seton Hall Pirates in the first half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 31: Loyola Ramblers fans cheer before the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four Semifinal against the Michigan Wolverines at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

3. The disrespect

Maybe the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers’ run to the Final Four came on a wing and a prayer courtesy of Sister Jean. Anyone who thinks they’re making the Final Four again this year is fooling themselves.

Nevertheless, they MADE THE FINAL FOUR. They even return four of their top seven scorers, including Clayton Custer, who won Missouri Valley Player of the Year in 2017-18.

So why aren’t they in the Top 25?

Loyola-Chicago is the first team in the “Others Receiving Votes” category, linked to the likes of Marquette, Indiana, Florida, and Nebraska. No disrespect to those teams, but the Ramblers proved much more last year than those other squads did.

Just another chip on the proverbial shoulder for the Ramblers to harness entering the year.

Loyola-Chicago isn’t the only team knocking on the door that should be in the Top 25. The aforementioned Golden Eagles are more dangerous than Washington, who sits at No. 25 in the initial poll. The unranked Wisconsin Bagers of an All-American suiting up for them night in and out in Ethan Happ.

Arizona, Texas Tech, and Xavier are among the other teams that deserved to garner at least a little more respect from the AP voters.

But the biggest talking point coming from the first poll release of the season is the unwarranted exclusion of Loyola-Chicago.

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