This must be what it feels like to be a legislator. College basketball lobbyists are everywhere, all wanting my vote.
    I’m one of the voters this year in The Associated Press Top 25 weekly poll. Funny how popular I’ve become with schools that never knew I existed.
    Every week it seems a new media guide arrives in my mailbox. Piled on my desk are guides from Pittsburgh, Xavier, Saint Joseph’s and Tulsa. Can’t remember ever getting one of those before, except when VCU played Pittsburgh in the NCAA tournament and I picked up a Panthers’ guide at the media center.
    Every so often, an e-mail from a sports information director or a conference SID pops up. Some are subtle, with just game notes about a team. Others are reminders, such as the one I got from the Big 12 last week asking voters to keep an eye on Nebraska.
    Those are all fine and helpful, and you’ve got to love it when somebody is thinking about you.
    Just give me results.
    I’m trying to watch as many games as I can without driving my wife nuts. I know I’m watching games that in the past would have been a little more than a pause with my clicker. Don’t think Wake Forest and Baylor would have really interested me before this year.
    By the way, I’m not one of the guys who voted for VCU the first few weeks (the Rams were in the others receiving votes category). After watching VCU struggle in its exhibition games and first two wins, I knew the Rams had a long way to go to get to that level.
    It seems weird that when it comes to the fringe teams you’re more likely to vote for a team you haven’t seen than one you have. I’m sure those votes VCU got were a nod to what the Rams have done the past two years and to the presence of Anthony Grant and Eric Maynor.
    If/when VCU or another state team becomes Top 25 worthy, I’ll vote for them. Right now, I don’t see anybody near that level.
    I’ll try to list my votes in this space every so often. Feel free to send yours. I can always use a few more lobbyists.
    Here’s my votes for Dec. 1:

1. UNC
2. Connecticut
3. Pittsburgh
4. Gonzaga
5. Oklahoma
6. Duke
7. Notre Dame
8. Texas
9. Purdue
10. Tennessee
11. Louisville
12. Michigan State
13. UCLA
14. Xavier
15. Memphis
16. Wake Forest
17. Villanova
18. Syracuse
19. Davidson
20. Miami
21. Dayton
22. Baylor
23. Marquette
24. Georgetown
25. Arizona State

The Final Thought: “Never put a period where God has put a comma.” – Gracie Allen

Posted by Tim Pearrell in • College Sports • Virginia Commonwealth University
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