Check here each week for the latest articles during basketball season.  Past weeks' basketball articles can be found using the "Week" menu on the bar above.  The awards are defined on the Awards page.

Men's Basketball

POLLSPEAK'S PICK:  Bad Voter of Week 13 -- George Geise, Great Falls Tribune  (posted 1/31/08)

Geise's week 13 ballot was tied for the most extreme votes: 

• Tennessee -- #3, highest
• Indiana -- #6, highest
• UCLA -- #7, lowest
• Pittsburgh -- #13, highest
• Villanova -- #18, highest

However, it was his number of near-extreme votes that separated him from the pack:

• North Carolina -- #5, 1 lower
• Michigan State -- #10, 1 lower
• Wisconsin -- #11, 1 higher
• Vanderbilt -- #14, 1 higher
• Mississippi -- #17, 3 higher
• Dayton -- #19, 2 higher
• Stanford -- #20, 4 lower
• Purdue -- #22, 2 higher
• Xavier -- #24, 2 lower
• Arizona State -- #25, 3 higher 

You can discuss Bad Voters of the Week further on our basketball FORUM.

PEOPLE'S PICK:  Bad Voter of Week 13 -- Gavin Keefe, The Day (posted 1/31/08)

Gavin Keefe won this week's unpopular vote.  For the record, Pollspeak disagrees with this choice.  His Week 13 ballot is solid.  However, he made the fatal mistake of being the only voter to leave Xavier off his ballot.  Obviously there were enough angry Xavier fans to make a difference.  One way to prevent miscarriages of justice like this is to get more people to vote.  So spread the word!

You can discuss Bad Voters of the Week further on our basketball FORUM.

Good Voter of Week 13 -- Roger Clarkson, The Athens Banner-Herald  (posted 1/31/08)

Clarkson is a fine choice for Good Voter of the Week.  As you can see, on his week 13 ballot, his only votes on the edge are UCLA lowest and Purdue highest.  However, he was one of only two voters to leave Drake unranked.  Perhaps Drake fans are either not voting or are highly evolved, and unbiased thinkers.

You can discuss Good Voters of the Week further on our basketball FORUM.

Women's Basketball

POLLSPEAK'S PICK:  Bad Voter of Week 13 -- JoAnne Harrop, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (posted 2/2/08)

Harrop's week 13 ballot had for the most extreme votes, a whopping 9: 

• LSU -- #4, highest
• North Carolina -- #7, lowest
• Baylor -- #8, lowest
• Oklahoma  -- #9, highest
• George Washington -- #11, highest
• Texas A&M -- #15, highest
• Arizona State -- #17, highest
• Michigan State -- #19, highest
• Ohio State -- Unranked, lowest

Of course, that didn't leave much room for near-extreme votes, but there were still a few:

• Old Dominion -- #16, 3 lower
• Wyoming -- #21, 2 lower
• Kansas State -- #23, 2 lower

As a side note, Harrop is listed by the AP as an employee of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review; however, we can't find any articles by her or contact information for her on their site.   We have asked the PTR for comment.  If you have any information, please contact us at admin@pollspeak.com

You can discuss Bad Voters of the Week further on our basketball FORUM.

PEOPLE'S PICK:  Bad Voter of Week 13 -- Ramona Shelburne, Los Angeles Daily News (posted 2/2/08)

Shelburne's ballot is yet another example of a reasonable ballot that was victimized by some disgruntled fans.  It is no coincidence that Wyoming fans decided our Peoples Pick:  Bad Voter of the Week and our Good Voter of the Week (see below).  They obviously feel strongly enough to vote.  Shelburne voted Wyoming (#23) lowest as well as Maryland (#8).  Although she voted Ohio State (#14) highest and Stanford among the elite at #3, it wasn't enough to earn her any good votes.  Obviously, Pollspeak disagrees with the fans' choice, but that will often be the case.

You can discuss Bad Voters of the Week further on our basketball FORUM.

Good Voter of Week 13 -- Brian Davis, Dallas Morning News (posted 2/2/08)

On his week 13 ballot, Davis has both Rutgers (#7) and Oklahoma (#18) lowest in the nation, but luckily for him, neither fan base seemed to mind.  On the other hand, he won the hearts of a few Wyoming fans by ranking them highest (#11).  By avoiding too many extreme votes, Davis put himself in position to be recognized.  Of course, this is the first week of basketball voting, and with numbers this small....anybody can win.

You can discuss Good Voters of the Week further on our basketball FORUM.