by NCAAhoops » Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:25 am
Its based on three things.
One is team prestige which Pitt is improving in since coaching change in real life as Jeff Capel is a respected and has improved the team.
Two the Head Coach Prestige and recruiting ability which if you are the head Coach then that comes from your ratings, so if you made yourself a good head coach then that brings your school up especially if you are better than Capel ratings.
Third will be random is the recruits available in your area. If there were a lots of talented recruits in Pitt's recruiting area this really helps even if your not the greatest coach and team and this is random every time you start a new association and every year you play thereafter.
Also just because they are listed top 25 at the start doesn't mean they will remain there. See it often. They may have got a group of good players but they could be low academics or trouble in the locker room and that will eventually kill the ranking. A great example of this is last years Memphis team, was supposed to be top 5 nationally and most likely would have not made the NCAA tournament if there had been one.
Also the next time you start an association probably will not be ranked as I have seen them pop up maybe 1 out of 10 startups with Capel as coach in the mod. I also sometimes start an association 2 or 3 times and look at the polls before I pick one to actually play out do to some of the randomness.