Rankings compiled by RYAN MCDONOUGH with liner notes in part by JOSH KAY.
1. Michigan State (9-0)
Points: 249 (9 first-place votes)
Previous ranking: 2
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore, Saturday vs. Florida.
Sharing (Denzel) Valentine greetings with one opponent at a time.
2. Kentucky (7-1)
Points: 213. Previous ranking: 1
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Eastern Kentucky, Saturday vs. Arizona State.
At least the Wildcats don’t have to worry about the pressure of an undefeated season this year, right?
3. Kansas (6-1)
Points: 212. Previous ranking: 6
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Holy Cross, Saturday vs. Oregon State.
With Cheick Diallo now eligible for the Jayhawks, there is no telling how far Bill Self’s crew can go.
4. Duke (8-1)
Points: 211. (1 first-place vote)
Previous ranking: 4
Upcoming: No games this week.
Any critics who were calling Duke an overrated team need to consider the 72-point winning margin by the Blue Devils in their last three games combined.
5. North Carolina (7-1)
Points: 205. Previous ranking: 9
Upcoming: Saturday at Texas.
Marcus Paige returned from a broken wrist and dropped 20 as the Heels made a statement knocking off then No. 2 Maryland.
6. Villanova (7-0)
Points: 201. Previous ranking: 5
Upcoming: Monday vs. No.7 Oklahoma, Sunday vs. La Salle.
Wildcats head to Hawaii for the Pearl Harbor Invitational vs. the Sooners.
7. Oklahoma (5-0)
Points: 189. Previous ranking: 8
Upcoming: Monday vs. No. 6 Villanova, Saturday vs. Oral Roberts.
Not only is Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield continuing to run over the non-conference schedule, but OU is limiting second-chance points averaging the third most rebounds in the nation (48.6)
8. Iowa State (6-0)
Points: 188. Previous ranking: 7
Upcoming: Monday vs. Buffalo, Thursday vs. Iowa, Saturday vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Veteran Cyclones rank eighth in the nation shooting 51.9 percent from the floor.
9. Maryland (7-1)
Points: 182. Previous ranking: 3
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. UConn, Saturday vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Melo Trimble and Rasheed Sulaimon may be the best back court in the nation.
10. Xavier (8-0)
Points: 152. Previous ranking: 16
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Wright State, Saturday vs. No. 17 Cincinnati.
Crosstown Shootout on tap for the weekend. Cue Jimmy, Jack and the Edge ‘cause It Might Get Loud.
11. Purdue (8-0)
Points: 139. Previous ranking: 12
Upcoming: Monday vs. IUPUI, Wednesday vs. Howard, Saturday vs. Youngstown State.
Boilermakers playing the role of George – third Beatle to Big Ten leaders Michigan State and Maryland.
12. Virginia (7-1)
Points: 128. Previous ranking: 10.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. No. 14 West Virginia.
Bennettball: In six of seven wins, Virginia has held opponents under 60.
13. Arizona (7-1)
Points: 100. Previous ranking: 13
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Fresno State, Sunday vs. Missouri.
Showed growth in life after T.J. McConnell with win over Gonzaga.
14. West Virginia (7-0)
Points: 96. Previous ranking: 21
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. No. 12 Virginia, Sunday vs. UL-Monroe.
Warm-up tops beat suits and cardigans any day.
15. Miami (7-1)
Points: 95. Previous ranking: 19
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Florida.
Winning on the road is always tough. Winning in Nebraska is especially tough for this up-and-coming team. Solid road victory for Jim Larranaga’s squad.
16. Baylor (6-1)
Points: 93. Previous ranking: 20.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Northwestern State.
Memo to Big 12: Rico Gathers (13.3 ppg 10 rpg) is coming.
17. Cincinnati (8-1)
Points: 83. Previous ranking: 17.
Upcoming: Saturday at Xavier.
Mick Cronin and his Bearcats will be as welcome at the Cintas Center as khakis are in the rest of Ohio.
18. Gonzaga (5-2)
Points: 73. Previous ranking: 11
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Montana, Saturday vs. UCLA.
Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis combined for 51 of the Zags 63 in a loss to Arizona.
19. SMU (6-0)
Points: 66. Previous ranking: unranked.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Michigan.
Nic Moore averaged 19.5 points and five assists last week.
20. Butler (6-1)
Points: 67. Previous ranking: unranked.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. VMI, Saturday vs. Tennessee.
Playing with heavy hearts after hearing the news about former Bulldog Andrew Smith.
21. Providence (8-1)
Points: 64. Previous ranking: unranked
Survived the Ocean State showdown against URI…barely.
22. Louisville (6-1)
Points: 53. Previous ranking: 25
Upcoming: Saturday vs. Eastern Michigan.
Four-point loss at Michigan State serves as only thing keeping the Cards from paper tiger status. Then again…
23. Vanderbilt (6-2)
Points: 37. Previous ranking: 15
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Dayton.
Pour on the morale: Looked strong in loss at No. 16 Baylor.
24. Utah (7-1)
Points: 32. Previous ranking: 23
Upcoming: Saturday at Wichita State.
Shockers have Fred VanVleet back in action. News dees Utes didn’t want to hear.
25. Oregon (6-1)
Points: 26. Previous ranking: 14
Upcoming: Monday vs. Navy. Saturday at Boise State.
Part of the Pearl Harbor Invitational Ducks catch a Midshipmen team which has taken seven straight.
Also receiving votes:
George Washington (21), South Carolina (19), UNLV (15), Syracuse (8), UConn (8), Dayton (7), Notre Dame (7), Florida (6), Texas A&M (6), Valparaiso (4), Pittsburgh (3), Hofstra (2), UTEP, Saint Mary’s
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