Spartans remain atop weekly rankings

Compiled by RYAN MCDONOUGH with liner notes in part by JOSH KAY.    

1. Michigan State (11-0)

Points: 300. (12 first-place votes)

Previous ranking: 1.

Upcoming: Saturday at Northeastern.

As generous as Mother Theresa. The Spartans lead the nation with 22.7 assists per game.

2. Oklahoma (7-0)

Points: 261. Previous ranking: 7.

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Creighton.

Sooners climbed the rankings with a 23-point win over then No. 6 Villanova.

3. Kentucky (9-1)

Points: 261. Previous ranking: 2.

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Ohio State.

Funny to think Saturday’s tilt against the 4-5 Buckeyes could be a trap game with Louisville off in the horizon.

4. Kansas (8-1)

Points: 256.  Previous ranking: 3.

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Montana.

Only loss came at the hands of Michigan State.

5. Iowa State (9-0)

Points: 256. Previous ranking: 8

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Northern Iowa.

Cyclones overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat intra-rival Iowa in buzzer-beater fashion.

6. Duke (8-1)

Points: 236. Previous ranking: 4.

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Georgia Southern, Saturday vs. Utah.

Grayson Allen is 14^th in the country in scoring (21.8ppg), but number one in the hearts of the Duke faithful.

7. Maryland (9-1)

Points: 230. Previous ranking: 9.

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Princeton.

Terps continue to impress with a win over UConn at MSG.

8. Purdue (11-0)

Points: 212. Previous ranking: 11.

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Butler.

The Hoosier state’s “other” team is quietly gaining momentum. Purdue has won every game this season by at least 12 points.

9. Virginia (8-1)

Points: 203. Previous ranking: 12.

Upcoming: Saturday vs. No. 11 Villanova.

“Bennettball” took care of the pullover last week.

10. Xavier (10-0)

Points: 202. Previous ranking: 10.

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Auburn.

No one plays cool jazz like Xavier’s Myles Davis. Junior guard dropped a season-high 17 in X’s win over then No. 17 Cincinnati in the Crosstown Shootout.

11. Villanova (8-1)

Points: 189. Previous ranking: 6.

Upcoming: Saturday at No. 9 Virginia.

Jay Wright’s Wildcats healed their wounds from the 23-point beatdown at the hands of Oklahoma when they took care of La Salle. Now a trip to Charlottesville to meet No. 9 Virginia: “Hit me again Ike, and this time put a little stank on it.”

12. North Carolina (7-2)

Points: 164. Previous ranking: 5.

Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Tulane, Saturday vs. UCLA.

Heels can’t afford to look past the Green Wave with UCLA coming into town.

13. Arizona (9-1)

Points: 149. Previous ranking: 13.

Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Northern Arizona, Saturday vs. UNLV.

Sean Miller‘s Wildcats have won four straight.

14. Providence (10-1)

Points: 123. Previous ranking: 21.

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Rider.

Not even a stomach virus that sidelined Kris Dunn could stop the Friars against Bryant.

15. Baylor (7-1)

Points: 121. Previous ranking: 16.

Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Hardin-Simmons, Saturday at Texas A&M.

Don’t sleep on Baylor here. Their front court is unstoppable and should have a bunch of confidence heading into a matchup with a former conference rival, Texas A&M.

16. Miami (FL) (8-1)

Points: 112. Previous ranking: 15

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Charleston.

At 11-1 the Hurricanes could be heading into conference play with one of their best starts in program history.

17. Butler (8-1)

Points: 101. Previous ranking: 20.

Upcoming: Saturday vs. No. 9 Purdue.

The annual Crossroads Classic between two ranked teams (Butler and Purdue) gives plenty of promise for the upcoming weekend.

18. West Virginia (8-1)

Points: 92. Previous ranking: 14

Upcoming: Thursday vs. Marshall.

Walls of the practice gym needed painting after loss to Virginia. The Mountaineers lead the nation forcing more than 22 turnovers per game.

19. Louisville (7-1)

Points: 90. Previous ranking: 22.

Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Kennesaw State, Saturday vs. Western Kentucky.

With a strength of schedule near the Mendoza line, the Cards, like a Kardashian reality show, are looking for some substance to go with that flashy record.

20. SMU (7-0)

Points: 82. Previous ranking: 19.

Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Nicholls State, Thursday vs. Hampton.

Interim head coach Tim Jankovich channeling his inner Luke Walton.

21. George Washington (9-1)

Points: 38. Previous ranking: unranked.

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Saint Peter’s.

Greetings from Foggy Bottom.

22. UCLA (7-3)

Points: 32. Previous ranking: unranked.

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, Saturday vs. No. 12 North Carolina.

Bruins have knocked off then No. 1 Kentucky and then No. 18 Gonzaga.

23. Cincinnati (8-2)

Points: 27. Previous ranking: 17

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Norfolk State, Saturday at VCU.

Bearcats two losses: Butler and Xavier.

24. South Carolina (8-0)

Points: 20. Previous ranking: unranked

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Drexel, Friday at Clemson.

Raise your hand if you had the Gamecocks as the last undefeated team in the SEC.

25. Dayton (7-2)

Points: 19. Previous ranking: unranked

Upcoming: Saturday vs. Furman.

Archie Miller and his Flyers surrendered their underdog card with a win at then No. 23 Vanderbilt. Chattanooga took advantage.

Also receiving votes:

Pittsburgh (18), Wichita State (18), Vanderbilt (14), Oregon (11), Texas A&M (10), UConn (10), Gonzaga (8), Notre Dame (6), Texas A&M (6), UNLV (6), Colorado (5), Utah (4), California (4), Saint Mary’s (CA) (2), Valparaiso (2), Texas (2),