Compiled by RYAN MCDONOUGH with liner notes by JOSH KAY
- Michigan State (13-0)
Points: 325. (13 first-place votes)
Previous ranking: 1.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Oakland
The force is strong with this one.
2. Kansas (9-1)
Points: 304. Previous ranking: 4.
Upcoming: Tuesday at San Diego State.
The Jayhawks have scored at least 72 points in 9 of their 10 games this season. That streak may end on Tuesday, when they face SDSU who only allows 59.3 ppg.
3. Oklahoma (8-0)
Points: 300. Previous ranking: 2
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Washington State.
Per BBState – Sooners rank fifth in the nation hitting 47.7 from behind the arc while holding opponents to 26.9 percent (sixth in the country) from long range.
4. Maryland (10-1)
Points: 274. Previous ranking: 7.
Upcoming: Sunday vs. Marshall.
Fear the turtle. Maryland has outscored its opponents by 23 since the Terps lone loss to UNC.
5. Virginia (9-1)
Points: 265. Previous ranking: 9.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. California.
Strange but true Bennettball ranks fourth in the nation scoring 1.22 points per possession.
6. Xavier (11-0)
Points: 259. Previous ranking: 10.
Upcoming: Tuesday at Wake Forest.
Per BB State – Xavier ranks 14th in the nation with a rebound percentage of 59.7 and 12th in the nation holding opponents to 0.87 points per possession.
7. Iowa State (9-1)
Points: 212. Previous ranking: 5.
Upcoming: Tuesday at No. 21 Cincinnati.
Iowa State needed to be down by 22 to have a comeback win. Anything less, just won’t work.
8. North Carolina (9-2)
Points: 212. Previous ranking: 12.
Upcoming: Monday vs. Appalachian State.
Wise, quick, leadership, tenacity – am I describing Obi Won Kenobi or North Carolina, I couldn’t tell. And yes, all these Star Wars references are appropriate.
9. Arizona (11-1)
Points: 193. Previous ranking: 13.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Long Beach State.
We will be the first to admit that we all over reacted to Arizona’s first loss. Since then, the Wildcats are a perfect 6-0 including a win over Gonzaga.
10. Duke (9-2)
Points: 191. Previous ranking: 6.
Upcoming: No games scheduled this week.
No Amile Jefferson and a flu-bugged Grayson Allen, left the Blue Devils feeling, well…Blue.
11. Butler (9-1)
Points: 181. Previous ranking: 17.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Southern Utah.
In 10 games this season Roosevelt Jones has posted five double-doubles…drops the mic.
12. Providence (11-1)
Points: 177. Previous ranking: 14.
Upcoming: Monday at UMass.
Bentil and Dunn. Sounds like a powerful law firm, or one of the best 1-2 scoring punch in college basketball.
13. Kentucky (9-2)
Points: 175. Previous ranking: 3.
Upcoming: Saturday vs. No. 16 Louisville.
36-0 seems like a distant dream, like a galaxy far, far away, like that last piece of pie you let someone else have.
14. Purdue (11-1)
Points: 173. Previous ranking: 8.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Vanderbilt.
With seven rebounds in a loss to Butler, A.J. Hammons moved into eighth place (740) on the all-time Purdue rebounding list.
15. Miami (9-1)
Points: 164. Previous ranking: 16.
Upcoming: Tuesday at La Salle.
Does Jim Larranaga have another Final Four team?
16. Louisville (9-1)
Points: 133. Previous ranking: 22.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. UMKC, Wednesday vs. Utah Valley, Saturday at No. 13 Kentucky.
Three games this week? Merry Christmas!
17. Villanova (8-2)
Points: 123. Previous ranking: 11.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Delaware.
Steve Harvey has trouble crowning Miss Universe, and the Wildcats just can’t seem to crack the code against the best teams in the country.
18. SMU (9-0)
Points: 119. Previous ranking: 20.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Kent State.
The dream scenario for the Mustangs has occurred. The team started 9-0. Larry Brown is back, and SMU should be undefeated heading into conference play.
19. West Virginia (9-1)
Points: 88. Previous ranking: 18.
Upcoming: Monday vs. Eastern Kentucky.
I wonder if Bob Huggins wears the same sweat suit to open presents on Christmas morning that he does on the sidelines for the Mountaineers.
20. Cincinnati (10-2)
Points: 70. Previous ranking: 23.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. No. 7 Iowa State
Resume builder on the docket for UC when they host Iowa State.
21. George Washington (10-1)
Points: 68. Previous ranking: 21.
Upcoming: Tuesday at DePaul
Tyler Cavanaugh needed just eight shots to score 18 points in Saturday’s win over Saint Peter’s.
22. Texas A&M (9-2)
Points: 38. Previous ranking: unranked
Upcoming: No scheduled games this week.
Took Baylor to the shed and left them there.
23. Pittsburgh (9-1)
Points: 28. Previous ranking: unranked.
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Western Carolina.
Panthers have won five straight since they lost to then No. 11 Purdue.
24. Baylor (8-2)
Points: 27. Previous ranking: 16
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. New Mexico State.
Bears look to find their way back from the previously mentioned shed.
25. South Carolina (10-0)
Points: 23. Previous ranking: 24.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Saint John’s
Justin McKie is third in the nation with an assist to turnover rate of 10:1.
Also receiving votes:
Utah (15), Northern Iowa (11), Dayton (9), UConn (8), Monmouth (8), Gonzaga (7), Colorado (5), UCLA (5), St. Mary’s (CA) (3), Arkansas Little Rock, Valparaiso
Leave a Reply