Compiled by RYAN MCDONOUGH with liner notes from JOSH KAY.
- Michigan State (13-0)
Points: 325. (13 first-place votes)
Previous ranking: 1.
Upcoming: Tuesday at Iowa, Saturday at Minnesota.
The true test of the Spartan’s depth will come this week when they open Big 10 play on the road without Denzel Valentine.
2. Oklahoma (11-0)
Points: 307. Previous ranking: 3.
Upcoming: Saturday vs. No. 7 Iowa State
Only two players in Big 12 history have averaged at least 24 points and five rebounds: Michael Beasley (07-08) and Kevin Durant (06-07). Buddy Hield scores 24.9 points per game and grabs 5.3 rebounds.
3. Kansas (10-1)
Points: 294. Previous ranking: 2.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. UC-Irvine, Saturday vs. No. 21 Baylor.
It’s December 28th, and the Jayhawks haven’t been under 70 points in a game (13) this season.
4. Virginia (10-1)
Points: 266. Previous ranking: 5.
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Oakland, Saturday vs. Notre Dame.
Three victories in a row over top 50 RPI teams (California, then No. 12 Villanova and then No. 14 West Virginia), and the Cavaliers have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.
5. Xavier (12-0)
Points: 263. Previous ranking: 6.
Upcoming: Thursday at No. 17 Villanova, Saturday vs. No. 10 Butler.
While most people in the Northeast were dreaming of a white Christmas, the Xavier Musketeers were dreaming of a 12-0 start. One of those things came true.
6. Maryland (11-1)
Points: 245. Previous ranking: 4
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Penn State, Saturday at Northwestern.
Easy like Sunday Morning: Maryland hit a season high thirteen 3’s in a 20-point win over Marshall.
7. Iowa State (10-1)
Points: 205. Previous ranking: 7.
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Coppin State, Saturday at No. 2 Oklahoma.
Is every win for Iowa State going to be in come-from-behind fashion? The Cincinnati Bearcats were the latest victim.
8. North Carolina (10-2)
Points: 217. Previous ranking: 8.
Upcoming: Monday vs. UNC-Greensboro, Wednesday vs. Clemson, Saturday vs. Georgia Tech.
9. Kentucky (10-2)
Points: 198. Previous ranking: 13.
Upcoming: Saturday vs. Ole Miss.
With a win over Louisville, the Wildcats continue their reign of the Bluegrass State.
10. Butler (10-1)
Points: 197. Previous ranking: 11
Upcoming: Monday vs. IUPUI, Thursday vs. No. 12 Providence, Saturday vs. No. 5 Xavier.
The Bulldogs rank second in the country scoring 89.7 points per game..
11. Arizona (12-1)
Points: 190. Previous ranking: 9.
Upcoming: Sunday at Arizona State.
Since their loss to Providence in November, the Wildcats are averaging 81.1 ppg.
12. Providence (12-1)
Points: 172. Previous ranking: 12.
Upcoming: Thursday at No. 10 Butler, Saturday vs. Saint John’s.
Have the truth serum on hand when Providence opens the Big East season against the No. 10 Bulldogs.
13. Duke (9-2)
Points: 170. Previous ranking: 10.
Upcoming: Monday vs. Elon, Wednesday vs. Long Beach State, Saturday at Boston College.
Duke will play its first game in nine days when they take the court Monday night.
14. Miami (10-1)
Points: 169. Previous ranking: 15.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Princeton, Saturday vs. Syracuse.
The South Beach swag is coming out in this team with each win.
15. Purdue (12-1)
Points: 168. Previous ranking: 14.
Upcoming: Tuesday at Wisconsin, Saturday vs. Iowa.
Per BBState Purdue ranks number one in the nation holding opponents to … (we can wait while you grab a microscope) 0.801 points per possession.
16. SMU (11-0)
Points: 136. Previous ranking: 18.
Upcoming: Tuesday at Tulsa, Saturday vs. South Florida.
The Mustangs didn’t miss a beat in Larry Brown’s return winning the Las Vegas Classic.
17. Villanova (9-2)
Points: 117. Previous ranking: 17.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Penn, Thursday vs. No. 5 Xavier, Saturday at Creighton.
Wildcats are 0-2 this season against top ten teams. Xavier will be the first with such a ranking to play AT Villanova.
18. West Virginia (10-1)
Points: 115. Previous ranking: 19.
Upcoming: Wednesday at Virginia Tech, Saturday at Kansas State.
Basketball Tip 435: A Bob Huggins coached team is not a team you want to face after the New Year.
19. Louisville (11-2)
Points: 83. Previous ranking: 16.
Upcoming: Saturday vs. Wake Forest.
There is always a silver lining in a loss, right? Enter Damion Lee who could find himself on the first team All-ACC in March.
20. Texas A&M (9-2)
Points: 69. Previous ranking: 22.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Cal Poly, Saturday vs. Arkansas.
Aggies rank 15th in the nation holding opposing shooters to 37.9 percent from the floor.
21. Baylor (9-2)
Points: 51. Previous ranking: 24.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Texas Southern, Saturday at No. 3 Kansas.
Things get serious when the Bears travel to Phog Allen Fieldhouse later this week.
22. Pittsburgh (10-1)
Points: 48. Previous ranking: 23.
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Syracuse, Saturday vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore.
23. South Carolina (11-0)
Points: 43. Previous ranking: 25.
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Francis Marion, Saturday vs. Memphis.
Full disclosure: Gamecocks haven’t yet played a ranked opponent and might not until February 6th when they travel to College Station. Does that qualify as a paper lion?
24. Utah (10-2)
Points: 43. Previous ranking: unranked.
Upcoming: Monday vs. College of Idaho, Friday at Stanford, Sunday at California.
After a two-week layoff, the Utes hope to stay in the rankings longer than a Kardashian clothing line stays in fashion.
25. Cincinnati (10-3)
Points: 23. Previous ranking: 20.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Temple, Saturday vs. Tulsa.
All three of UC’s losses have come to teams currently ranked in the top ten (Butler, Xavier and Iowa State).
Also receiving votes:
Dayton (14), Gonzaga (11), George Washington (11), Monmouth (10), St. Mary’s (CA) (10), Colorado (10), Vanderbilt (10), Northern Iowa (4), Oregon (3), UConn (2), Michigan, Northwestern, Florida.
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