Compiled by RYAN MCDONOUGH with liner notes by JOSH KAY.
- Kansas (14-1/3-0)
Points: 373. (14 first-place votes)
Previous ranking: 2
Upcoming: Tuesday at No. 11 West Virginia, Saturday vs. TCU.
Three Jayhawks (Perry Ellis, Wayne Selden Jr. and Devonte Graham) scored at least 20 points in KU’s three-overtime win against Oklahoma.
2. Oklahoma (13-1/2-1)
Points: 349.
Previous ranking: 1
Upcoming: Wednesday at Oklahoma State, Saturday vs. No. 11 West Virginia.
One thing was made clear this week: Buddy Hield is the clear front-runner for Naismith Player of the year award.
3. Maryland (15-1/4-0)
Points: 342. Previous ranking: 3.
Upcoming: Tuesday at Wisconsin, Saturday at Michigan.
Melo Trimble…If ya need him!
4. Michigan State (16-1/3-1)
Points: 324.
Previous ranking: 4.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. No. 17 Iowa, Sunday at Wisconsin.
Michigan State Shot 50 percent from behind the three-point arc against Penn State. It’s like they didn’t even need to bring back Denzel Valentine.
5. North Carolina (15-2/4-0)
Points: 314. Previous ranking: 7.
Upcoming: Saturday vs. NC State.
It’s not easy to win on the road. To win on the road in front of 27,000 fans welcoming Jim Boeheim back? The Tar Heels did just that, and convincingly for that matter.
6. Xavier (14-1/2-1)
Points: 280. Previous ranking: 10.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. DePaul, Saturday at Marquette.
At least one team in Cincinnati kept its composure in a late game situation…too soon?
7. Villanova (13-2/4-0)
Points: 274. Previous ranking: 15.
Upcoming: Wednesday at Marquette, Saturday at Georgetown.
Remember when we said the Wildcats were good but couldn’t compete with the best? Ask Xavier and Butler about that statement.
8. Miami (FL) (13-1/2-0)
Points: 262. Previous ranking: 11.
Upcoming: Tuesday at No. 15 Virginia, Saturday at Clemson.
The Hurricanes have won seven straight by at least 10 points. That streak will get tested on the road at Charlottesville.
9. Duke (14-2/3-0)
Points: 251. Previous ranking: 13.
Upcoming Wednesday at Clemson, Saturday vs. Notre Dame.
Through 3 games in the ACC the Blue Devils lead the league in scoring with 84.67 ppg.
10. SMU (15-0/4-0)
Points: 236. Previous ranking: 14.
Upcoming: Wednesday at East Carolina, Sunday at Tulane.
SMU is one of two remaining unbeaten teams in Division I college basketball. Their next two opponents have combined zero wins in conference.
11. West Virginia (14-1/3-0)
Points: 194. Previous ranking: 18.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. No. 1 Kansas, Saturday at No. 2 Oklahoma.
West Virginia: the team that nobody is talking about but the team nobody wants to play. Lookout Kansas, the Coliseum will be crazy Tuesday night.
12. Providence (14-2/2-1)
Points: 175. Previous ranking: 9.
Upcoming: Tuesday at Creighton, Saturday vs. Seton Hall.
The Friars shot a season low 37 percent from the field in a home loss to Marquette.
13. South Carolina (15-0/2-0)
Points: 171. (1 first-place vote)
Previous ranking: 21.
Upcoming: Wednesday at Alabama, Saturday vs. Missouri.
Frank Martin has the Gamecocks playing like a team that can win the SEC.
14. Kentucky (12-3/2-1)
Points: 167. Previous ranking: 8.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Mississippi State, Saturday at Auburn.
Kentucky got a firsthand view of Ben Simmons. It didn’t go well for the ‘Cats.
15. Virginia (12-3/1-2)
Points: 160. Previous ranking: 5.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. No. 8 Miami (FL), Sunday at Florida State.
The Cavaliers are 0-3 in true road games this season. The good news: they return home this week. The bad news: a red hot Miami (FL) team comes to town.
16. Arizona (13-3/1-2)
Points: 146. Previous ranking: 6.
Upcoming: Thursday vs. Washington, Saturday vs. Washington State.
A buzzer-beater and triple overtime loss have Arizona on the craziest losing streak you could imagine.
17. Iowa (12-3/3-0)
Points: 141. Previous ranking: 22.
Upcoming: Thursday at No. 4 Michigan State, Sunday vs. Michigan.
The Hawkeyes will have to be on the lookout for a Spartans team wanting revenge for their only loss of the season, when Iowa travels to East Lansing this week.
18. Texas A&M (13-2/3-0)
Points: 135. Previous ranking: 19.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Florida, Saturday at Georgia.
Two big road wins in the SEC have the Aggies sitting pretty at the top of the SEC.
19. Pittsburgh (14-1/3-0)
Points: 128. Previous ranking: 23.
Upcoming: Thursday at No. 23 Louisville, Saturday vs. Boston College.
The best player in the country that nobody is talking about: Michael Young.
20. Iowa State (12-3/1-2)
Points: 93. Previous ranking: 12.
Upcoming: Tuesday at Texas, Saturday at Kansas State.
Cyclones couldn’t hold a late lead at Ames.
21. Butler (12-4/1-3)
Points: 73. Previous ranking: 20.
Upcoming: Saturday vs. St. John’s.
Bulldogs are 5-0 when Roosevelt Jones grabs 10 or more rebounds.
22. Baylor (12-3/2-1)
Points: 61. Previous ranking: unranked.
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. TCU, Saturday at Texas Tech.
Baylor is 7-0 when Rico Gathers records a double-double.
23. Louisville (13-3/2-1)
Points: 67. Previous ranking: 17.
Upcoming: Thursday vs. No. 19 Pittsburgh.
Cards are third in the nation holding opposing shooters to 36.1 percent from the floor.
24. Purdue (14-3/2-2)
Points: 38. Previous ranking: 16.
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Penn State.
Boilermakers are 9-0 when Isaac Haas scores in double figures.
25. UCLA (11-6/2-2)
Points: 23. Previous ranking: unranked.
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. USC.
Bruins are 7-0 when Aaron Holiday hands out five or more assists.
Also receiving votes:
Gonzaga (19), Indiana (12), Valparaiso (8), USC (6), UConn (6), Houston (6), Texas (5), Oregon (4), Dayton (3), George Washington (2), Monmouth (2)
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