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Sooners return to the top

January 18, 2016 by jkay27 Leave a Comment

Photo: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Photo: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Compiled by RYAN McDONOUGH with line notes by JOSH KAY

  1. Oklahoma (15-1/4-1)

Points: 271. (8 first-place votes)

Previous ranking: 2.

Upcoming: Monday at Iowa State, Saturday at No. 16 Baylor.

Is there anyone out there still needing an introduction to Buddy Hield?

2. Kansas (15-2/4-1)

Points: 254. (one first-place vote)

Previous ranking: 1.

Upcoming: Tuesday at Oklahoma State, Saturday vs. Texas.

Five players scored in double figures as Kansas defeated TCU to extend their home winning streak to 33.

3. North Carolina (16-2/5-0)

Points: 249. (one first-place)

Previous ranking: 5.

Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Wake Forest, Sunday at Virginia Tech.

Heels are 9-0 when Brice Johnson records a double-double.

4. Xavier (16-1/4-1)

Points: 223.

Previous ranking: 6.

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Georgetown, Saturday vs. Seton Hall.

Edmond Sumner has returned to the lineup, and the Musketeers are 10-0 when the freshman scores in double figures.

5. Villanova (16-2/6-0)

Points: 214. (one first-place vote)

Previous ranking: 7.

Upcoming: Wednesday at Seton Hall, Saturday vs. No. 17 Providence.

Villanova has won 21 straight conference games…let that sink in for a minute.

6. Maryland (16-2/5-1)

Points: 194. Previous ranking: 3.

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Northwestern, Saturday at No. 7 Michigan State.

You do not want to be the team that faces Maryland after they lose. The Terps have won by an average of 38 points after a loss scoring 96 and 100 respectively.

7. Michigan State (16-3/3-3)

Points: 188. Previous ranking: 4.

Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Nebraska Saturday vs. No. 6 Maryland.

Back-to-back losses in conference have folks around the country wondering in the blue print to beat the Spartans has been found. Tom Izzo channels his in Aaron Rogers: Trust the P-R-O-C-E-S-S.

8. SMU (17-0/6-0)

Points: 184. Previous ranking: 10.

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Houston, Saturday at Temple.

With a South Carolina loss, the Mustangs are now the only unbeaten team in Division 1 basketball. Circle February 13th against Gonzaga as a must see matchup.

9. West Virginia (15-2/4-1)

Points: 181. Previous ranking: 11.

Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Texas, Saturday at Texas Tech.

Bob Huggins is up to his old ways again applying his vintage full court press. It knocked off the No. 1 team and came within a buzzer-beater of knocking off No. 2.

10. Iowa (14-3/5-0)

Points: 174. Previous ranking: 17.

Upcoming: Thursday at Rutgers, Sunday vs. No.22 Purdue.

Jarrod Uthoff is making a strong case for BIG10 player of the year and Iowa is 5-0 in conference for the first time since 1997.

11. Texas A&M (15-2/5-0)

Points: 150. Previous ranking: 18.

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. LSU, Saturday vs. Missouri.

Don’t look now, but the Aggies are on top of the SEC. Next up: Ben Simmons and LSU in College Station.

12. Arizona (15-3/3-2)

Points: 145. Previous ranking: 16

Upcoming: Thursday at Stanford, Saturday at California.

Let’s slow down with the “Arizona is overrated” talks. Following a crazy week on the road, the Wildcats won their two games last week by a combined 56 points.

13. Miami (Fl.) (13-3/2-2)

Points: 120. Previous ranking: 8.

Upcoming: Wednesday at Boston College, Saturday vs. Wake Forest.

When Miami scores 65 points or more they are 12-1. When the ‘Canes score 64 or less they are 1-2 on the season.

14. Duke (14-4/3-2)

Points: 105. Previous ranking: 9.

Upcoming: Monday vs. Syracuse, Saturday at NC State.

The Blue Devils are finding out that having a rotation of six guys doesn’t always pay off – even at home in Cameron Indoor.

15. Virginia (13-4/2-3)

Points: 103. Previous ranking: 15.

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Clemson, Saturday vs. Syracuse.

Virginia is o-4 on the season in true road games. 13-0 at home or at a neutral sites.

16. Baylor (14-3/4-1)

Points: 102. Previous ranking: 22.

Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Kansas State, Saturday vs. No.1 Oklahoma.

Lester Medford’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Baylor four straight wins in the Big 12.

17. Providence (15-3/3-2)

Points: 92. Previous ranking: 12.

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. No. 23 Butler, Saturday at No. 5 Villanova.

Did someone slip some decaf in the java at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center? Friars two conference losses have come at home.

18. Kentucky (13-4/3-2)

Points: 92. Previous ranking: 14.

Upcoming: Thursday at Arkansas, Saturday vs. Vanderbilt.

‘Cats are 3-0 when Marcus Lee rebounds in double figures.

19. Louisville (14-3/3-1)

Points: 86. Previous ranking: 23.

Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Florida State, Saturday at Georgia Tech.

Holding a ranked opponent to 41 points has Cardinal fans buzzing about another potential deep run in the NCAA tournament.

20. Pittsburgh (15-2/4-1)

Points: 62. Previous ranking: 19.

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. NC State, Saturday at Florida State.

Panthers are 8-0 when James Robinson hands out five or more assists.

21. South Carolina (16-1/3-1)

Points: 58. Previous ranking: 13.

Upcoming: Tuesday at Ole Miss, Saturday at Tennessee.

Gamecocks are 13-0 when Sindarius Thornwell scores in double figures.

22. Purdue (15-3/3-2)

Points: 54. Previous ranking: 24.

Upcoming:  Monday at Rutgers, Thursday vs. Ohio State, Sunday at No. 10 Iowa.

Boilermakers are 10-0 when Isaac Haas scores in double figures.

23. Butler (13-4/2-3)

Points: 53. Previous ranking: 21.

Upcoming: Tuesday at No. 17 Providence, Saturday at Creighton.

Bulldogs are 6-0 when Tyler Lewis has five or more assists.

24. Indiana (15-3/5-0)

Points: 45. Previous ranking: unranked.

Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Illinois, Saturday vs. Northwestern.

Since losing three of six the Hoosiers have rattled off 10 straight wins.

t-25. USC (15-3/4-1)

Points: 44. Previous ranking: unranked.

Upcoming: Thursday at Oregon, Sunday at Oregon State.

Trojans are 11-1 when Jordan McLaughlin scores in double figures.

t-25 Iowa State (13-4/2-3)

Points: 44. Previous ranking: 20

Upcoming: Monday vs. No. 1 Oklahoma, Saturday at TCU.

Also receiving votes:

St. Mary’s (18), Dayton (17), Wichita State (13), Valparaiso (13), Clemson (11), Notre Dame (6), Michigan (4), VCU (2), Gonzaga (2), Monmouth, Vanderbilt

Performance Checks courtesy of BBState. 

*Updated at 3:49 p.m. 1/18 to include Iowa State as tied at No. 25. 

Filed Under: Pine Pieces, Top 25 Tagged With: Baylor, Maryland, South Carolina, Villanova

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