Month: December 2024

This was the last “quiet” week. Conference play goes into full gear this week, and it should be entertaining in this age of super conferences. There is a lot of talk that the SEC will get nearly the entire conference into the tournament, and it will be interesting to see how that plays out. We know a few of the teams will struggle in conference play. How would the committee view an 18-14 SEC team vs. a 28-5 Drake squad?  I think they will lean towards the former, but the debates will be strong.

Top 25:

1. Auburn (11-1) (1) – The Tigers seemingly have zero weaknesses. If they do, the SEC competition will find it and exploit it.
2. Tennessee (12-0) (2) – We could circle that 1/7 “battle of the unbeaten” against Florida, but they have to get past Arkansas first.
3. Florida (13-0) (3) – For Florida to hold up their part of the bargain, they will need to beat Kentucky on the road.
4. Iowa State (10-1) (4) – A scheduling quirk has them playing Colorado three times (they played a “non-conference” tilt in Maui).
5. Duke (10-2) (5) – Their offense has climbed to 10th in efficiency, making the Blue Devils the only squad with a top-10 offense and defense.
6. Alabama (11-2) (6) – They will go as far as their explosive offense will take them.
7. Kansas (9-2) (7) – Played well against a good non-conference schedule. Iowa State is the conference’s best team, but Kansas isn’t far behind.
8. Oregon (12-1) (8) – None of the teams in my Top 10 are as surprising as the Ducks.
9. Texas A&M (11-2) (9) – A Top 20 non-conference schedule and a 6th-ranked defense is enough for me.
10. Marquette (11-2) (10) – As good as the Golden Eagles have been in recent years, their last Elite Eight appearance was in 2013. Is this the year that changes?
11. Oklahoma (13-0) (11) – The KenPom remains unconvinced (37th). They can prove how good they are in SEC play as they begin conference play with a game at Alabama followed by a home game against Texas A&M.
12. UCLA (11-2) (20)—Although their non-conference SOS was mediocre, they defeated Gonzaga and Arizona. Their conference road win over Oregon is as impressive as any this season.
13. Kentucky (10-2) (12) – They remain a mysterious SEC squad. Their resume is fine, but I wonder if their defense holds up.
14. UConn (10-3) (13) – Their defense is questionable, but their conference is more forgiving than Kentucky’s.
15. Houston (8-3) (14) – The KenPom is in love and I can see why (their offensive + defensive rankings = 14, behind only Duke and Auburn).
16. Cincinnati (10-1) (17) – Great defense, questionable schedule. Their vibe is similar to UCLA’s, but UCLA has bigger wins.
17. Michigan State (10-2) (18) – The Spartans want North Carolina to start rolling, as it would represent their only big non-conference conquest.
18. Mississippi State (11-1) (19) – Can the Bulldogs rise to the top of this most difficult conference?
19. St. John’s (11-2) (21) – Where would they be ranked if they hung on to defeat Baylor? Their two losses are by a combined four points.
20. Gonzaga (9-4) (16) – Final tally against the non-conference: Wins over Baylor, Arizona State, San Diego State, Indiana. Losses to West Virginia, Kentucky, UConn, and UCLA. The rest of their schedule is against a weakened WCC (St. Mary’s is the conference’s second-best squad according to the KenPom, ranked 48th)
21. Michigan (10-3) (22) – Western Kentucky was the unfortunate “next game” after that devastating loss to Oklahoma. They are a matchup nightmare.
22. Illinois (9-3) (23) – Massive showdown with Oregon to begin the new year.
23. Dayton (10-3) (24) – It will be interesting to see how the A-10 plays out this season. Dayton will be battle-tested (they own a Top 50 non-conference schedule). The next-best non-conference schedule is owned by St. Louis, at 188th.
24. Maryland (11-2) (25) – Given their dreadful non-conference slate, a big in-conference performance is required.
25. Pittsburgh (10-2) (NR) – We will find out how serious of a contender Pitt is when they visit Duke on January 7th.

Dropped Out:

San Diego State (8-3) (15) – They had the game against Utah State under control, only to lose it by a point. The Mountain West will be ultra-competitive.

Just Missed:

Arkansas (10-2) – They are close. They may jump into the Top 15 if they beat Tennessee on the road this week (they also play Ole Miss and Florida to open up SEC play – crazy)
Baylor (8-3) – Speaking of jumping into the Top 15, the Bears begin Big 12 play at Iowa State.
Memphis (10-3) – Their roller coaster non-conference is complete. They have the nation’s 4th strongest non-conference schedule, defeating UConn, Michigan State, Clemson, and Mississippi. Meanwhile, they lost a home game to Arkansas State.

What is going on in Piscataway?

Rutgers, with two of the best freshmen in the college game, is having trouble converting talent into wins. It isn’t the fault of those freshmen, as Dylan Harper averages 23.3 points per game while Airious (Ace) Bailey is at 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds. Yet, they have losses to Kennesaw State and Princeton. They struggled with Seton Hall, a 5-7 squad ranked 136th in the KenPom. While it is justified to say that in-state rivalry games can be close regardless of strength, it stands out.

According to KenPom, the Scarlet Knights are a mediocre 67th offensively and an even-worse 107th defensively.

Is this a squad that is having trouble gelling? If so, expect them to be a dangerous Big Ten team as they figure that out. However, if they don’t figure it out, they will have nothing to show for having two potential lottery picks on their team. Not only is that bad for Rutgers basketball, it would be bad for the sport. This is the type of talent you want in the NCAA Tournament.

Top 25:

1. Auburn (11-1) (2) – The Tigers played a Top Ten non-conference schedule and romped. Their destruction of Purdue cemented their rise back to the top.
2. Tennessee (11-0) (1) – I say this often: Sometimes, a team does nothing to warrant a move down. It’s other teams that did something to warrant a move up. Will their 1/7 game against Florida be a battle of the unbeaten?
3. Florida (12-0) (3) – I won’t claim they played a strong non-conference schedule, but back-to-back wins over Virginia, Arizona State, and North Carolina aren’t so bad.
4. Iowa State (10-1) (4) – Their lone loss remains the 2-point thriller against Auburn.
5. Duke (10-2) (6) – I discussed their insane defense last week, saying their offense will improve. This week? Their offensive efficiency is up to 11th. Can anyone challenge them in the ACC?
6. Alabama (10-2) (7) – North Dakota exploited the Crimson Tide’s less-than-ideal defense. It won’t be a top-tier defense, but it needs to improve.
7. Kansas (9-2) (8) – While the Missouri and Creighton losses stand out, the Jayhawks defeated Duke, Michigan State, and North Carolina during a solid non-conference slate.
8. Oregon (11-1) (10) – While many teams had issues against the SEC, the Ducks went 2-0 against the nation’s top conference.
9. Texas A&M (10-2) (9) – Head-to-head isn’t everything (see: Duke ahead of Kansas), but I felt I needed to correct placing them ahead of Oregon last week. Their profiles don’t support it.
10. Marquette (11-2) (13) – In the top 20 in offense and defense, the Golden Eagles are currently the class of the Big East.
11. Oklahoma (12-0) (14) – Everyone knows I place value in SOS, and Oklahoma’s is not good. Their luck factor should have jumped to #1 after that win over Michigan.
12. Kentucky (10-2) (5) – Their defense is exploitable, and did Ohio State ever exploit it.
13. UConn (10-3) (12) – Speaking of exploitable defense, the Huskies are 98th in the KenPom. It explains why they are winning, but not convincingly. Still dangerous.
14. Houston (8-3) (18) – If you want my criticism, it is simple: Losing close games to good teams while destroying not-so-good teams. Further complicating my evaluation is their early-season Big 12 schedule isn’t strong.
15. San Diego State (8-2) (19) – Some metrics aren’t encouraging, but the Aztecs have played well against tough competition.
16. Gonzaga (9-3) (20) – One more game (UCLA) before they enter the part of their schedule where they can’t win the minds of fans (dominating the WCC again? Ho hum)
17. Cincinnati (10-1) (21) – Completed an Ohio sweep (Xavier, Dayton). Teams are scoring 59.5 PPG against the tough Bearcats defense.
18. Michigan State (10-2) (22) – Like many teams, the Spartans are on cruise control heading into 2025.
19. Mississippi State (11-1) (24) – The loss to Butler is weird, but it’s college basketball. I feel as if we are all underrating them.
20. UCLA (10-2) (11) – When the dust clears, North Carolina benefits more from the win than UCLA will be hurt by the loss.
21. St. John’s (10-2) (NR) – The metrics like them despite the lack of a defining win. I weigh both of those factors to place them 21st this week.
22. Michigan (9-3) (16) – The Wolverines are kicking themselves. Their three losses are by a combined five points. Trouble finishing close games, or just dumb basketball luck?
23. Illinois (8-3) (25) – Their win over Missouri (in St. Louis) was as good of a basketball game as you will find.
24. Dayton (10-3) (15) – The Flyers went 2-3 against non-conference heavyweights (North Carolina, Iowa State, UConn, Marquette, Cincinnati). The Atlantic-10 is a solid mid-major conference, and Dayton is well-positioned for an at-large come March.
25. Maryland (10-2) (NR) – I have been teasing the Terrapins for a few weeks, and it’s time to pull the trigger. Metrically, they are as good as anyone in the conference. That said, the schedule is terrible. Considering all factors, this feels appropriate.

Dropped Out:

Purdue (8-4) (17) – Unlike Maryland, Purdue has played a strong schedule. How do you balance a strong schedule vs. results? It’s always enough to fry your brain.
Memphis (9-3) (23) – I may never rank them again. No, not this year. Ever. I can’t figure them out, so why should I bother?

Just Missed:

Drake (11-0) – Three SEC schools and Drake are our final unbeaten. They survived an obstacle against Kansas State. Are they this year’s Indiana State?
Arkansas (10-2) – While Maryland and St. John’s were promoted from “Just Missed” to “In,” Arkansas continues to wait for their turn. One thing we know: The SEC will offer opportunities.
Pittsburgh (10-2) – That loss to Mississippi State resonates in my brain, but their overall profile is impressive. It’s early and things will change, but the NET has them solidly placed behind Duke as the ACC’s second-best squad.

Finally, a week that stabilizes the Top 25. Only a few teams dropped out of the Top 25 for the first time this year. Both had a case to stay in.

The SEC has 20 combined losses (it’s a 16-team league). Conference play has yet to begin, but while every team plays its share of cupcakes, many SEC teams have played tough schedules. This will be a fun storyline come Selection Sunday, as an argument for up to 12 teams is possible. What will they do with the inevitable squad that falls apart but finishes 18-14 with a handful of high-quality wins?

The undefeated watch lost a few members, as Rhode Island, Loyola-Chicago, and UC Irvine walked off the court as losers for the first time. That leaves Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma, Utah State, and Drake as our final five. Tennessee plays Florida on 1/7. Oklahoma has a matchup with Michigan on 12/18. Utah State has back-to-back road contests with St. Mary’s and San Diego State before the end of the calendar year. Drake takes on conference nemesis Bradley on 1/8 (road game). First, they will need to get past Kansas State.

Top 25:

1. Tennessee (10-0) (1) – If you were waiting for a big non-conference road win, you got it as they knocked off a pesky Illinois squad at the buzzer.7
2. Auburn (9-1) (2) – Ohio State hasn’t met preseason expectations. It was still a shock to see Auburn crush them by 38. I debated moving them back to #1.
3. Florida (10-0) (3) – The Gators have more to prove than Tennessee/Auburn, but they are crushing opponents by 21.1 points.
4. Iowa State (9-1) (4) – The Cyclones are the only team in the Top 10 offensively and defensively.
5. Kentucky (10-1) (5) – I don’t know what to think of Kentucky. However, what I do know is that they are stacking wins.
6. Duke (8-2) (7) – Their defense is top-notch. The scary thing is that the offense will likely get better.
7. Alabama (8-2) (8) – They will be dangerous if their defensive rating is in the Top 40 range (currently 35th).
8. Kansas (8-2) (9) – When a team ranked first in the preseason runs into a few bumps, they can easily become forgotten. Don’t do that.
9. Texas A&M (9-2) (14) – That season-opening loss to UCF will take a while to dissolve but they are playing well against a Top 20 schedule.
10. Oregon (10-1) (10) – Only one game since their 2-point loss to UCLA (a romp of Stephen F. Austin)
11. UCLA (9-1) (15) – The Big Ten appears to be a competitive conference. It’s two of the Pac-12 invaders who I believe stand apart (for now).
12. UConn (8-3) (17) – The bad news for the rest of the country is that it is time for Big East play. The conference looks less powerful than last year.
13. Marquette (9-2) (6) – A bit of a mixed bag, but the Golden Eagles own a Top 20 offense and defense.
14. Oklahoma (10-0) (16) – An unbeaten SEC squad deserves respect but there is a quality of opponent issue to overcome. Let’s see how they fare against Michigan.
15. Dayton (9-2) (19) – Given that I am often wrong, I will temporarily pat myself on the back for seeing their quality even after a 7th-place Maui finish.
16. Michigan (8-2) (12) – You won’t find a crazier game than their loss to Arkansas. Both teams looked like world-beaters at multiple times during the game.
17. Purdue (8-3) (13) – The Boilermakers are 2-1 against the SEC (and close to being 3-0).
18. Houston (6-3) (20) – While Iowa State is the only Top 10 offense & defense, the Cougars are close (11th offensively/3rd defensively).
19. San Diego State (7-2) (21) – The Mountain West is its typical “stacked” self. However, in 2024, that stacking is in the 40-55 range in the KenPom (four teams ranked in that area).
20. Gonzaga (7-3) (11) – The Kentucky and UConn losses were close and they are one of the unluckiest teams in the country. They have one more non-conference resume booster (UCLA).
21. Cincinnati (8-1) (23) – Their 312th-ranked schedule holds them down. A nice win over Xavier, however, with another Ohio rival coming up (Dayton).
22. Michigan State (8-2) (24) – Sometimes, one way to move up is by not playing. There isn’t much for the Spartans to worry about until the New Year (famous last words)
23. Memphis (8-2) (NR) – Anyone who bets on a Memphis Tigers game is a glutton for punishment. Home loss to Arkansas State followed by a road win over Clemson?
24. Mississippi State (9-1) (25) – It wasn’t pretty, but they hung on against McNeese. While McNeese is only 5-5, they have played Alabama and Mississippi State within single digits.
25. Illinois (7-3) (NR) – The Fighting Illini caused Tennessee to sweat.

Dropped Out:

Wisconsin (9-3) (18) – The Badgers stopped their 3-game losing streak with a win over Butler.
Clemson (9-2) (22) – Tough loss to Memphis. I was close to keeping them in the Top 25…

Just Missed:

Maryland (8-2) – The Terrapins didn’t play last week, making it hard for me to jump them into the Top 25.
Arkansas (9-2) – Another squad that just missed, the Razorbacks have a gauntlet to overcome once the calendar flips to 2025.
St. John’s (8-2) – The KenPom loves the Red Storm, which counts for something. I need to see a high-quality win.

We aren’t getting a clear picture yet of the “middle tier” of college basketball squads this year. That is why my Top 25 is ever-evolving.

Undefeated watch:

Even though we are relatively early in the season, we only have eight undefeated teams left:
Rhode Island (9-0)
Loyola-Chicago (8-0)
UC-Irvine (9-0)
Drake (8-0)
Utah State (9-0)
Florida (9-0)
Oklahoma (9-0)
Tennessee (8-0)

Let’s cross off the SEC squads (Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee). There is zero chance those teams will remain unbeaten for long in that crazy league. While the Mountain West may be down this year, it is still competitive so cross Utah State off the list.

No team is going unbeaten, so I am trying to figure out who has the best chance to be the last unbeaten squad. UC-Irvine‘s schedule isn’t tough, but they must travel to Oregon State this week. Kansas State doesn’t stand out this year, but figures to be tough competition for Drake. 

The most fascinating options may be Rhode Island and Loyola-Chicago, neither of which has a rough road heading toward their 1/15 showdown. I don’t expect them both to be unbeaten, but it could be fun if one is.

Given the slates, I am predicting Loyola-Chicago to be the nation’s last undefeated team. Which means they won’t be.

Top 25:

1. Tennessee (8-0) (3) – One of only two teams in the top ten offensively and defensively, according to KenPom. While the schedule hasn’t been great, they are winning games by an average of 27 points.
2. Auburn (8-1) (1) – One of the top schedules amongst power schools, with the only blemish a 6-point road loss to Duke.
3. Florida (9-0) (4) – Those who want to see them play someone decent get their wish – the next two are against Arizona State and North Carolina.
4. Iowa State (7-1) (10) – The Cyclones are the other team with a top-ten offensive and defensive profile.
5. Kentucky (8-1) (5) – Being one of the few SEC teams to lose in the ACC – SEC Battle, they made up for it by beating Gonzaga.
6. Marquette (9-1) (6) – Like Kentucky, a 1-1 week against two good teams.
7. Duke (7-2) (15) – The top-ranked defensive squad owns a Top 20 schedule.
8. Alabama (7-2) (11) – They deserve a break in their schedule and will get one after their 12/14 game against Creighton.
9. Kansas (7-2) (2) – Securing road wins is hard. Kansas failed twice in this endeavor last week.
10. Oregon (9-1) (8) – Failed in their attempt to be the first to 10 wins.
11. Gonzaga (7-2) (7) – Brutal loss to Kentucky (blew an 18-point lead). Can they rebound against UConn?
12. Michigan (8-1) (18)—Coaching matters, as does having modern-day twin towers that can shoot from anywhere.
13. Purdue (8-2) (12) – Avoided a disastrous week with their comeback over Maryland. A solid schedule & offense. Defense needs work.
14. Texas A&M (8-2) (22) – The Aggies are stacking impressive early-season wins. The Central Florida loss is in the rearview mirror.
15. UCLA (8-1) (NR) – Last week, I said I wanted to see them against good competition. Beating Oregon qualifies.
16. Oklahoma (9-0) (19) – It’s too bad their ACC opponent was Georgia Tech, as it didn’t allow us to get more insight into how good they are. Their upcoming game with Michigan is fascinating.
17. UConn (7-3) (NR) – Nice wins over Baylor and Texas earn them a return to my Top 25. Gonzaga awaits. Elite offense, but the defense is barely in the Top 100.
18. Wisconsin (8-2) (9) – The Arizona and Pitt conquests have lost some luster.
19. Dayton (8-2) (23) – Fascinating squad. They knocked off one Big East power (UConn). Can they follow it up with a win over Marquette?
20. Houston (5-3) (20) – Their three losses (all to good competition) are by a combined 13 points.
21.  San Diego State (6-2) (NR) – One of those three losses was to San Diego State, who also owns a win over Creighton.
22. Clemson (9-1) (NR) – Who knew that the Tigers were going to be one of the teams to save the ACC from complete embarrassment in the ACC-SEC battle?
23. Cincinnati (7-1) (17) – The schedule is atrocious, but will improve.
24. Michigan State (8-2) (NR) – Began their Big Ten journey by beating Minnesota and Nebraska by a combined 55 points.
25. Mississippi State (8-1) (NR) – They didn’t just defeat Pittsburgh. They manhandled them.

Dropped Out:

Memphis (7-2) (13) – Impossible to ignore a home loss to Arkansas State.
Pittsburgh (8-2) (14) – That loss to Mississippi State was ugly. Perhaps I am being too harsh though…
Baylor (5-3) (16) – Their three losses are to good teams and they counteract that with some good wins. A lot of nitpicking in these rankings.
North Carolina (5-4) (21) – I am a firm believer in strong schedules. But you have to win some of those games.
Illinois (6-2) (24) – Like many of the others, I had to nitpick resumes near the bottom of the Top 25.
Drake (8-0) (25) – As I said last week, they were bound to fall out at some point as bigger schools started to rise.

Just Missed:

Creighton (7-3) – Outstanding win over Kansas places them back in the Top 25 discussion.
Arizona State (8-1) – A good week for the football squad. An unexpected hot start for the basketball squad.
Maryland (8-2) – The Terrapins were close to a massive road win over Purdue.

This time of year, there are two types of teams: those that played in a big non-conference tournament and those that didn’t. Separating the two is difficult, as the teams that decide not to play in one of the big tournaments have easier weeks than those who do. However, only one team can win the tournaments, so many good teams will suffer at least one loss. In the case of UConn, it was three losses.

I place major stock in the tournaments. It’s our early-season barometer. That doesn’t mean Oklahoma and Oregon jump to #1 and #2 in the country, but it does place them in my Top 25.

The Big East

After justified complaining over their NCAA Tournament representation last season, the Big East entered this season with high expectations. Thus far, only Marquette is living up to those expectations (DePaul is 7-0 but has played the second-worst schedule in the nation (only Missouri’s is worse). Seton Hall has losses to Fordham, Hofstra, and Monmouth. St. John’s has a solid computer profile but lost its highest-profile game (Baylor). The Red Storm has also fallen to Georgia. Only three squads reside in the KenPom Top 50, weakening the conference’s position come Selection Sunday if things don’t change. Without a solid mid-conference, high-profile wins are harder to come by. Further weakening their position is the ending of the Gavitt Tipoff games, eliminating the chance to get big wins over the Big Ten Conference. They will play the Big 12, however.

Top 25:

1. Auburn (7-0) (3) – Strong wins, top offense, top ten defense. What more can we ask for from the #1 squad?
2. Kansas (7-0) (1) – They did nothing wrong to deserve a demotion. Auburn just did more to receive a promotion.
3. Tennessee (7-0) (9) – One of the top teams not to play in a tournament, their 22-point road win over Louisville carries more weight now than it did then.
4. Florida (8-0) (15) – A massive boost for the Gators, who dominated the ESPN Invitational (admittedly, it wasn’t a strong field but we saw plenty of upsets elsewhere). Their average margin of victory is 22 points.
5. Kentucky (7-0) (6) – The Wildcats own that win over Duke, but it’s otherwise Cupcake City so far. Their SOS (KenPom) is 272.
6. Marquette (8-0) (14) – Georgia’s 7-1 start helps Marquette (Georgia’s only loss), and it doesn’t hurt that they mauled Purdue by 18.
7. Gonzaga (7-1) (4) – Tough loss to West Virginia but a combination of tough schedule, elite offense, and good defense keeps them in the Top 10.
8. Oregon (8-0) (NR) – The surprise winners of the inaugural Players Era Festival, Oregon didn’t take an easy path. They knocked off Texas A&M and Alabama to secure the crown.
9. Wisconsin (8-0) (13) – Who knew their win over Pitt would look better than beating Arizona?
10. Iowa State (5-1) (10) – Lost by only 2 to Auburn and won their final two games in Maui.
11. Alabama (6-2) (12) – I am giving them extra credit for their schedule, but the defense needs to improve.
12. Purdue (7-1) (18) – They bounced back from the 18-point loss to Marquette to take the Rady Children’s Invitational. Like Alabama, they are strong offensively but need defensive improvement.
13. Memphis (6-1) (20) – Ran into the buzzsaw known as Auburn in the title game in Maui. Before that, they knocked off UConn and Michigan State.
14. Pittsburgh (7-1) (NR) – There is a lot to like in their early-season profile. That true road win over Ohio State (on a miracle 3-pointer) will resonate later.
15. Duke (5-2) (7) – Kansas lost one of their best players due to a flagrant foul, but the Blue Devils couldn’t take advantage. They have played a solid Top 50 schedule and the KenPom ranks their defense as the best.  Can they conquer Auburn at home?
16. Baylor (5-2) (17) – Wins over St. John’s and Arkansas. Losses to Tennessee and Gonzaga. I think this is an appropriate ranking.
17. Cincinnati (6-0) (11) – How did an unbeaten team fall 6 spots? While others are challenging themselves, the Bearcats have one of the worst schedules in the country.
18. Michigan (6-1) (NR) – The Wolverines took care of business in the Fort Myers Tip-Off, knocking off previously-ranked Xavier.
19. Oklahoma (7-0) (NR) – The unexpected winners of the Battle 4 Atlantis, as they knocked off another surprising squad (Louisville) in the championship tilt.
20. Houston (4-3) (5) – The KenPom still loves them, as their “luck” ranking is amongst the worst in the country (5th unluckiest team in college basketball).
21. North Carolina (4-3) (8) – They survive in my Top 25 due to the closeness of their losses to tough competition. However, you have to start winning some of those contests.
22. Texas A&M (6-2) (NR) – The season-opening loss to UCF hurts them, but wins over Ohio State, Creighton, and Rutgers help their cause.
23. Dayton (6-2) (NR) – “How can you rank the 7th place team in Maui?” Easily. The Flyers could have easily been in the championship game (coulda, woulda, shoulda) before dismantling UConn in the 7th-place contest. This wasn’t your run-of-the-mill 7th-place finish.
24. Illinois (6-1) (NR) – The schedule leaves something to be desired, but they defeated Arkansas by 13 on a neutral court (lost to Alabama on a neutral court)
25. Drake (7-0) (23) – It will be hard for Drake to maintain a ranking unless they have a ridiculous season. Their schedule doesn’t support it. However, I will still give them credit for an early-season tournament win.

Dropped out:

UConn (5-3) (2) – The Huskies were handed the “easier” side of the bracket in Maui and fumbled the ball. Their schedule is awful, and Dan Hurley threatens to decline to play in these tournaments again. Grow up.
Indiana (5-2) (16) – Louisville might be a surprise team this season, but that is no excuse to lose by 28 on a neutral court. Indiana laid a giant egg in the Bahamas.
Arizona (3-4) (19)—The Battle 4 Atlantis tournament was wonky, and Arizona was a part of it, losing to Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Mississippi State (6-1) (21) – Losing to a Butler team that lost to Austin Peay is not a good look.
Xavier (7-1) (22) – They may not be ashamed of losing to Michigan, but the follow-up (3-point win over South Carolina State) raises questions.
Arkansas (5-2) (24) – Illinois humbled them and their offense has not clicked.
Creighton (5-3) (25) – Back-to-back-to-back losses to Nebraska, San Diego State, and Texas A&M knocks them out. They knocked off Notre Dame to finish 7th in the Players Era Festival.

Just Missed:

San Diego State (4-2) – Huge wins over Creighton and Houston place them on the cusp. Their losses are to Gonzaga and Oregon. As you may suspect, they have played one of the toughest schedules (3rd).
UCLA (6-1) – I had them ranked originally thanks to their incredible defensive ranking. However, I need to see them perform against tougher competition.
Arizona State (7-1) – Perhaps there is bias after hearing about Duke mauling them in a scrimmage. The Sun Devils lost to Gonzaga by only 8 in a true road game and defeated previously unbeaten St. Mary’s last time out.