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.