Month: February 2025

College Basketball 2/17: Top 25

A look at the resumes of some of the intriguing mid-major schools. I am not including VCU, St. Mary’s or any of the Mountain West schools. Rather, I am looking at deep sleepers.

UC-San Diego (Big West; 22-4, NET: 43) – The term “dangerous team” is overused on Selection Sunday, but nobody wants to see the Tritons as their first-round matchup. They split road games against two strong Mountain West teams (Utah State, San Diego State) and are in the Top 50 range in the KenPom offense and defense ratings. What else is fun? This is their first year of NCAA Tournament eligibility.
UC Irvine (Big West; 22-4, NET: 63) – If the Tritons don’t win the conference tournament, the Anteaters can fill the void as a dangerous tournament team. Their overall profile isn’t as strong (their toughest non-conference game is at Oregon State, which they lost by 12). 54-year-old coach Russ Turner deserves a “step up” job.
Drake (MVC; 23-3, NET: 56) – The Bulldogs won the Charleston Classic, knocking off Vanderbilt by 11 in the title game. Even with that and a potentially gaudy record, an at-large bid is not likely in the cards, given their three conference losses. If they make the tournament, their ability to control tempo (very slow) could cause a headache for their first-round opponent.
Yale (Ivy; 16-6, NET: 66) – The Bulldogs have emerged as the Ivy League favorites, and they are fresh off of a first-round shocker in 2024 (defeated Auburn in a 13-vs-4 game). While they don’t own Quadrant 1 wins, they played Purdue within eight on the road early in the season.
McNeese (Southland; 20-6, NET: 70) – Never afraid to challenge themselves, the Cowboys lost to Alabama by eight and Mississippi State by three in the non-conference. Owners of one of the best non-conference schedules in the country have predictably dominated within their conference. They were 30-3 heading into the NCAA Tournament last year but drew Gonzaga. I would love to see if they can get over the hump this year. Head coach Will Wade had a controversial tenure at LSU but will that be forgiven with the new NIL/transfer rules?
Liberty (Conference USA; 21-5, NET: 68) – I love it when strong mid-major schools face off. That happened earlier this year when Liberty knocked off McNeese in the Paradise Jam championship (after knocking off Kansas State in the semi-finals). Unlike McNeese, Liberty’s non-conference slate wasn’t impressive, but their ability to knock down a high percentage of three-pointers makes them a dangerous opponent.

Top 25:

1. Auburn (23-2) (1) – As strong as the SEC is, no other team is in the neighborhood of Auburn’s 14 Quadrant 1 wins. Defeating Alabama on the road further cements their greatness.
2. Duke (22-3) (3) – The Blue Devils need to be careful with Clemson only one game back. The relatively weak ACC makes it hard for them to improve their #1 seed resume, so beating Illinois this weekend would be big towards that effort.
3. Florida (22-3) (4) – The Gators, a top-ten offense and defense, have a stronger overall schedule than Duke – however, Duke played a tougher non-conference slate. The race for the #1 seeds will be fascinating.
4. Houston (21-4) (5) – The Cougars continue to be the nation’s lone unbeaten road squad, adding Arizona to their list of victims.
5. Alabama (21-4) (2) – It’s tough to find that spot where you want to “drop” a team sometimes. This ranking is appropriate, though you can argue them ahead of Houston. It’s razor-thin.
6. Tennessee (21-5) (6) – Avenged their earlier loss to Vanderbilt. This followed their road loss to Kentucky, who swept the Volunteers. “Holding serve” with their ranking is appropriate.
7. Texas A&M (20-5) (8) – Winners of five in a row, four of their next five games are against Mississippi State (road), Tennessee, Florida (road), and Auburn. That schedule keeps them in the #1 seed conversation.
8. Wisconsin (20-5) (10) – On December 10th, the Badgers lost their third straight game, causing some nervousness in Madison. They are 11-2 since, including their road conquest of Purdue. Please don’t sleep on their resume.
9. Texas Tech (20-5) (12) – Their 111-106 double-overtime win over Arizona State was entertaining. When margins are slim, losing to St. Joseph’s (neutral) and UCF (home) will impact your seed.
10. St. John’s (22-4) (9) – Their loss to Villanova was rough, but the follow-up (win over Creighton) was more important. The Red Storm will need to collapse to lose the regular-season title.
11. Iowa State (20-5) (14) – The conference title is out of reach, but if they can beat Houston on the road this weekend…
12. Michigan (20-5) (15) – Even with the hiring of Dusty May, nobody’s bingo card included a 20-5, Big Ten-leading Michigan squad. They are off until Friday when they welcome Michigan State to Ann Arbor.
13. Maryland (20-6) (17) – I have picked on their non-conference schedule all year, but the Terrapins have six Quadrant 1 wins, no bad losses, and are a top 20 offensive and defensive squad.
14. Marquette (19-6) (16) – Not much to say about the Golden Eagles this week.
15. Purdue (19-7) (7) – The computers still like Purdue, and for good reason: 21 of their 26 games are in Quadrant 1/2. They are 14-7. The Boilermakers are in a little slump, which isn’t unexpected.
16. Michigan State (20-5) (13) – Congrats to Tom Izzo on breaking Bobby Knight’s Big Ten record. The Spartans are in the Big Ten race, with two huge games this week (Purdue, and Michigan).
17. Clemson (21-5) (20) – It’s hard to get a read on the Tigers, but they followed up their win over Duke with a 20-point win over North Carolina and a 26-point road win over Florida State. They are in the Top 25 in the KenPom.
18. Missouri (19-6) (22) – The Tigers survived their gauntlet before having things ease up a bit last week (blowout wins over Oklahoma and Georgia (road)). For an SEC squad, the rest of their schedule is manageable – though a big game against Alabama awaits this week.
19. Kentucky (17-8) (23) – The Wildcats have wins over Tennessee (2), Florida, Texas A&M, and Duke. Their defense escapes them at times, but they have established that they can beat anyone.
20. Arizona (17-8) (11) – The Wildcats lost a pair last week, but there is no denying their overall strength. With expectations lower, will they “surprise” during the Big Dance?
21. Mississippi State (18-7) (19) – The Bulldogs are 6-6 within the SEC, struggling somewhat against the upper tier. That said, they completed a sweep of Ole Miss last week.
22. Ole Miss (19-7) (18)—Despite being swept by Mississippi State, the computers like the Rebels more. This can be tough to understand, but don’t overanalyze things.
23. Saint Mary’s (23-4) (25) – The Gaels are 9-4 in Quadrant 1/2. The NCAA Tournament hasn’t been nice to them, but it only takes one run…
24. Kansas (17-8) (21) – Road games are an issue for the Jayhawks. Their only in-conference road wins are against Central Florida, Cincinnati (solid), and TCU. It’s tough to dismiss a team with their talent level, but where are the results?
25. Louisville (20-6) (NR) – Their early-season loss to Duke hurts their shot at winning the regular-season title, though they did defeat Clemson, which could impact a 3-way tie for the title.

Dropped Out:

Creighton (18-8) (24) – The Blue Jays are good, but they blew their shot at taking over the conference lead by losing two games last week.

Just Missed:

Memphis (21-5) – The AAC is so mediocre that it’s hard for me to justify their struggles. Sure, they are 11-2 within the conference, but too many wins are close, and losing to Wichita State is bad.
New Mexico (22-4) – The Lobos have won eight in a row, including two wins over Utah State and a conquest of Boise State. The clear leaders of the Mountain West pack, a solid non-conference slate will help their at-large cause if it comes to that.
UCLA (19-7) – The Bruins kept it close against Illinois on the road, following it up with a win over Indiana.

College Basketball 2/10: Top 25

Top 25:

1. Auburn (21-2) (1) – How good are the Tigers? I would have debated whether they should stay at #1 even if Duke won their game.
2. Alabama (20-3) (3) – Auburn’s loss allowed Alabama to tie them atop the SEC. They still play each other twice. The first game is this weekend. Defense won’t be their calling card, but they are now in the Top 40 in defensive efficiency.
3. Duke (20-3) (2) – The Blue Devils proved one thing: It is hard to go unbeaten in conference play, no matter how much better you are than the competition. They are still the lone team in the top five offensively and defensively.
4. Florida (20-3) (6) – The lone knock on the Gators is a mediocre non-conference schedule. A win at Auburn erases a little of that.
5. Houston (19-4) (4) – The Cougars are the only power conference school without a road loss.
6. Tennessee (20-4) (5) – Beat Missouri and Oklahoma (road game) and move down a spot? It comes down to rewarding Florida for their win.
7. Purdue (19-5) (7) – The Boilermakers are 11-1 in their last 12 games and 14-5 in Quad 1/Quad 2 contests.
8. Texas A&M (18-5) (10) – The Aggies have four SEC road wins (Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Missouri).
9. St. John’s (21-3) (12) – The Red Storm needed to prove themselves last week and passed the test. Villanova (road) and red-hot Creighton will try to humble them.
10. Wisconsin (19-5) (14) – The Badgers are 9th best in OFFENSIVE efficiency and their tempo rating is mid-tier. That isn’t their typical style (304th in Adjusted Tempo last season)
11. Arizona (17-6) (17) – One of the hottest teams in the country, the Wildcats – Houston game on Saturday may determine the Big 12 champion.
12. Texas Tech (18-5) (9) – Played Arizona within nine on the road and are the only team to beat the Wildcats since December 14th.
13. Michigan State (19-4) (11) – The Spartans lost a pair on the West Coast but bounced back with a home win over Oregon. Their one game against Purdue is coming soon.
14. Iowa State (18-5) (8) – TCU isn’t very good, but the Cyclones needed that blowout to stop the bleeding. No longer a #1 seed contender.
15. Michigan (18-5) (22) – Only one blowout loss and one game in Quadrant 4. The Cardiac Wolverines’ have outscored their opponents by 18 in their last five wins.
16. Marquette (18-6) (13) – This may be too high for the slumping Golden Eagles, but it’s still a solid profile. Their schedule eases up before revenge games against UConn and St. John’s to close the season.
17. Maryland (18-6) (15) – Their poor non-conference slate knocks them down, but they are 2-3 in Quadrant 1A games, all within in the Big Ten. All three losses were close road games (Purdue, Ohio State, Oregon)
18. Ole Miss (18-6) (NR) – The Rebels didn’t play a great non-conference schedule. However, the strength of the SEC has pushed their overall SOS to one of the toughest. Does it get easier? That’s funny, as their remaining schedule includes Auburn, Tennessee, and Florida.
19. Mississippi State (17-6) (25) – The Bulldogs received a much-needed break, playing only one game last week (a road win over Georgia). Their next three games? Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M.
20. Clemson (19-5) (20) – The Tigers put pressure on Duke with their Saturday win, as they own the conference tiebreaker. The profile is middling but (obviously) tournament-worthy.
21. Kansas (16-7) (16) – The computers still love the Jayhawks, thanks to a strong non-conference schedule and only six Quad 3/Quad 4 games. That said, they aren’t playing near expectations, following up a quality win over Iowa State with a loss to Kansas State.
22. Missouri (17-6) (18) – The Tigers lost two games last week by a combined seven points against Tennessee (road) and Texas A&M. They’ll live.
23. Kentucky (16-7) (19) – Their profile is up-and-down but the Wildcats are 7-6 in Quadrant 1. They are a mid-tier SEC team, which is nothing to be ashamed about.
24. Creighton (18-6) (NR) – The Blue Jays are (suddenly) the only threat to a St. John’s conference championship. If they defeat UConn and St. John’s this week, they will be in the driver’s seat.
25. Saint Mary’s (21-4) (21) – An 8-4 record in Quadrant 1/2. Their loss to San Francisco isn’t damaging, as their NET is in the Top 25.

Dropped Out:

UConn (16-7) (23) – Their defense is not championship caliber. Can they flip the switch? Certainly. But they have to prove it.
Oregon (16-8) (24) – The Ducks are 40th in the KenPom and 35th in the NET. Their strength of schedule + Quad 1 wins will impress the committee but the bleeding must stop.

Just Missed:

Memphis (20-4) – Plenty of wins, a middling computer profile. I feel like the outlier by keeping them out of the Top 25.
New Mexico (20-4) – The Lobos have taken over the Mountain West, courtesy of six straight wins. The committee will appreciate their strong schedule, though they will be docked for that awful home loss to New Mexico State (Quadrant 4).
UCLA (18-6) – After a strong start to their campaign, the Bruins fell off the radar during a 1-5 stretch. Now? They have won seven straight since that stretch, including wins over Wisconsin, Oregon, and Michigan State.
Louisville (18-6) – Their profile includes zero bad losses ane enough quality wins to keep them on the edge.

Yankees MILB: A Look at the Spring Training Invitees

A look at the Yankees’ non-roster invite list for Spring Training.

Remember that players on the 40-man roster do not appear on this list.

Additionally, more players could eventually be in camp than what they announced. This is especially true early in camp, as many catchers are needed. You will always see prospects not on this list appear in a handful of spring training games, etc.

RHP Sean Boyle – Drafted in the 25th round in 2018 out of Dallas Baptist, Boyle has tossed 351.1 minor league innings, going 30-13 with a 3.54 ERA and 379 strikeouts. Due to injury, he threw only 56 innings between 2023 and 2024.
RHP Colten Brewer – Brewer has pitched for four teams over six major league seasons, including three games for the 2023 Yankees. He spent 2024 with the Cubs, compiling a 5.66 ERA over 20.2 innings. He owns a 5.10 ERA in 100 MLB games with a 50.9% GB rate.
RHP Carlos Carrasco – Carrasco has 110 MLB wins and a top 4 Cy Young Award finish in 15 seasons. His last decent season was in 2022 when he went 15-7 with a 3.97 ERA/3.53 FIP/23.6% K/97 ERA+ for the Mets.  He is a long shot to make the team, and as a veteran, I wonder if he has spring training optouts built into his deal.
RHP Chase Hampton –  If not for the dreaded injury bug, Hampton could have made his MLB debut in 2024. Baseball America’s 72nd-best prospect entering 2024 pitched only 18.2 innings over seven starts.  The system will look much better if he can bounce back.
RHP Geoff Hartlieb – The 6’5″, 240-point Hartlieb is a 31-year-old project with 79.1 MLB innings for four MLB teams. In those 79.1 innings, he owns a ghastly 7.37 ERA (5.37 FIP) and 14.4% BB rate. On a good note, he has averaged 96 MPH in his MLB career. He will be Scranton depth.
RHP Cristian Hernandez – There are always a few “who is that?” invitees to spring training. Hernandez pitched in the Phillies organization from 2018-2024, reaching as high as Double-A. Between three levels last season, he compiled a 3.67 ERA in 54 innings with a 57/13 K/BB. He is 24 years old.
RHP Erick Leal – Leal, who will turn 30 in March, has never appeared in an MLB game. He owns a lot of experience in professional baseball, however, given that he has tossed 1,114 innings between the minors/foreign leagues/Arizona Fall League. He has not been in affiliated baseball since 2019 as a member of the Cubs’ organization.
LHP Brandon Leibrandt – The 32-year-old Leibrandt is the only left-handed pitcher on the non-roster invitee list. He has two cups of coffee in MLB, one with the Marlins during the 2020 COVID season and one with the Reds last year. He has plenty of professional experience, which will be handy in Somerset.
RHP Leonardo Pestana – An interesting prospect with an injury history, Pestana ascended to Double-A in 2024, compiling a 3.18 ERA in 22.2 innings. I will assume his 2024 move to the bullpen is permanent, and we will see if it can keep him healthy.
RHP Eric Reyzelman – If the Yankees bullpen had openings, I would place Reyzelman on my “spring training sleeper” watch. That said, work is needed, as he walked 19 batters in 38.2 innings in 2024 (he struck out an impressive 63, compiling a 1.19 ERA). If he stays healthy, a 2025 debut is definitely on the table for the flamethrower out of LSU.
RHP Wilking Rodriguez – How is this for a fun story? Rodriguez made his MLB debut in 2014 for the Kansas City Royals. He hasn’t touched an MLB mound since. About to turn 35, he was briefly a member of the Yankees organization in 2015, the last time he was in an affiliated league until resurfacing with the Cardinals in 2023. A bigger longshot, I cannot find. But you have to respect the grind.
RHP Cam Schlittler – Drafted in the 7th round in 2022, Schlittler pitched 120.2 innings in 2024 (mostly for Hudson Valley), compiling a 3.36 ERA and 154/55 K/BB. That ERA is misleading, given that he allowed four earned runs in 1.2 innings in an emergency call-up to Scranton. The Yankees are rewarding him for a job well done and he should be somewhere on your potential 2025 debut list.
RHP Kevin Stevens – An undrafted signing in 2022, Stevens has made an impression. The 26-year-old spent 2024 in Somerset, going 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA over 39 innings. Impressively, he struck out 56 batters. The Yankees have an interesting array of relief prospects, and Stevens earning this trip to spring training speaks volumes to me.

C/1B Rafael Flores – One of the fastest risers in the organization, Flores stormed through the Double-A barrier in his first try, hitting .274/.359/.519 with an impressive 15 homers in 65 games. I don’t know if he is a catcher long-term, but he might have enough stick for first base if he isn’t.
C Alex Jackson – Acquired alongside RHP Fernando Cruz from Cincinnati (for Jose Trevino), Jackson should be in the backup catcher mix along with J.C. Escarra. However, his offense is rated NC-17, given that he has a .132/.224/.232 (27 OPS+) career line over 340 plate appearances.
C Omar Martinez – Perhaps overlooked in the Yankees system, Martinez spent 2024 in Hudson Valley, hitting .238/.374/.404 in 430 plate appearances. A left-handed bat, Martinez has swatted 31 doubles and 31 homers in 874 plate appearances over the last two seasons.

IF Roderick Arias – An international bonus baby, Arias was the 68th-ranked prospect by Baseball America in 2024. He didn’t quite live up to that, hitting .233/.335/.393 in 552 plate appearances for Tampa. That said, he showed off his raw talent, hitting 21 doubles and 13 home runs while stealing 37 bases. Arias struggles to hit right-handed (.544 OPS in 2024) and needs to fix that to reach full potential.
IF George Lombard Jr. – On the surface, Lombard Jr. wasn’t any better than Arias. He hit .231/.338/.334 in 497 plate appearances between Tampa/Hudson Valley with 25 doubles, five homers, and 39 stolen bases. Scouts are higher on him than Arias, and he is beginning to appear on Top 100 lists. He won’t turn 20 until June and could spend most of his summer in the Somerset, NJ sun. An Anthony Volpe-like breakout is not far-fetched.
IF Pablo Reyes – We go from two exciting, young infield prospects to Reyes, a shuttle-type with 233 games of MLB experience. In those games, he has played everywhere on the diamond except catcher (he has four MLB appearances on the hill!). Reyes is a valuable depth player, though you hope you rarely need him. He spent last season with the Red Sox and Mets (1 game).
1B T.J. Rumfield – Rumfield has a bit of a cult following amongst Yankees prospect lovers, given that he impressed at Scranton to the tune of a .292/.365/.461 triple slash in 474 plate appearances. Also known for an elite-level glove, Rumfield shouldn’t be ignored though he is firmly behind Paul Goldschmidt and Ben Rice on the organizational depth chart.
1B/OF Dominic Smith – A one-time top prospect for the Mets, Smith played for the Red Sox and Reds in 2024, hitting .233/.313/.378 with six home runs in 307 plate appearances. Other than producing at a high level in 139 games between 2019 and 2020 (.299/.366/.571 with 21 homers), Smith has been unable to live up to his prospect billing.
IF Andrew Velazquez – Velazquez was a fan favorite when he was called up in 2021, especially when he hit his first MLB home run. A native of the Bronx and known for his flashy glove, he didn’t appear in an MLB game in 2024. He spent the season in Atlanta’s farm system instead.

OF Brennen Davis – Only 25, Davis was once a top prospect in MLB for the Cubs, making Baseball America’s Top 100 in four straight campaigns (2020-2023). He ascended to 16th before 2022. While injuries and ineffectiveness have hampered his development, I find him as one of the most interesting players on this list. The Yankees aren’t loaded with outfield depth, so maybe he can stay healthy and recapture some of what once made him intriguing. After all, he swatted 11 homers in 55 minor league games last season. Watch closely.
OF Duke Ellis – It may be hard to remember that Ellis was briefly on the playoff roster last year for the Yankees. The speedster could retire today and forever brag that he batted 1.000 for the New York Yankees (he went 1-for-1 in the regular season in 2024). While offense won’t be his claim to fame, he does offer speed and defense. He went 5-for-5 in the stolen base department in 11 MLB games last season and has 140 stolen bases in 158 career minor league attempts.
OF Spencer Jones – Is there a more polarizing prospect in the Yankees system? Is there a more polarizing prospect in all of MLB? Jones has the loud tools teams drool over. He has massive power, can run the bases, and should be able to stick in center field. However, its all about his swing-and-miss and whether he can bring his strikeout percentage down. He struck out 36.8% of the time in Somerset in 2024. However, he still hit .259/.336/.452 with 30 doubles, 17 homers, and 25 stolen bases. Jones won’t be a “fast riser” to MLB and could struggle if/when he finally gets there. One can also continue to claim that he has an All-Star upside and a team with some outfield depth issues shouldn’t be quick to give up on that. Have fun figuring this one out. Anyone who claims to know where this is going is lying.
OF Ismael Munguia – The 26-year-old left-handed bat played from 2016 to 2024 in the Giants’ organization, never reaching MLB. Last year, between Double-A and Triple-A, he hit .286/.387/.418 in 372 plate appearances with 18 stolen bases and an equal amount of walks and strikeouts (37).

College Basketball 2/3: Top 25

Most disappointing teams, by conference:
Big East:
Seton Hall (6-15, 1-10; NET: 193) – Nobody expected the Pirates to contend for a Big East title, but the reigning NIT champions should be better than this.

Big Ten:
Rutgers (11-11, 4-7; NET: 76) – It was a tough call between the Scarlett Knights and Indiana (14-8; NET: 65). However, everyone wanted to see their top freshman compete in the NCAA Tournament. That seems like a faraway dream.

Big 12:
Cincinnati (12-9, 2-8; NET: 48) – The Bearcats maintain a solid NET despite their 0-6 record in Quadrant 1 and seven Quadrant 4 wins. The good news is that their NET gives them a launching point if they were to wake up.

ACC:
North Carolina (13-10, 6-5; NET: 44) – Like Cincinnati, their NET (likely bolstered by a strong schedule and lack of bad losses) is within the at-large range. However, they are a brutal 1-9 in Quadrant 1 and it is hard to justify them being in contention.

SEC:
Arkansas (13-8, 2-6; NET: 47) – Another squad with a middling NET, Arkansas is bolstered by their conference and neutral court win over Michigan. However, they are 2-7 in Quadrant 1. How will the committee treat the bottom of the nation’s top league?

The race for the top seeds:

Auburn and Duke are in great shape to enter the NCAA Tournament as #1 seeds. Both have potential roadblocks. For Auburn, the Tigers plan in a tough conference, which has pros (plenty of Quadrant 1 games!) and cons (the potential for an extended cold stretch). Duke is the opposite – they play in a weaker conference, giving them little margin for error. For example, Auburn losing to South Carolina would be less damaging (by a long shot) than Duke losing to Miami.

The NET isn’t the only tool used to determine #1 seeds, but it is the NCAA’s official ranking system so it needs to be taken seriously. The teams that appear to be in contention for the other #1 seeds are Houston, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, and Iowa State. Three squads play in the SEC, while the other two are in the Big 12. Can a team from another conference sneak in? I don’t see it. The Big Ten has six teams in the NET Top 20, but the highest-ranked team (Purdue) is 10th in the NET and 8th in the KenPom. Expect the league to have a steady stream of squads on the 2-5 lines.

The Mountain West watch:

Once again, this conference is bunching up, which will cause a headache for the committee. Four teams are in the NETT Top 50, though only Utah State (19-3; NET: 39) is in the Top 40. It looks like a 2-bid league with the potential for three if we get an upset in the conference tournament. I do not see it falling to a 1-bid league.

Top 25:

1. Auburn (20-1) (1) – The Tigers are 12-1 (!!) in Quadrant 1.  One of the most remarkable regular seasons in recent history, but no one remembers if you don’t finish it.
2. Duke (19-2) (2) – 15 straight wins, including an annihilation of North Carolina. That said, the Blue Devils have been unable to put away the ACC, as Clemson is hanging in there.
3. Alabama (19-3) (7) – Their win over Georgia was their 11th 90+ point game. Still have two games with Auburn.
4. Houston (17-4) (5) – The Cougars are 1-3 in overtime games (their other loss was by five against Auburn on a neutral court)
5. Tennessee (18-4) (6) – Talk about revenge: They lost to Florida by 30 on 1/7. They defeated Florida by 20 on 2/1, holding one of the country’s best offenses to 44 points.
6. Florida (18-3) (4) – Brutal loss, but they remain one of three teams with a Top 10 offense and defense (KenPom). The other teams are Duke and Houston (Auburn misses by a nose).
7. Purdue (17-5) (9) – The Boilermakers lost one of college’s biggest stars this season and continue to motor along. Impressive.
8. Iowa State (17-4) (3) – Their loss to Kansas State, for now, falls into Quadrant 3. That won’t impact their tournament status but can eventually impact their tournament seed.
9. Texas Tech (17-4) (17) – Though their non-conference schedule was bad, the Red Raiders have still shut people like me up. They are 5-0 in conference road games, including their conquest of Houston.
10. Texas A&M (17-5) (13) – The Aggies are 12-5 in Quad 1/2 (7-5 in Quad 1). They have offensive struggles but their defense is elite.
11. Michigan State (18-3) (8) – The computers will hate you for losing to USC, but the road game still falls into Quadrant 1 (barely).
12. Saint John’s (19-3) (15) – The Red Storm is jumping up in the NET, but continues to be suppressed by their conference. We will find out how good they are (games vs. Marquette and UConn this week).
13. Marquette (18-4) (10) – Their loss to UConn falls into Quadrant 2 (for now). That said, they are an impressive 11-4 in Quad 1/2.
14. Wisconsin (17-5) (11) – Their loss at Maryland helps the Terrapins more than it hurts the Badgers.
15. Maryland (17-5) (19) – A squad with plenty of question marks most of the season is on a 4-game winning streak that includes wins vs. Illinois (road), Indiana (road), and Wisconsin (home). They have yet to lose a game by more than six.
16. Kansas (15-6) (12) – I’ve hinted at it for a month: There is something off with the ultra-talented Jayhawks. They need to flip that switch.
17. Arizona (15-6) (NR) – The hot Wildcats put a stamp on their revival with their win over Iowa State. The win over Arizona State was “chippy,” to put it mildly.
18. Missouri (17-4) (24) – If you want to get someone’s attention, win an SEC road game by 27 points.
19. Kentucky (15-6) (16) – A win over Tennessee on Wednesday primed them for a climb. Their home loss to Arkansas on Saturday knocked them back down a peg or two.
20. Clemson (18-4) (21) – The Tigers can shock the world by taking over the ACC lead with a win over Duke this weekend.
21. Saint Mary’s (20-3) (23) – Just like that, the Gaels go from zero Quad 1 wins to two, as they beat Santa Clara (road) and Gonzaga. Additionally, their loss to Boise State has climbed into Quadrant 1.
22. Michigan (16-5) (25) – Rutgers is underachieving, but beating them in New Brunswick is still an achievement. Their profile is amplified by having only one Quadrant 4 game.
23. UConn (16-6) (NR) – For their own confidence, they badly needed that win over Marquette. Now, it’s about the follow-up.
24. Oregon (16-5) (18) – The Ducks are hanging on by a thread, but I remain impressed by their eight Quad 1 wins.
25. Mississippi State (16-6) (14) – The Bulldogs were handed an 8-game gauntlet. They went 3-5. The schedule doesn’t ease up, and they need to start winning these games.

Dropped Out:

Illinois (15-7) (20) – The computers remain in love, which makes sense since they have split 12 Quadrant 1 games. I believe results matter, and the Fighting Illini are 2-4 in their last six games.
Louisville (16-6) (22) – The lack of power in the ACC impacts the league’s top teams any time they lose. Losing to Georgia Tech on the road was, at one time, nothing to be ashamed about.

Just Missed:

Creighton (16-6) – Work is needed, but the Blue Jays have won seven in a row and are 2-1 against St. John’s/Marquette/UConn. They play the three squads again, in succession between 2/8 and 2/16.
Ole Miss (16-6) – It’s been a rough stretch for the Rebels, but they are playing close road games in the SEC (including a win over Alabama).
Memphis (18-4) – What hurts Memphis? The losses to Arkansas State and Temple stand out (though Arkansas State is a sneaky Top 100 NET team). However, when you play in a middling conference, you will be hurt by winning close games against Rice, Wichita State, and East Carolina. The Tigers’ standout wins likely = a bid if they lose the conference tournament, but their margin for error isn’t wide.