NCAA Basketball Top 25 for 1/5
FYI: All ratings, including SOS, Offensive Efficiency, and Defensive Efficiency, are courtesy of the KenPom.
None of the unbeaten squads lost this week. Miami (OH) remains the last mid-major with that distinction. The MAC is too difficult for a team to go unbeaten. We have two potential unbeaten matchups, though Michigan doesn’t play Nebraska until January 27th, while Iowa State plays Arizona on March 2nd. In other words, neither is happening.
Top 25:
1. Michigan (13-0) (1) – I am open to placing a team above the Wolverines, but how would I justify it? USC offered little resistance.
2. Arizona (14-0) (2) – The Wildcats may as well be ranked 1-B at this point. Their SOS is lower than Michigan’s, but that can be deceiving, as it can be argued that Arizona has played more good teams, while Michigan has played fewer truly awful teams.
3. Iowa State (14-0) (3) – 14 wins, only two of which were close.
4. Purdue (13-1) (4) – Since being blown out by Iowa State, they have blown the doors off the competition.
5. UConn (14-1) (6) – Can anyone in the Big East put a scare into the Huskies?
6. Duke (13-1) (5) – Wins are wins, but the games against Georgia Tech and Florida State were too close for comfort.
7. Vanderbilt (14-0) (9) – It’s time to move the Commodores higher. A big test (Alabama) is next.
8. BYU (13-1) (10) – They can win with offense, but they are showing the ability to grind out games as well.
9. Gonzaga (16-1) (7) – They mauled Loyola Marymount on Sunday, but Seattle took them to overtime earlier in the week. The problem this team has is that they won’t get much credit for grinding out wins in the WCC.
10. Houston (13-1) (8) – The Cougars’ playing close games is a feature, not a bug.
11. Nebraska (14-0) (16) – Have we learned a lot about the Cornhuskers? Adding a Michigan State win to their earlier conquest of Illinois helps legitimize their unbeaten record, and their schedule is favorable to keep it going (which means they won’t).
12. Alabama (11-3) (15) – They followed up a destruction of a good mid-major (Yale) by having zero issues against Kentucky. It may not be in their DNA, but they must play better defense.
13. Illinois (11-3) (17) – Thanks to a top-notch offense and solid defense, the computers like the Fighting Illini.
14. Michigan State (12-2) (11) – In the past, a loss to Nebraska would have been seen as a massive negative, even on the road. This season, losing by two on the road doesn’t hurt at all.
15. Texas Tech (11-3) (18) – Their win over Duke has seemingly shaken up the Blue Devils. As for the Red Raiders, a road game against in-state rival Houston awaits.
16. Louisville (11-3) (13) – They split a pair of games out west ahead of their matchup with Duke. Their offense remains elite. Their defense, not so much.
17. Arkansas (11-3) (23) – The Razorbacks start off their SEC campaign on the right foot, knocking off Tennessee.
18. Tennessee (10-4) (14) – It’s been a mixed bag of a season, with their defense looking good while the offense struggles.
19. Georgia (13-1) (21) – If chaotic basketball is your jam, become a Bulldogs fan. Their 104-100 overtime win over Auburn was pure entertainment, and their 99.4 scoring average is tops in the nation. That said, using the efficiency rankings, their offense is only 21st.
20. North Carolina (13-2) (12) – Bad road loss to SMU. Their non-conference wins over Kansas and Kentucky are losing luster.
21. Iowa (12-2) (25) – I hope they buy extra batteries for the shot clock when they face Purdue on 1/14. Both teams play at a slow tempo with tremendous efficiency.
22. Kansas (10-4) (19) – It’s been a slog for the Jayhawks, who have struggled against top teams (other than Tennessee).
23. Virginia (12-2) (20) – A tough road loss to Virginia Tech, but they bounced back by destroying North Carolina State.
24. Utah State (12-1) (NR) – The good news is that the Aggies are off to a 3-0 start in the Mountain West. The bad news is that those teams are 1-8 in conference play.
25. Saint Mary’s (15-2) (NR) – I wish their loss to Vanderbilt were closer, but their win over Virginia Tech is looking better.
Dropped Out:
Kentucky (9-5) (22) – Too many red flags, the biggest one being that most of their losses haven’t been close.
USC (12-2) (24) – Nobody is having much success with Michigan, but when you are teetering on the Top 25 line, you have to do better than the Trojans did.
Just Missed:
UCF (12-1) – Winners of 11 straight, it was tight between them and St. Mary’s for the 25th spot. Their only loss was not so bad – a 12-point defeat to still unbeaten Vanderbilt.
Villanova (12-2) – The “big win” isn’t on their resume, as their two losses are to BYU and Michigan, while their best win is over either Wisconsin or Seton Hall.
Seton Hall (13-2) – Their win over Creighton (56-54) is classic Shaheen Holloway. As is the case with Holloway teams, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The team is locked in on defense.
If you are wondering about 15-0 Miami (OH), they have cracked the KenPom Top 100 (98), but their schedule is what holds them back. If they keep winning, you have to start noticing, however.