NCAA Basketball Top 25 for 2/9

FYI: All ratings, including SOS, Offensive Efficiency, and Defensive Efficiency, are courtesy of the KenPom.

Top 25:

1. Arizona (23-0) (1) – Their schedule hasn’t been easy, but the gauntlet begins now.
2. Michigan (22-1) (2) – While not quite the Arizona gauntlet, life will be tough on the Wolverines as most of their remaining tough games are either on the road or on a neutral court.
3. Duke (21-2) (3) – Duke haters won’t love this, but the week played out in a way that keeps them here despite losing to North Carolina.
4. Houston (21-2) (7) – Nice wins over UCF and BYU (road) jump them up the rankings. Their Offensive Efficiency (4th) is rated higher than their Defensive Efficiency (9th).
5. Iowa State (21-2) (8) – Like Arizona, a gauntlet awaits. It makes sense, as the first half of their Big 12 schedule didn’t feature many of the Big 12’s elite.
6. UConn (22-2) (4) – Their issues (among elite teams) on offense continue to haunt them.
7. Illinois (20-4) (6) – Forgiveable road loss. Easier schedule than Michigan (plus they get the Wolverines at home) down the stretch.
8. Nebraska (21-2) (9) – Even during a bad season, it isn’t fun playing Rutgers on the road. Nice job by the Cornhuskers to end their 2-game losing streak.
9. Kansas (18-5) (13) – Winners of seven straight, they will get a shot at Arizona on Monday. Followed by a Valentine’s Day matchup at Iowa State.
10. Purdue (19-4) (10) – They stopped the bleeding, but barely against an undermanned Oregon squad. Now they go on the road to face Nebraska and Iowa.
11. Michigan State (20-4) (11) – Nothing defines college basketball better than losing to Minnesota and following it up by beating Illinois.
12. Florida (17-6) (14) – Walloped Texas A&M to take over first place in the SEC. A National Championship repeat is not out of the question.
13. North Carolina (19-4) (19) – Five in a row, including conquests of Virginia and Duke.
14. St. John’s (18-5) (20) – The Red Storm have won nine in a row, as they are a Top 20 defense (just outside the top 20 in offense)
15. Gonzaga (23-2) (5) – Everyone is entitled to a bad game, but losing at 12-14 Portland was a shocker. When you are expected to dominate a mid-major conference and don’t, you will lose ground.
16. Vanderbilt (19-4) (12) – 3-4 since their 16-0 start.
17. Saint Louis (23-1) (17) – How secure is their NCAA Tournament bid, regardless of how they do in the A-10 Tournament? It is looking better by the week.
18. Virginia (20-3) (18) – Don’t have a long list of impressive wins, but have been consistent. The Cavaliers don’t play Clemson, but have one game against Duke as they try to win the ACC.
19. Texas Tech (17-6) (16) – The Red Raiders have that win over Duke in their back pocket. A tad inconsistent overall.
20. Clemson (20-4) (21) – The best thing I can say is that the Tigers win the games they are supposed to win.
21. Miami (OH) (24-0) (22) – Going on the road to play Marshall was a tough test. A test they easily conquered.
22. BYU (17-6) (15) – Nobody can say they have played poorly during this 1-5 stretch, but they aren’t passing the tests they need to pass.
23. Louisville (17-6) (23) – The Cardinals have already blown their shot at the ACC title. Their offense remains dangerous.
24. Iowa (18-5) (24) – Make that six straight wins for the methodical, yet effective, Hawkeyes.
25. Utah State (20-3) (25) – Their schedule is average-ish, even if they are 0-0 against AP Top 25 squads. They are the most comfortable of the Mountain West squads.

Dropped Out:

None

Just Missed:

Arkansas (17-6) – The 7th-ranked offense. The 58th-ranked defense. That sums it up.
Kentucky (17-7) – An 8-1 flourish after a 0-2 conference start puts them right in the thick of the SEC race.
Villanova (18-5) – The “best of the rest” in the Big East lacks the signature win that would put them in the Top 25.