Merry Christmas Eve! Here's my Top 25 for this week. I sort of struggled with how to rank some teams, as it feels like there is a clear top tier, and then after that a bunch of teams that deserve to be in the 18-25 range, so I feel some of these teams are overranked, and then I feel bad for some of the teams near the back and the ones I had to leave out, as they could easily be higher. The battle between resumes and the eye test is one I struggled with when putting this together, but after much deliberation, I've settled on these rankings. Pleads let me know your thoughts on the rankings on Twitter @ThreePointRange, and enjoy your holidays.
Top 25
1. Duke (4)
Record:11-1
Last Week: W 101-50 vs Princeton, W 69-58 vs Texas Tech(at MSG)
This Week: N/A
2. Michigan (2)
Record: 12-0
Last Week: W vs Air Force 71-50
This Week: 12/30 vs Binghamton
3. Tennessee (3)
Record: 10-1
Last Week: W 83-70 vs Samford, W 83-64 vs Wake Forest
This Week: 12/29 vs Tennessee Tech
4. Virginia (6)
Record: 11-0
Last Week: W 69-52 @ South Carolina, W 72-40 vs William & Mary
This Week: N/A
5. Nevada (5)
Record: 12-0
Last Week: W 68-62 vs Akron
This Week: 12/29 @ Utah
6. Kansas (1)
Record: 10-1
Last Week: W 89-53 vs South Dakota, L 80-76 @ Arizona State
This Week: 12/29 vs Eastern Michigan
7. Gonzaga (8)
Record: 11-2
Last Week: W 89-55 vs UT Arlington, W 101-40 vs Denver
This Week: 12/28 vs North Alabama
8. Florida State (11)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 85-68 vs SE Missouri State, W 95-81 vs North Florida, W 81-58 vs Saint Louis (in Orange Bowl Classic)
This Week: N/A
9. Auburn (7)
Record: 10-2
Last Week: L 78-71 @ NC State, W 93-88 vs Murray State
This Week: 12/29 vs North Florida
10. Michigan State (12)
Record: 10-2
Last Week: W 99-69 vs Oakland
This Week: 12/29 vs Northern Illinois
11. Virginia Tech (13)
Record: 10-1
Last Week: W 82-60 vs North Carolina A&T
This Week: 12/28 vs Maryland Eastern Shore
12. Texas Tech (9)
Record: 10-1
Last Week: L 69-58 vs Duke (in MSG)
This Week: 12/28 vs UT Rio Grande Valley
13. North Carolina (10)
Record: 8-3
Last Week: L 80-72 vs Kentucky (in Chicago)
This Week: 12/29 vs Davidson
14. North Carolina State (21)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 78-71 vs Auburn, W 98-71 vs USC Upstate
This Week: 12/28 vs Loyola (MD)
15. Kentucky (17)
Record: 9-2
Last Week: W 80-72 vs North Carolina (in Chicago)
This Week: 12/29 @ Louisville
16. Marquette (22)
Record: 10-2
Last Week: W 92-66 vs North Dakota, W 103-85 vs Buffalo
This Week: 12/28 vs Southern
17. Buffalo (14)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 71-59 @ Syracuse, L 103-85 @ Marquette
This Week: 12/29 @ Canisius
18. Arizona State (16)
Record: 9-2
Last Week: L 81-65 @ Vanderbilt, W 80-76 vs Kansas
This Week: 12/29 vs Princeton
19. Wisconsin (15)
Record: 10-2
Last Week: W 84-53 vs Grambling State
This Week: 12/29 @ Western Kentucky
20. Mississippi State (18)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 98-87 vs Wofford, W67-63 vs Wright State
This Week: 12/29 vs BYU
21. Houston (19)
Record: 12-0
Last Week: W 60-50 vs Utah State, W vs Coppin State
This Week: 12/29 vs NJIT
22. Ohio State (25)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 75-56 vs Youngstown State, W 80-66 vs Ohio State (in Chicago)
This Week: 12/29 vs High Point
23. Indiana (20)
Record: 11-2
Last Week: W 86-53 vs Central Arkansas, W 94-64 vs Jacksonville
This Week: N/A
24. Oklahoma (28)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 83-70 vs Creighton, W 76-69 (OT) @ Northwestern
This Week: N/A
25. St. John's (24)
Record: 12-0
Last Week: W 86-52 vs St. Francis (NY), W 104-82 vs Sacred Heart
This Week: 12/29 @ Seton Hall
Next 5
26. Nebraska (23)
Record: 10-2
Last Week: W 86-62 vs Cal State Fullerton
This Week: 12/29 vs SW Minnesota State
27. LSU (26)
Record: 9-3
Last Week: W 75-57 vs Furman
This Week: 12/28 vs Louisiana Monroe
28. Kansas State (27)
Record: 9-2
Last Week: W 55-51 vs Southern Miss, W 69-58 vs Vanderbilt (in Kansas City)
This Week: 12/29 vs George Mason
29. Villanova (30)
Record: 9-4
Last Week: W 81-58 vs UConn (in MSG)
This Week: N/A
30. Cincinnati (NR)
Record: 11-2
Last Week: W 93-64 vs UCLA, W 77-56 vs South Carolina State
This Week: N/A
Previously Ranked: Furman(29)
Also Considered: Belmont, Butler, Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, San Francisco, Seton Hall, TCU
Notes
- I've got Duke at #1, for a few reasons. First, losing to Gonzaga on a neutral by 2 is still very impressive. Secondly, they get to jump up on account of a very nice win over Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden. I had the Red Raiders in the top 10 last week, so that holds a lot of weight for me. Finally, I just think this is the best team in college basketball right now. They are just so, so good and I really struggled to not have them at #1.
- Kansas had to fall, and they really haven't played like a top 5 team so far. I think they are very clearly in the second tier of teams, and you could make a pretty convincing argument Gonzaga deserves to be higher. Right now, the resume for the Jayhawks is better so I have them ahead of the Bulldogs.
- I think Auburn is holding on by a thread right now. I mean their last few games have been super uninspiring, and I've got them at 9, but I could definitely see them falling with another poor performance.
- Having North Carolina over Kentucky is bold, and I admit the Wildcats looked a lot better than the Tar Heels, but honestly, for now, I think UNC has a slightly stronger resume. Prior to this game, Kentucky wasn't exactly playing great. They had lost to Seton Hall and had some unconvincing results against mid-majors, while UNC holds a win over a top 10 team in Gonzaga. With a win over Louisville, Kentucky will move the needle a lot.
- I feel like my ranking of Buffalo could be a bit controversial, but the Bulls are just really good. They lost to Markus Howard going NBA Jam on fire for the entire second half, and I don't think there's a single team in the country that withstands that performance. They also won a game in the Carrier Dome this week, which is impressive no matter how poorly the Orange have been playing. They would've been a top 10 team had they defeated the Golden Eagles, so I think they are in a good spot.
- Like I mentioned at the top, I struggled with these rankings, so some teams made weird jumps. Notably Wisconsin dropped 4 spots while winning, but that really has more to do with my rankings of Marquette and North Carolina State following wins than it doesn the Badgers. I think they probably deserve to be up towards 15, but I just didn't have the room to get them there.
What To Watch
- It's a light week in college hoops because of the holidays, but next weekend has some interesting games. Here are my most intriguing games for teams, in order of rank:
- Nevada will travel to Utah to face the Utes. Is Utah good? No, they are mid-tier in a horrific Pac-12. But, Nevada hasn't been playing super well of late, so this road test against a Power 5 school is still important. I don't think a win would move the needle, but this could be a big wakeup play before Mountain West team to a team that seems to be taking it easy a little bit.
- North Carolina plays Davidson, and if Kellen Grady is healthy, that's not an insignificant game. The Wildcats are maybe the best team in the A-10, and Grady and Jon Axel Gudmundsson is a very talented backcourt duo. This is a game that UNC might overlook as they gear up for ACC play, but the Wildcats could make them pay if they do.
- Obviously, the in-state battle between Kentucky and Louisville is going to be a great game. The Wildcats are looking to prove that their victory over North Carolina was indicative of the real team they are, while the Cardinals will look to continue building their resume with a win over their hated rival. A win for Kentucky likely vaults them into top 10 territory, while the Cardinals could push into the top 25 with a win.
- Wisconsin is going to travel to Western Kentucky in a game that could be very difficult. The Hilltoppers haven't played like it, but they are very talented and have a chance to make noise in Conference USA. This is no easy game, and it could easily be a Quadrant 1 victory for the Badgers when all is said is done.
- Mississippi State plays BYU. Honestly, the Cougars haven't looked great this year, but they right on the borderline of being a top 75 team on KenPom, so they aren't a lightweight by any means. Yoeli Childs is a force in the post, and Mississippi State has struggled a bit of late, so they need a win here to reinforce their status as one of the better teams in the nation. I think this could be closer than it appears.
- St. John's will receive their first real test of the season when they travel to the Prudential Center to face Seton Hall to open Big East play. The Johnnies are undefeated on the season, but have yet to play anyone on the level of the Pirates. Meanwhile, Seton Hall holds wins over Kentucky and more recently Maryland and are quietly on a 5 game win streak. A win for St. John's would solidify their ranking in the top 25, while a loss would take them out of the top 30, and put Seton Hall in.
- Belmont and Lipscomb have real opportunities to make big statement wins as they travel to Power 5 programs in Purdue and Clemson respectively. Neither one of those teams have lived up to preseason expectations, but they are still very good teams, and a win for either one of the Nashville programs would be enough to put them into the top 30 in my mind, especially the Bruins, who swept the Bisons in the season series.
- Bulter will travel to Gainesville to face off again against the Florida Gators. The Bulldogs already beat Florida at the Battle 4 Atlantis, so the Gators will be looking for revenge. They have turned things around since then, managing a win over a similarly struggling West Virginia team, so a win for Florida relieves a bit of pressure before SEC play in terms of their tournament resume, while a road victory over the Gators should be enough to give Butler serious consideration for the top 30 heading into the Big East.
- Finally, on Christmas Day, TCU will face Indiana State in the final of the Diamond Head Classic. The Horned Frogs have been super underrated this season and people sort of wrote them off after a loss to Lipscomb at home, but that's their only loss on the year and they've defeated SMU and USC, as well as already defeating the Sycamores by 20 before heading to Hawai'i. I think they are 31 at the moment, so a victory would push them into my top 30 without a doubt
Top 25
1. Duke (4)
Record:11-1
Last Week: W 101-50 vs Princeton, W 69-58 vs Texas Tech(at MSG)
This Week: N/A
2. Michigan (2)
Record: 12-0
Last Week: W vs Air Force 71-50
This Week: 12/30 vs Binghamton
3. Tennessee (3)
Record: 10-1
Last Week: W 83-70 vs Samford, W 83-64 vs Wake Forest
This Week: 12/29 vs Tennessee Tech
4. Virginia (6)
Record: 11-0
Last Week: W 69-52 @ South Carolina, W 72-40 vs William & Mary
This Week: N/A
5. Nevada (5)
Record: 12-0
Last Week: W 68-62 vs Akron
This Week: 12/29 @ Utah
6. Kansas (1)
Record: 10-1
Last Week: W 89-53 vs South Dakota, L 80-76 @ Arizona State
This Week: 12/29 vs Eastern Michigan
7. Gonzaga (8)
Record: 11-2
Last Week: W 89-55 vs UT Arlington, W 101-40 vs Denver
This Week: 12/28 vs North Alabama
8. Florida State (11)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 85-68 vs SE Missouri State, W 95-81 vs North Florida, W 81-58 vs Saint Louis (in Orange Bowl Classic)
This Week: N/A
9. Auburn (7)
Record: 10-2
Last Week: L 78-71 @ NC State, W 93-88 vs Murray State
This Week: 12/29 vs North Florida
10. Michigan State (12)
Record: 10-2
Last Week: W 99-69 vs Oakland
This Week: 12/29 vs Northern Illinois
11. Virginia Tech (13)
Record: 10-1
Last Week: W 82-60 vs North Carolina A&T
This Week: 12/28 vs Maryland Eastern Shore
12. Texas Tech (9)
Record: 10-1
Last Week: L 69-58 vs Duke (in MSG)
This Week: 12/28 vs UT Rio Grande Valley
13. North Carolina (10)
Record: 8-3
Last Week: L 80-72 vs Kentucky (in Chicago)
This Week: 12/29 vs Davidson
14. North Carolina State (21)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 78-71 vs Auburn, W 98-71 vs USC Upstate
This Week: 12/28 vs Loyola (MD)
15. Kentucky (17)
Record: 9-2
Last Week: W 80-72 vs North Carolina (in Chicago)
This Week: 12/29 @ Louisville
16. Marquette (22)
Record: 10-2
Last Week: W 92-66 vs North Dakota, W 103-85 vs Buffalo
This Week: 12/28 vs Southern
17. Buffalo (14)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 71-59 @ Syracuse, L 103-85 @ Marquette
This Week: 12/29 @ Canisius
18. Arizona State (16)
Record: 9-2
Last Week: L 81-65 @ Vanderbilt, W 80-76 vs Kansas
This Week: 12/29 vs Princeton
19. Wisconsin (15)
Record: 10-2
Last Week: W 84-53 vs Grambling State
This Week: 12/29 @ Western Kentucky
20. Mississippi State (18)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 98-87 vs Wofford, W67-63 vs Wright State
This Week: 12/29 vs BYU
21. Houston (19)
Record: 12-0
Last Week: W 60-50 vs Utah State, W vs Coppin State
This Week: 12/29 vs NJIT
22. Ohio State (25)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 75-56 vs Youngstown State, W 80-66 vs Ohio State (in Chicago)
This Week: 12/29 vs High Point
23. Indiana (20)
Record: 11-2
Last Week: W 86-53 vs Central Arkansas, W 94-64 vs Jacksonville
This Week: N/A
24. Oklahoma (28)
Record: 11-1
Last Week: W 83-70 vs Creighton, W 76-69 (OT) @ Northwestern
This Week: N/A
25. St. John's (24)
Record: 12-0
Last Week: W 86-52 vs St. Francis (NY), W 104-82 vs Sacred Heart
This Week: 12/29 @ Seton Hall
Next 5
26. Nebraska (23)
Record: 10-2
Last Week: W 86-62 vs Cal State Fullerton
This Week: 12/29 vs SW Minnesota State
27. LSU (26)
Record: 9-3
Last Week: W 75-57 vs Furman
This Week: 12/28 vs Louisiana Monroe
28. Kansas State (27)
Record: 9-2
Last Week: W 55-51 vs Southern Miss, W 69-58 vs Vanderbilt (in Kansas City)
This Week: 12/29 vs George Mason
29. Villanova (30)
Record: 9-4
Last Week: W 81-58 vs UConn (in MSG)
This Week: N/A
30. Cincinnati (NR)
Record: 11-2
Last Week: W 93-64 vs UCLA, W 77-56 vs South Carolina State
This Week: N/A
Previously Ranked: Furman(29)
Also Considered: Belmont, Butler, Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, San Francisco, Seton Hall, TCU
Notes
- I've got Duke at #1, for a few reasons. First, losing to Gonzaga on a neutral by 2 is still very impressive. Secondly, they get to jump up on account of a very nice win over Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden. I had the Red Raiders in the top 10 last week, so that holds a lot of weight for me. Finally, I just think this is the best team in college basketball right now. They are just so, so good and I really struggled to not have them at #1.
- Kansas had to fall, and they really haven't played like a top 5 team so far. I think they are very clearly in the second tier of teams, and you could make a pretty convincing argument Gonzaga deserves to be higher. Right now, the resume for the Jayhawks is better so I have them ahead of the Bulldogs.
- I think Auburn is holding on by a thread right now. I mean their last few games have been super uninspiring, and I've got them at 9, but I could definitely see them falling with another poor performance.
- Having North Carolina over Kentucky is bold, and I admit the Wildcats looked a lot better than the Tar Heels, but honestly, for now, I think UNC has a slightly stronger resume. Prior to this game, Kentucky wasn't exactly playing great. They had lost to Seton Hall and had some unconvincing results against mid-majors, while UNC holds a win over a top 10 team in Gonzaga. With a win over Louisville, Kentucky will move the needle a lot.
- I feel like my ranking of Buffalo could be a bit controversial, but the Bulls are just really good. They lost to Markus Howard going NBA Jam on fire for the entire second half, and I don't think there's a single team in the country that withstands that performance. They also won a game in the Carrier Dome this week, which is impressive no matter how poorly the Orange have been playing. They would've been a top 10 team had they defeated the Golden Eagles, so I think they are in a good spot.
- Like I mentioned at the top, I struggled with these rankings, so some teams made weird jumps. Notably Wisconsin dropped 4 spots while winning, but that really has more to do with my rankings of Marquette and North Carolina State following wins than it doesn the Badgers. I think they probably deserve to be up towards 15, but I just didn't have the room to get them there.
What To Watch
- It's a light week in college hoops because of the holidays, but next weekend has some interesting games. Here are my most intriguing games for teams, in order of rank:
- Nevada will travel to Utah to face the Utes. Is Utah good? No, they are mid-tier in a horrific Pac-12. But, Nevada hasn't been playing super well of late, so this road test against a Power 5 school is still important. I don't think a win would move the needle, but this could be a big wakeup play before Mountain West team to a team that seems to be taking it easy a little bit.
- North Carolina plays Davidson, and if Kellen Grady is healthy, that's not an insignificant game. The Wildcats are maybe the best team in the A-10, and Grady and Jon Axel Gudmundsson is a very talented backcourt duo. This is a game that UNC might overlook as they gear up for ACC play, but the Wildcats could make them pay if they do.
- Obviously, the in-state battle between Kentucky and Louisville is going to be a great game. The Wildcats are looking to prove that their victory over North Carolina was indicative of the real team they are, while the Cardinals will look to continue building their resume with a win over their hated rival. A win for Kentucky likely vaults them into top 10 territory, while the Cardinals could push into the top 25 with a win.
- Wisconsin is going to travel to Western Kentucky in a game that could be very difficult. The Hilltoppers haven't played like it, but they are very talented and have a chance to make noise in Conference USA. This is no easy game, and it could easily be a Quadrant 1 victory for the Badgers when all is said is done.
- Mississippi State plays BYU. Honestly, the Cougars haven't looked great this year, but they right on the borderline of being a top 75 team on KenPom, so they aren't a lightweight by any means. Yoeli Childs is a force in the post, and Mississippi State has struggled a bit of late, so they need a win here to reinforce their status as one of the better teams in the nation. I think this could be closer than it appears.
- St. John's will receive their first real test of the season when they travel to the Prudential Center to face Seton Hall to open Big East play. The Johnnies are undefeated on the season, but have yet to play anyone on the level of the Pirates. Meanwhile, Seton Hall holds wins over Kentucky and more recently Maryland and are quietly on a 5 game win streak. A win for St. John's would solidify their ranking in the top 25, while a loss would take them out of the top 30, and put Seton Hall in.
- Belmont and Lipscomb have real opportunities to make big statement wins as they travel to Power 5 programs in Purdue and Clemson respectively. Neither one of those teams have lived up to preseason expectations, but they are still very good teams, and a win for either one of the Nashville programs would be enough to put them into the top 30 in my mind, especially the Bruins, who swept the Bisons in the season series.
- Bulter will travel to Gainesville to face off again against the Florida Gators. The Bulldogs already beat Florida at the Battle 4 Atlantis, so the Gators will be looking for revenge. They have turned things around since then, managing a win over a similarly struggling West Virginia team, so a win for Florida relieves a bit of pressure before SEC play in terms of their tournament resume, while a road victory over the Gators should be enough to give Butler serious consideration for the top 30 heading into the Big East.
- Finally, on Christmas Day, TCU will face Indiana State in the final of the Diamond Head Classic. The Horned Frogs have been super underrated this season and people sort of wrote them off after a loss to Lipscomb at home, but that's their only loss on the year and they've defeated SMU and USC, as well as already defeating the Sycamores by 20 before heading to Hawai'i. I think they are 31 at the moment, so a victory would push them into my top 30 without a doubt
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