It's Feast Week folks, and it's time to get excited. There's going to be a lot of good basketball on all throughout the day for the next week, and I couldn't be more excited to watch college basketball all through my Thanksgiving break. With that, here is my Top 25 heading into the week of action. If you want to see all of my thoughts on the action through the week, follow me on Twitter @ThreePointRange, where I'll be talking about a ton of different teams and games. You can also let me know your thoughts on my rankings and what I got wrong. Also, have a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy all of the college basketball action this week.
Top 25
1. Duke (N/A)
Record: 6-0
Results: 2k Empire Classic (W 87-52 vs California, W 81-73 vs Georgetown)
Upcoming Games: 11/26 vs Stephen F Austin, 11/29 vs Winthrop
2. Louisville (N/A)
Record: 6-0, 1-0
Results: W 76-50 vs USC Upstate, W 82-76 vs Akron
Upcoming Games: 11/29 vs Western Kentucky (in Nashville)
3. Michigan State (N/A)
Record: 3-1
Results: W 94-46 vs Charleston Southern
Upcoming Games: Maui Invitational (11/25 vs Virginia Tech, 11/26 vs Georgia or Dayton, 11/27)
4. North Carolina (N/A)
Record: 4-0, 1-0
Results: W 75-61 vs Elon
Upcoming Games: Battle 4 Atlantis (11/27 vs Alabama, 11/28 vs Michigan or Iowa State, 11/29)
5. Ohio State (N/A)
Record: 5-0
Results: W 86-51 vs Stetson, W 85-46 vs Purdue Fort Wayne
Upcoming Games: 11/25 vs Kent State, 11/29 vs Morgan State
6. Oregon (+1)
Record: 5-0
Results: W 78-66 vs Houston
Upcoming Games: Battle 4 Atlantis (11/27 vs Seton Hall, 11/28 vs Gonzaga or Southern Miss, 11/29)
7. Kansas (-1)
Record: 3-1
Results: W 75-62 vs East Tennessee State
Upcoming Games: Maui Invitational (11/25 at Chaminade, 11/26 vs UCLA or BYU, 11/27)
8. Virginia (+6)
Record: 6-0, 1-0
Results: W 61-55 vs Vermont, Air Force Reserve Tip-Off (W 58-46 vs UMass, W 48-45 vs Arizona State)
Upcoming Games: 11/27 vs Maine
9. Arizona (-1)
Record: 6-0
Results: W 71-64 vs South Dakota State, W 104-67 vs Long Beach State
Upcoming Games: Wooden Legacy (11/28 vs Pepperdine, 11/29 vs UCF or Penn, 12/1)
10. Kentucky (-1)
Record: 5-1
Results: W 82-74 vs Utah Valley, W 82-62 vs Mt. St. Mary's, W 81-56 vs Lamar
Upcoming Games: 11/29 vs UAB
11. Gonzaga (-1)
Record: 6-0
Results: W 72-66 vs UT Arlington, W 77-49 vs Cal State Bakersfield
Upcoming Games: Battle 4 Atlantis (11/27 vs Southern Miss, 11/28 vs Oregon or Seton Hall , 11/29)
12. Texas Tech (-1)
Record: 5-0
Results: W 72-57 vs Tennessee State, W 96-66 vs LIU
Upcoming Games: Las Vegas Invitational (11/28 vs Iowa, 11/29 vs Creighton or San Diego State)
13. Baylor (+3)
Record: 5-1
Results: Myrtle Beach Invitational (W 76-53 vs Ohio, W 77-65 vs Coastal Carolina, W 87-78 vs Villanova)
Upcoming Games: N/A
14. Seton Hall (-2)
Record: 4-1
Results: W 87-51 vs Florida A&M
Upcoming Games: Battle 4 Atlantis (11/27 vs Oregon, 11/28 vs Gonzaga or Southern Miss, 11/29)
15. Maryland (-2)
Record: 5-0
Results: W 74-55 vs Fairfield, W 86-63 vs George Mason
Upcoming Games: Orlando Invitational (11/28 vs Temple, 11/29 vs Harvard or Texas A&M, 12/1)
16. Memphis (+4)
Record: 5-1
Results: W 68-58 vs Little Rock, W 87-86 vs Mississippi
Upcoming Games: Barclay's Center Classic (11/28 vs North Carolina State)
17. VCU (N/A)
Record: 5-0
Results: W 78-58 vs Florida Gulf Coast
Upcoming Games: 11/25 vs Alabama State, Emerald Coast Classic (11/29 vs Purdue, 11/30 vs Florida State or Tennessee)
18. Michigan (N/A)
Record: 4-0
Results: W 111-68 vs Houston Baptist
Upcoming Games: Battle 4 Atlantis (11/27 vs Iowa State, 11/28 vs North Carolina or Alabama, 11/29)
19. Georgia (+4)
Record: 4-0
Results: W 82-78 vs Georgia Tech
Upcoming Games: Maui Invitational (11/25 vs Dayton, 11/26 vs Michigan State or Virginia Tech, 11/27)
20. Utah State (+5)
Record: 7-0
Results: W 82-50 vs UTSA, Montego Bay Classic (W 80-78 vs LSU, W 68-59 vs North Texas)
Upcoming Games: 11/29 at Saint Mary's
21. Villanova (+6)
Record: 4-2
Results: Myrtle Beach Invitational (W 98-69 vs Middle Tennessee, W 83-76 vs Mississippi State, L 87-78 vs Baylor)
Upcoming Games: 12/1 vs La Salle
22. Florida (+4)
Record: 5-2
Results: Charleston Classic (W 70-62 vs Saint Joe's, W 78-58 vs Miami, W 70-65 vs Xavier)
Upcoming Games:
23. Auburn (+1)
Record: 5-0
Results: W 91-62 vs Colgate
Upcoming Games: Legends Classic (11/25 vs New Mexico, 11/26 vs Wisconsin or Richmond)
24. Florida State (-3)
Record: 4-1, 0-1
Results: W 89-53 vs Chattanooga, W 80-65 vs Saint Francis (PA)
Upcoming Games: Emerald Coast Classic (11/29 vs Tennessee, 11/30 vs VCU or Purdue)
25. Washington (-3)
Record: 5-1
Results: W 72-53 vs Maine, W 73-56 vs Montana, W 88-69 vs San Diego
Upcoming Games: N/A
Next 5
26. Xavier (-12)
Record: 6-1
Results: Charleston Classic (W 73-51 vs Towson, W 75-74 vs UConn (2OT), L 70-65 vs Florida)
Upcoming Games: 11/30 vs Lipscomb
27. Texas (-8)
Record: 5-1
Results: 2k Empire Classic (L 82-66 vs Georgetown, W 62-45 vs California)
Upcoming Games: 11/30 vs McNeese State
28. Tennessee (+1)
Record: 4-0
Results: W 76-41 vs Alabama State
Upcoming Games: 11/25 vs Chattanooga, Emerald Coast Classic (11/29 vs Florida State, 11/30 vs VCU or Purdue)
29. Oklahoma (+1)
Record: 5-0
Results: W 75-70 vs William & Mary, W 91-64 vs Maryland Eastern Shore
Upcoming Games: Hall of Fame Classic (11/25 vs Stanford, 11/26 vs Butler or Missouri)
30. Arkansas (NR)
Record: 5-0
Results: W 82-51 vs Texas Southern, W 77-56 vs South Dakota
Upcoming Games: 11/25 at Georgia Tech, 11/30 vs Northern Kentucky
Dropped Out: Mississippi (27)
Also Considered: Alabama, Arizona State, Butler, BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Creighton, Dayton, DePaul, Georgetown, LSU, Marquette, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Saint Mary's, San Diego State, USC, Vermont
Thoughts
- Florida finally started to round into form in the Charleston Classic, winning the tournament and really asserting themselves, especially during their game against Miami. They aren't fully there just yet, but this was a good step for a team with a lot of preseason hype. Xavier, meanwhile, didn't impress me at all. Their games are all very ugly, and they have eked out multiple victories throughput the season, including their two overtime victory over UConn. I've dropped the Musketeers out of my Top 25 for the moment because I'm not a believer in the offense and I think they have gotten lucky a little bit thus far. Elsewhere, Miami, UConn, Buffalo, and Missouri State didn't make much of an impression during the tournament.
- In the other tournament last week, Villanova and Baylor made some pretty big statements. The rest of the field wasn't overly impressive, although Mississippi State looked pretty good, especially their sophomores Reggie Perry and Robert Woodard, but those two teams were good and played one of the best games of the year thus far in the final. Baylor ended up winning, and I've been a pretty big believer of the Bears this year, and this tournament did nothing to drive me away from the bandwagon. Meanwhile, I was lukewarm on Villanova, but they looked very good throughout the tournament. They were moving the ball, hitting threes, and the Wildcats looked like a classic Jay Wright team. Despite losing the final game, I moved them out because they looked the best I've seen them and I think they are currently a Top 25 team.
- Looking ahead to the tournaments this week, we'll start out in Maui. The headliners are obviously Michigan State and Kansas, and we could be in for a potential top 10 clash between the Spartans and Jayhawks. The best matchup of the first round, in my opinion, is Georgia facing off against Dayton. The Flyers have started 3-0 and have a great big man in Obi Toppin, while Georgia is coming off of a win against in-state rival Georgia Tech and star freshman Anthony Edwards could break out on a national stage throughout the tournament. UCLA and BYU is also an intriguing matchup, as both teams have new coaches and have been inconsistent thus far. I'd keep an eye on all four of those teams, and we could be in for some great games throughout the event. I'll pick the Jayhawks to win the tournament, but don't be surprised if Georgia really impresses in Hawaii.
- As good as the Maui field is, the Battle 4 Atlantis may be even better. There's a first round top 15 matchup between Oregon and Seton Hall, and the action only gets better. Other Top 25 teams in Michigan, North Carolina, and Gonzaga will be taking part in the event as well, plus the Ducks and Pirates, and Alabama looks like a very solid team as well. There is potential for some great games in the Bahamas, and we will get a chance to see which one of the top teams are truly for real, and which ones maybe still have some work to do. With six potential top 25 teams in the tournament, there's a lot to like about this tournament and we should be in store for some awesome games. I'm going to pick North Carolina and star freshman Cole Anthony to win the tournament, taking down Gonzaga in the finals, and I think one of the other four teams I mentioned really struggles in the event.
- I'm going to do some quick hitters on some of the other tournaments. The Las Vegas Invitational has four really good teams, starting with Texas Tech. The Red Raiders take on Iowa in the first round, and we will get another chance to see the Hawkeyes take on some good opposition after getting blown out by DePaul. They have some talent, and perhaps they can upset Chris Beard's team. The other matchup is also very intriguing, with San Diego State taking on Creighton. Both teams are on the brink of my rankings, and if either one can win the event, they will easily be in the Top 25. The winner of that matchup could end up in the rankings anyways with a good showing in Vegas. I think Texas Tech wins, but don't count out any of the other teams in the tournament.
- The Orlando Invitational doesn't have a stacked field, but there are some intriguing matchups. Maryland looks like the favorite here, as the only team in my rankings, and they have a matchup against a pretty good Temple team in the first round. Another intriguing first round matchup is Davidson and Marquette, as both teams are quite solid and could see themselves in the back of my rankings with a good showing. The winner will likely take on a USC team that has been fairly impressive this year, although they did just fall to Temple. Still, freshman Onyeka Okongwu could break out in the tournament, and with guys like Markus Howard and Kellan Grady also in the tournament, there should be some impressive individual performances. I think Maryland ends up taking down USC in the final, but I could see any of the four teams I mentioned winning this one.
- The Wooden Legacy looks like a fairly open and shut case. Arizona looks to be far and away the best team in the event. Providence has been hugely disappointing this year, losing games to both Northwestern and Penn, and they are still probably the second best team in the tournament. Wake Forest, Charleston, UCF, and the Quakers are all not great, and Arizona has freshman star Nico Mannion. I don't think the Wildcats get really tested en route to a tournament victory.
- The Legends Classic is the first of two events in the Barclays Center this week. There are four solid teams, although Richmond seems like the weakest link in the event. But Auburn and New Mexico should be a very fun game to watch, and there should be plenty of points in that one. The winner will likely take on Wisconsin, and if either the Lobos or the Badgers win, they'll move into my rankings. However, I think Auburn gets it done, as they have a nice mix of offense and defense, and they should be able to play at the pace of both teams they'll face. I don't think there will be a blowout, but they will get the job done.
- Finally, the even closest to my heart is the NIT Tip-Off. Syracuse will take on Oklahoma State in what I think is a very good game, and Mississippi plays a Penn State team that has been pretty solid thus far. The winner of this event likely jumps into my rankings, and as much as I want to the Orange to win, I think the Cowboys take down the Rebels to capture the event title.
What to Watch
Monday
Dayton vs #19 Georgia (in Maui)
Virginia Tech vs #3 Michigan State (in Maui)
New Mexico vs #23 Auburn (in Legends Classic)
Tuesday
Maui Invitational Second Round
Legend's Classic Final
Hall of Fame Classic Final
Wednesday
Iowa State vs #18 Michigan (in Bahamas)
Alabama vs #4 North Carolina (in Bahamas)
Syracuse vs Oklahoma State (in Barclay's Center)
#6 Oregon vs #14 Seton Hall (in Bahamas)
Maui Invitational Final Day
Thursday
#15 Maryland vs Temple (in Orlando)
North Carolina State vs #16 Memphis
Iowa vs #12 Texas Tech (in Las Vegas)
San Diego State vs Creighton (in Las Vegas)
Battle 4 Atlantis Second Round
Friday
#24 Florida State vs #28 Tennessee (in Emerald Coast Classic)
#17 VCU vs Purdue (in Emerald Coast Classic)
#20 Utah State at Saint Mary's
Battle 4 Atlantis Final Day
Orlando Invitation Second Round
Wooden Legacy Second Round
Las Vegas Invitational Finals
NIT Season Tip-Off Finals
Saturday
Emerald Coast Classic Finals
Sunday
Wooden Legacy Final Day
Orlando Invitational Final Day
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