The Sports Corner

College Basketball Top 25 @ Midpoint of Conference Play

The ACC and Big East are dominating, no surprise there, and the number one spot is a new team each week. Here at TSC, we’re sick of teams beating teams handily, yet coming out ranked lower than the team they just beat. Here is our February 3rd, Post UConn beatdown of Louisville edition of the Top 25. AP Ranking in brackets.

1. Connecticut Huskies (1)

The consensus number one because of some big wins in the past two weeks over ‘Nova, Notre Dame and the big one last night against Louisville.

2. Oklahoma Sooners (2)

We all knew Blake Griffin couldn’t be stopped. Lately, neither can the Sooners, winners of nine straight.

3. Duke Blue Devils (4)

Had to have them ahead of the Heels due to a better record in ACC conference play.

4. North Carolina Tar Heels (3)

The two losses to start conference play were tough, but it looks like Psycho T is back with 31 points two nights ago, along with UNC winning five straight. Duke awaits.

5. Louisville Cardinals (5)

A win over UConn would of had them in the top three.

6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7)

Losses to lower schools (Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech) outweight wins over the better schools (Duke, North Carolina) 

7. Marquette Golden Eagles (8)

Still the only undefeated team in the uber-competitive Big East, but a tougher schedule awaits this years darling.

8. Pittsburgh Panthers (5)

They handled Notre Dame, but the Irish’s Big East excuse outran them. Both Louisville and Villanova didn’t have too many troubles beating Pitt.

9. Clemson Tigers (10)

Treading water in the ACC isn’t an easy task, but they still lack a signature win.

10. Michigan State Spartans (13)

The best team in the Big Ten so far but will need to beat Purdue to really establish that.

11. Memphis Tigers (14)

Winners of twelve straight, seven of those in conference play. Could go undefeated in the Conference USA. The extent of those victories is the only thing that can get them ranked higher.

12. Butler Bulldogs (11)

19-2 overall, but their only tough game was against Ohio State, which they lost. Their other loss was to Green Bay.

13. Xavier Musketeers (9)

Also 19-2 in a lesser conference, but lost to above Butler.

14. Texas Longhorns (16)

They have three or four games on their schedule that will allow them to prove themselves. A.J Abrams is the guy to lead them there, and has looked more like he should be looking lately.

15. Villanova Wildcats (17)

Could be one of the most under rated teams in the field, considering close losses to the big boys.  They’ll be ranked higher later on if they can figure out how to win the close ones.

16. Kansas Jayhawks (21)

The AP 21 ranking is a travesty. 7-0 in conference play with wins over Baylor, Texas A&M and K-State.

17. Purdue Boilermakers (12)

Their record may be a bit misleading considering all of the close games to schools they should handle easily. Turnovers are beginning to be a problem for Purdue.

18. Washington Huskies (22)

Would be ranked higher if they didn’t have that hiccup against Arizona. Embarassed the Sun Devils and handled UCLA yet, the AP and the coaches have them ranked behind those two schools. Should compete for the Pac-10 title. 

19. UCLA Bruins (15)

Their reputation got them this far, but Darren Collison, Josh Shipp and super-recruit Jrue Holiday haven’t been as good as they should be. If they don’t beat the Washington schools at home they could fall out of the rankings.

20. Gonzaga Bulldogs (18)

The Zags are 7-0 in the WCC and will run away with it like they always do. But, they’ve failed against the tougher competition in non-conference play.

21. Minnesota Golden Gophers (19)

Held Illinois to an embarrassing 36 totals points, and have so far been the over-achievers of the Big Ten.

22. Syracuse Orange (20)

The Orangemen survived the hardest part of their schedule and should only climb the rankings of the Big East from now on.

23. Illinois Fighting Illinis (23)

They still lack a signature win but have looked consistent enough to still be ranked.

24. Davidson Wildcats (NR)

Stephen Curry will be in the running for player of the year with his 28 PPG that will only rise with an easy conference schedule.

25. Arizona State Sun Devils (24)

James Harden is starting to step up, but ASU is risking an entrance to the lower half of the Pac-10. They’ll beat Oregon, but Oregon State isn’t as easy as they used to be.