Some conferences are starting their conference tournaments this week, while others are finishing up their regular season this weekend. That means a lot of games that matter to both teams, as everybody is either fighting to stay alive or trying to earn a good tournament seeding. The top 5 teams were shuffled this week, with the exception of the top spot, where Kentucky was able to hold on just as they did against Vanderbilt. Here are the latest rankings, with gaps between groups of teams representing different levels of performance.
TW. (LW) Team (Week) (Overall) Rating (ESPN)
1. (1) Kentucky (2-0) (28-1) -19.87 (1)
2. (4) Michigan State (2-0) (24-5) -18.36 (5)
3. (5) North Carolina (2-0) (25-4) -18.19 (6)
4. (2) Ohio State (1-1) (23-6) -17.74 (11)
5. (3) Kansas (2-0) (24-5) -17.72 (4)
6. (6) Syracuse (2-0) (29-1) -16.97 (2)
7. (8) Wichita State (2-0) (26-4) -15.66 (14)
8. (11) Wisconsin (1-1) (21-8) -14.74 (15)
9. (7) Missouri (0-2) (25-4) -14.72 (8)
10. (10) Duke (2-0) (25-4) -14.61 (3)
11. (13) Marquette (2-0) (24-5) -13.49 (7)
12. (15) Belmont (3-0) (24-7) -13.31 (NR)
13. (17) Indiana (2-0) (22-7) -13.14 (20)
14. (18) Memphis (2-0) (21-8) -12.88 (37)
15. (12) Florida (1-1) (22-7) -12.80 (13)
16. (14) Georgetown (1-1) (21-6) -12.78 (12)
17. (9) New Mexico (0-2) (22-6) -12.12 (29)
18. (16) Saint Louis (0-1) (22-6) -11.75 (NR)
19. (20) Baylor (2-0) (24-5) -11.18 (10)
20. (22) Vanderbilt (1-1) (20-9) -11.08 (30)
21. (19) Louisville (1-1) (22-7) -10.64 (18)
22. (21) California (1-1) (23-7) -10.54 (37)
23. (NR) Alabama (2-0) (19-9) -10.47 (NR)
24. (NR) Virginia (1-1) (21-7) -10.43 (27)
25. (24) UNLV (2-0) (24-6) -10.39 (17)
Dropped Out
(25) BYU (1-1) (24-7) -10.15 (NR)
(23) Florida State (0-2) (19-9) -9.30 (22)
Ranked Teams by Conference
SEC - 4
Big 10 - 4
Big East - 4
ACC - 3
Big 12 - 3
MWC - 2
Atl 10 - 1
Atl Sun - 1
CUSA - 1
MVC - 1
Pac 12 - 1
Michigan State used its strongest defensive performance of the season to jump up to the #2 spot this week, displacing fellow Big Ten rival Ohio State up there. When the Nebraska Cornhuskers came to visit, the Badgers allowed them only 34 points, 6 points fewer than the previous low for Wisconsin opponents on the season, but they still have two very tough games left, which means two wins could make them #1 heading into Championship Week.
I am officially back on the Belmont Bus. Last season, I had the Bruins ranked around the top 10 all season long, and their strong performances against ranked teams early in the season were the reason why. This season, they've lost a few more times, including a couple of conference games, but this team did lose by a single point at Duke to open the season, and they have not lost in over 5 weeks. The conference tournament is being held at the home of Mercer, the next best team in the Atlantic Sun Conference, but Belmont has already beaten them twice, so they shouldn't have a problem doing it again.
New Mexico followed up one of the most impressive weeks by any team this season with one of the worst, losing road games at Colorado State and TCU, allowing their 2-game lead in the conference to evaporate as quickly as it appeared. While they fell from the national rankings this week, they are still among my top 25, but they took a huge drop as a result of their hangover from last week's premature celebration.
One team that is in the top 10 nationally does not appear in my top 25, and that team is Murray State, which was the last undefeated team this season. The reason they aren't here is partially because of their extremely weak schedule, which includes only one team I have ranked (Memphis) and one team the nation has ranked (Saint Mary's). They have not dominated their conference in the way other teams, such as Belmont, have, so they will most likely get a higher seed than they deserve, and could be in line to be upset in March.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
Tuesday
(3) Duke at Wake Forest - Blue Devils by 12
(5) Michigan State at (20) Indiana - Hoosiers by 1
(13) Florida at Vanderbilt - Commodores by 4
Minnesota at (15) Wisconsin - Badgers by 16
Xavier at Saint Louis - Billikens by 12
UCF at Memphis - Tigers by 15
Wednesday
Maryland at (6) North Carolina - Tar Heels by 24
(7) Marquette at Cincinnati - Bearcats by 1
Iowa State at (8) Missouri - Tigers by 12
(11) Ohio State at Northwestern - Buckeyes by 6
(17) UNLV at Colorado State - Rebels by 1
South Florida at (18) Louisville - Cardinals by 11
(23) San Diego State at Boise State - Broncos by 1
Massachusetts at (25) Temple - Owls by 12
Jacksonville vs. Belmont - Bruins by 19
Auburn at Alabama - Crimson Tide by 18
Air Force at New Mexico - Lobos by 20
Thursday
Georgia at (1) Kentucky - Wildcats by 23
(16) Michigan at Illinois - Illini by 1
(22) Florida State at Virginia - Cavaliers by 7
Friday
Providence at (19) Notre Dame - Fighting Irish by 14
Drake vs. (24) Creighton - Bluejays by 10
East Tennessee State vs. Belmont - Bruins by 12
Tennessee Tech vs. (9) Murray State - Racers by 11
Indiana State vs. (14) Wichita State - Shockers by 15
Saturday
(18) Louisville at (2) Syracuse - Orange by 12
(6) North Carolina at (3) Duke - Blue Devils by 2
Texas at (4) Kansas - Jayhawks by 14
(12) Georgetown at (7) Marquette - Golden Eagles by 6
(8) Missouri at Texas Tech - Tigers by 14
Tennessee State vs. (9) Murray State - Racers by 10
(10) Baylor at Iowa State - Cyclones by 2
Illinois State vs. (14) Wichita State - Shockers by 13
Wyoming at (17) UNLV - Rebels by 11
San Francisco vs. (21) Saint Mary's - Gaels by 7
(23) San Diego State at TCU - Horned Frogs by 1
Evansville vs. (24) Creighton - Bluejays by 7
(25) Temple at Fordham - Owls by 12
Saint Louis at Duquesne - Billikens by 5
Memphis at Tulsa - Tigers by 3
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Volunteers by 1
Boise State at New Mexico - Lobos by 17
Alabama at Mississippi - Crimson Tide by 3
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Belmont - Bruins by 16
Sunday
(1) Kentucky at (13) Florida - Wildcats by 1
(11) Ohio State at (5) Michigan State - Spartans by 6
Illinois at (15) Wisconsin - Badgers by 16
(16) Michigan at Penn State - Wolverines by 3
Purdue at (20) Indiana - Hoosiers by 10
Clemson at (22) Florida State - Seminoles by 10
California at Stanford - Cardinal by 1
Virginia at Maryland - Cavaliers by 5
Prediction Results
College Basketball: 42-14 (.750) 476-124 overall (.793)
Upsets: 5-4 (.556) 46-33 overall (.582)
There could be some games scheduled later in the week due to conference tournament schedules, so check back later in the week to see if I've added a few more predictions to the list.
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