Some conferences have finished their regular season and are starting conference tournaments this week, while others are wrapping up their regular season this week, all preparing for Selection Sunday on Saint Patrick's Day, just two weeks from now. Gonzaga has taken over the top spot in the AP poll for the first time in its history, but they haven't quite risen that high in my rankings. Here are my current top 25 teams, with AP rank in parentheses and teams grouped by similar level of performance.
TW. (LW) Team (Week) Overall (AP)
1. (1) Indiana (1-1) 25-4 (2)
2. (2) Florida (1-1) 23-5 (11)
3. (4) Louisville (2-0) 24-5 (8)
4. (3) Gonzaga (2-0) 29-2 (1)
5. (10) Kansas (2-0) 25-4 (4)
6. (5) Duke (1-1) 25-4 (3)
7. (6) Syracuse (0-2) 22-7 (17)
8. (11) Michigan State (0-1) 22-7 (10)
9. (7) Wisconsin (1-1) 20-9 (22)
10. (14) VCU (1-0) 23-6 (21)
11. (12) Ohio State (1-0) 21-7 (14)
12. (9) Pittsburgh (2-0) 23-7 (20)
13. (8) Michigan (1-1) 24-5 (7)
14. (18) Creighton (2-0) 24-7 (34)
15. (15) Middle Tennessee (2-0) 27-4 (35)
16. (13) Miami (1-1) 23-5 (6)
17. (16) Oklahoma State (2-0) 22-6 (13)
18. (19) Missouri (2-0) 21-8 (36)
19. (NR) Saint Mary's (2-0) 26-5 (28)
20. (17) Georgetown (2-0) 23-4 (5)
21. (NR) Minnesota (2-0) 20-9 (33)
22. (23) San Diego State (0-1) 20-8 (NR)
23. (NR) New Mexico (2-0) 25-4 (12)
24. (21) Arizona (0-2) 23-6 (18)
25. (22) Virginia (1-1) 20-9 (NR)
Dropped Out
(20) Colorado State (1-1) 22-7 (39)
(24) Wichita State (0-2) 24-7 (NR)
(25) Belmont (2-0) 24-6 (38)
Ranked Teams by Conference
Big 10 - 6
Big East - 4
ACC - 3
SEC - 2
MWC - 2
Big 12 - 2
WCC - 2
MVC - 1
Atl 10 - 1
Pac 12 - 1
Sun Belt - 1
Kansas is the hottest team in the nation right now, winning 6 straight conference games since their 3-game skid to open February dropped them from #2 in the nation. This week they beat Iowa State in overtime, even though the referees took the win away from the Cyclones in regulation, then they blew out West Virginia. They have reclaimed the top spot in the conference and have probably locked up the top seed in next week's conference tourney.
Creighton ended their regular season on a high note, beating the Wichita State Shockers in a game that decided the regular season conference title. The Bluejays also had a 3-game skid at the beginning of February, but they have rebounded and look to be in good shape for a run later this month.
VCU had only one game this week, but it was an important one, as they hosted the Butler Bulldogs, the most respected team in their conference, and the game was a blowout from the start. They rushed out to a 31-12 lead, and never let the margin get below 14 the rest of the way. The Rams have been the only Atlantic 10 team in my rankings for most of the season, and they have now cracked my top 10 for the first time since January at just the perfect time.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers may not be as highly respected as they were when they started the season 15-1, especially since they lost 8 of 11 games in January and February, but this week they took out the #1 Indiana Hoosiers, then blew out Penn State to get themselves out of a funk. They close the regular season with road games against two of the bottom teams in the conference, so they should be able to get enough momentum to earn themselves a tournament berth.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
Texas Tech at (4) Kansas - Jayhawks by 30
Cincinnati at (8) Louisville - Cardinals by 15
Florida A&M at Norfolk State - Spartans by 17
Montana at Southern Utah - Grizzlies by 6
NBA
New York at Cleveland - Knicks by 2
Utah at Milwaukee - Bucks by 1
Orlando at New Orleans - Hornets by 9
Miami at Minnesota - Heat by 8
Atlanta at Denver - Nuggets by 7
Charlotte at Portland - Trail Blazers by 11
Toronto at Golden State - Warriors by 4
Prediction Results
NBA: 9-0 (1.000) 590-295 overall (.667)
Upsets: 2-0 (1.000) 105-84 overall (.556)
College Basketball: 5-2 (.714) 910-227 overall (.800)
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