Xavier University LogoHickeysBay's Ballot for Week 17 of 2017-18

Submitted on Monday, February 26, 2018 at 1:52AM EST
RankTeamReason
1 University of Virginia Logo Virginia (1) They haven't really looked that stellar since the VT game, but they are still winning (which is the whole point of the game).
2 Michigan State University Logo Michigan State (3) MSU should be the best team in the country, but the way the offense disappears at times (against NW and UW) would have me worried.
3 Xavier University Logo Xavier (4) This will be a controversial pick. Fact is, X is more consistent than Nova. They are really good night in and night out despite the D..
4 Villanova University Logo Villanova (3) When they are hitting shots at their average clip, they are the best team in the nation. When they aren't hitting, anyone can beat them.
5 University of Kansas Logo Kansas (6) I admit, I didn't think that KU was going to win a ton of games this year. Self has proven his worth this year.
6 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Logo North Carolina (7) This team is similar to Xavier in that they don't seem to dominate teams from start to finish, but they know how to win games.
7 Duke University Logo Duke (8) The zone has vastly improved their defense to the point where they are balanced enough to possibly be tournament favorites.
8 Purdue University Logo Purdue (9) The shots aren't falling at the same rate as they were a while back. Carsen seems to be carrying them a bit, but the pieces are there.
9 West Virginia University Logo West Virginia (13) They looked like they were on the verge of collapse a few weeks ago, but they have looked especially locked in lately.
10 Wichita State University Logo Wichita State (11) The offense is just so good. Yeah, some of their games are a little closer than you'd expect, but they keep winning.
11 Texas Tech University Logo Texas Tech (5) This is a very different team from the one that went into Allen and won a while back. They just aren't clicking right now.
12 Auburn University Logo Auburn (10) The loss to Florida isn't great, but it was on the road. This team is doing better than expected given their lack of depth up front.
13 Ohio State University Logo Ohio State (14) They keep grinding and winning. Nothing about this team says "elite", but they will battle with anyone.
14 University of Michigan Logo Michigan (15) They are rolling right now. They look good. I might take them to win the B1G tourney.
15 University of Tennessee Logo Tennessee (16) Similar to Texas Tech, Tennessee is sputtering a bit, but they aren't collapsing. They are still battling, and all the pieces are there
16 University of Cincinnati Logo Cincinnati (19) Their offense is coming around (albeit against bad teams). If they can get both the O and D rolling by March, they will be dangerous.
17 Gonzaga University Logo Gonzaga (17) So is life in the WCC. They aren't losing... so there's that.
18 Clemson University Logo Clemson (12) Add Clemson to the list of great teams that are sputtering a bit (Texas Tech and Tennessee). They can't let sputter turn into collapse.
19 North Carolina State University Logo NC State (23) This team is fucking good, and they're fucking hot. Kevin Keatts is a god damn winner.
20 Creighton University Logo Creighton (25) Biggest win of the week over Nova. If Epperson can adequately fill in for the loss of Krampelj, they are looking good.
21 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Logo Virginia Tech (21) Solid squad that doesn't appear to be much more than solid. They seemed destined for the 8/9 game in the tourney.
22 Butler University Logo Butler (UR) When focused, they're great. When they get caught off guard, they can't recover.
23 University of Kentucky Logo Kentucky (UR) They might've turned a corner. If a team with this much talent gets it together, they will be deadly.
24 Seton Hall University Logo Seton Hall (UR) They are playing more like the team we expected. While there are issues with mental toughness, their physical toughness is unmatched.
25 Kansas State University Logo Kansas State 26. Arizona 27. TCU 28. Nevada 29. Houston 30. URI 31. St. Mary's 32. Baylor 33. FSU 34. Providence 35. Louisville