GHooLion's Ballot for Week 15 of 2018-19
Submitted on Monday, February 11, 2019 at 9:48AM EST
FYI: This is a provisional ballot. It does not count towards this poll's results.
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Duke
|
If Duke hits 13/22 from 3, there is no team in the country that can beat them. That includes Tennessee. |
| 2 |
Tennessee
|
The only team not to lose in regulation this season, and that was to full-strength Kansas. Toughest tests are upcoming. |
| 3 |
Virginia
|
Both losses are to the same team, and the #1 team in this poll. Another gut check comes up tonight, and that may be sans Diakite. |
| 4 |
Gonzaga
|
This team's rolling through its WCC schedule like Sissy Spacek at the end of Carrie. The obliteration of St. Mary's speaks volumes. |
| 5 |
Kentucky
|
The metrics don't jive with a #5 ranking, but this team has rolled off 10 in a row and 13 of 14. Downright scary as a #2-seed. |
| 6 |
Michigan
|
#6 in KenPom, #5 in BartTorvik, and coming off a clean 2-0 week. Outright leader in the B1G at the moment. |
| 7 |
North Carolina
|
Winners of 7 straight now (presuming that Miami scare counts), and tied for 1st in the ACC. Huge test tonight. |
| 8 |
Michigan State
|
Death, taxes, and mid-season swoons by the Spartans. Bad loss to Illinois, followed by a beat-down of Minnesota. Profile is strong. |
| 9 |
Purdue
|
At one point, Purdue was 6-5. 12 games later, they are 17-6, and turning the B1G into mulch. Only loss was @MSU, which they avenged. |
| 10 |
Houston
|
Difficult to rank. One one hand, 23-1 in what is effectively the 6th best conference. On the other, metrics are in the mid-to-high 10s. |
| 11 |
Nevada
|
See above. Record is the same. Conference is a little worse. Metrics are a little worse. Only Utah State remains as a Q1 game. |
| 12 |
Kansas State
|
I will maintain that Bruce Weber artificially caps this team's ceiling. But they are the best of the Big XII, and they just keep winning. |
| 13 |
Texas Tech
|
Held serve with a 2-0 week. Reminds me of my Wahoos: stellar defense, anemic-at-times offense, high efficiency ranks. |
| 14 |
Louisville
|
Louisville was coming on like a freight train until the OT loss @FSU (which is a VERY hard place to win). In line with efficiency ranks. |
| 15 |
Iowa State
|
The home loss to TCU, in which it gave up 92 points, was befuddling. This team could make an Elite Eight or be upset by a 13-seed. |
| 16 |
LSU
|
This team would be white hot if not for a perplexing 1-point loss to Arkansas. They may yet crash the Tennessee/Kentucky party. |
| 17 |
Villanova
|
Yes, I know they lost to Marquette, but it was a 1-point loss on their floor. 3 of 4 losses have been by 1 possession. Scary team. |
| 18 |
Marquette
|
Yes, I know they just beat Villanova, but the 2 St. John's losses (plus lower efficiency ranks than Villanova) tip the scale. |
| 19 |
Florida State
|
Possibly the best week of anyone ranked from 10-19, as they dispatched two NCAA-caliber teams. Winners of 5 straight. |
| 20 |
Maryland
|
Maryland has lost 3 of 5, which is more a consistency problem than a problem with talent. The efficiency rankings are still solid. |
| 21 |
Kansas
|
This is admittedly a wonky ranking, especially having lost 2 superstars (and 3 if you count de Sousa). Still have those 9 Q1 wins. |
| 22 |
Virginia Tech
|
This is also a wonky ranking, given their team has the structural integrity of the Bluesmobile. Their offense is BAAAAD without Robinson. |
| 23 |
Iowa
|
B1G play has been especially unkind to Iowa, as that's where all their losses come from. The defense is a major concern. |
| 24 |
Buffalo
|
This team has not been playing well as of late, despite the wins. That means something to me, especially considering efficiency ranks. |
| 25 |
Washington
|
While I'm sure Arizona State appreciates the gift, your own standing can't handle too many of those. They were so hot, too. |