Rank | Team | Reason |
---|---|---|
1 | Baylor | Probably won't stay undefeated much longer, but they're 15-0 with six top 50 wins. |
2 | Kansas | Four games until Kansas has arguably the toughest three game stretch anyone has this year. |
3 | Gonzaga | Could grab a #1 seed. |
4 | Villanova | Hard to punish them for a loss on the road to a very good team, but I had them essentially tied with Kansas/Gonzaga |
5 | North Carolina | More losses than most top 10 teams, but also very strong wins. |
6 | Kentucky | No bad losses but also only one really good win. |
7 | Louisville | Knocked them down one spot. Their two biggest wins are at home. |
8 | UCLA | One *great* win, one good loss. Ball's shooting numbers have dropped considerably. |
9 | West Virginia | I think they'll be really inconsistent in Big 12 play. Big 12 teams are getting used to the press. |
10 | Butler | Really inconsistent away from home. A win over Creighton would be huge. |
11 | Florida State | I don't know if I think they're the 11th best team in the nation, but they're playing like it. |
12 | Duke | Still waiting for a signature win. Two chances this week to get one. |
13 | Oregon | 13 straight wins, 13th in my poll. |
14 | Creighton | Cannot wait for that matchup with Butler. |
15 | Xavier | Really tough week upcoming for Xavier. |
16 | Cincinnati | No bad losses, a great defense, and a signature road win. |
17 | Wisconsin | A pair of strong wins + no bad losses. Somehow, they're yet to play a close game (only two game within ten points). |
18 | Virginia | Posting this before their game with Wake, but that should be a fairly easy W at home. |
19 | Florida | No signature wins yet, but no bad losses. 2-3 vs. top 50. |
20 | Saint Mary's | Borderline top 25 team, but I like their odds in the WCC. |
21 | Arizona | Best win is at KenPom #47. Still, they'll go 13-5 or 14-4 in the Pac-12 and grab a 4 or 5 seed in March. |
22 | Purdue | Should win their next three to make them 17-3 (6-1), in which case they'll move up. |
23 | Iowa State | Small-ball is starting to click. 2-1 in Big 12 play with the loss coming by two points at #1 Baylor. |
24 | Notre Dame | 14-2, extremely tough at home. |
25 | Texas Tech | 1-2 in Big 12 play, but that's with three of the toughest games on their schedule. Could definitely win their next four. |