SleveMcDichael4's Ballot for Week 6 of 2018-19
Submitted on Monday, December 10, 2018 at 12:16AM EST
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Duke
|
Duke's back on top because they're the only team I don't think have an obvious flaw thus far this season. Other top teams have... |
| 2 |
Michigan
|
Fatal flaw: Flashiness. Michigan's elite when they play to the fundamentals but beatable when they ignore them. Almost cost 'em the NW game. |
| 3 |
Kansas
|
Fatal flaw: Boredom. They can beat top teams, but when they're playing teams that don't match them, they phone in a B- performance. |
| 4 |
Virginia
|
Fatal flaw: Tempo. It's easier for lesser opponents to stay within striking distance when there are fewer possessions in the game. |
| 5 |
Tennessee
|
Fatal flaw: Fouling. Williams has fouled out of their two biggest games, and he and Alexander each commit about 4 fouls per 40 minutes. |
| 6 |
Gonzaga
|
Fatal flaw: Defense. It's been kinda broken since Crandall went down. Too many teams can hang with their offensive firepower; Tenn beat 'em. |
| 7 |
Auburn
|
Fatal flaw: Scheduling. Second worst SOS of this top tier (UVA), which makes it harder to judge a program that isn't usually a name brand. |
| 8 |
Nevada
|
Fatal flaw: Starts. In each of the last three games, they've spotted their opponents a sizable lead early and had to claw their way back. |
| 9 |
North Carolina
|
I'll make this clear now: I expect UNC to beat Gonzaga on Saturday. Chapel Hill home court matters. They don't autojump Gonzaga if they win. |
| 10 |
Michigan State
|
An away loss to Louisville looks less bad a) after MSU's results this week, b) if you consider that Louisville is a likely tournament team. |
| 11 |
Virginia Tech
|
I like almost every player in Virginia Tech's rotation. They will win conference games through sheer depth. |
| 12 |
Texas Tech
|
The shots weren't really falling against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but eh, sometimes it's just an off night. |
| 13 |
Wisconsin
|
Davison didn't score in 33 minutes against Marquette. He only took three shots (all 3s), missed all three FTs, and committed four fouls. |
| 14 |
Ohio State
|
Had the luxury of technically not playing an early conference road game. The Illinois game was in Chicago. Yes, it was still a good win. |
| 15 |
Marquette
|
Thank you for consulting the legal office of Howard, Hauser & Hauser. Wisconsin's judgement day came on Saturday; they failed. |
| 16 |
Florida State
|
They can tread water in the polls until conference play starts as long as they play well. Saint Louis on a neutral is their only test. |
| 17 |
Buffalo
|
I can't stop laughing at the name "Jeenathan Williams" when reading their box scores. I'm Sleve McDichael; slightly off names amuse me. |
| 18 |
Nebraska
|
I was in the front row for the Minnesota game. It wasn't *really* Nebraska's worst defensive performance. Coffey just took over late. |
| 19 |
Indiana
|
Well would you look at that. Suddenly they're at pretty much full strength, Morgan and Langford are beasting, and they're winning games. |
| 20 |
Villanova
|
Whatever's happened to Villanova in the past few years, they've always swept the Big Five. That might change Tuesday against Penn. |
| 21 |
Arizona State
|
One of the teams that thrashed Nevada early, then blew the lead. Still especially impressed by Dort and Cheatham. |
| 22 |
Oklahoma
|
Snuck by Notre Dame and laid waste to Wichita State, both on neutrals. Did you know Manek looks like Larry Bird? ESPN does. |
| 23 |
Cincinnati
|
They still only have the one loss on opening night to Ohio State. Outshot Xavier in the Crosstown Shootout. Jenifer's good for a short guy. |
| 24 |
Mississippi State
|
McNeese State played them too close and even led at half on some hot shooting, but Clemson on a neutral was a great win. |
| 25 |
Iowa State
|
It was them or Kentucky. I went with them simply because I feel more confident in their experience than in Kentucky's sheer talent. |