Enough is Enough: Waking up Embarrassed to be a College Basketball Fan
Being a college hoops fan used to be easy. It was the cleanest brand of basketball in existence, and the NCAA Tournament was one of the biggest sporting events in the entire calendar. While the NBA floundered with officiating scandals, poor quality of play (even at the Olympic level) and a general lack of watchable teams in the mid 2000’s, college basketball was far and away the best choice for basketball fans to get their fix. No more.
Being a college hoops fan used to be easy. It was the cleanest brand of basketball in existence, and the NCAA Tournament was one of the biggest sporting events in the entire calendar. While the NBA floundered with officiating scandals, poor quality of play (even at the Olympic level) and a general lack of watchable teams in the mid 2000’s, college basketball was far and away the best choice for basketball fans to get their fix. No more.
College basketball is a shell of its former self, and mainly because it has no backbone to protect it. First, the NBA instituted a ridiculous age requirement in 2005 that required the top high school players to play a year of college ball before turning pro. This effectively turned the NCAA into a farm system for the NBA, once coaches figured out that recruiting the top players meant a one-and-done, but resistance to the one-and-done recruits meant they might be out of a job. College coaches became like steroid users in Major League Baseball- the slimy coaches (we all know who they are) dove head first into the one-and-dones, and the result was even those who may be opposed to giving full scholarships to a 6-month student athlete were forced into it by the demand of their profession. These past 3 years have been like the early 2000s, the dying days of the ‘Roids era (we hope), where even the best hitters (A-Rod, Manny?) started juicing to maintain their superiority over the playing field. Just like a natural 25 homer guy wasn’t going to be forced out of a job by an inferior player willing to juice, college coaches have delved into the one-and-done business predominantly because if they didn’t, their employers would replace them with someone who would. Winning is money in college sports, where graduation rates and upstanding citizens are worthless if they aren’t coupled with lots and lots of wins and revenue.
With one-and-done players, the college game was diminished in two major ways. First, and more simply, the teams are tougher than ever to relate to. College hoops fans really are just “rooting for the laundry” at this point. Taking a look back at some of the National Champions from 2000-2010, it’s hard to imagine those teams looking anything like they did had the players and coaches been enslaved by the one-and-done process. Those teams didn’t just have seniors, they had senior classes. At most they had a couple of freshmen contributing on a nightly basis. They were a team that was forged over years of building a
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The second problem the one-and-done has presented has been in the quality of play. I feel like my father does when he complains about the 1980’s Celtics and Lakers ruining the NBA for him, since no team can play the way those teams played (pre-salary cap, league at all-time high for talent, etc). But the quality of basketball on display in recent March’s has been rubbish compared to what I grew up watching. The one-and-done has produced a universal offensive system for college basketball, in which a player can have one of three roles- the driver, the dunker or the shooter. The drivers can’t shoot and the shooters can’t drive. The dunkers can dunk, and occasionally catch the ball. The result is the game is played within 5 feet of the hoop, as guards barrel aimlessly to the cup, while three shooters stand still on the outside waiting to hoist up a three point shot. The dunker hovers near the rim and points up as to signal for an alley-oop whether or not he’s being guarded. It looks a lot like the NBA offense, with the only difference being the NBA offense is run by NBA players and the college offense is run by amateurs. Pick-and-rolls are only run if they result in pull-up threes, lobs for dunk attempts, or a drive down the lane with no cutters in sight. It’s terrible. Look at the scoring numbers ofthese teams in the tournament. Direct from Jason Logan's piece- Low scoring games "have been more common in the past three NCAA tournaments than any time in the last ten years." I didn't even look that up before I wrote this. That's how obvious it is. Despite the NBA age rule theoretically placing 15-20 freshmen "NBA players" in college this year, 2013 marks the second time since 1952 that the national scoring average dipped below 68 points. Syracuse’s 2-3 zone is being vaunted for being “timeless” when in reality it’s better than ever because college offenses are so inept that even a 2-3 zone seems impossible to crack. A 2-3 zone! Jim Boeheim plays the same defense that I played when I was 6 years old, and it works against the best amateur basketball players on earth.
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The one-and-done and dollar-driven style of play has made the college game a watered-down version of the NBA. It’s no secret that I haven’t watched nearly as much college ball this year as I have in years past, and I think it’s becoming painfully clear why. Even the officiating is succumbing to NBA-like results. I actually turned off last night’s Louisville-Wichita St. game because I couldn’t handle it. As Louisville fell behind by double digits midway through the second half, it was as if a switch went off and the officials decided to swallow their whistles. Louisville turned to their trademarked press defense to try and make a run, and the result was chaos. The Wichita St. players were being absolutely mugged up and down the court (see above). It was like watching a piranha attack or something- I’ve never seen such a savage press defense. From the 11:45 mark when they trailed 49-41 to the 3:03 mark where they took the lead for good, 62-60, Louisville was called for 3 fouls. Three. Wichita St. was called for 5 in that same time span, and they weren’t even pressing! It was an abomination. It was the first game I ever had to turn off because the officiating was so bad- and I’m sure I watched one or two Donaghy games before he got busted. To commit three fouls over nearly nine minutes in a full court press is worthy of sainthood. That would translate to just under 14 fouls a game. I’m not accusing the referees of fixing the game or anything, but there’s no question that something happened where they decided to let the bloodbath ensue and even the game up a bit. In that nine minute span, Kevin Ware could have come off the bench to play, used a crutch like a pro-wrestler might (see below for dramatization), and I wouldn’t have been surprised to see it go uncalled by the officials. It was unbelievable.
It would be easy for me to sit here and complain that college basketball is being ruined by college football, realignment, and greed. But that’s the easy way out. College basketball is ruining itself. Even if it isn’t as big financially as football, it’s the second biggest piece in the NCAA pie and it’s not carrying itself as such. College baseball doesn’t care about what MLB says, college football doesn’t care about the NFL, and college hockey sure doesn’t care about the NHL. So why does college basketball let the NBA define who the players are, what style will be played, and even become a model for the officiating of the game? Last night’s Louisville win was the culmination of a long struggle for me to pinpoint what made me turn back to the NBA for the majority of my basketball. If I’m going to watch an NBA game, I’m going to watch LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony play it. I’m not watching college basketball for those guys, I’m watching it for the 2006 and 2007 Florida Gators. And teams like that are gone. And as a fan, I’m on my way. You have those moments as a sports fan that make you feel like an idiot for investing time, money, and emotion into sports. The only moment this compared to for me was the Seattle/Green Bay debacle on Monday Night Football this year, where I literally could not turn off the TV because I was in such shock. The wrong team had won simply because of the refs… that was it for me as far as irrevocable sports sins. When the integrity of the sport is tarnished, how do you remain a fan? You don’t take a guy/girl back after he/she cheats on you and breaks your heart. The NFL got the memo and brought the real refs back. What’s college basketball going to do? I fear the answer to that question will be nothing at all.
Friars Outlast Colonials, on to NIT Quarterfinals
PROVIDENCE, R.I.-- Providence College outscored visiting Robert Morris 16-6 over the final 6:10 of the second half en route to a 77-68 win Monday in an NIT second round match-up.
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LaDontae Henton had a game-high 21 points for the Friars (19-14), who went 31-36 from the free throw line, a huge advantage over the 11-15 line posted by the Colonials (24-11).
“It’s hard to beat a team when they make twenty more free throws than you, and take twenty-one more than you,” said Colonials Head Coach Andrew Toole.
The two teams battled in a back and forth game until Providence made their final run at the end. Friars Head Coach Ed Cooley was quick to point to a pair of deciding factors- the Friars fans and his star point guard, Vincent Council.
“That was fun, to have our building shaking like that at the end of the game there,” said Cooley. “And you have those senior moments, and Vince willed us to win tonight.”
Council, the Big East’s all-time career assists leader, finished his final game at the Dunkin Donuts Center with 12 points, 10 assists, and just 2 turnovers. He shot just 1-9 from the field in the game, but was 10-13 from the charity stripe.
After Kadeem Batts fouled out of the game with 3:58 remaining, Providence closed on a 12-4 run. Council made a pair of free throws at the 3:44 mark, and had a beautiful “And-1” layup at 3:03 for his lone field goal of the contest. The play electrified the crowd and the Friars coasted to victory behind layups by Bryce Cotton and Lee Goldsbrough and free throws by Cotton (1) and Kris Dunn (2).
The Friars will travel to Waco, Texas next to take on the Baylor Bears. The winner of that game will advance to the NIT semi-finals at Madison Square Garden.
Box Score
Robert Morris Colonials
#
|
Player
|
FGM
|
FGA
|
3PM
|
3PA
|
FTM
|
FTA
|
OR
|
DR
|
TR
|
AST
|
TO
|
BLK
|
STL
|
F
|
PT
|
Starters
| ||||||||||||||||
01
|
McFadden, Mike
|
5
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
14
|
22
|
Jones, Lucky
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
34
|
Johnson, Russell
|
5
|
10
|
3
|
5
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
5
|
3
|
16
|
03
|
Williams, Coron
|
3
|
11
|
3
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
9
|
05
|
Myers-Pate, Anthony
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
7
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
Bench
| ||||||||||||||||
02
|
Jones, Velton
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
5
|
04
|
Appolon, David
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
Anderson, Karvel
|
6
|
11
|
4
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
18
|
20
|
Hawkins, Stephan
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
45
|
Armstrong, Keith
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
Total
| ||||||||||||||||
23
|
51
|
11
|
25
|
11
|
15
|
3
|
15
|
18
|
15
|
13
|
1
|
7
|
27
|
68
|
Providence Friars
#
|
Player
|
FGM
|
FGA
|
3PM
|
3PA
|
FTM
|
FTA
|
OR
|
DR
|
TR
|
AST
|
TO
|
BLK
|
STL
|
F
|
PT
|
Starters
| ||||||||||||||||
10
|
Batts, Kadeem
|
3
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
10
|
23
|
Henton, LaDontae
|
6
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
8
|
8
|
1
|
5
|
6
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
21
|
04
|
Fortune, Josh
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
11
|
Cotton, Bryce
|
5
|
12
|
3
|
9
|
7
|
8
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
20
|
32
|
Council, Vincent
|
1
|
9
|
0
|
1
|
10
|
13
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
10
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
12
|
Bench
| ||||||||||||||||
03
|
Dunn, Kris
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
6
|
8
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
6
|
13
|
Kofane, Brice
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
21
|
Goldsbrough, Lee
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
4
|
9
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
6
|
22
|
Bancroft, Ted
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Total
| ||||||||||||||||
21
|
49
|
4
|
14
|
31
|
36
|
16
|
27
|
43
|
14
|
15
|
1
|
3
|
16
|
77
|
KEY: FGM=Field Goals Made, FGA=Field goals Attempted, 3FGM- 3-point Field goals Made, 3FGA=3-point Field Goals Attempted, FTM=Free Throws Made, FTA=Free Throws Attempted, OR=Offensive Rebounds, DR= Defensive Rebounds, TR==Total Rebounds, AST=Assists, TO=Turnovers, BLK=Blocks, STL=Steals, F=Personal Fouls, PT=Points
Other Stats
FG%: PC- 42.9, RM- 45.1 3FG%: PC- 28.6, RM- 44.0 FT%: PC- 86.1, RM- 73.3
Points: Bench- PC- 12, RM- 24 , In paint- PC- 24, RM- 12 , Off TO- PC- 18, RM- 15 , Fast Break- PC- 8, RM-0 , 2nd Chance- PC- 8, RM-0
Halftime: 34-34 Largest Lead: PC- 11, RM- 7 Ties- 7 Lead Changes- 7 Attendance: 7,149
Game Notes
-Providence out-rebounded Robert Morris by a staggering 43-18 margin. Providence had 16 Offensive Rebounds compared to 15 Defensive Rebounds for Robert Morris, meaning the Friars rebounded more of their own misses than the Colonials.
-Big East scoring leader Bryce Cotton had 20 points on a decent shooting day. Cotton started off very slowly but hit a contested 3-pointer at the first half buzzer and then added 11 points in the second half to turn his night around.
-Friars coach Ed Cooley addressed the fans on the Public Address microphone after the game. Cooley thanked the fans for their support in the ’12-13 season and asked for even more in ’13-14.
-NECsports (Northeast Conference) has posted video of the Robert Morris post-game press conference on their YouTube channel. I've posted the video below as well.
Explaining My Bracket
Everyone has their own strategy for dominating their March Madness pool. Whether you use mascots, coin flips, or, gasp, watching the regular season games as a guide, everyone starts the tournament with the hope and dream of having the perfect bracket. That’s what makes it fun. I haven’t watched as much college hoop this year as in year’s past, and it’s actually falling behind the NBA in terms of interest from me. Oddly enough, the nature of March Madness is doing it for me. Teams that aren’t in the same league as their opponents are striking the right balance of luck, unselfishness, and 3-point shooting (seriously, move the line back 5 more feet, I guarantee the mid-majors would have no chance.) The fact that great coaches can take a team without top level talent and make a deep run is fun, but it’s also not the best product the game can offer. Big time programs need to stop selling their souls for one year of a hot recruit, and instead go back to running offensive and defensive schemes that players fit into in a team effort, instead of everyone trying to be like Kentucky. But I digress. This year, in hopes of revitalizing my love for college basketball above all other forms of the game, I’ve decided to suck it up and embrace the upsets. My bracket reflects it. Without further ado, a region by region breakdown of the bracket of a disgruntled college basketball fan.
Midwest
Round 1
The only upset I picked here was 12-seeded Oregon to knock off 5-seeded Oklahoma St. I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about these teams. But I do know that Oregon has Nike on their side, the 12-5 upset history in their favor, and if I don’t know OK State I don’t think they deserved a 5. Ducks fly together.
if you don't have goosebumps right now, you didn't have a childhood.
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Round 2
I picked Missouri over Louisville in a rare 9 over 1 upset. I think Mizzou has the guard play to counter Russ Smith and Peyton Siva, and Alex Oriakhi can bang with Gorgui Dieng inside. I’m going Mizzou in a push because I’d be very surprised if there weren’t any major upsets in the first two rounds, and this looks like a prime opportunity.
Sweet 16
I’ve got St. Louis prevailing over Mizzou and ending that Cinderella run, and I’ve also got Michigan St. knocking off Duke. Really the best reason I can give to validate Sparty in that one is that Duke could very easily be upset by Creighton, whereas I think Tom Izzo (right) is as safe a pick to make some noise in March as anyone.
Elite 8
I’ve got Sparty over St. Louis and advancing to the Final 4. Too much talent, balance, and Izzo.
West
Round 1
I’m picking both the 11-6 and 10-7 upsets here with Belmont over Arizona and Iowa State over Notre Dame. Arizona hasn’t impressed me this year and they’re just having a down year. Sean Miller is taking that program to good places, but an inconsistent team like the Wildcats are ripe to get knocked off by Belmont.
Notre Dame has failed to show me much of anything this year and I like the experience and balance of Iowa State’s high scoring attack. With 6 seniors at the helm, the Cyclones will survive the Irish.
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Round 2
I’ve got Belmont advancing again on the backs of their shooters. I see some Northern Iowa potential in Belmont, because a team that shoots 3’s well can get hot and beat much better teams in March. Give me Belmont over New Mexico.
Sweet 16
I’ve got Gonzaga and Ohio St. restoring order in this region and taking care of business. A 1 vs. 2 in the Elite 8.
Elite 8
I like Gonzaga over the Buckeyes because of their momentum heading into the tournament. The key matchup here is obviously Kelly Olynyk (right) vs. Deshaun Thomas, but I’ve liked Olynyk’s game far more in what action I’ve seen of the two this season. Gonzaga advances to the Final 4.
South
Round 1
My upset pick here is that the lower seeds will go 8-0 and there will be no upsets.
Round 2
I’ve got San Diego St over Georgetown in a 7-2 upset. Both teams are well-coached and play stingy defense, but I like SDSU in the experience factor. I’m inadvertently picking a lot of Big East teams to get upset.
I also have VCU over Michigan. How in the hell did Michigan get a 4 seed? That’s unbelievable to me, and I really like VCU (no, I really like VCU) but I’m not happy they have such a tough second round matchup.
Sweet 16
Florida tames SDSU, and VCU upsets top seeded Kansas to advance to the Elite 8. Kansas is very talented but they have been hot and cold this year. They’ve also been susceptible to mid-majors in the past (Bucknell, Northern Iowa) and VCU is a better shooting team.
Elite 8
VCU topples Florida as they force an up-tempo game to get Florida out of their spectacular half-court defense. Both teams can shoot it and have scoring prowess, but VCU has momentum and magic. VCU to the Final 4.
East
Round 1
Another region with no first round upset picks. Chalk it up.
Round 2
Butler knocks off Marquette. Brad Stevens devises a defense to limit Davonte Gardner, and Marquette doesn’t have enough shooting to win an ugly game.
Sweet 16
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Indiana shoots through Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, and Butler knocks off Miami in a defensive struggle. The Hurricanes dominate the glass but Butler plays efficient enough on both ends, and Brad Stevens (right) just edges Jim Larranaga (the George Mason guy) in the coaching battle.
Elite 8
Butler. Indiana. It’s real life Hoosiers, only the Hoosiers are big bad Indiana and upstart Butler knocks them off on a crazy buzzer beater. Everyone lives happily ever after. Butler to the Final 4.
Final 4
Two Atlantic 10 teams square off, but VCU matches up too well with Butler. Better shooting, pressure defense, VCU turns up the volume and advances to the National Championship Game.
Gonzaga and Michigan St. play a more traditional brand of basketball than the A-10 hooligans, as Mark Few and Tom Izzo trade philosophical punches in a chess match for the ages. Gonzaga prevails on the back on Kelly Olynyk, the best player in the game.
Final
VCU fulfills their destiny and shocks the world by beating Gonzaga for the National Championship. Dating back to their Second round win over Michigan, this gives them their second tournament victory over a team that was ranked #1 this year, as well as the #1 seed in their region. The only person who goes down as having a better, more genius tournament than Shaka Smart is Jack Andrade.
3/7/13 College Basketball Top 11
All rankings and write ups are directly from Mike Lucas. To check out all of his work on his own blog, click this link.
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (29-2, 16-0) Previous Ranking: 2
People can argue that Gonzaga isn’t the best team in the country, but no one can argue that they don’t deserve the number one ranking. Everyone else has lost while the Zags keep on winning.
2. Duke Blue Devils (26-4, 13-4) Previous Ranking: 6
Duke proved a lot in their win over Miami on Saturday. Only one stat matters with Duke; they’re 17-0 when Ryan Kelly players, and he’s healthy again.
3. Kansas Jayhawks (26-4, 14-3) Previous Ranking: 3
Kansas continues to win after their 3-game losing streak earlier in the season. Since that skid, they have played extremely well, winning seven games in a row.
4. Georgetown (23-4, 13-3) Previous Ranking: 8
Georgetown continues to win Big East game after Big East game in a variety of different fashions. An 11-game conference winning streak is impressive to begin with, and even more impressive when four of the teams they beat were ranked.
5. Indiana Hoosiers (25-5, 13-4) Previous Ranking: 1
I’ve been under the impression that Indiana has been the best team in the country all season long. After watching them play against Minnesota last week and Ohio State this week, I’m seriously rethinking my opinion. The Hoosiers are a good team, but I’m not sure that they are tough enough mentally or physically to win the NCAA Tournament.
6. Michigan Wolverines (24-5, 11-5) Previous Ranking: 4
Michigan and Indiana play on March 10th in Ann Arbor to determine the regular season Big 10 Champion. This game will tell us how good the Wolverines really are. Are they the team that gritted out an extremely tough win over Michigan State, or are they the team that loses to Penn State, a team now has one Big 10 win?
7. Miami Hurricanes (23-5, 14-2) Previous Ranking: 5
Even though Miami lost to Duke on Saturday night, there are definitely some positives to take from that game. Duke needed a heroic, career game from Ryan Kelly to beat the Hurricanes, and even with that kind of performance from Kelly Duke only won by 3. That proved to Miami that they are just as good as any team in the country, they just have to play their game.
8. Louisville Cardinals (25-5, 13-4) Previous Ranking: 11
Louisville has won six strait since that 5-overtime thrilling loss to Notre Dame. I’m not completely sold on the Cardinals yet, but they play great defense and have gotten enough scoring from Russ Smith and Chase Behanan to win games.
9. New Mexico Lobos (25-4, 12-2) Previous Ranking: 10
This team is good. Scary good. The computers rank them #2 in the RPI rankings. They’re definitely the best mid-major team in the country, and one of the best teams in the country regardless of conference.
10. Ohio State (22-7, 12-5) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Personally, I hate Ohio State. Something about that school irks me the wrong way and I refuse to root for them. With that being said, this Ohio State basketball team is fun to watch. They are one of the toughest teams in the country and don’t back down to anyone. It’s not easy to go into Assembly Hall and beat Indiana, and Ohio State did that. Aaron Craft is one of the best defenders in the country and Deshaun Thomas is the best scorer in the Big 10.
11. Michigan State Spartans (22-7, 11-5) Previous Ranking: 7
I am well aware that Sparty has lost three in a row, but when you look at those three opponents you can see why. MSU is still one of the toughest teams in the country, and they rebound as well as anyone. Payne has really stepped his game up as of late, and if they make just one or two more shots, they could be 2-1 in their last three games.
Dropped From Top 11: #9 Florida
Just Missed The Cut: Florida, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Kansas State
2/28/13 College Basketball Top 11
All rankings and write ups are directly from Mike Lucas. To check out all of his work on his own blog, click this link.
1. Indiana Hoosiers (24-4, 12-3) Previous Ranking: 1
Gonzaga will be number one in the AP rankings next week, and I understand that. Saying that, I don’t think they’re a better team than Indiana, so the Hoosiers remain atop my rankings this week. Minnesota is a good team, especially at home, so I don’t put too much into that loss.
2. Gonzaga Bulldogs (27-2, 14-0) Previous Ranking: 3
Like I said before, I don’t think Gonzaga is as good as Indiana. However, I think they’re just as good as any other team in the country. If they win out, they should be rewarded with a one-seed come NCAA tourney time. They deserve it 100%.
3. Kansas Jayhawks (24-4, 12-3) Previous Ranking: 5
Since the Jayhawks three game losing streak, Kansas has won five strait Big 12 games, including two on the road in hostile environments. Elijah Johnson may have had the game of the season with 39 points and 7 assists in an overtime win at Iowa State.
4. Michigan Wolverines (23-4, 9-4) Previous Ranking: 6
Michigan isn’t the hottest team in the country right now, but I still think they are one of the most dangerous teams come March. They still have two revenge games at home against Indiana and Michigan State to redeem early conference losses.
5. Miami Hurricanes (22-4, 13-1) Previous Ranking: 2
Miami hasn’t played well in their last three games, and they finally received their first conference loss this past Saturday at Wake Forest. When they’re on their game, Miami is as good as anyone in the country. They just have to rediscover the swagger they had early in the season as they move into postseason play.
6. Duke Blue Devils (24-3, 11-3) Previous Ranking: 3
Duke responded to their loss at Maryland by putting a beat down on Virginia Tech andBoston College this week. A tough road game against a good Virginia team will have to act as their final tune up before a rematch against Miami in Cameron.
7. Michigan State Spartans (22-6, 11-4) Previous Ranking: 4
Sparty has lost two in a row in heart breaking fashion to two very good teams in Indiana and Ohio State. In both these games, MSU shot the ball very poorly. When the Spartans are hitting their jump shots, they’re very difficult to beat.
8. Georgetown Hoyas (21-4, 11-3) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
I’ll be honest; I have just now jumped on the Hoyas’ bandwagon after watching their game against Syracuse this past week. The Hoyas haven’t lost since January 19th, and are currently riding a 9 game winning streak against all Big East competition. Otto Porter is also a star, and is slowing putting his name in contention for Player of the Year.
9. Florida Gators (22-5, 12-3) Previous Ranking: 7
Florida has struggled as of late. They are only 4-3 in their last 7 games, and all there of those losses came on the road to unranked teams. News flash Florida, you don’t play NCAA Tournament games in Gainesville, so you have to figure out your road woes if you want to make a run. Injuries have really hurt this team though, and right now Billy Donovan’s rotation has been cut down to 7 players with Will Yeguete and Michael Frazier II injured.
10. New Mexico Lobos (23-4, 11-2) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
New Mexico has been one of the most underrated teams in the country all year long. Just to show how good they’ve been, the RPI rankings have them 3rd. Star shooting guard Kendall Williams is a scoring machine, and dropped 46 points and 12-16 shooting (10-13 from 3) on the road against #22 Colorado State
11. Louisville Cardinals (22-5, 10-4) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Louisville has won their last three games with an average margin of victory of 17.3 points per game. They are finally starting to hit their grove, and Russ Smith is finally starting to his 3s. Chase Behanan and Wayne Blackshear are arguably the two most important role players in the country. When they play well, Louisville is almost unbeatable. When they’re off, Louisville struggles to win.
Dropped From Top 11: #9 Syracuse, #10 Oklahoma State, #11 Wisconsin
Just Missed the Cut: Oklahoma State, Syracuse, Arizona
2/21/13 College Basketball Top 11
All rankings and write ups are directly from Mike Lucas. To check out all of his work on his own blog, click this link.
1. Indiana Hoosiers (24-3, 12-2) Previous Ranking: 2
The Hoosiers win at #4 Michigan State was by far the most impressive win of the week. MSU had been on a roll, and Indiana stopped them in their path. Victor Oladipo is the player of the year right now, and I’m not sure how close the race is.
2. Miami Hurricanes (22-3, 13-0) Previous Ranking: 1
Miami didn’t lose this week, but they haven’t look impressive in their last three games. They beat Florida State in a nail biter last Wednesday, the barely, and I mean barely beat Clemson on Sunday, and were lucky to beat Virginia at home last night. They should have won all three games pretty handily, and didn’t, so they drop a spot in the rankings.
3. Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-2, 12-0) Previous Ranking: 4
It’s the same story every week with the Zags, another week, another chance for them to destroy West Coast Conference opponents. If you’re not already on their bandwagon, hop on now before you miss it.
4. Michigan State Spartans (22-5, 11-3) Previous Ranking: 6
Indiana may have the their number, but there aren’t many other teams in the country that can match up with Spartans. They play solid defense, and can score from inside and from outside. Derrick Nix is a beast down low, and Keith Appling and Gary Harris form one of the better shooting back courts in the country. The road doesn’t get any easier for Sparty though, as their next three games are all against top 20 teams.
5. Kansas Jayhawks (21-4, 9-3) Previous Ranking: 10
Kansas is rolling again, proving that their three game losing streak really was a fluke. Kansas put it all together this week, and embarrassed Texas on Saturday night. When Jeff Withey controls the paint area, watch out.
6. Michigan Wolverines (22-4, 9-4) Previous Ranking: 8
Michigan rebounded this week by beating Penn State at home. The Wolverines are the college version of the New York Knicks. When they make their perimeter just shots, they win games. When they can’t seem to connect on their 3-balls, they lose. Anyone playing the Wolverines just has to hope that they catch them on a rare off night.
7. Florida Gators (21-4, 11-2) Previous Ranking: 3
Florida lost last night at Missouri, but then again so has everyone who has played the Tigers on their home court. Three of Florida’s best players, Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario, and Eric Murphy combined to shoot 7-26 from 3. No wonder why they lost.
8. Duke Blue Devils (22-3, 9-3) Previous Ranking: 5
The craziest part about Duke’s loss at Maryland this week is that they forced Maryland into 26 turnovers, and still lost the game. Duke is a more talented team, and forced 26 turnovers, and still lost. That is almost unfathomable. You turn the ball over 26 times, you should lose the game. But somehow, some way, Maryland found a way to beat Duke. Alex Len also made Mason Plumlee look like a scared little girl all game. Not a good sign for the Dukies.
9. Syracuse Orange (21-4, 9-3) Previous Ranking: 7
I feel like I say this every week, but it’s so true I can’t ignore it. Michael Carter-Williams may be the most valuable player in the country. When he is playing well, Syracuse wins. In Cuse’s 4 losses this year, MCW has struggled. In their loss against UConn this week, MCW shot 6-13 from the field, 0-3 from downtown, and only recorded 1 assist to 4 turnovers. That won’t cut it for the Orange. He needs to play better if they’re going to have a shot at winning the whole thing.
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys (19-5, 9-3) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
The Cowboys haven’t lost in the past month. During that stretch, they’ve knocked off Kansas, West Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, and Baylor. This team can score too. Markel Brown and freshman phenom Marcus Smart are both averaging over 15 points per game. Le’Bryan Nash and Phil Forte are both averaging over 11 points per game. Oklahoma State has a rematch against Kansas tonight in Stillwater, so that game will be an indication of whether the Cowboys are for real, or just lucky.
11. Wisconsin Badgers (18-8, 9-4) Previous Ranking: 11
Even though Wisconsin lost in overtime at Minnesota this week, they hold onto the last spot in my rankings for they did on Sunday. They beat Ohio State by 22 points, and frankly, it never even felt like a game. This is their 5th win of the season against a top 15 opponent. Talk about quality wins.
Dropped From Top 11: #9 Arizona
Just Missed the Cut: Georgetown, Louisville, Kansas State
2/14/13 College Basketball Top 11
All rankings and write ups are directly from Mike Lucas. To check out all of his work on his own blog, click this link.
1. Miami Hurricanes (19-3, 10-0) Previous Ranking: 6
Indiana lost, Michigan lost, and Kansas lost three times this week. Miami beat UNC by 26 this week, and to me that’s good enough to give them the number one ranking. I don’t know how people put Duke ahead of Miami, when Miami beat them by 30 points earlier this year. Shane Larkin has to be in the conversation for Player of the Year award, and has this team rolling right now.
2. Indiana Hoosiers (21-3, 9-2) Previous Ranking: 2
A road loss at the buzzer to a pretty good Illinois team isn’t the worst thing in the world. Indiana had an off shooting night, and Illinois played a very good overall game. There beat down of Ohio State three days later is what really impressed me. Not many teams go into Columbus and have their way with the Buckeyes, and that is exactly what Indiana did.
3. Florida Gators (20-3, 10-1) Previous Ranking: 3
Florida rebounded very nicely from their first SEC loss of the season this week with two, 15+ point victories. Their beat down on Kentucky was especially impressive, as it felt like Kentucky was just starting to hit their stride. Scottie Wilbekin is turning into a one of the best players in the SEC too.
4. Gonzaga Bulldogs (23-2, 10-0) Previous Ranking: 5
There isn’t much to say about Gonzaga this week. They continue to roll through West Coast Conference competition with two more 20 point wins this week. They’re really good, end of story.
5. Duke Blue Devils (21-2, 8-2) Previous Ranking: 7
Duke got their revenge against NC State this week by beating them at home by 13. We all finally thought that they had found out how to play without Ryan Kelly. Then Duke followed up that performance up with a one point victory on the road against lowly Boston College, just to remind us that they aren’t national championship contenders without him.
6. Michigan State (20-4, 10-2) Previous Ranking: 11
Michigan State has been on a roll as of late, and showed the entire how good they are when the smacked rival Michigan by 23 points on national TV. They are so balanced offensively that it is impossible to really make them one-dimensional. What might hurt them in March is their lack of a true, go-to scorer. They have a bunch of good scorers, but not necessarily one that you feel confident going to in need of a bucket.
7. Syracuse Orange (20-3, 8-2) Previous Ranking: 9
Syracuse has been shaky of late, especially star point guard Michael Carter-Williams. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. When MCW is making his shots, they can beat anybody. When he struggles, they are a very average team. They have three pretty easy games this week before back to back to back games against ranked opponents in two weeks.
8. Michigan Wolverines (21-4, 8-4) Previous Ranking: 2
The Wolverines have lost three of their last four games after starting the season 20-1. They clearly hadn’t recovered from the emotional tolling overtime loss at Wisconsin as Michigan State ran them off the court the following game. Trey Burke has been playing well, but no one else on the team has been able to match their early season production. Robinson III and Hardaway Jr. have to contribute more then a combined four points like they did in their loss to MSU.
9. Arizona Wildcats (20-3, 8-3) Previous Ranking: 8
Another home loss drops the Wildcats down to number nine in this weeks rankings. Arizona was unable to slow down Cal’s Aaron Crabbe, as he lit them up all night. We know Arizona can score, but if they want to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament, they are going to have to start playing some defense.
10. Kansas Jayhawks (20-4, 8-3) Previous Ranking: 4
Even after three strait losses, Kansas remains in my rankings because I think they still have just as much if not more potential than any other team in the country. They have a phenomenal guard in Ben McLemore, a good big in Jeff Whithey, senior leadership in Elijah Johnson, and solid role players like Kevin Young and Travis Releford. Depth is my only worry with this team. Don’t look to much their three game losing streak, it’s not that big of a deal.
11. Wisconsin Badgers (17-7, 8-3) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
There are a lot of teams to consider for the last spot in this weeks rankings. Louisville, Butler, Ohio State, and Georgetown all have legitimate cases for this spot, but I give the edge to the Badgers for their quality of their wins. They have now beaten Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois this season, all at the time of the games all four of those teams were ranked in the Top 15 in the country. It amazes me how Bo Ryan gets overlooked time after time in the conversation for best coaches in the league.
Dropped From Top 11: #10 Louisville
Just Missed the Cut: Butler, Louisville
2/7/13 College Basketball Top 11
All rankings and write ups are directly from Mike Lucas. To check out all of his work on his own blog, click this link.
1. Indiana Hoosiers (20-2, 8-1) Previous Ranking: 4
The number one team in the country lost for the 5th consecutive week. So who replaces Michigan at the top? The team that beat them of course. Victor Oladipo has been the most impressive player in the country this year. His on ball defense has always been stellar, but his offense has improved tremendously since last season. The Hoosiers go as he goes. If he’s on, they’re going to win .
2. Michigan Wolverines (21-2, 8-2) Previous Ranking: 1
It is tough to put too much into a road loss at number three Indiana because almost no one beats them at Assembly Hall. A loss is a loss, every team is going to lose, but it is how you respond to a loss that defines a team. How did Michigan follow up their second loss of the season, by beating number ten Ohio State in overtime to put them back on the winning track.
3. Florida Gators (18-3, 8-1) Previous Ranking: 3
They’d be ranked number one if it weren’t for a fluke loss to Arkansas last night, which ended their 10 game winning streak. During that streak, the Gators smallest margin of victory was 14 points. Arkansas has been a tough team at home this year (5-0), so it isn’t like they lost a cup cake game. Billy Donavan and his team will rebound from this loss, and will be ready to face Kentucky on February 12th.
4. Kansas Jayhawks (19-2, 7-1) Previous Ranking: 2
The Jayhawks had their 33 game home winning streak snapped this week by the pesky Oklahoma State Cowboys led by super freshman Marcus Smart. Kansas didn’t play poorly, Oklahoma State just out played them. For Kansas to make a deep run in March, center Jeff Withey is going to have to be more aggressive on the offensive end then he was against Oklahoma State. 8 field goal attempts for him won’t get it done for Kansas.
5. Gonzaga Bulldogs (21-2, 8-0) Previous Ranking: 8
Gonzaga has rolled through conference play so far this year. To be honest, they have rolled through just about every team they have played this year besides their two losses (Illinois, Butler). What makes Gonzaga so dangerous is their balance on offense. Kelly Olynck has become one of the best big men in the country, and David Stockton and especially Kevin Pangos can light it up from outside. Throw “Mr. Do-It-All” Elias Harris into the mix and the Zags can score in a variety of ways.
6. Miami Hurricanes (18-3, 9-0) Previous Ranking: 11
Miami’s Key Wins this Year: #1 Duke by 27 points, at #19 North Carolina State, #13 Michigan State, at University of North Carolina, at Virginia Tech, Maryland
Miami’s Losses this Year: #4 Arizona, Florida Golf Coast University,Indiana State University .
Go figure. But right now, no team is playing better then Miami. They are on a 10 game win streak and winning in a variety of ways. They have won up-tempo games such as their 79-78 victory on the road against NC State, and they have won slow paced games such as their 54-47 win at home against Maryland. That versatility is a sign of a great team.
7. Duke Blue Devils (19-2, 6-2) Previous Ranking: 6
Until Ryan Kelly comes back for Duke (and it is still uncertain to when he will make his return), the Blue Devils are only a shell of the team that beat Louisville, Kentucky, and Ohio State earlier in the season. Without him, they just aren’t good enough to compete with the top teams in the country this year. A February 7th game against NC State will show the country how good Duke is without their starting power forward.
8. Arizona Wildcats (19-2, 7-2) Previous Ranking: 10
The one thing holding Arizona back right now is a big road win. Right now, their best road win is a 17-point victory against Arizona State, who is nowhere near cracking any Top-25 ranking right now. The Wildcats are still young, and will continue to improve and mature as the season continues. I jinxed Oregon last week by saying they had a very easy remaining schedule, as they proceeded to lose their next two games. Because of that, I’m hesitant to say that Arizona has that possibility, but looking at their schedule, a road game against UCLA should be the only potential bump in the road for the Wildcats.
9. Syracuse Orange (19-3, 7-2) Previous Ranking: 5
Going back to what I said about Michigan earlier, every team is going to lose. It is very important to see how a team rebounds to losing. Syracuse followed up an overtime loss to Villanova with another loss at the hands of Pittsburg. In all three of Syracuse’s losses, Michael Carter-Williams has struggled to make shots and with turnovers. Syracuse goes as MCW goes. End of story.
10. Louisville Cardinals (18-4, 6-3) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Rick Pitino’s team has looked so good at times this year. They started out 16-1, and were rolling until a 3-game losing streak stopped all the momentum the Cardinals had. However, it seems that Louisville has picked it back up after back-to-back wins against Pittsburgh and Marquette this week. Peyton Siva is going to have to pick up his play if Louisville wants to return to the Final Four.
11. Michigan State Spartans (18-4, 7-2) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Michigan State barely edged out Kansas State for the last spot on my list this week. Those two teams are almost identical. Same record, same amount of ranked teams beaten, everything is nearly identical. I give the edge to Michigan State because they beat Kansas, and Kansas State lost to Kansas. Kansas was the only team both teams played. Keith Appling has really stepped his game up this year for the Spartans, averaging 14 points per game and 4 assists per game. The backcourt duo of him and freshman Gary Harris combine to average more then 35% of Sparty’s total points. With a little production from their big men, Michigan State could beat any team on any given day.
Dropped From Top 11: #7 Butler, #9 Oregon
Just Missed The Cut: Kansas State, Butler, New Mexico State
1/31/13 College Basketball Top 11
All rankings and write ups are directly from Mike Lucas. To check out all of his work on his own blog, click this link.
1. Michigan Wolverines (20-1, 7-1) Previous Ranking: 1
Michigan stays at number 1 in my rankings after an undefeated week where they picked up 3 conference wins. They have 4 players averaging over 12 points a game, and Trey Burke is the best point guard in the country. Their next game is on the road at Indiana, which will be a statement game for the Wolverines to prove they really are number 1 in the country.
2. Kansas Jayhawks (19-1, 7-0) Previous Ranking: 3
Right now, Ben McLemore is playing just as good or better than any other player in collegebasketball. He is the most complete freshman I’ve watched in years. As good as McLemore has been, Jeff Withey is the key to this team. His defensive presence and shoot blocking are what makes the Jayhakws really go. McLemore and Withey have the been the two key pieces fueling Kansas’ NCAA best 18 game winning streak.
3. Florida Gators (16-2, 6-0) Previous Ranking: 5
If you want to talk about offensive efficiency, just look at the Gators only game this week. Florida took on Mississippi State in Mississippi and shot 56% from the field and 45% from 3 (14-31). They held Mississippi State to 33% from the field and 20% from 3. The Gators can score from any where on the court , and they do it all extremely efficiently.
4. Indiana Hoosiers (18-2, 6-1) Previous Ranking: 6
Michigan State exposed Cody Zeller’s inability to play defense on the perimeter this week. Even though Indiana still managed to win that game, you’d have to believe that teams are going to try and isolate Zeller as the season moves forward. Thank god Oladipo continued his amazing that game or Indiana would have fallen. A matchup against number 1 Michigan on Saturday will tell us a lot about this teams toughness and resiliency.
5. Syracuse Orange (18-2, 6-1) Previous Ranking: 2
Syracuse suffered a tough overtime road loss to Villanova in their only game of the week. In both of Syracuse’s losses this year, Michael Carter-Williams has struggled. Against Nova, Carter-Williams shot 4-17 from the field, 1-4 from 3, and 8-14 from the free throw line and missed free throws down the stretch that would have ended the game. He also had more turnovers then assists this game. Syracuse goes as he goes. If he plays well, they’re almost unbeatable. When he struggles with his jump shot and tries to make the flashy passes instead of the simple ones, Syracuse struggles. It’s that simple.
6. Duke Blue Devils (17-2, 4-2) Previous Ranking: 4
Even with Ryan Kelly, Duke didn’t stand much of a chance against Miami earlier this week. Duke looked like a group of slow, 45 year-old-men out there against the much quicker and athletic Miami team. It was embarrassing. But just like they always do, Duke responded in their next game by beating Maryland by 20. So which Duke team will we see as the season continues? The team that we saw in Miami that got ran all over and continually dunked on? Or the team that beat Kentucky, Louisville, and Ohio State earlier this season?
7. Butler Bulldogs (17-3, 4-1) Previous Ranking: 8
I’m willing to overlook a road, buzzer beater loss to a very underrated LaSalle team this week, and focus more on a 12 point win against a very good Temple team. The LaSalle game was the game following their emotional buzzer beater win against Gonzaga. LaSalle was your prototypical trap game, and Butler fell into the trap. Brad Stevens won’t let his team fall into the same trap twice. This team is to good for that.
8. Gonzaga Bulldogs (19-2, 6-0) Previous Ranking: 10
The Zags followed up their buzzer beater loss to Butler with two convincing conference wins this week. They beat BYU by 20, and the University of San Francisco by 14. Kelly Olynck continues to impress me every time I watch him play, and Elias Harris is a matchup nightmare for most teams in the country.
9. Oregon Ducks (18-2, 7-0) Previous Ranking: 11
The Ducks are for real. They have already beaten the two teams this season who were supposed to win the Pac 12, and have looked good in just about every game this season. This team has the potential to run the table in the Pac 12, as they don’t face a ranked team in their remaining 11 games. (@Stanford, @California, Colorado, Utah, @Washington, @Washington State, California, Stanford, Oregon State, @Colorado, @Utah)
10. Arizona Wildcats (17-2, 5-2) Previous Ranking: 7
After starting off the season 13-0, the Wildcats are only 3-2 in their last 5 games, losing to two of the best teams in the Pac 12. The 5 teams they have beat in the Pac 12 have a combined 14-25 record. The jury is still out on how good this Arizona team really is. They have beaten all the teams they should beat, but haven’t really beaten anyone special besides an injured Florida team earlier in the season. This team is good, but are they great? We just don’t know yet.
11. Miami Hurricanes (15-3, 6-0) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
With all the hype surrounding Duke, UNC, and NC State this preseason, who ever would have guessed it’d be the Miami Hurricanes in first place in the ACC as we head into February. Not me, I’ll admit it. What Miami did to Duke last week cannot be overlooked. They dominated Duke in every aspect of the game. Miami is big, quick, and athletic. Senior forward/center Kenny Kadji has been playing exceptional of late. For the season he is averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds per game. 4 of Miami’s top 5 scorers are shooting over 40% from the field. These guys are good, and can play with anyone in the country. Trust me.
Dropped From Top 11: #9 Louisville
Just Missing the Cut: Ohio State, Wichita State, Kansas State
1/24/13 College Basketball Top 11
All rankings and write ups are directly from Mike Lucas. To check out all of his work on his own blog, click this link.
1. Michigan Wolverines (17-1, 4-1) Previous Ranking: 1
Michigan retains its number 1 ranking after defeating #10 Minnesota pretty handily in their only game of the week. When they’re making outside shots, they’re almost impossible to guard. Just ask Minnesota, as 6 Wolverines had 8 or more points in the game.
2. Syracuse Orange (18-1, 6-0) Previous Ranking: 6
Syracuse surpasses Duke and Kansas on the list after knocking off #1 Louisville in Louisville this week. They also beat #21 Cincinnati at home to round of there week. The most surprising thing about the Orange so far has been there ability to win even when one of their stars has an off game. The Orange’s best player, Michael Carter-Williams had 8 turnovers and only shot 4-13 from the field, yet they still beat Louisville on the road.
3. Kansas Jayhawks (16-1, 5-0) Previous Ranking: 4
Kansas squeaked out two tough road wins this week over rivals Texas and Kansas State to remain unbeaten in the Big 12. Ben McLemore is healthy again and playing like the potential first overall pick in next year’s draft. Right now, the Jayhawks are the hottest team in college basketball, riding a 15 game win streak.
4. Duke Blue Devils (16-1, 3-1) Previous Ranking: 3
Duke drops a spot in this weeks rankings not because they did anything wrong, but because Kansas impressed more. Not to take away anything from their win against Georgia Tech this week, but it’s Georgia Tech. Games this week against Miami and Maryland will tell us if the Blue Devils can contend in the ACC without Ryan Kelly.
5. Florida Gators (14-2, 4-0) Previous Ranking: 9
An injured Gator completely annihilated a ranked Missouri team by 31 points this week. If that isn’t a message to the rest of the country about how good this team can be when they’re fully healthy, I don’t know what is.
6. Indiana Hooisers (16-2, 4-1) Previous Ranking: 5
The Hooisers rebounded from a tough loss to a scrappy Wisconsin team with a solid road win against Northwestern. Christian Watford has yet to really play up to his potential so far this season, but when he does, there isn’t a more dangerous and balanced offensive team in the country then Indiana.
7. Arizona Wildcats (16-1, 4-1) Previous Ranking: 8
Although the Wildcats have only lost one game so far this season, they’ve been in a lot of close ones. Two one-point victories against ranked opponents and a waived off buzzer beater have kept the Wildcats on their toes this season. A match up between them and UCLA on Thursday night will tell us how good Arizona really is.
8. Butler Bulldogs (16-2, 3-0) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Butler makes their first appearance in the rankings after a buzzer beater win against Gonzaga without their leading scorer who was suspended for the game. Before watching their game against Gonzaga, I couldn’t name more then 2 players on their team, but once again, Brad Stevens has worked his magic and has a very, very good team this year.
9. Louisville Cardinals (16-3, 4-2) Previous Ranking: 2
I cringed last week when I put Louisville at number 2 because I wasn’t sold on them yet, and this week proved why. A home loss is never good, but it is acceptable against a very good Syracuse team. A road loss at the hands of Villanova is not the way Rick Pitino wanted his team to respond. Leadership from their senior backcourt is going to have to help them get through this tough stretch, as they face Georgetown, Pittsburg, and Marquette in the next three games, none of which will be easy.
10. Gonzaga Bulldogs (17-2, 4-0) Previous Ranking: 7
Losing to another mid-major power house is never fun, but you can’t take anything away from the effort the Bulldogs showed. Against Butler, Gonzaga only shot 29% from 3. Gonzaga isn’t talented enough across the board to contend with the top teams in the country if they’re only shooting 29% from 3. Pagnos, Stockton, and Harris are all very good 3 point shooters, and are going to have to start shooting better if the Bulldogs want to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
11. Oregon Ducks (16-2, 5-0) Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
No team has exceeded my expectations more then the Ducks this season. Right now, they are the most balanced team in the Pac12. They have 5 players averaging double figure points per game, and any of those players are capable of putting up a 20 spot on the score board on any given night. They share the ball, they shoot a high percentage from the field, from 3, and from the free throw line, and are the best defensive team in the Pac12. This team can play, watch out.
Dropped From Top 11: #10 Minnesota, #11 Creighton
Just Missing the Cut: Minnesota, Kansas State, Michigan State, NC State
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