This is essentially the most attention-grabbing males’s faculty basketball season I can bear in mind up to now 15 years.
This freshman class is unbelievable, NIL signifies that expertise is staying put and the standard of play I’m watching is unbelievable.
The race for the highest 4 seed traces of the NCAA event has by no means been extra compelling. Nebraska retains successful, however the Huskers will face their hardest check of the yr by far once they hit the highway to face Michigan on Tuesday. It’s essentially the most intriguing sport of the week, though undefeated and No. 1 Arizona touring to Provo, Utah to tackle BYU on Monday can also be fairly juicy. I can’t wait to test again subsequent week!
With that, right here’s the most recent version of my males’s faculty basketball rankings, as of Jan. 25.
*Note: Miami (Ohio) is 20-0, however its power of schedule is 332nd within the nation. Its finest win was a 3-point residence win over Akron. The RedHawks are an ideal story, however I’m undecided that I’ll rank them at any level this yr. Being undefeated is cool and all, however you need to put it into context.
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St. John’s is 8-1 within the Big East and the Johnnies have received their previous six video games. On Saturday, coach Rick Pitino picked up his 900th win in opposition to Xavier, which is coached by his son Richard. Forward Dillon Mitchell was the star of the week after scoring 17 factors in each wins.
Clemson is 7-1 within the ACC. The Tigers’ solely loss occurred this previous week in time beyond regulation to North Carolina State. Their top-15 protection provides them an opportunity to win each sport, however their offense is up-and-down.
Louisville lastly acquired again freshman famous person guard Mikel Brown Jr. this weekend. He scored 20 factors and had six assists in a double-digit win over Virginia Tech. Brown had missed the Cardinals’ earlier eight video games with a again challenge. Simply put, the Cardinals are a special crew with him on the ground. Can they make a run within the ACC?
It was a strong week at residence for Arkansas, because the Hogs blew out Vanderbilt after which narrowly escaped LSU. Arkansas was led by freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr.’s 48 mixed factors. He has been constant, which is greater than I can say about ahead Karter Knox and fellow guard D.J. Wagner this yr.
It has been an up-and-down season for Tennessee, however the Vols regarded robust on Saturday evening. Senior level guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie had 24 factors and freshman ahead Nate Ament had his finest scoring sport of the season (29). They nonetheless personal the 14th-best protection in America.
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Everyone exterior Tuscaloosa was upset that Alabama added heart Charles Bediako to its lineup mid-season. He final performed for the Crimson Tide three seasons in the past and has been enjoying professional ball for a few years. He acquired a court docket order that allowed him to play on Saturday, and he scored 13 factors and had two blocks in his first outing, however Alabama misplaced at residence to Tennessee. Six losses is so much, however the Tide’s schedule has been as robust as any within the nation.
St. Louis is ranked twenty fourth in KenPom and ought to be 20-0 if not for a miracle shot by Stanford six weeks in the past. The Billikens are the category of the Atlantic 10 and are favored in each sport for the remainder of their season. Sophomore guard Ishan Sharma had 9 3-pointers off the bench of their win on Friday en path to scoring 29 whole factors.
North Carolina’s enormous win at Virginia has me pondering that this crew might actually be one thing. Tar Heels ahead Caleb Wilson had 20 factors, with all eight of his subject targets coming contained in the arc; his teammates hit 10 photographs past the arc. After getting swept by the California colleges final week, that is precisely what they wanted.
The Cavaliers are nonetheless ranked within the high 25 in each offense and protection, in response to KenPom. They have been on their technique to fringe high 10 standing after successful 5 consecutive ACC video games. They had a giant first half lead at residence in opposition to UNC, after which the Tar Heels scored 51 within the second half and humbled Virginia.
The Commodores misplaced their third consecutive sport early within the week in opposition to Arkansas however lastly acquired a win on Saturday at Mississippi State. Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner was superior, scoring 24 factors with 5 assists and no turnovers. A house sport in opposition to a surging Kentucky on Tuesday will probably be fascinating.
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This is among the most weird Kansas seasons in historical past. Coach Bill Self missed a sport early within the week attributable to well being causes, then star guard Darryn Peterson was dominated out of the Jayhawks’ rivalry sport at Kansas State due to an ankle sprain. Kansas nonetheless blew out the Wildcats and 5 guys scored double figures, led by large man Flory Bidunga’s 21. I do know this crew isn’t particular, however they’re good — with or with out Peterson.
Florida went 1-1 this week, successful at residence in opposition to LSU after which shedding on the highway to Auburn. Star ahead Thomas Hough had 27 factors and 10 rebounds within the defeat and stays an All-American candidate. But how does heart Alex Condon play 37 minutes and rating only one level? I nonetheless moved Florida up a few spots due to what the Gators have proven this previous month, sitting at 5-2 within the SEC.
No different crew had a extra fascinating 10 days than Texas Tech. Their protection held BYU ahead AJ Dybantsa to a season-low 13 factors of their enormous win final week. Then, on Saturday, their protection allowed Kingston Flemings to attain 42 factors, however Texas Tech overcame No. 6 Houston and pulled out a 90-86 win. Forward JT Toppin led the way in which with 31 factors.
Back-to-back losses for Purdue. Losing to an excellent proficient Illinois crew isn’t a giant deal to me. I did not assume Purdue was going to win the Big Ten this season after ending fifth final season. The Boilermakers’ résumé remains to be rock strong, although. Guard Braden Smith’s last line of 27 factors and 12 assists in opposition to Illinois was spectacular, and he’s nonetheless on monitor to be a first- or second-team All-American.
The Fighting Illini have received 9 video games in a row, they usually beat Purdue on the highway on Saturday behind among the best particular person performances of the season. Freshman guard Keaton Wagler dropped 46 factors, together with many step-back 3s. They have been enjoying with out their regular level guard, Kylan Boswell, too. Nobody desires to play Illinois proper now.
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I’m nonetheless attempting to determine what to do with Gonzaga now that it is with out its heart and second-leading scorer, ahead Braden Huff, for the following two months. The Zags can nonetheless beat each West Coast Conference crew they play, however they barely beat San Francisco by two factors on Saturday, 68-66. I dropped them two spots, though they received.
BYU bounced again from a highway loss to Texas Tech final week by finishing the sweep of in-state rival Utah. Dybantsa turned in among the best performances I’ve ever seen in particular person, dropping 43 factors from all over the place on the ground. Don’t overlook about sophomore guard Rob Wright III, who’s averaging 22.0 factors per sport in six convention tilts.
Michigan State embarrassed a struggling Maryland crew on Saturday by 43 factors. Star MSU guard Jeremy Fears Jr. had 17 factors and 17 assists. Do you know the way arduous it’s to get 17 assists? It would take me 5 video games to get that.
Houston misplaced its second sport of the season to a surging Texas Tech crew. I’m not almost as mad as coach Kelvin Sampson is about it, although. Houston gave up 90 factors for less than the third time underneath Sampson. All I do know is that I had a enjoyable time watching Flemings drop 42 factors (and 6 assists). The Big 12 has the deepest steady of level guards within the nation. The Cougars are going to be simply tremendous.
I’ve held agency in my perception on this crew. After two losses final week, Iowa State bounced again properly by blowing out a strong UCF crew at residence after which beating Oklahoma State on the highway by double digits. Cyclones ahead Milan Momcilovic is on a heater — 17 3-pointers in his final three video games.
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Nebraska followers have been upset that the Huskers weren’t within the high 5 earlier. I perceive, however I feel many are blinded by the phrase “undefeated.” Watching Nebraska step on the fuel within the second half at Minnesota was spectacular, although. This upcoming week is their final proving floor: at Michigan and internet hosting Illinois. Even in the event that they go 1-1, I’ll doubtless maintain them in my high 5.
Please don’t take Duke star ahead Cameron Boozer as a right. He dropped 32 factors, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals in a win over Wake Forest. He’s not as athletic as Dybantsa or Peterson, however he has been requested to do extra for his crew than any participant — and he continues to ship.
UConn retains successful, and the Huskies drop a spot? Yes, however only one. I don’t have arduous and quick guidelines for my rankings. UConn remains to be superior, but it surely has regarded susceptible within the Big East. The Huskies pulled out their second time beyond regulation win in three weeks on Saturday over Villanova. Guard Solo Ball led the way in which with 5 triples, breaking out of a capturing droop. I simply maintain ready for UConn to stomp on groups, and it hasn’t been in a position to do this.
The Wolverines have been enjoying with their meals these days. They beat Indiana by 14 after which Ohio State by 12 to spice up their file to 18-1. They’re a bit underneath the radar proper now, however that each one modifications this week once they host undefeated Nebraska (20-0) on Tuesday evening. I nonetheless imagine Michigan has the best potential of any crew within the nation. When the Wolverines play properly, no different crew can contact them.
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I used to be in Tucson, Arizona for the Wildcats’ win over Cincinnati on Wednesday. It wasn’t a fairly victory, but it surely did spotlight a lesser-known freshman, ahead Ivan Kharchenkov, who was everywhere in the ground on each ends. Pound for pound, Arizona is the strongest crew — bodily and mentally — within the nation.
