No Changes in the Top 25
After one weekend of college basketball play, the top 25 remains completely intact. Most teams have only played one game, and a ranked team has yet to be upset. This upcoming week, featuring games such as No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 2 Michigan State and No. 4 Duke vs. No. 5 Kansas in Champions Classic in Chicago, will see some powerhouse schools fall, while others score major early-season victories. That is sure to provide more of a shake-up in the rankings.
Quality Wins for Oregon and Connecticut
Though neither team defeated a ranked opponent, both beat solid squads in their season debuts that can be resume-boosters down the road in March. The then-No. 19 Ducks won at home against Georgetown, which returns guard Markel Starks from last year’s team that was bounced as a two-seed in the first round of the tournament against Florida Gulf Coast. Then-No. 18 Connecticut held off a second-half charge by Maryland to beat the Terrapins 78-77 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. The Huskies are eligible to qualify for the NCAA tournament this season after being banned for recruiting violations. Not all quality wins are created equal however, as Oregon and Connecticut swapped spots in the poll this week.
ACC Strength
The benefit of conference realignment is that the ACC, a league that had underachieved for the past few years, now boasts a wealth of contenders. The conference welcomes Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame this season, and will include Louisville next season, to add depth to a conference that long has to rely on the two schools from Tobacco Road. The ACC’s newfound firepower can be seen in the AP Top 25: a conference which only sent four teams to the NCAA tournament last year now has five in the Top 25. Along with traditional ACC powers No. 4 Duke and No. 12 North Carolina, newcomers No. 7 Syracuse and No. 21 Notre Dame represent the league. Additionally, Virginia, led by senior star Joe Harris, is clinging to the final spot in the rankings at No. 25.
Duke Picks Up First-Place Votes
The Blue Devils earned three first-place votes in the newest poll, after receiving only two in the preseason rankings. Defending national champion No. 3 Louisville, which struggled with College of Charleston in the first half, lost two votes, getting 12. No. 1 Kentucky received 28 votes, and No. 2 Michigan State received 22 votes heading into their showdown Tuesday night.
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