The Rant has recruited a third basketball mind to help with the weekly rankings. I would like to thank Matt Dugan for taking part in this week’s rankings and hopefully throughout the rest of the season.
1. UCONN Huskies (26-2, 14-2)
60 votes (3 first place votes)
Last week: W vs South Florida 64-50, W @ #9 Marquette 93-82
This week: Saturday vs Notre Dame
All this talk about Hasheem Thabeet as the national or Big East Player of the Year has quieted a bit since being a non-factor in their loss to Pitt, but that does not mean another Husky should not be talked about. A.J. Price is the best player on this team and nobody is talking about him. He single handily kept them in the game with Pitt and he dominated Marquette last night hitting eight 3’s and finishing with 36 points.
2. North Carolina Tarheels (24-3, 10-3)
54 votes
Last week: L @ Maryland 88-85 (OT)
This week: Saturday vs Georgia Tech, Wednesday @ Virginia Tech
To me Carolina is far above everyone in the ACC, so how are the Heels losing to teams like Boston College and Maryland? This team is so talented that it seems to be a chore for them to actually put effort into their games since they rarely need to do so. My two big questions will they keep this up through March and will they finally be able to turn it on when needed in March? So far, we have no reason to believe either will happen.
2. Pitt Panthers (25-3, 12-3)
54 votes
Last week: W vs DePaul 80-61, L @ Providence 81-73
This week: Saturday @ Seton Hall, Wednesday vs #10 Marquette
The Panthers learned first hand on Tuesday that they cannot survive on talent alone (like Carolina has been doing) and went down hard when they slept walked through the first half against Providence. The good thing for the Panthers is that they really do not have any bad losses. All three losses have been on the road to Big East opponents, all of who will probably be playing in March.
4. Oklahoma Sooners (25-3, 11-2)
50 votes
Last week: L @ Texas 73-68, L vs Kansas 87-78
This week: Saturday @ Texas Tech, Wednesday @ #9 Missouri
The two losses this week are tough to explain. Yes, both were without Blake Griffin playing, but if they are really deserving of being considered a National Champion contender shouldn’t they be able to win without him in the lineup? If they cannot beat Tech on Saturday without Griffin, they will have no chance at beating Missouri next week or making a real run at the Final Four.
5. Memphis Tigers (24-3, 12-0)
46 votes
Last week: W @ UTEP 70-63
This week: Tonight @ UAB, Saturday vs Southern Miss, Wednesday @ Houston
The competition level for Memphis in C-USA is about the same for Adam Sandler when he was playing dodge ball against kindergarteners in Billy Madison. And what is even worse is that they are not blowing these teams out, they are playing down to their level. You have no idea how much I want UAB to beat them tonight!
6. Louisville Cardinals (22-5, 13-2)
44 votes
Last week: W @ Cincinnati 72-63, Monday @ Georgetown 76-58
This week: Sunday vs Marquette, Wednesday vs Seton Hall
This team could be the most athletic and talented team in the Big East along with having the best coach, so how do they lose to teams like Western Kentucky, UNLV, Minnesota and Notre Dame?
7. Villanova Wildcats (23-5, 11-4)
42 votes
Last week: W vs Rutgers 82-72, W @ Syracuse 89-86, W @ DePaul 74-72
This week: Saturday vs Georgetown, Monday @ Notre Dame
Villanova might be the most dangerous team in the country that nobody is talking about. Nova has the guard play and the scorers to play with anyone and the athletic big guys to bang the boards. This team is not as hyped as the squad that Jay Wright had in 2005-06 with Foye, Ray, Nardi and Co., but they are as good, if not better.
8. Duke Blue Devils (23-5, 9-4)
41 votes
Last week: W @ St. John’s 76-69, W vs #12 Wake Forest 101-91, W @ Maryland 78-67
This week: Saturday @ Virginia Tech, Tuesday vs Florida State
Beating Maryland is not considered a great road win just because UNC lost there four days earlier. However, beating Maryland when they are wearing those god-awful Yellow uniforms, now that is impressive!
9. Missouri Tigers (24-4, 11-2)
35 votes
Last week: W @ Colorado 66-53, W vs Kansas State 94-74
This week: Sunday @ #15 Kansas, Wednesday vs #4 Oklahoma
Winners of seven straight and 11 of 12 have everything on the line this week. Sweep KU and OU and Mizzou wins the Big XII regular season (now how hard was that to do Quin Snyder?). It is all there for the taking, not to add any pressure.
10. Marquette Golden Eagles (23-5, 12-3)
33 votes
Last week: W @ Georgetown 78-72, L vs #1 UCONN 93-82
This week: Sunday @ #6 Louisville, Wednesday @ #2 Pitt
Game one of their brutal stretch run did not go as planned and that was at home. Now the Eagles have road games in two hostile environments at Freedom Hall and the Petersen Event Center. They could go from being in the race for the league title if they win both to missing out on the all-important 2-day bye in the Big East Tournament if they lose both. And, they will have to do it without Dominic James.
11. Michigan State Spartans (22-5, 12-3)
27 votes
Last week: W vs Wisconsin 61-50, W vs Iowa 62-54
This week: Sunday @ Illinois, Tuesday @ Indiana
Congratulations should go out to the Michigan State basketball team. Not only did the Spartans get to 60 points in both games this week, they actually scored OVER 60 in both games. That is tough to do in that putrid conference known as the Big Ten.
12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (20-5, 7-5)
26 votes
Last week: L @ #8 Duke 101-91
This week: Tonight vs NC State, Saturday @ Virginia, Tuesday @ Maryland
Jeff Teague could carry this team at any point if he wanted to, but it seems like it is a bother for him to focused and interested in playing. There are stretches in the game when he does not touch the ball in an offensive set. Not shot they ball, when he does not even touch the ball. How is that good coaching?
13. Arizona State Sun Devils (21-5, 10-4)
24 votes
Last week: W vs Arizona 70-68
This week: Tonight @ Washington, Saturday @ Washington State
This team could be very good, but they seem to trip over themselves instead of separate from the rest of the sub-par Pac-10.
14. Clemson Tigers (22-5, 8-5)
22 votes
Last week: W @ Georgia Tech 81-73, L vs Virginia Tech 80-77
This week: Saturday @ Florida State, Tuesday vs Virginia
I think this is a good and accurate summary of what the national public thinks of Clemson. When doing these rankings I also ask for comments from those voting each week. Jason responded with nothing, Matt wrote, “yawn”, and I think they are incredibly boring.
15. Kansas Jayhawks (23-5, 12-1)
21 votes
Last week: W vs Nebraska 70-53, W @ #4 Oklahoma 87-78
This week: Sunday vs # 9 Missouri, Wednesday @ Texas Tech
Sherron Collins is the only returning starter from last year’s title team, and he can light it up from anywhere on the court. Bill Self would love you to think that this team is young and Collins is all he has, but The Rant knows better. KU recruits well, and this team is loaded with young talent.
16. LSU Tigers (24-4, 12-1)
13 votes
Last week: W vs Auburn 79-72, W vs Florida 81-75
This week: Saturday @ Kentucky, Wednesday vs Vanderbilt
The SEC can have their football, but boy are they terrible at basketball this year. It will not happen, but LSU is the only truly deserving NCAA team from the entire conference. They play with speed, skill and athleticism, just like all the football programs in that conference. You would think that some of these other coaches might be able to figure that out.
Others receiving votes: Xavier 11, Gonzaga 9, Purdue 8, Florida State 5, UCLA 2, Washington 2, Texas 1
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2 comments:
Would love to see OU, Duke or Memphis in my team's region
I agree. I think the Big East will flex its muscle bigtime in March. There are 4 or 5 teams that I feel could make a legit run at the Final Four. Wouldn't it be great if the Detroit were just a mini Big East Tournament all over again, kind of like 1985 when 3 of 4 team were from the BE.
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