Here’s a look at the Top 25 Week Ahead and Week in Review
1. Duke (14-0, 1-0) Previous Rank: 1
Past Week: 1/2 @ Davidson, W 67-50 & 1/5 Wake Forest, W 80-62
Upcoming: 1/8 Clemson & 1/12 @ (23) N.C. State
After being tied at halftime with Davidson, Duke pulled away to stay unbeaten. This week a trip to N.C. State will prove to be their first test in the ACC.
2. Michigan (14-0, 1-0) Previous Rank: 2
Past Week: 1/3 @ Northwestern, W 94-66
Upcoming: 1/6 Iowa & 1/9 Nebraska
Michigan just keeps on rolling after beating Northwestern. Michigan will have their work cut out for them against a tough Iowa team who almost beat Indiana.
3. Arizona (14-0, 2-0) Previous Rank: 3
Past Week: 1/3 Colorado W 92-83 OT & 1/5 Utah, W 60-57
Upcoming: 1/10 @ Oregon & 1/12 @ Oregon St.
Don’t get me started on this one. Arizona should have lost their first game of the year but survived in OT against Colorado. All I can about the Utah game is…….at least they didn’t steal that one!
4. Louisville (13-1, 1-0) Previous Rank: 4
Past Week: 1/2 Providence, W 80-62
Upcoming: 1/9 @ Seton Hall & 1/12 South Florida
Providence was not much of a threat to Louisville and I don’t figure Seton Hall or South Florida will be either. Louisville will most like be 3-0 in conference play after this week.
5. Indiana (13-1, 1-0) Previous Rank: 5
Past Week: 12/31 @ Iowa, W 69-65
Upcoming: 1/7 @ Penn State & 1/12 (9) Minnesota
Indiana struggled on the road at Iowa but was able to survive. They face another big test for them this week as (9) Minnesota comes to Bloomington.
6. Kansas (11-1, 0-0) Previous Rank: 6
Past Week: No Games Last Week
Upcoming: 1/6 Temple & 1/9 Iowa St. & 1/12 @ Texas Tech
Kansas opens up conference play this week with three very beatable opponents. We’ll see how this goes.
7. Syracuse (13-1, 1-0) Previous Rank: 9
Past Week: 12/31 Central Connecticut State, W 96-62 & 1/2 Rutgers, W 78-53
Upcoming: 1/6 @ South Florida & 1/9 @ Providence & 1/12 Villanova
Now that Jim Boeheim has moved past Bobby Knight (congratulations Mr. Boeheim) on the all time win list we can move on to basketball. I don’t look for the Big East to challenge them this week in conference play.
8. Ohio State (11-3, 1-1) Previous Rank: 10
Past Week: 1/2 Nebraska, W 70-44 & 1/5 @ (12) Illinois, L 55-74
Upcoming: 1/8 @ Purdue
Ohio State bounced back solidly against Nebraska only to follow that up with a horrible performance against Illinois. This week gets no easier with a trip to Purdue and then the Wolverines lurking on the horizon.
Past Week: 12/31 (19) Michigan State, W 76-63
Upcoming: 1/6 Northwestern & 1/9 @ (11) Illinois & 1/12 @ (5) Indiana
Minnesota grabbed a big win against Michigan State this week but tough games this week on the road could really show us where the Gophers stand.
10. Gonzaga (15-1, 2-0) Previous Rank: 13
Past week: 12/31 @ (22) Oklahoma State, W 69-68 & 1/3 @ Pepperdine, W 78-62 & 1/5 @ Santa Clara, W 81-74
Upcoming: 1/10 St. Mary’s
A strong 3-0 performance from Gonzaga as everyone got into the spirit this week. They host St. Mary’s this week in hope of continuing their hot streak.
11. Illinois (14-2, 1-1) Previous Rank: 12
Past Week: 1/2 @ Purdue, L 61-68 & 1/5 (10) Ohio State, W 74-55
Upcoming: 1/9 (9) Minnesota & 1/12 @ Wisconsin
A devastating loss to Purdue will keep the Illini from jumping way up in the polls after embarrassing Ohio State at home. Wins against Minnesota and Wisconsin can jump them up though.
12. Missouri (11-2, 0-0) Previous Rank: 7
Past Week: 1/5 Bucknell, W 66-64
Upcoming: 1/8 Alabama & 1/12 @ Mississippi
Missouri barely knocked off Bucknell this week and will now open up SEC play.
13. Florida (9-2, 0-0) Previous Rank:14
Past Week: No Games Last Week
Upcoming: 1/6 @ Yale & 1/9 Georgia & 1/12 @ LSU
The Gators don’t play but thanks to other performances they move up in the polls. After a trip to Yale, Florida will open up SEC play.
14. Cincinnati (13-2, 1-1) Previous Rank: 8
Past Week: 12/31 @ (24) Pittsburgh, W 70-61 & 1/5 St. John’s, L 52-53
Upcoming: 1/7 (21) Notre Dame & 1/12 @ Rutgers
A strong effort in their win at Pittsburgh was what Cincinnati needed, but a loss against St. John’s is not what they needed. A tough matchup with Notre Dame will test the Bearcats this week.
15. Georgetown (10-2, 0-1) Previous Rank: 15
Past Week: 1/5 @ Marquette, L 48-49
Upcoming: 1/8 (24) Pittsburgh & 1/12 @ St. John’s
The Hoyas opened up Big East play with another game scoring less than 50 points and losing to Marquette. They should be able to bounce back against Pittsburgh and St. John’s even if they can’t score.
16. Creighton (14-1, 3-0) Previous Rank: 16
Past Week: 1/2 @ Illinois State, W 79-72 & 1/5 Indiana State, W 79-66
Upcoming: 1/8 Drake & 1/12 Missouri State
Creighton is rolling through conference play and will most likely continue that streak this week.
17. Butler (12-2, 0-0) Previous Rank: 18
Past Week: 1/2 Penn, W 70-57 & 1/5 New Orleans, W 57-44
Upcoming: 1/9 @ St. Joseph’s & 1/12 @ Dayton
Butler finished their non-conference schedule with wins and will now begin their A-10 run with games against St. Joseph’s and Dayton.
18. Michigan State (12-3, 1-1) Previous Rank: 19
Past Week: 12/31 @ (11) Minnesota, L 63-76 & 1/5 Purdue, W 84-61
Upcoming: 1/10 @ Iowa
Sparty split their opening two games in the B1G and will travel to face a tough Iowa team.
19. San Diego State (12-2, 0-0) Previous Rank: 17
Past Week: 1/2 CSU Bakersfield, W 72-57
Upcoming: 1/9 @ Fresno State & 1/12 Colorado State
San Diego didn’t fall to bad after last week’s loss. They now look to win in conference play against Fresno State and Colorado State.
20. New Mexico (13-2, 0-0) Previous Rank: NR
Past Week: 12/31 @ St. Louis, L 46-60
Upcoming: 1/9 UNLV & 1/12 Fresno State
Well you finally beat someone….then you lost to nobody……thanks for stopping by!
Past Week: 1/5 Seton Hall, W 93-74
Upcoming: 1/7 @ (14) Cincinnati & 1/12 UConn
Notre Dame has a chance to prove itself and probably jump in the polls with a trip to Cincy this week.
22. Oklahoma State (10-3, 0-1) Previous Rank: 22
Past Week: 12/31 (13) Gonzaga, L 68-69 & 1/5 @ (25) Kansas State, L 67-73
Upcoming: 1/9 TCU & 1/12 @ Oklahoma
Oklahoma State came off their bye week with two tough games and left with two tough losses. Those losses most likely will cost them their ranking.
23. North Carolina State (12-2, 1-0) Previous Rank: 23
Past Week: 12/31 North Carolina Greensboro, W 89-68 & 1/5 @ Boston College, W 78-73
Upcoming: 1/9 Georgia Tech & 1/12 (1) Duke
North Carolina State won their ACC opener and will host top-ranked Duke in a game that could be signature win for them.
24. Pittsburgh (12-3, 0-2) Previous Rank: 24
Past Week: 12/31 (8) Cincinnati, L 61-70 & 1/5 @ Rutgers, L 62-67
Upcoming: 1/8 @ (15) Georgetown & 1/12 Marquette
Pittsburgh was another team losing both their games this week and will likely drop out of the Top 25. We appreciate your visit.
25. Kansas State (12-2, 1-0) Previous Rank: 25
Past Week: 12/31 South Dakota, W 70-50 & 1/5 (22) Oklahoma State, W 73-67
Upcoming: 1/12 @ West Virginia
Big wins for Kansas State in basketball in hope to soften the sting of their football bowl game loss to Oregon. They travel to West Virginia this week in hopes to keep rolling.
Be sure to check back next week to see if the total chaos continues or if things settle down for week two of conference play!
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