- Welcome to Bracketville
By most statistical measures, the Big Ten is the No. 1 conference through the first month-plus of the season. The league is first in the RPI, first in overall winning percentage, and its teams have compiled wins over top teams in other BCS conferences. Thus, it’s no real surprise the Big Ten has six teams in this week’s Power 24 – led by Ohio State, which stays at No. 2. Yes, the Buckeyes lost at Kansas but Jared Sullinger didn’t play. Winning at KU is tough at full strength, so not having a potential first team All-American on the floor is a valid consideration.
December 12 – Power 24
Kentucky stays at No. 1. Even though the Wildcats played a rather poor first half in Bloomington, they fought back and nearly pulled out a huge road victory. No reason to drop UK for a one-point loss in an extremely hostile environment. Syracuse holds firm at No. 3. It would have been easy to move the Orange into the No. 1 spot once UK and OSU lost. Syracuse may well prove to be the best team. As of Monday, however, the Orange had yet to play a true road game. We’ll re-evaluate the order once ‘Cuse plays at NC State this weekend.
Indiana and Illinois join the rankings this week. Memphis and Arizona fall out. Arizona remains close thanks to a tight road loss at Florida. Memphis has tossed aside most of its non-conference chances, and will have a difficult time challenging for a Top 5 seed in March. Congratulations to Murray State on its win at Memphis Sunday. The Racers begin the week at No. 32 on the S-curve. That would be an 8-seed. Quite an accomplishment for a team from the Ohio Valley Conference.
Welcome to Bracketville
Duke and Ohio State remain 1-2 in our latest Power 24. Kansas moves up to No. 3. The Jayhawks put together an impressive second-half against Memphis in New York, and now await the arrival of Josh Selby on Saturday.
This is where it gets a bit more tricky. Fresh off a virtual road win against Pittsburgh, Tennessee vaults into the No. 4 spot, followed closely by Connecticut. Both the Vols and Huskies have impressed – and surprised. Tennessee because of all the off-court issues surrounding head coach Bruce Pearl. Connecticut because few of us anticipated Kemba Walker would carry his team to a Maui championship and beyond.
View our December 13 edition of Power 24.
Any number of teams could claim spots this week. The only changes: Temple returns following its win over Georgetown, and Washington leaves after falling a point short at Texas A-M. It’s not a bad loss, but the Huskies (Washington variety) have missed on most of their “good win” chances – beating only Virginia in Maui.
Louisville sits at No. 25 – one spot out of the rankings. Good win last weekend over UNLV, but like all of the Cardinals’ wins to date, it was at home. Louisville hasn’t yet left its new KFC Yum! Center surroundings. That changes on a Dec. 23 trip to Western Kentucky. By comparison, UNLV (No. 17 this week) has played just four home games; winning five away from Vegas, including two true road games and three at the 76 Classic. At this point, UNLV’s overall body of work is more impressive.
Rebounds always welcome. Next Power 24 update and bracket update will be Monday, December 20.
Our latest Power 24 update has a surprise. Gonzaga just misses, coming in at No. 25. How is that, with a 21-5 record and No.23 non-conference strength of schedule? In synopsis, two of the ‘Zags best wins are against league foe St. Mary’s. Their other quality wins – Wisconsin and Cincinnati (Maui) and Illinois (Jan. 2) all came a while ago. The Bulldogs were crushed by Duke and lost at home to Wake Forest. Then there are the two hiccups to San Francisco and Loyola-Marymount in the past three weeks. Gonzaga is a solid team, but now lands as the highest No. 7 seed on our S-curve.
February 22 Power 24
No big changes at the top … Kansas remains No. 1 – followed by Syracuse, Kentucky and Purdue. Welcome to the Richmond Spiders, who come it at No. 24 – one spot ahead of Gonzaga. Rebounds are always welcome. New bracket projection out later today.
Greet the Washington Huskies – again. Fresh off a win over Texas A&M, the Huskies sneak back into the Power 24 at Bracketville. The Aggies just miss, falling one spot off the pace during the Holiday week. Nothing new at the top … Kansas, Texas, Kentucky, Syracuse and North Carolina round out our first five. Next update is Monday, January 4 – that’s also the day we begin weekly bracket projections. See our full Power 24. Have a different thought? Send a rebound.
Fresh off a nice road win at Georgia Tech, Florida State vaults back into our Power 24 rankings at Bracketville. Cincinnati gets passed after losing two of three. Several other teams are knocking at the door, including Texas Tech which missed on a late rally at Wichita State. We’re not quite sold on the Red Raiders. Another quick note … Syracuse vaults into the No. 4 spot – one ahead of North Carolina. One could say the Orange beat UNC and should already have been ahead. Valid point. But remember, the Power 24 is a reflection of potential and projection, not just about performance at the time of posting. On that note, the Tar Heels stand at No. 5. Consider this … UNC’s three losses are at Kentucky and on neutral floors to Syracuse and Texas … all teams just ahead of them. Carolina is still our favorite to win the ACC. Kansas remains the No. 1 team. Can’t wait to see the Jayhaws in a true road game. Rankings are any sort are always good conversation. Have an opinion? Send a rebound. See our full Power 24 rankings.
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