The revolving door that is known as the Top 25 continued to revolve this week.  4 of the 5 Top 5 teams all loss, including Kansas who has now lost three in a row.  In addition to the top 5 teams laying an egg, 14 of the 25 teams lost at least one game this week, with 5 of them not even picking up a single win.  All was not bad though in the Top 25 world.  There were several great games and several overtime games, including a stunning 5 overtime in the Big East.  The Miami Hurricanes continued to come on like gang-busters and very well could be in the Top 5 when all is said is done with the polls this week.  This week doesn’t look like it will let us down as there are quite a few Top 25 matchups and tough games against un-ranked opponents.  Only time will tell how this week will end up but in the meantime, I am just going to sit back and enjoy one of the most exciting college basketball seasons that I can remember.

Here’s a look at the Top 25 Week Ahead and Week in Review

1.       Indiana (20-3, 8-2) Previous Rank: 3

Past Week: 2/7 @ Illinois, L 72-74

Upcoming: 2/10 @ (10) Ohio State & 2/13 Nebraska & 2/16 Purdue

The Hoosiers were the latest Number One team to fall.  A beautifully ran inbounds play by Illinois sunk Indiana.  It doesn’t get any easier this week as they travel to Columbus to face the Buckeyes.

 

2.       Florida (19-3, 9-1) Previous Rank: 4

Past Week:  2/5 @ Arkansas, L 69-80 & 2/9 Mississippi State, W 83-58

Upcoming:  2/12 Kentucky & 2/16 @ Auburn

Florida lost its chance to be the top ranked team with a loss to Arkansas earlier this week.  A trip to Lexington to face Kentucky could spell out another loss this week.

 

3.       Michigan (21-3, 8-3) Previous Rank: 1

Past Week: 2/5 (10) Ohio State, W 76-74 OT & 2/9 @ Wisconsin, L 62-65 OT

Upcoming: 2/12 @ (12) Michigan State

If you asked me last week, I would have said that Michigan had played the most consistent of the Top 25 teams.  Their loss to Wisconsin this week makes me re-think that statement.  They could lose in back to back weeks as well when they face Sparty in East Lansing.

 

4.       Duke (20-2, 7-2) Previous Rank: 5

Past Week: 2/7 N.C. State, W 98-85

Upcoming: 2/10 @ Boston College & 2/13 North Carolina & 2/16 @ Maryland

Duke got their revenge against N.C. State this week with a convincing win at home that will probably propel them into the top spot.  Can they stay there? It’s anyone’s guess when they face their rival North Carolina on Wednesday.

 

5.       Kansas (19-4, 7-3) Previous Rank: 2

Past Week: 2/6 TCU, L 55-62 & 2/9 @ Oklahoma, L 66-72

Upcoming: 2/11 (13) Kansas State & 2/16 Texas

So much for consistency from the Jayhawks……three losses in a row and a potential fourth this week when they face Kansas State. 

 

6.       Gonzaga (23-2, 10-2) Previous Rank: 7

Past Week: 2/7 Pepperdine, W 82-56 & 2/9 Loyola Marymount, W 74-55

Upcoming:  2/14 @ St. Mary’s & 2/16 @ San Francisco

Gonzaga keeps winning in a very weak West Coast Conference and they will probably benefit from everyone else losing.  I’m not sure this team is a Top 5 team but at this point you can’t penalize them for winning….yet.

 

7.       Arizona (20-2, 8-2) Previous Rank: 8

Past Week:  2/6 Stanford, W 73-66

Upcoming: 2/10 Cal & 2/14 @ Colorado

The Wildcats took care of business at home against Stanford.  A couple of winnable games this week give us nothing much to talk about.  .

 

8.       Miami (FL) (19-3, 10-0) Previous Rank: 14

Past Week: 2/5 Boston College, W 72-50 & 2/9 North Carolina, W 87-61

Upcoming: 2/13 @ Florida State

The Hurricanes are absolutely scorching right now.  They are steam rolling the ACC and climbing the Top 25 ladder.  A win against Florida State this week will keep them on moving on up.

 

9.       Syracuse (19-3, 7-2) Previous Rank: 6

Past week: 2/4 Notre Dame, W 63-47

Upcoming: 2/10 St. John’s & 2/13 @ Uconn & 2/16 @ Seton Hall

Syracuse knocked off the Irish pretty convincingly and will have three games this week in hope of staying in the Top 10.

 

10.   Ohio State (17-5, 7-3) Previous Rank: 11

Past Week: 2/5 @ (3) Michigan, L 74-76 OT

Upcoming: 2/10 (1) Indiana & 2/14 Northwestern

Ohio State fought hard and played well in Ann Arbor but fell just short of sweeping the Wolverines this year.  They will need to forget about that tough loss quick when Indiana comes to town today.

 

11.   Louisville (19-5, 7-4) Previous Rank: 12

Past Week: 2/3 (24) Marquette, W 70-51 & 2/6 @ Rutgers, W 68-48 & 2/9 @ (25) Notre Dame, L 101-104 5OT

Upcoming: 2/14 St. John’s

Maybe at this point everyone will start believing that Louisville was probably over-hyped early this season. Their 5OT loss to Notre Dame is nothing to be ashamed of but it is their 5 loss of the season. 

 

12.   Michigan State (20-4, 9-2) Previous Rank: 13

Past Week: 2/6 (18) Minnesota, W 61-50 & 2/9 @ Purdue, W 78-65

Upcoming: 2/12 (3) Michigan & 2/16 @ Nebraska

Sparty seems to be rolling at the right time……like usual.  A win against Michigan this week could really boost the Spartans in the eyes of pollsters.

 

13.   Kansas State (19-4, 8-2) Previous Rank: 18

 Past Week: 2/5 @ Texas Tech, W 68-59 & 2/9 Iowa State, W 79-70

Upcoming: 2/11 @ (5) Kansas & 2/16 Baylor

Kansas State didn’t face too much of a challenge this past week and this week probably is the same.  Kansas will no longer be No. 5 when they come to town and could leave with their fourth straight loss.

 

14.   Butler (20-4, 7-2) Previous Rank: 9

Past Week: 2/6 St. Bonaventure, W 77-58 & 2/9 George Washington, W 59-56

Upcoming: 2/13 Charlotte & 2/16 @ Fordham

Butler is much like Gonzaga…..they keep winning and will benefit from others losses.  Should be two more wins this week. 

 

15.   New Mexico (20-4, 7-2) Previous Rank: 20

Past Week: 2/6 Air Force, W 81-58 & 2/9 UNLV, L 59-64

Upcoming: 2/13 @ Fresno State & 2/16 Boise State

The Lobos continue their roller coaster ride by losing to UNLV at home this week.  I’m not going to try predicting the upcoming week.  Let’s see what happens. 

 

16.   Creighton (20-5, 9-4) Previous Rank: 21

Past Week: 2/6 @ Indiana State, L 57-76 & 2/9 Illinois State, L 72-75

Upcoming: 2/13 @ Northern Iowa & 2/16 @ Evansville

Back to back losses this past week by Creighton could knock them out of the Top 25.  I would say two winnable games this week but after their performance this past week……who knows!

 

17.   Cincinnati (18-6, 6-5) Previous Rank: 24

Past Week: 2/6 @ Providence, L 50-54 & 2/9 (23) Pittsburgh, L 52-62

Upcoming: 2/12 Villanova & 2/15 (20) Georgetown

The Bearcats were yet another Top 25 team to lose both games this past week.  They look to bounce back this week when they host Georgetown.

 

18.   Minnesota (17-6, 5-5) Previous Rank: 23

Past Week: 2/3 Iowa, W 62-59 & 2/6 @ (12) Michigan State, L 50-61

Upcoming: 2/10 Illinois & 2/14 Wisconsin

Minnesota is completely back down to Earth now as they are finding out the B1G is a tough conference.  Their loss to Michigan State puts them at .500 in the league and tough games this could drop them below .500.

 

19.   Oregon (19-5, 8-3) Previous Rank: 10

Past Week: 2/7 Colorado, L 47-48 & 2/9 Utah, W 73-64

Upcoming: 2/13 @ Washington & 2/16 @ Washington State

Oregon is dropping in the rankings just as quickly as the rose through them.  An unforgivable loss to Colorado and a tour of the Washington state this week could mean disaster for the Ducks.

 

20.   Georgetown (17-4, 7-3) Previous Rank: NR

Past Week: 2/9 @ Rutgers, W 69-63

Upcoming: 2/11 (24) Marquette & 2/15 @ (17) Cincinnati

The Hoyas beat Rutgers this week in preparation a tough week ahead.  The face two ranked teams this week in Marquette and Cincinnati.

 

21.   Missouri (17-6, 6-4) Previous Rank: 17

Past Week: 2/7 Texas A&M, L 68-70 & 2/9 Mississippi, W 98-79

Upcoming: 2/13 @ Mississippi State & 2/16 @ Arkansas

Missouri continues to struggle in games they should win and dominate in games that should be tough.  They travel to Arkansas who is coming off a solid win against Florida.

 

22.   Oklahoma State (17-5, 7-3) Previous Rank: NR

Past Week: 2/6 Baylor, W 69-67 & 2/9 Texas, W 72-59

Upcoming: 2/13 @ Texas Tech & 2/16 Oklahoma

The Cowboys jumped back in the Top 25 this past week and proved they belonged with two wins.  This week they will face rival Oklahoma at home.

 

23.   Pittsburgh (20-5, 8-4) Previous Rank: NR

Past Week: 2/4 Seton Hall, W 56-46 & 2/9 @ (17) Cincinnati, W 62-52

Upcoming: 2/16 @ (24) Marquette

Pitt also joined the Top 25 this past week and should move up nicely after a dominating win on the road at Cincinnati.  A trip to Marquette this week could mean another nice jump in the polls or it could mean a dose of reality to them.

 

24.   Marquette (17-5, 8-2) Previous Rank: 25

Past Week: 2/3 @ (11) Louisville, L 51-70 & 2/6 @ South Florida, W 70-47 & 2/9 DePaul, W 89-78

Upcoming: 2/11 @ (20) Georgetown & 2/16 (23) Pittsburgh

Just when Marquette seems to be playing well they drop one to a Louisville team that is definitely beatable.  This week will continue to be tough for them as they go to Georgetown and then come back home to face Pitt.

 

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b>25.   Notre Dame (19-5, 7-4) Previous Rank: NR

Past Week: 2/4 @ (9) Syracuse, L 47-63 & 2/9 (11) Louisville, W 104-101 5OT

Upcoming: 2/13 DePaul & 2/16 @ Providence

The Irish followed up a dismal performance at Syracuse with a thrilling win over Louisville.  After the high of a 5OT game, a let-down could be in store for them this week.

Be sure to check back next week to see how the Top 25 carousel went and if things settle down any the following week!

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Categories: Analysis, College Basketball, Miscellaneous