Buckeye Blogger Network
B1G! B1G!
The college basketball season is winding down but that doesn’t mean that the excitement is too. More over time games, more losses, and more surprises continue to be story of the season. Duke kept the streak of Top 5 teams losing by dropping their game to Maryland. The Miami Hurricanes continue to turn heads and move up the polls and will most likely do the same this week after beating Florida State. The Big East and Big Ten are proving to be the two best conferences in the nation as they continue to beat up on each other. The week of games are becoming too much for me to wrap up in a paragraph so I will stop rambling so you can see how everyone did last week.
Here’s a look at the Top 25 Week Ahead and Week in Review:
1. Indiana (23-3, 11-2) Previous Rank: 1
Past Week: 2/10 @ (13) Ohio State, W 81-68 & 2/13 Nebraska, W 76-47 & 2/16 Purdue, W 83-55
Upcoming: 2/19 @ (8) Michigan State
So the Hoosiers lose and stayed number one this past week……No love to the Hurricanes. After knocking off Ohio State in Columbus they now travel to East Lansing to face a scorching hot Michigan State team.
2. Duke (22-3, 9-3) Previous Rank: 4
Past Week: 2/10 @ Boston College, W 62-61 & 2/13 North Carolina, W 73-68 & 2/16 @ Maryland, L 81-83
Upcoming: 2/21 @ Virginia Tech
Duke held their own on home court in college basketball’s biggest rivalry after beating North Carolina. They followed it up with a disappointing loss at Maryland. They hope to bounce back when they face Virginia Tech on the road.
3. Miami (FL) (20-3, 11-0) Previous Rank: 8
Past Week: 2/13 @ Florida State, W 74-68
Upcoming: 2/17 @ Clemson & 2/19 Virginia & 2/23 @ Wake Forest
The Hurricanes probably should be ranked Number One in the polls but they don’t care at the moment as they keep on rolling. This week will be a busy one as they look to stay undefeated in the ACC.
4. Michigan (21-4, 8-4) Previous Rank: 3
Past Week: 2/12 @ (8) Michigan State, L 52-75
Upcoming: 2/17 Penn State
Michigan found out that Sparty comes to play late in the season. After being embarrassed by Michigan State last week they now host Penn State.
5. Gonzaga (25-2, 12-0) Previous Rank: 6
Past Week: 2/14 @ St. Mary’s, W 77-60 & 2/16 @ San Francisco, W 71-61
Upcoming: 2/20 Santa Clara & 2/23 San Diego
Gonzaga continues to benefit from a weak WCC and the Top 25 teams losing. Not sure this team is a Top 5 team but until something changes, I don’t think anyone can argue.
6. Syracuse (21-4, 9-3) Previous Rank: 9
Past week: 2/10 St. John’s, W 77-58 & 2/13 @ Uconn, L 58-66 & 2/16 @ Seton Hall, W 76-65
Upcoming: 2/20 Providence & 2/23 (15) Georgetown
The Orange lost at Uconn last week and this week could be two more losses. A tough Providence team and a ranked Georgetown team come to town this week.
7. Florida (21-3, 11-1) Previous Rank: 2
Past Week: 2/12 (25) Kentucky, W 69-52 & 2/16 @ Auburn, W 83-52
Upcoming: 2/19 @ Missouri & 2/23 Arkansas
Florida won both of their games convincingly last week. They will host Arkansas this week who should give the Gators a pretty good run.
8. Michigan State (22-4, 11-2) Previous Rank: 12
Past Week: 2/12 (4) Michigan, W 75-52 & 2/16 @ Nebraska, W 73-64
Upcoming: 2/19 (1) Indiana
Nothing new here……it’s late in the season and Michigan State looks unstoppable. After Indiana comes to town this week we may know where both teams stand.
9. Arizona (20-4, 8-4) Previous Rank: 7
Past Week: 2/10 Cal, L 69-77 & 2/14 @ Colorado, L 58-71
Upcoming: 2/17 @ Utah & 2/20 Washington & 2/23 Washington State
Arizona has lost two in a row and is in danger of being another ranked team to lose three in a row. They travel to Utah and hope to end their skid.
10. Kansas State (20-5, 9-3) Previous Rank: 13
Past Week: 2/11 @ (14) Kansas, L 62-83 & 2/16 Baylor, W 81-61
Upcoming: 2/18 West Virginia & 2/23 @ Texas
Kansas couldn’t knock off in-state rival Kansas last week. They have two winnable games this week as they look to steady the ship.
11. Butler (21-5, 8-3) Previous Rank: 14
Past Week: 2/13 Charlotte, L 67-71 & 2/16 @ Fordham, W 68-63
Upcoming: 2/19 Duquesne & 2/22 St. Louis
When you are a mid-major team you can’t afford bad losses. That’s exactly what happened to Butler last week in their loss to Charlotte. They can’t afford another loss this week if they want to stay in the Top 25.
12. Louisville (20-5, 8-4) Previous Rank: 11
Past Week: 2/14 St. John’s, W 72-58
Upcoming: 2/17 @ South Florida & 2/23 Seton Hall
Louisville won as expected last week and should win again this week.
13. Ohio State (18-6, 8-4) Previous Rank: 10
Past Week: 2/10 (1) Indiana, L 68-81 & 2/14 Northwestern, W 69-59, 2/17 (20) Wisconsin L 49-71
Upcoming: 2/20 Minnesota
After playing well in Ann Arbor, Ohio State came back home and forgot to show up in their loss to Indiana. Things in the Kohl Center didn’t make things any better…
14. Kansas (21-4, 9-3) Previous Rank: 5
Past Week: 2/11 (10) Kansas State, W 83-62 & 2/16 Texas, W 73-47
Upcoming: 2/20 @ (17) Oklahoma State & 2/23 TCU
The Jayhawks finally got back to their winning ways last week. They travel to Cowboy country and then look for revenge on TCU this week.
15. Georgetown (19-4, 9-3) Previous Rank: 20
Past Week: 2/11 (18) Marquette, W 63-55 & 2/15 @ Cincinnati, W 62-55
Upcoming: 2/20 DePaul & 2/23 @ (6) Syracuse
The Hoyas are picking up big wins at the right time. A win at Syracuse this week could move Georgetown up even more.
16. Pittsburgh (20-6, 8-5) Previous Rank: 23
Past Week: 2/16 @ (18) Marquette, L 59-69
Upcoming: 2/18 (21) Notre Dame
The Big East is as tough as the Big Ten this year and Pittsburgh is finding that out. After losing to Marquette they will now face another ranked opponent in Notre Dame.
17. Oklahoma State (19-5, 9-3) Previous Rank: 22
Past Week: 2/13 @ Texas Tech, W 91-67 & 2/16 Oklahoma, W 84-79 OT
Upcoming: 2/20 (14) Kansas & @ West Virginia
In a thrilling rivalry game, the Cowboys knocked off the Sooners in OT last week. They now will try to put Kansas back in the loss column this week.
18. Marquette (18-6, 9-3) Previous Rank: 24
Past Week: 2/11 @ (20) Georgetown, L 55-63 & 2/16 (23) Pittsburgh, W 79-69
Upcoming: 2/19 @ Seton Hall & 2/23 @ Villanova
Marquette split their games against ranked opponents and this week will face a tough Villanova team.
19. New Mexico (22-4, 9-2) Previous Rank: 15
Past Week: 2/13 @ Fresno State, W 54-48 & 2/16 Boise State, W 60-50
Upcoming: 2/23 @ (24) Colorado State
The Mountain West conference is proving to be an up-and-coming conference this year. New Mexico continues to knock off opponents but they travel to Colorado State this week in what should be an entertaining conference game.
20. Wisconsin (17-8, 8-4) Previous Rank: NR
Past Week: 2/14 @ Minnesota, L 53-58
Upcoming: 2/17 (13) Ohio State & 2/20 @ Northwestern
Wisconsin finally jumped in the Top 25 and then promptly lost to Minnesota. They will have to play better if they hope to knock off Ohio State this week.
21. Notre Dame (20-6, 8-5) Previous Rank: 25
Past Week: 2/13 DePaul, W 82-78 OT & 2/16 @ Providence, L 54-71
Upcoming: 2/18 @ (16) Pittsburgh
Notre Dame played 6 OT’s in a matter of two games and it may have cost them as they looked tired against a good Providence team. They don’t get any time to rest as they face Pitt this week.
22. Memphis (22-3, 11-0) Previous Rank: NR
Past Week: 2/13 UCF, W 93-71 & 2/16 @ Marshall, W 71-59
Upcoming: 2/20 Houston & 2/23 Southern Miss
Memphis is new to the Top 25 and they won easily last week. I don’t look for much to be different this week.
23. Oregon (21-5, 10-3) Previous Rank: 19
Past Week: 2/13 @ Washington, W 65-52 & 2/16 @ Washington State, W 79-77 OT
Upcoming: 2/21 Cal & 2/23 Stanford
Oregon looks to be getting back to consistent play. Let’s wait until after this week to see how they do against Cal & Stanford.
24. Colorado State (21-4, 8-2) Previous Rank: NR
Past Week: 2/13 San Diego State, W 66-60 & 2/16 @ Air Force, W 89-86
Upcoming: 2/20 @ UNLV & 2/23 (19) New Mexico
Colorado State won two tough games during their first week in the Top 25. Two more tough games are on tap this week.
25. Kentucky (17-8, 8-4) Previous Rank: NR
Past Week: 2/12 @ (7) Florida, L 52-69 & @ Tennessee, L 58-88
Upcoming: 2/20 Vanderbilt & 2/23 Missouri
Kentucky lost more than just the game at Florida. They lost their star Noel. It really showed in an embarrassing 30 point loss to the Vols. So much for being ranked.
Be sure to check back next week to see how this exciting season continues to impress us all!
February 18th, 2013 at 7:35 am
Nice write-up, Gary, thanks. Yeesh, what a week. I’m looking forward to watching the MSU-Indiana game.
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February 18th, 2013 at 9:59 am
Thanks Ken. I think Sparty will hand it to Indiana since it’s in East Lansing.
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Ken
February 18th, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Yeah, I do too. Buckeyes down to #18 this week. Five more weeks in regular season and we’re sinking faster than the Titanic.
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Gary
February 19th, 2013 at 7:24 am
The B1G is tough but we are better than what we are playing like. Can’t just show up on game day and expect to win.
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Ken
February 19th, 2013 at 4:50 pm
That’s a very good point. Everyone in the conference (well, almost everyone) can beat one another, so when we suit up, we’d better be ready to play.
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