2009-2010 Top 25 (Jan. 4-Jan. 10)

Here is my take on the top 25 at this point in the college basketball season. I highly disagree with the idea of a preseason top 25 or any early season ranking at all for that matter. Think about this, Butler with four loses is still ranked 24 while a Pittsburgh team with only two loses and a recent upset of No. 5 and undefeated Syracuse on the road can't crack the top 25. Why is this? There is only one reason; Butler started the season with high expectations and a No. 10 ranking while Pitt. was a total unknown and therefore unranked to start the season. When it comes down to it though what do preseason expectations have to do with how a team is performing? Nothing. This is why I have waited until January to put out my first set of rankings. These rankings are based solely on teams play thus far this season, it is not meant to predict anything or show who may be the better team come March it is to rank the teams on their performance to this point. So here we go.

1. Texas

Record: 13-0

Good Wins: Pitt, USC, UNC, MSU

Losses: None

This Week: @Arkansas, vs.Colorado

Texas has jumped out to a great start this year. Led by Dexter Pittman and Damion James, along with point guard Dogus Balbay, and super freshmen Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton. Texas plays great defense and can run with the best of them offensively. The Longhorns have already knocked off a tough USC team along with an up and coming Pitt. team, and both teams from last years NCAA finals: UNC and MSU.

2. Purdue

Record: 13-0

Good Wins: Tenn., Alabama, West Virginia

Losses: None

This Week: vs. Minn., @Wisconsin

Purdue slipped under the radar for while, despite their preseason hype and a early win over Tenn. Last week they proved just how for real they were with a stomping of then undefeated West Virginia, adding to the Tennessee win and a 16 point come from behind win at Alabama. Driven by their though man to man defense and their veteran starting five, Purdue may not have as much depth as other teams, but it is yet to hurt them thus far.

3. Kentucky

Record: 15-0

Good Wins: UNC, UConn, Louisville

Losses: None

This Week: vs. Georgia

This young and fast paced UK team led by John Calipari has shown just how good they have the potential to be. With veteran Patrick Patterson leading the way and freshmen John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe developing quickly this Uk team looks like it will be a tough out for anyone, having already knocked off UNC, UConn, and in-state rival Louisville.

4. Kansas

Record: 13-0

Good Wins: Memphis, Michigan, Cal, Temple

Losses: None

This Week: vs. Cornell, @Tennessee

Kansas is largely considered the No. 1 team in the country. Led by the veteran duo of Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins. Kansas has done nothing to disappoint. However when you compare their body of work to all of the other undefeated teams, they come in last in my opinion. There is no doubt that we will find more out about how good all four of these teams are as the season continues, especially this Kansas team.

5. Syracuse

Record: 13-1

Good Wins: Cal., UNC, Florida

Losses: Pitt.

This Week: vs. Memphis, vs. South Florida

Syracuse began the season as a bit of an unknown, but they were quick to change that. Led by transfer Wesley Johnson the Orange charged out of the gate beating both Cal., and UNC early in the season. The most recent undefeated to lose they were knocked off by Pitt. at home.

6. Duke

Record: 12-1

Good Wins: UConn, Gonzaga, Clemson

Losses: Wisconsin

This Week: @Iowa State, @Georgia Tech

Duke has surprisingly flown under the radar thus far. Led by newly transitioned point guard Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler the Blue Devils have made a nice start to the season with their only loss coming at Wisconsin during the ACC/Big 10 Challenge.

7. West Virginia

Record: 11-1

Good Wins: Texas A&M, Ole Miss., Marquette

Losses: Purdue

This Week: vs. Rutgers, @Notre Dame

West Virginia looks to be the class of the Big East. Several of their guards have been hurt early in the season but they have fought through and gotten off to a 2-0 start in the Big East as well as knocking off Texas A&M and Ole Miss.

8. Georgetown

Record: 11-1

Good Wins: Temple, Butler, Washington

Losses: Old Dominion

This Week: @Marquette, vs. UConn

Georgetown looks to challenge West Virginia in the Big East. They are much improved over last year, thanks mostly to the development of Chris Wright and Greg Monroe. Georgetown has already logged early season wins against Washington, Butler, and Temple, and will look to avoid the Big East let down experienced last year.

9. Villanova

Record: 12-1

Good Wins: Dayton, Maryland, Marquette

Losses: Temple

This Week: vs. DePaul, vs. Marquette

Villanova doesn't have quite the marque wins that the teams ranked above them do, but they do have quality wins over Dayton, Maryland, and Marquette. The challenge will be to see if this guard based team can continue to rack up wins in the tough Big East.

10. Kansas State

Record: 13-1

Good Wins: Dayton, Xavier, Alabama, UNLV

Losses: Ole Miss

This Week: @Missuri

Kansas State rounds out the top 10, and while again they don't have quite the marquee wins of other top 10 teams they do have several solid wins. Frank Martin has this team playing great basketball behind guards Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente.

11-15

11. New Mexico
Record: 14-1
Good Wins: Cal, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Dayton
Losses: Oral Roberts

12. Miami (FL)
Record: 14-1
Good Wins: South Carolina, Minnesota
Losses: Boston College

13. Wisconsin
Record: 12-2
Good Wins: Maryland, Duke, Marquette, Ohio State, Penn State
Losses: Gonzaga, Wisconsin Green Bay

14. Virginia Tech
Record: 12-1
Good Wins: Penn St., Seton Hall
Losses: Temple

15. Pittsburgh
Record: 12-2
Good Wins: Syracuse
Losses: Texas, Indiana

16-20

16. Wake Forest
Record: 11-2
Good Wins: Gonzaga, Richmond, Xavier
Losses: William and Mary, Purdue

17. Gonzaga
Record: 11-3
Good Wins: Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Illinois
Losses: MSU, Wake Forest, Duke

18. Baylor
Record: 11-1
Good Wins: Xavier, South Carolina
Losses: Alabama

19. Florida State
Record: 12-2
Good Wins: Alabama, Marquette, Georgia Tech
Losses: Florida, Ohio State

20. William and Mary
Record: 10-2
Good Wins: Richmond, Wake Forest, Maryland
Losses: UConn, Harvard

21-25

21. Rhode Island
Record: 11-1
Good Wins: Oklahoma State
Losses: VCU

22. Northern Iowa
Record: 12-1
Good Wins: Iowa State
Losses: DePaul

23. Mississippi
Record: 11-2
Good Wins: Kansas State
Losses: Villanova, West Virginia

24. North Carolina
Record: 11-3
Good Wins: Ohio State, Michigan State
Losses: Syracuse, Kentucky, Texas

25. Tennessee
Record: 10-2
Good Wins: Memphis
Losses: Purdue, USC

Just Missed: Temple, Texas Tech, Wichita State, Michigan State, UConn, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, UD, Cornell