College Sports' New Curse: No. 1 Ranking in NCAA Basketball

Move over, Sports Illustrated cover curse: There’s a new rival in town.

The latest curse in college sports appears to be garnering that coveted No. 1 ranking in NCAA Basketball.

Just ask Kansas. Or Texas. Or Kentucky.

This season’s race to be No. 1 looks to be a race to disaster: earn that highest ranking in the polls, and your team is likely destined to fall.

Heck, the newest No. 1s have lost within 48 hours or less after bringing home the No. 1 poll honor: with the latest being the Kentucky Wildcats dropping their first contest of the season, all shortly after acquiring that coveted position in the polls.

Don’t get me wrong; I understand that being ranked in the polls means that opponents bring their A-games to town when facing those guys.

Since joining the top 25, Baylor’s Bears have been more than tested by their opponents and will unfortunately likely be out of the polls by next week (barring what could be an incredible upset on the road against the Texas Longhorns this weekend in Austin).

North Carolina, meanwhile, spent way too much time in the top 25 despite teams bringing their top-notch stuff against the Tar Heels time and time again (eventually leading to their exit from the polls).

UNC’s neighbors eight miles down the road in Duke have also been tested time and time again this season (as well as every season since Mike Krzyzewski officially became Coach K), but they have proven to, at the very least, be a top 10 team regardless.

But this season is about more than just the simple story line of opponents knocking off top 10 or top 25 teams.

From the AP to USA Today , being No. 1 in college hoops definitely appears to be the 2010 college sports curse.

So, who will be the next to fall from No. 1 glory; or is there really no such thing as being cursed when ranked at the top of any sport?

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at [e-mail]