College Basketball Top 25: Syracuse Still No. 1 in B/R Writers Rankings

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Syracuse won at NC State, preserving its perfect record and perch atop the Bleacher Report Writers Rankings. 

While the Orange didn't budge, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Memphis dropped out of the Top 25, and Xavier fell a bit after losing to Oral Roberts.

Where does everyone else stand?

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Voters: Ethan Back, Doug Brodess, Ryan Eshleman, Luke Johnson, Ken Kraetzer, Ari Kramer, Jesse Kramer, David Mayer, Brian Mazique, Matthew Overing, Robert Pace, Josh Schoch, Gene Siudut, James Sullivan

Missing the Cut

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Dropped From Rankings

Texas A&M, 22

Vanderbilt, 24

Memphis, 25

 

Others Receiving Votes

Texas A&M, 16

LSU, 16

San Diego State, 13

Vanderbilt, 6

Northern Iowa, 6

Harvard, 5

Virginia, 5

Memphis, 4

Stanford, 4

Seton Hall, 4

Iona, 2

Gonzaga, 1

California, 1

NC State, 1

25. UNLV Rebels

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Record: 11-2

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: NR

Voting Points: 28

Wins over UTEP and Illinois helped UNLV return to the B/R rankings a week after a loss to Wisconsin kept the Rebels on the periphery. 

Mike Moser and Co. downed the Fighting Illini by 16 on a not-so-neutral neutral court.

24. Alabama Crimson Tide

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Record: 8-3

Week: 0-1

Previous Ranking: 19

Voting Points: 29

A loss to Kansas State dropped Alabama five spots. The reeling Crimson Tide have lost three of four, so Wednesday's home game against Oklahoma State is a must-win.

23. Creighton Blue Jays

Record: 8-1

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: NR

Voting Points: 30

Creighton responded to last week's loss to Saint Joseph's with a 35-point rout of Houston Baptist on Saturday. Player of the Year candidate Doug McDermott scored 25 points in 18 minutes.

The Blue Jays have a crucial game against Northwestern on Thursday, but they shouldn't overlook Monday's visit to 5-6 Tulsa.

22. Murray State Racers

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Record: 12-0

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: NR

Voting Points: 41

After upsetting Memphis, Murray State went 2-0 with an 18.5-point average margin of victory this week.

The Racers have an easy home game against 3-10 Tennessee-Martin on Wednesday.

21. Illinois Fighting Illini

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Record: 10-1

Week: 0-1

Previous Ranking: 20

Voting Points: 47

Saturday's loss to UNLV was technically on a neutral floor, but Illinois was essentially at home in Chicago's United Center.

Despite the loss, the Fighting Illini dropped only one spot because of other teams' performances.

20. Michigan State Spartans

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Record: 9-2

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 23

Voting Points: 71

Michigan State's 14-point victory over Bowling Green extended the Spartans' win streak to nine. 

Tom Izzo's squad hosts UMKC and C.J. McCollum's Lehigh this week.

19. Michigan Wolverines

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Record: 9-2

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 17

Voting Points: 97

Despite a 2-0 week, Michigan fell two spots to No. 19. Perhaps the Wolverines' sloppy victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff influenced voters' decisions.

18. Georgetown Hoyas

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Record: 9-1

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 18

Voting Points: 126

Georgetown took care of business against American, beating the Eagles 81-55. 

The Hoyas, who have won seven straight, host Memphis on Thursday.

17. Indiana Hoosiers

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Record: 10-0

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 21

Voting Points: 129

Indiana followed up its upset of Kentucky with a 69-58 victory over Notre Dame. 

The Hoosiers have two easy games this week, but a three-game stretch against Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan is on the horizon.

16. Mississippi State Bulldogs

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Record: 11-1

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 16

Voting Points: 140

Mississippi State didn't beat Florida Atlantic and Detroit in convincing fashion, but it managed to amass two wins this week, extending its win streak to 10.

15. Wisconsin Badgers

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Record: 10-2

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 15

Voting Points: 147

Wisconsin staved off Wisconsin-Milwaukee's valiant upset bid and trounced Savannah State.

The Badgers have now won four consecutive games since falling to UNC and Marquette.

14. Pittsburgh Panthers

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Record: 10-1

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 14

Voting Points: 156

Pittsburgh has won eight straight games, but the Panthers—already without Travon Woodall—will be even more shorthanded now that Khem Birch has decided to transfer.

Jamie Dixon's squad will host St. Francis (PA) and a tough Wagner team this week.

13. Xavier Musketeers

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Record: 8-1

Week: 0-1

Previous Ranking: 8

Voting Points: 178

Without Tu Holloway, Mark Lyons and Dez Wells, Xavier couldn't maintain its perfect record. The trio of Musketeers was relegated to the bench as a consequence for the brawl with Cincinnati.

Xavier lost by 22 to Oral Roberts.

12. Florida Gators

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Record: 8-2

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 13

Voting Points: 187

Though Florida dominated Texas A&M, the Gators ascended just one spot. Solid performances by the teams ahead of them prevented the Gators from climbing even more.

11. Kansas Jayhawks

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Record: 7-2

Week: 0-0

Previous Ranking: 11

Voting Points: 216

Kansas didn't play this week, but last week's upset of Ohio State kept the Jayhawks ahead of Florida.

Thomas Robinson and Co. will host Davidson on Monday before traveling to USC on Thursday.

10. Marquette Golden Eagles

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Record: 10-0

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 12

Voting Points: 232

Marquette rolled past Northern Colorado in its only game of the week.

The perfect Golden Eagles head to LSU on Monday before hosting Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Thursday.

9. UConn Huskies

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Record: 9-1

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 9

Voting Points: 249

Andre Drummond had the most dominant game of his young career, and UConn routed Holy Cross. 

The Huskies will host Fairfield—a solid mid-major—this Thursday.

8. Missouri Tigers

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Record: 11-0

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 10

Voting Points: 250

After beating Kennesaw State and William & Mary by an average of 37.5 points, Missouri barely edged UConn and jumped into the No. 8 slot.

The undefeated Tigers are set to host Illinois on Thursday.

7. UNC Tar Heels

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Record: 9-2

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 7

Voting Points: 265

UNC beat Appalachian State 97-82 behind Tyler Zeller's 31 points and 10 rebounds. 

Winners of three straight, the Tar Heels will host Nicholls State and Texas this week.

6. Duke Blue Devils

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Record: 9-1

Week: 0-0

Previous Ranking: 6

Voting Points: 273

Duke will be back in action on Monday, hosting UNC-Greensboro.

5. Baylor Bears

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Record: 9-0

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 4

Voting Points: 284

Baylor survived BYU's upset bid, but the Bears dropped one spot.

Perhaps their narrow escape against the Cougars, compounded by Kentucky's resilient domination of Chattanooga, resulted in the change.

4. Kentucky Wildcats

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Record: 9-1

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 5

Voting Points: 304

Kentucky responded to last week's upset at Indiana with a 25-point victory over Chattanooga.

The Wildcats should easily lock up two wins this week against Samford and Loyola Md. 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

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Record: 10-1

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 3

Voting Points: 318

Ohio State struggled in the first half of both games this week, and Jared Sullinger is hurt again—his foot this time.

The Buckeyes clearly aren't as formidable without No. 0.

2. Louisville Cardinals

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Record: 10-0

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 2

Voting Points: 324

Louisville preserved its stainless record with a win over Memphis on Saturday.

The Cardinals will host a dangerous Charleston team this Tuesday.

1. Syracuse Orange

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Record: 11-0

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 1

Voting Points: 349

Critics cited Syracuse's home-based schedule as a reason for skepticism, but the Orange responded with an 88-72 victory at NC State.

Though the Orange didn't dominate the whole game, they didn't succumb to the crowd as the Wolfpack cut a 14-point second half lead to two.

Syracuse needed this convincing win.

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