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

Ari KramerJun 7, 2018

Kentucky is still No. 1, but more upsets led to yet another shakeup in the B/R Writers Rankings.

Duke, Michigan State, UNLV, Marquette and Creighton all fell to unranked foes last week.

Check out how far they dropped.

If you're a Bleacher Report college basketball writer who wants to participate in the weekly poll, message me with your email address to indicate your interest.

Voters: Ryan Eshleman, Ari Kramer, Jesse Kramer, Thad Novak, Daniel O'Brien, Matt Overing, Robert Pace, Andrew Pregler, Jordan Schwartz, Gene Siudut, James Sullivan, Dan Vasta

Missing the Cut

1 of 29

Dropped From Rankings

Vanderbilt, 23

Others Receiving Votes

Vanderbilt, 11

Gonzaga, 8

Notre Dame, 7

Iowa State, 5

Southern Miss, 4

Nevada, 2

25. Louisville Cardinals

2 of 29

Record: 18-5, 6-4 Big East

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: NR

Voting Points: 27

Winners of four straight, Louisville returned to the Top 25.

Chane Behanan fueled a win over Rutgers last week, dropping 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against the Scarlet Knights.

Six voters left the Cardinals off their ballots, but one voter had them as high as No. 16.

24. Michigan Wolverines

3 of 29

Record: 17-7, 7-4 Big Ten

Week: 1-1

Previous Ranking: 20

Voting Points: 36

Michigan continued its descent in the rankings despite going 1-1 in a tough week of action. The Wolverines beat Indiana, which has struggled on the road, before losing to Michigan State.

They're 5-5 over their last 10 games, and two voters left them off the ballot entirely.

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23. Harvard Crimson

4 of 29

Record: 20-2, 6-0 Ivy

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 25

Voting Points: 51

Laurent Rivard averaged 18 points in Harvard's two wins last week, and the Crimson extended their win streak to eight.

With upcoming road games at Princeton and Penn, Harvard has its toughest remaining weekend. If Tommy Amaker's squad returns to Boston unscathed, its chances of running the table in the Ivy League will skyrocket.

Harvard came in as high as No. 15.

22. Wisconsin Badgers

5 of 29

Record: 18-6, 7-4 Big Ten

Week: 1-1

Previous Ranking: 22

Voting Points: 54

Wisconsin squeaked out a win at Penn State before it nearly edged Ohio State at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers, who didn't appear on one ballot, ranked as high as No. 15.

21. Indiana Hoosiers

6 of 29

Record: 18-6, 6-6 Big Ten

Week: 1-1

Previous Ranking: 17

Voting Points: 61

Indiana's inconsistent tendencies persisted yet another week, as the Hoosiers lost at Michigan but won at Purdue behind Victor Oladipo's stellar performance. They're now 3-5 in their last eight, and Thursday's matchup against Illinois is their only game this week.

One voter left the Hoosiers off the ballot, while someone had them at No. 14.

20. Virginia Cavaliers

7 of 29

Record: 18-4, 5-3 ACC

Week: 1-1

Previous Ranking: 16

Voting Points: 80

Virginia couldn't complete its comeback at Florida State, and as a result, the Cavaliers sit two games out of first place in the ACC.

Beating Wake Forest on Wednesday is a must because Saturday's game at Chapel Hill won't easily translate into a win, obviously.

The Cavaliers ranked between No. 14 and No. 23.

19. Mississippi State Bulldogs

8 of 29

Record: 18-5, 5-3 SEC

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 21

Voting Points: 85

Though Mississippi State struggled with Auburn at home, the Bulldogs pulled out a win over the Tigers in their only game last week. Arnett Moultrie once again led the charge, with 21 points and seven rebounds.

Voters ranked the Bulldogs as high as No. 11 and as low as No. 25.

18. Creighton Blue Jays

9 of 29

Record: 21-3, 11-2 MVC

Week: 1-1

Previous Ranking: 14

Voting Points: 101

The final 2:30 of Creighton's tilt at Northern Iowa couldn't have been more exciting, but unfortunately for the Blue Jays, Anthony James' buzzer-beater gave the Panthers the win. The loss dropped Creigthon into a first-place tie with Wichita State, which won both of its games last week.

The Blue Jays came in as high as No. 15 and as low as No. 23.

17. Marquette Golden Eagles

10 of 29

Record: 19-5, 8-3 Big East

Week: 1-1

Previous Ranking: 15

Voting Points: 104

Notre Dame ended Marquette's seven-game win streak, dropping the Golden Eagles into a second-place tie with Georgetown.

Marquette appeared as high as No. 13 and as low as No. 21.

16. Florida State Seminoles

11 of 29

Record: 16-6, 7-1 ACC

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 24

Voting Points: 108

Florida State fended off Virginia's comeback to extend its win streak to seven and keep pace with UNC atop the ACC. With games against Boston College and Miami this week, the Seminoles could well be on their way to a 9-1 ACC start—no one expected that on Jan. 7.

The Seminoles ranked between No. 12 and No. 21.

15. San Diego State Aztecs

12 of 29

Record: 20-3, 6-1 MWC

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 18

Voting Points: 113

A loss to Colorado State had dropped San Diego State to No. 18, but the Aztecs used wins over Boise State and TCU to climb three spots this week.

On Saturday, SDSU will look for the season sweep of UNLV. On the road, however, the task won't be easy.

Voters ranked the Aztecs as high as No. 13, but one voter left them off his ballot.

14. UNLV Rebels

13 of 29

Record: 21-4, 5-2 MWC

Week: 1-1

Previous Ranking: 11

Voting Points: 124

UNLV fell three spots after losing to Wyoming. The Rebels, who also beat Colorado State last week, couldn't convert two last-second looks against the Cowboys.

UNLV appeared as high as No. 13 and as low as No. 21.

13. Saint Mary's Gaels

14 of 29

Record: 22-2, 11-0 WCC

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 19

Voting Points: 134

After beating San Diego, Saint Mary's continued its ascent through the rankings. The Gaels, who haven't lost since Dec. 22, visit Gonzaga on Thursday, looking to sweep the season series.

Voters ranked the Gaels between No. 11 and No. 17.

12. Michigan State Spartans

15 of 29

Record: 18-5, 7-3 Big Ten

Week: 1-1

Previous Ranking: 9

Voting Points: 176

Illness compounded by a sprained knee severely hampered Draymond Green and consequentially, Michigan State against Illinois. However, the Spartans responded by beating Michigan behind Green's 14 points and 16 rebounds.

The Spartans, who play Penn State and Ohio State this week, came in as high as No. 8 and as low as No. 19.

11. Georgetown Hoyas

16 of 29

Record: 18-4, 8-3 Big East

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 13

Voting Points: 188

Georgetown earned convincing wins over UConn and South Florida to jump two spots in the rankings.

The Hoyas are just two games behind Syracuse, and they ranked between No. 8 and No. 12.

10. Florida Gators

17 of 29

Record: 19-4, 7-1 SEC

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 12

Voting Points: 198

Florida separated itself from Vanderbilt by beating the Commodores, 73-65. The win improved the Gators' SEC record to 7-1, setting them up for a crucial game at Kentucky on Tuesday—they currently trail the Wildcats by a half-game.

Florida ranked as high as No. 7 and as low as No. 12.

9. Kansas Jayhawks

18 of 29

Record: 18-5, 8-2 Big 12

Week: 1-1

Previous Ranking: 8

Voting Points: 203

Kansas nearly earned a win at Missouri, but Marcus Denmon's nine points in the final three minutes erased the Jayhawks' 71-63 lead and gave Missouri the win. The Jayhawks, Tigers and Baylor currently reside in a tie for first place.

Kansas, which visits Baylor on Wednesday, ranked between No. 6 and No. 14.

8. Murray State Racers

19 of 29

Record: 23-0, 11-0 OVC

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 10

Voting Points: 208

Murray State kept its perfect record intact, beating Southeast Missouri State and Tennessee-Martin last week.

The Racers, who ranked between No. 7 and No. 10, will host Tennessee State and Austin Peay this week.

7. Duke Blue Devils

20 of 29

Record: 19-4, 6-2 ACC

Week: 1-1

Previous Ranking: 4

Voting Points: 213

For the second time in two weeks, Duke fell at home. The Blue Devils didn't have an answer to Reggie Johnson, and missing all six foul shots in overtime certainly didn't help their cause.

With a trip to Chapel Hill on Wednesday, Duke now risks falling to two games out of first place.

The Blue Devils came in as high as No. 5 and as low as No. 13.

6. UNC Tar Heels

21 of 29

Record: 20-3, 7-1 ACC

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 7

Voting Points: 241

UNC picked up two road wins last week, beating Wake Forest and Maryland. Defeating the Terps wasn't easy, but the Tar Heels returned home with a "W" and a share of first place.

Tyler Zeller, who went for 22 points and seven rebounds against Maryland, is playing like a Player of the Year candidate—the senior is averaging 17.8 points and 11 rebounds in ACC play.

Duke is set to visit on Wednesday, and the Heels look to separate themselves from the Blue Devils even more.

UNC ranked between No. 5 and No. 8.

5. Baylor Bears

22 of 29

Record: 21-2, 8-2 Big 12

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 6

Voting Points: 247

Despite struggling with Texas A&M and Oklahoma State, Baylor earned two road wins last week. The Bears are tied with Kansas and Missouri atop the Big 12, but they'll have an opportunity to separate themselves—they'll host the Jayhawks and visit the Tigers this week.

Baylor came in as high as No. 4 and as low as No. 7.

4. Missouri Tigers

23 of 29

Record: 21-2, 8-2 Big 12

Week: 2-0

Previous Ranking: 5

Voting Points: 263

Missouri survived Texas' upset bid and overcame an eight-point deficit with less than three minutes left against Kansas. By beating the Jayhawks, the Tigers knotted themselves in a three-way tie with Kansas and Baylor atop the Big 12.

Missouri, which ranked between No. 3 and No. 7, will visit Oklahoma and host Baylor this week.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

24 of 29

Record: 20-3, 8-2 Big 12

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 3

Voting Points: 273

In its only game last week, Ohio State earned a win at the Kohl Center, refusing to succumb to Wisconsin's upset bid.

The Buckeyes, who host Purdue and Michigan State this week, ranked between No. 2 and No. 5.

2. Syracuse Orange

25 of 29

Record: 23-1, 10-1 Big East

Week: 1-0

Previous Ranking: 2

Voting Points: 286

Syracuse routed St. John's in Fab Melo's return, convincing one voter to tab them as his No. 1.

The Orange scored 95 points against the Johnnies, but as usual, no single player had a standout offensive performance. Instead, five players scored either 13 or 14 points.

With second-place Georgetown set to visit the Carrier Dome this week, Syracuse has an opportunity to distance itself from the rest of the Big East.

The Orange ranked as low as No. 3.