College Basketball Rankings 2014-15: Bleacher Report's Week 9 Top 25
Much has been made the past few months about the possibility of Kentucky finishing the regular season with an undefeated record. Here’s another question: Could Duke do it, too?
The Blue Devils are certainly talented enough, as Mike Krzyzewski’s squad boasts the same number of McDonald’s All-Americans (nine) as Kentucky. Working against Duke’s favor, though, is that it plays in the ACC, which is arguably the top conference in college basketball with five teams (Duke, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville and Notre Dame) ranked in the top 15 of this week’s Bleacher Report Top 25.
Still, none of Duke’s upcoming opponents are as good as the Wisconsin outfit the Blue Devils beat in Madison last month. Duke also touts double-digit wins over Connecticut, Stanford and Michigan State—all of which have been ranked at some point this season.
Look, do I think Duke will run the table in the ACC? No. But I’m impressed enough with this team—especially considering it hasn’t come close to reaching its ceiling—that I’m willing to entertain the possibility.
In the meantime, here is this week’s edition of the B/R Top 25, compiled as always by myself and my colleagues, C.J. Moore and Kerry Miller.
Honorable Mention: Old Dominion (2 points), LSU (1 point), St. John's (1 point).
25. Colorado State
1 of 25
Record: 14-1 overall; 0-1 in the Mountain West (3 points)
Last Week: 20
The Rams’ first loss of the season came in convincing fashion Saturday, as New Mexico throttled Larry Eustachy’s team 66-53 in Albuquerque.
Forward Stanton Kidd (11.7 points) injured his ankle four minutes into the game and didn’t return. Eustachy is now 0-6 all time against New Mexico.
24. Baylor
2 of 25
Record: 11-2 overall; 0-1 in the Big 12 (7 points)
Last Week: 23
The Bears kept it close for most of the way before falling to Oklahoma 73-63 Saturday in Norman.
Forward Johnathan Motley paced Baylor with a career-high 24 points, but the Bears' backcourt players (Lester Medford, Royce O’Neale, Kenny Chery, Al Freeman and Ish Wainright) combined to shoot just 5-of-29 from the field. Baylor hosts Kansas Wednesday.
23. Ohio State
3 of 25
Record: 12-3 overall; 1-1 in the Big Ten (10 points)
Last Week: 22
The Buckeyes bounced back from a conference-opening loss to Iowa by thrashing Illinois 77-61 Saturday in Columbus.
Guard D’Angelo Russell continues to make his case for one of the best freshmen in America by averaging 17.7 points, 5.1 assists and 1.7 steals.
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22. Seton Hall
4 of 25
Record: 12-2 overall; 2-0 in the Big East (11 points)
Last Week: unranked
What a week for the Pirates. Three days after a New Year’s Eve victory over then-No. 15 St. John’s, Seton Hall handed No. 6 Villanova its first loss by winning 66-61 in overtime.
Both victories came without second-leading scorer Isaiah Whitehead, who is out with an injury. Seton Hall’s next two games (against Xavier and Creighton) are on the road.
21. Northern Iowa
5 of 25
Record: 12-2 overall; 1-1 in the Missouri Valley (12 points)
Last Week: 21
The Panthers haven’t looked all that crisp in their first two league games. They coughed up a 16-point lead in a New Year’s Day loss to Evansville before beating Loyola (IL) 67-58 Sunday.
Seth Tuttle leads Northern Iowa in points, rebounds and assists.
20. Iowa
6 of 25
Record: 10-4 overall; 1-0 Big Ten (14 points)
Last Week: unranked
Aaron White averages 16.0 points and 7.3 rebounds for a team that knocked off Ohio State on the road in its Big Ten opener.
This will be a huge week for the Hawkeyes, who host Nebraska (Monday) and Michigan State (Thursday). The Cornhuskers and Spartans have both spent time in the AP Top 25.
19. Wichita State
7 of 25
Record: 12-2 overall; 2-0 in the Missouri Valley (19 points)
Last Week: 19
Sunday’s 70-62 home win over Illinois State marked yet another ho-hum performance by the Shockers, who struggle to score in the paint and lack the swagger that made them such an intimidating force the past two seasons.
That’s not to say this isn’t still the best team in the MVC, but the gap between Gregg Marshall’s squad and the rest of the field has narrowed. Six of Wichita State’s last seven wins have been by single digits.
18. Virginia Commonwealth
8 of 25
Record: 11-3 overall; 1-0 in the Atlantic 10 (26 points)
Last Week: unranked
The Rams are on a roll, as Shaka Smart’s squad has won six straight since falling to Virginia on Dec. 6. The latest came in Sunday’s 75-58 victory over Fordham, when point guard Briante Weber had 14 points and six steals.
Wednesday’s home game against Davidson will be a tough test.
17. Iowa State
9 of 25
Record: 10-2 overall; 0-0 in the Big 12 (29 points)
Last Week: 9
In one of the more shocking results of the past week, Iowa State fell to South Carolina 64-60 Saturday in New York. The Cyclones certainly have a lot of nice pieces, but they haven’t shown enough to be considered "elite."
Iowa State’s best wins are against Arkansas and Iowa.
16. West Virginia
10 of 25
Record: 13-1 overall; 1-0 in the Big 12 (30 points)
Last Week: 24
Although it was far from an upset, West Virginia handed TCU its first loss of the season Saturday in Fort Worth. The Mountaineers return to the court Monday to face Texas Tech in Lubbock.
The Red Raiders are considered the worst team in the Big 12, but Tubby Smith’s squad plays extremely hard and won’t back down from West Virginia.
15. Notre Dame
11 of 25
Record: 14-1 overall; 2-0 in the ACC (32 points)
Last Week: 16
The Fighting Irish were out-rebounded 46-31 and went just 4-of-19 from three-point range but still found a way to beat Georgia Tech 83-76 in double-overtime Saturday.
Jerian Grant had 24 points for Notre Dame and is now averaging 17.9 points and 6.2 assists on the season.
14. Maryland
12 of 25
Record: 14-1 overall; 2-0 in the Big Ten (35 points)
Last Week: 18
If the Terrapins keep this up—and they very well could in a weak Big Ten—then Mark Turgeon will be in the running for National Coach of the Year.
Maryland, which hasn’t lost since falling to Virginia on Dec. 3, is getting 16.2 points and 3.0 assists from freshman point guard Melo Trimble.
13. Kansas
13 of 25
Record: 11-2 overall; 0-0 in the Big 12 (38 points)
Last Week: 17
Point guard Frank Mason had 18 points, seven assists and four steals in the Jayhawks’ 76-61 win Sunday against the same UNLV team that beat Arizona just before Christmas.
The nonconference win provided a much-needed dose of momentum as Kansas prepares for Wednesday’s Big 12 opener at Baylor. Bill Self’s team has won 10 straight league titles.
12. North Carolina
14 of 25
Record: 11-3 overall; 1-0 in the ACC (41 points)
Last Week: 13
The Tar Heels have won six of their last seven games, with the only loss coming against Kentucky.
But things are about to get tough for the country’s second-best rebounding team, as North Carolina hosts No. 5 Notre Dame on Monday and No. 10 Louisville on Saturday.
11. Oklahoma
15 of 25
Record: 10-3 overall; 1-0 in the Big 12 (43 points)
Last Week: 15
Sparked by a 21-of-25 performance from the foul stripe, the Sooners rallied for a 10-point victory over No. 22 Baylor Saturday in Norman.
Oklahoma’s lack of depth continues to be a worrisome factor, as the Sooners got just two points from their bench. Houston transfer TaShawn Thomas had a breakout game with 24 points and eight rebounds.
10. Texas
16 of 25
Record: 12-2 overall; 1-0 in the Big 12 (49 points)
Last Week: 11
Rick Barnes’ squad got a huge boost this week when point guard Isaiah Taylor returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with an injured wrist.
Taylor went just 2-of-10 from the field and had six turnovers in a 70-61 win at Texas Tech. Still, once he shakes the rust off, the sophomore should be one of the country’s best at his position.
Texas hosts Oklahoma Monday.
9. Utah
17 of 25
Record: 12-2 overall, 2-0 in the Pac-12 (51 points)
Last Week: 10
Although Arizona is certainly the favorite, Utah appears more than capable of challenging for the Pac-12 title.
The Utes’ first two league victories (over USC and UCLA) came by an average of 28 points. This is a remarkably efficient team that shoots better than 50 percent from the field.
The Utes host Colorado Wednesday and will then have eight days off before a road swing that begins with Arizona State on Jan. 15.
8. Villanova
18 of 25
Record: 13-1 overall; 1-1 in the Big East (54 points)
Last Week: 7
Saturday’s 66-61 overtime setback at Seton Hall marked the first loss of the season for Jay Wright’s squad. What's concerning is that it occurred with Seton Hall’s best player, Isaiah Whitehead, on the bench with an injury.
Tuesday’s road tilt at St. John’s won’t be easy, although St. John’s is expected to be without standout guard Rysheed Jordan.
7. Louisville
19 of 25
Record: 13-1 overall; 1-0 in the ACC (56 points)
Last Week: 8
Guard Chris Jones scored 10 of his 22 points in the final five minutes Sunday to help the Cardinals stave off a menacing Wake Forest team 85-76 in Winston-Salem.
Jones, Terry Rozier (18 points) and Montrezl Harrell (25) combined for 65 of Louisville’s 85 points. Jones also had 10 assists and three steals.
6. Arizona
20 of 25
Record: 13-1 overall; 1-0 in the Pac-12 (61 points)
Last Week: 6
Sunday’s 73-49 victory over Arizona State in a Pac-12 opener marked Arizona’s first game since a Dec. 23 loss at UNLV.
Small forward Stanley Johnson is averaging team highs in points and rebounds for the Wildcats, who have a tough road test against a pesky Oregon squad Thursday.
5. Virginia
21 of 25
Record: 13-0 overall; 1-0 in the ACC (64 points)
Last Week: 4
Saturday’s 89-80 overtime win at Miami was type of game the Cavaliers sorely needed after beating all but one of their nonconference opponents (LaSalle) by double digits.
Justin Anderson and Malcolm Brogdon combine to average 28.0 points for Tony Bennett’s squad, which hosts North Carolina State Wednesday before traveling to South Bend, Indiana, Saturday for a tough road tilt with No. 14 Notre Dame.
4. Gonzaga
22 of 25
Record: 14-1 overall; 3-0 in the West Coast (65 points)
Last Week: 5
Point guard Kevin Pangos saved his best for last. The senior is averaging career highs in field-goal percentage (50.4), three-point field-goal percentage (46.2) and assists (5.0) for a team that has legitimate hopes of reaching the Final Four.
Gonzaga ranks second in the nation in field-goal percentage (52.8).
3. Wisconsin
23 of 25
Record: 14-1 overall; 2-0 in the Big Ten (68 points)
Last Week: 3
The Badgers have been merciless on their opponents, as 13 of their 14 victories have come by double digits. A 68-65 win over Georgetown and an 80-70 loss to Duke mark the only close games Bo Ryan’s squad has played.
Center Frank Kaminsky and forward Nigel Hayes rank first and second on the team, respectively, in points and rebounds.
2. Duke
24 of 25
Record: 13-0 overall; 1-0 in the ACC (72 points)
Last Week: 2
In his last three games, freshman center Jahlil Okafor is averaging 26.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while shooting 76.9 percent (30-of-39) from the field. Um, yeah...that’s pretty good.
Three of Duke’s next four games are on the road, including a Jan. 17 showdown with Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center.
1. Kentucky
25 of 25
Record: 13-0 overall; 0-0 in the SEC (75 points; 3 first-place votes)
Last Week: 1
The Wildcats will have had 10 days off by the time they open SEC play against Ole Miss Tuesday in Lexington.
It will be interesting to see if coach John Calipari has made any alterations in his platoon system in light of the recent surge by backup point guard Tyler Ulis, who scored a team-high 14 points in the Wildcats’ 58-50 win at Louisville on Dec. 27.
Kentucky, for the most part, has looked like a better team when Ulis (and not starter Andrew Harrison) is on the court.
Jason King covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JasonKingBR.
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