College Basketball: With Nation's Top 4 Teams Losing, Who's the Best?
I wanted to write about this last week, but I'm glad I didn't. With every Top Four team losing this week, there's a lot more to talk about now, especially since the official rankings aren't out just yet.
First, Duke will move back to No. 1 for the first time since the middle of January. The fifth-ranked Blue Devils didn't drop a game this week like the teams in front of them, which virtually assures they will move back into the top spot. Being ranked at the top without star point guard Kyrie Irving is particularly impressive.
The next question is where Top 10 Mountain West schools San Diego State and BYU will end up in the rankings. I think the Aztecs can crack the Top Five, but BYU won't, which would leave San Diego State in a great position to secure a top seed in the NCAA Tournament if they win out. But they may still stay at No. 6, fair or not.
Without further ado, here are the teams that can stake a claim to the top spot in the NCAA right now.
1. Duke Blue Devils
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The likely No. 1 team in the Week 16 polls, Duke is tied for the fewest losses (two) among major conference teams and has done it without the services of arguably their most valuable player, freshman point guard Kyrie Irving, since early December.
A soft ACC schedule this season has many questioning the level of competition Duke has faced, especially considering its 15-point loss three weeks ago at St. John's, an average team from the Big East, which is widely considered America's strongest conference.
Despite the question marks about the teams they've played this season, the potential return of Irving will have the largest impact on whether Duke makes a run to the Final Four this season. He had the cast removed from his toe two-and-a-half weeks ago, but a return this season, just his first with the Blue Devils, is still in doubt.
Without Irving, Duke is not the best team in college basketball. With him, I think they are with the triumvirate of him, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. But we're not talking "ifs" here.
2. Kansas Jayhawks
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The Morris brothers (Marcus and Markieff) lead the way for Kansas along with freshman guard Josh Selby, and all three could possibly be first-round draft picks this season, But there are legitimate questions about whether the Jayhawks are even the best team in their conference, let alone the nation.
Losing to Texas by 11 at home in late January not only snapped Kansas' 69-game home winning streak, but it also took away the air of invincibility that surrounded the Jayhawks. Texas was down 12 at halftime but suffocated Kansas with pressure defense in the second half to fuel their comeback.
The Morris twins are great, but Selby is no Irving among freshmen, and I'm not sure this team has that one player (a la Carmelo Anthony or Stephen Curry) that can carry them to a title. That is, unless Selby can grow up FAST.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
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Each of the teams I've written about so far has a talented freshman to speak of, and the Buckeyes are no different.
Behind stud forward Jared Sullinger, who averages 18.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, Ohio State ran through the first 24 games of its schedule without a loss before dropping two of its last three, both road games against solid ranked teams (Wisconsin and Purdue).
Despite its recent struggles, Ohio State is still a very legitimate title contender. It lost to two potential Sweet 16 teams who play very well on their home courts, and both games were tight until the end. Purdue needed a 38-point explosion from E'Twaun Moore to beat the Buckeyes.
On a neutral court, I don't think either Wisconsin or Purdue can beat the Buckeyes on a consistent basis. Just in case you didn't know, the NCAA Tournament is played on neutral courts.
Ohio State has the inside presence of Sullinger, the outside shooting of William Buford, David Lighty and Jon Diebler and can play defense with the best teams in the country. Depending how the rest of the season shakes out, the Buckeyes may be the early favorite to cut down the nets come March.
.png?w=256 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
4. Texas Longhorns
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In my opinion Texas is the best team in the Big 12, which tells you how I feel about Kansas' claim to being the nation's best team.
Kansas only came first on this list because I'm trying to project what the rankings will be this week, with Duke jumping four spots and everybody else sliding down one (by the current AP poll).
While Ohio State lost to a ranked team, both Kansas' and Texas' losses this week came against unranked foes who are 6-6 in the Big 12 (Kansas State and Nebraska, respectively). I personally respect the roster of Kansas State more than that of Nebraska, but one game does not make a season.
Two of the Longhorns' other three losses this season were against Top 10 teams (Pittsburgh and Connecticut in OT), although they didn't stand tall on their home court on either day. But your play on the road matters most when the tournament rolls around, and that win over Kansas still looms large and tells me that Texas can beat any team in the country on any given night.
Behind Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson, Gary Johnson and Cory Joseph, this team has what it takes to take down a title. It will be interesting to see how this young team rebounds from a tough conference road loss.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers
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Although I believe San Diego State could possibly slide into the top five of this week's rankings, I still think they're nothing more than a dark horse to win the national title. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has been far and away the best team this season in the best conference.
The Panthers may have just lost to unranked St. John's, but Steve Lavin's team plays great basketball at Madison Square Garden. They've beaten Duke, Connecticut, Notre Dame and Georgetown at home as well as the Panthers and are tied for fourth in conference with a 9-5 record. They may not be unranked much longer.
Ashton Gibbs has been playing great basketball of late when he's been healthy, and what the Panthers lack in star power they make up for with depth. Jamie Dixon has only Gibbs checking in at over 30 minutes per game, while he has nine players who see double-digit minutes.
Brad Wanamaker isn't a star, but he's a complete point guard (12.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game) who makes this team go and finds his teammates in good positions. This team has good size down low and very good role players down to guys like Travon Woodall, and as long as Gibbs can continue to score at a high clip, watch out for Pittsburgh.
Texas Takes the Bull by the Horns...for Now
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At this point in the season, I think Texas is the nation's best team. I said the same thing last week when it was in the running for the top spot after Ohio State's loss, and nothing from this past week has changed my opinion.
Ohio State is a close second in my book, but the last time a team was the last to lose a regular-season game and won a national championship was Connecticut in 1999. Not that I think random stats like that mean anything, but it proves a point: It's all about peaking at the right time.
I believe Texas, a team that struggled a little early (that's why they have four losses), is trending upwards, while Ohio State has nowhere to go but down. This isn't to say the Buckeyes aren't a very good basketball team, but being the last undefeated means nothing.
If Duke gets Kyrie Irving back, I would consider making them my favorite. But that's nothing more than a pipe dream at the moment, as he has a serious NBA future to worry about over this college season.
Outside of the five teams I listed, there are a few others who can make a deep run and even upset the favorites for a title.
San Diego State, BYU and UConn all have stars to ride (Kawhi Leonard, Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker), while Notre Dame is second only to Pittsburgh in wins against the top 25 and top 50 teams in the country. If the national champion comes from anybody outside these five to nine teams, I will be shocked.
.png?w=480 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
