Men's College Basketball Teams That Could Climb Most in Next Week's Polls

Despite the inevitable finals lull for most colleges, many basketball teams are still in full swing. Some are using the weeks before Christmas to improve their resumes before heading into conference play.

While many undergrads are spending weeks on end in the library with nothing but lukewarm Ramen to keep them company, college basketball elite are abandoning the books for the hardwood.

For some teams in mid-major conferences, this is one of the last weeks to make a statement in front of a national audience. Others are looking for a boost before the holidays to erase a disappointing start to the season.

No matter the motivation, there are certain teams that have undeniably made an impact. They have impressed voters in the last few weeks and are sure to rise in the polls.

These squads also have the added benefit of many other schools giving their athletics an extended break for the holidays.

All in all, good wins this week have added up to a major rise in the ranks for a select few teams.

UNLV

Beating an undefeated team is nothing new for the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels.

In November, the team handed the top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels their first loss of the season.

Unfortunately, UNLV followed up that win by going 2-2 over their next four games, losing to Wichita State and Wisconsin. Losses are never good, but both games the Rebels dropped were to good teams. 

UNLV was simply the victim of a tough schedule at a difficult time. 

Despite not having a lengthy December break, the Runnin’ Rebels quickly bounced back. First, they won a tough game against UTEP and then crushed the previously undefeated Illinois Fighting Illini 64-48.

UNLV has proven yet again that they belong among college basketball’s best teams. Chase Stanback and Mike Moser are elite players that can carry their team. The Rebels have experience and has proven it can win big games. 

UNLV should keep its place in the Top 25 for a long time.

Michigan State

The Michigan State Spartans got no love at the beginning of the season.

Yes, starting off 2011 with two straight losses is not good, but many seemed to forget that those losses were to the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels.

Since those opening defeats, however, the Spartans have gone 9-0, beating Florida State and Gonzaga in that time.

Michigan State and Tom Izzo seem to have put last season’s drama behind them and are starting with a clean slate.

Draymond Green is close to averaging a double-double. Keith Appling has found his stride as the Spartans point guard. The team is playing a style more typical of Izzo’s squads—tough, together and consistent.

Michigan State has come into its own and proven that, despite their early losses, they are a very good team.

The fact that the Spartans slipped out of the polls at one point and currently are ranked just 23rd in the country is absurd. Michigan State has put in hard work and will be rewarded soon.

Kansas

The Kansas Jayhawks played a brutal early season schedule.

They faced three teams currently ranked in the Top 25, winning just one of those games.

Because of Kansas’ two early season losses, their ranking dropped a few spots. Since then, however, the Jayhawks are back on track and their place in the polls will soon reflect that.

Kansas has won four straight games. The team has beaten a very good Long Beach State squad who has taken out ranked teams right and left.

The Jayhawks also defeated the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Yes, star Jared Sullinger was sidelined with back spasms, but the rest of the Buckeyes squad is nothing to scoff at.

Kansas has certainly tested themselves in the early portion of the season. They have responded to tough games and fought through injuries.

Next week, the Jayhawks will be getting the love that they deserve in the Top 25.

Marquette

At the beginning of this young season, the Marquette Golden Eagles were absent from almost every major poll. 

Bet voters are regretting that choice now.

Marquette is one of only seven undefeated teams in the Top 25. They are ranked in the Top 10 in the country in points scored and assists per game. 

Darius Johnson-Odom has finally emerged as the star that the Golden Eagles expected him to be. He is one of two seniors on the roster and has led the team to its lofty record. 

Simply put, because Marquette keeps winning, they will move up in the polls. The team will also gain confidence, which will help them with a few brutal stretches when Big East Conference play begins.

Missouri

Much like the Marquette Golden Eagles, the Missouri Tigers’ ranking will improve thanks to their undefeated record.

Missouri scores points in a hurry, often burying opponents before they even have a chance to realize what’s happening. 

The Tigers are second in the nation in scoring with over 87 points a game and third in field-goal percentage, shooting almost 52 percent.

Seniors Marcus Denmon and Kim English lead the team. Both are averaging close to 50 percent from three and 55 percent on two-point field goals.

Missouri certainly has the firepower to compete with the Kansas Jayhawks and Baylor Bears in the Big 12.

Playing two games this week and winning by 37 and 38 points will get the Tigers national attention. The team is proving that they not only deserve their ranking, but should also move up a few more spots before the new year.

Murray State

The Murray State Racers might be the biggest surprise of the college basketball world. The team is 12-0 and ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time since the last poll of the 1997-1998 season.

Murray State proved it belongs with the best after beating the 20th-ranked Memphis Tigers. The team followed that win up by convincingly winning their next two games. 

Isaiah Canaan is leading the Racers in scoring with just under 20 points per game. He has help from big man Ivan Aska. The two players will be forces in the Ohio Valley Conference.

If the Racers keep winning, they will remain ranked as the season progresses. 

Michigan

Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke lead a Michigan Wolverines team that is trying to improve on its fourth-place conference finish from the 2010 season. 

So far, so good.

Michigan’s two losses have come to the sixth-ranked Duke Blue Devils and an underrated Virginia Cavaliers team.

A win over the Memphis Tigers proved that the Wolverines are no fluke.

The team deserves their ranking and should move up a few spots thanks to playing two games this week despite finals.

Hardaway is showing signs of finally breaking out as the star many expected him to be. Michigan is a complete team as both their guards and big men are talented and experienced.

The Wolverines have played a lot of games despite the time of year and should be rewarded with a higher spot in the polls. 

Gonzaga

Once thought to be a just a Cinderella school from the West Coast, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have firmly established themselves as one of college basketball’s elite teams.

This season seemed no different as the Bulldogs began with a 5-0 record and Top 25 ranking. However, two losses to the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan State Spartans set Gonzaga back.

Never mind that both of those teams are currently ranked and boast pretty good records themselves; two losses will not get you far with voters. 

But the Zags did not let the setback set the tone for the rest of their season. The team rebounded to win their next two games—against a tough Oral Roberts squad that just knocked off Xavier and an Arizona team looking for redemption themselves.

Robert Sacre and Elias Harris are clearly the leaders of the team. If the two of them are on at the same time, Gonzaga is a tough team to beat. They should re-enter the polls shortly and stay for a while this time.