For those who wait till March for the insanity, you’re lacking out on the great thing about January chaos. As we hit the thick of winter, I liken it to the canine days of baseball. Among the finest groups in men’s college basketball are going to endure defeat, and through not less than one week, we see a mix of dramatic finishes and eyebrow-raising closing scores that make you query what we’ve been watching all season lengthy.
This previous week, I’ve been giving many groups the Monopoly “get out of jail free” card that we at all times hoped we would obtain when enjoying the well-known board recreation. In complete, 18 of my prime 25 from final week misplaced.
We noticed it in Minneapolis on Thursday night time when Dawson Garcia hit a 3-pointer from the emblem as time expired to offer Minnesota a surprising 84-81 win over a ranked Michigan group:
In Milwaukee, a Marquette group that was beforehand 10-0 at residence on the season was shocked by a Xavier squad that entered with an 0-7 report in Quadrant 1 video games:
In Morgantown, the top-10 large killers of West Virginia notched their victory of that kind in Yr 1 of the Darian DeVries period with a surprising 64-57 win over No. 2 Iowa State behind Javon Small‘s 27 factors, seven rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals:
And in Nashville, a Tennessee group that drubbed a beforehand ranked Georgia squad by 18 on Wednesday went to Vanderbilt and fell brief, 76-75, for less than the second lack of the season suffered by the Vols. In the meantime, Mark Byington earned his first signature win in Yr 1 on the helm, a large victory that places the Commodores in my Subject of 68 projected discipline in the meanwhile.
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Within the midst of the upsets and insanity, Auburn and Duke remained unscathed. The Tigers cast on with out Johni Broome and adopted up a dominant win over Mississippi State with a 70-68 victory at Georgia on Saturday. When Tahaad Pettiford is cooking from past the arc, the freshman shifts the Tigers into a special gear. Among the finest first-year gamers within the sport, the 6-foot-1 guard tallied 24 factors on 5-for-7 capturing from 3-point territory, whereas powerful shotmakers Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly every had 13 factors. To not have Broome and nonetheless win the rebounding battle over Georgia (39-38) was spectacular, as was a 22-point blowout over Mississippi State by which Chaney Johnson had 17 factors and eight rebounds and Baker-Mazara scored 20.
In the meantime, for the Blue Devils, Cooper Flagg positive loves Saturday video games. Three of his previous 5 video games have fallen on Saturday, and he has scored not less than 24 factors in all three of them — going for 28 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, two blocks and two steals within the Blue Devils’ 88-63 win at Boston College on Saturday night time. Coming off a scoreless exhibiting in opposition to Miami (Fla.), junior lead guard Tyrese Proctor scored 20 factors within the victory. Freshman Isaiah Evans, who had 18 within the win over Auburn on Dec. 4, buried 4 triples and posted 16 on Saturday night time in New England. With their previous two wins coming by a mixed 60 factors, the Blue Devils have leaped to No. 1 within the KenPom rankings.
That stated, let’s get to our High 25!
1. Auburn (17-1)
Duke is perhaps first in a single analytics mannequin, however the Tigers aren’t transferring from the king’s chair for me. Their backcourt unit is one of the best within the nation, for my part, and it confirmed how well-coached they’re that Bruce Pearl may navigate this previous week with out Broome and go 2-0. Within the two wins, Baker-Mazara was 6-of-11 from distance and continues so as to add a gentle senior presence. The Tigers have a midweek bye earlier than internet hosting Tennessee on Saturday (8: 30 p.m. ET) in one of many sport’s largest video games of the season to this point.
2. Duke (16-2)
The Blue Devils have the nation’s longest lively profitable streak at 12 video games after Saturday’s blowout at Conte Discussion board and are 5-0 on the street — their finest begin in away video games for the reason that 2018-19 season after they received their first seven street contests. The profitable streak is the longest for this system for the reason that 2014-15 season, when this system final received the nationwide championship. This group defends at a excessive stage and has one of the best participant within the sport. When Proctor brings his A-game, Duke is extraordinarily tough to beat.
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3. Iowa State (15-2)
No, I’m not penalizing the Cyclones for a loss in a real street recreation at West Virginia. They had been 1-of-17 from 3-point territory and solely tallied 4 assists whereas committing 14 turnovers within the loss. In fact, the Mountaineers protection was disruptive and had a lot to do with that, however these numbers sign when it’s not your day, it’s not your day. Iowa State’s 17-point residence win earlier within the week over Kansas is what retains them in my prime 3. You’ll see why subsequent:
4. Alabama (15-3)
Certain, Alabama took a loss at residence to Ole Miss this previous week, however the response in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday with a 102-97 win over the Wildcats is sufficient trigger for me to maintain the Crimson Tide in my prime 5. What went fallacious within the loss to the Rebels? Ole Miss held Mark Sears and Labaron Philon to 2-for-16 capturing from the ground, utilizing their athleticism and size to show the water off in opposition to the Alabama backcourt duo. On Saturday, Sears posted 24 factors and 9 assists, whereas Grant Nelson had 25 factors and 11 rebounds. Nate Oats’ group will doubtless be in my Last 4 after I fill out my bracket. I belief their expertise and scoring prowess.
5. Houston (14-3)
Do you know that Kelvin Sampson is 20-1 in his final 21 video games coached within the Big 12? That’s completely wild, particularly when contemplating that one loss got here at Kansas — the place virtually no one wins. In different phrases, Houston has been unstoppable in all places else. They beat UCF on Saturday, 69-68, on a J’Wan Roberts game-winner.
Houston hosts Utah on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET) earlier than visiting Kansas on Saturday (6:30 p.m. ET).
6. Florida (16-2)
I’ve the Gators at sixth even after a loss to Missouri, who joined my rankings this week, as a result of they’re the strongest of the gathering of Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky within the rankings — and each the Vols and Wildcats suffered weekend defeats. Certain, Florida misplaced at Rupp Area, however that head-to-head win over Tennessee does matter. It was not as if I used to be discounting that final week, I simply thought it was harsh to completely transfer the Vols from arguably the highest spot to fully out of the highest 5. However Gator followers, I feel Walter Clayton and Alijah Martin are one of many nation’s finest duos and that you’ve got a high-caliber group that may make it to the Last 4.
7. Tennessee (16-2)
Whereas Chaz Lanier led 4 Vols in double-figures with 17 factors on Saturday, the Tennessee star and All-American candidate had 5 turnovers within the loss at Vanderbilt. The offensive droughts can nonetheless be a theme for the Vols, and their bench is nothing to write down residence about past Jordan Gainey. He was quiet on Saturday, ending 1-of-6 from the ground. The Vols host Mississippi State on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET) earlier than visiting Auburn on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET), adopted by internet hosting Kentucky and Florida the next week. Life within the SEC!
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8. Kentucky (14-4)
The Wildcats did open the week by commanding Georgia, however Saturday’s loss marked the second time prior to now two weeks that Kentucky has allowed not less than 100 factors. The protection has to get cleaned up or else this group’s ceiling might be very matchup-based within the NCAA Event.
9. Michigan State (16-2)
In his thirtieth season on the helm, Tom Izzo has a 16-2 group that has received 11 straight video games and is on their lonesome on the prime of the Huge Ten at 7-0. Michigan State prolonged its outstanding profitable streak, this system’s longest for the reason that Spartans went to the Last 4 within the 2018-19 season, with an 80-78 victory over Illinois. What makes this Spartans group so particular? Their skill to generate tempo and dribble penetration, with Tre Holloman delivering 17 factors on Sunday and double-figure scoring performances from Frankie Fidler and Coen Carr. Their skill to settle right into a recreation can be spectacular, as MSU overcame a 20-10 deficit out of the gates and locked down the Illini on the perimeter, holding them to 5-of-24 from 3-point vary. Izzo additionally notched his 350th profession Huge Ten victory, transferring him three shy of Bob Knight’s all-time wins report within the convention. What a begin to the 12 months in East Lansing, and sure, the Breslin Middle was unhinged on Sunday.
10. Marquette (15-3)
The Golden Eagles had been off to their finest begin in Big East play since 2008-09, they usually nonetheless have wins over Purdue, Georgia and Wisconsin — all of whom are ranked this week. What went fallacious vs. Xavier? The Golden Eagles fell behind by as many as 19 within the second half, and it was simply an excessive amount of to beat, giving Xavier its first win within the sequence in six conferences. For those who restrict Kam Jones and Stevie Mitchell, you’ll be able to beat Shaka Sensible’s group. They had been held to 7-for-24 capturing from the sector.
11. Purdue (15-4)
12. Kansas (13-4)
13. Texas A&M (14-4)
14. Mississippi State (15-3)
15. Illinois (13-5)
16. UConn (13-5)
17. Ole Miss (15-3)
18. Oregon (15-3)
19. Michigan (14-4)
20. St. John’s (16-3)
21. Wisconsin (15-3)
22. West Virginia (13-4)
23. Memphis (14-4)
24. Missouri (15-3)
25. Louisville (14-5)
John Fanta is a nationwide faculty basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in quite a lot of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Community to offering commentary on The Subject of 68 Media Community. Comply with him at @John_Fanta.
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