A terrific Kansas-Missouri game on Saturday night provided a springboard into “Rivalry Week,” which features a number of intriguing matchups.

Before that tips off though, here are this week’s power rankings.

College Basketball Power Rankings

1. Kentucky (23-1, Previous Ranking: 1)

Freshman sensation Anthony Davis had a phenomenal week with 40 points (on 15-of-17 shooting from the field), 16 rebounds, and 15 blocks in wins over Tennessee and South Carolina, as the Wildcats won by a combined 59 points.

Kentucky’s schedule finally starts to get challenging this week as they host Florida on Tuesday and head to Vanderbilt on Saturday.

2. Ohio State (20-3, Previous Ranking: 2)

The Buckeyes got just seven points from players not named Jared Sullinger, Deshaun Thomas, or William Buford against Wisconsin, but that trio combined for 51 points and led OSU to a terrific road win at the Kohl Center.  Sullinger scored 24 points and grabbed 10 boards, including five on the offensive glass, to pace the Buckeyes, who are now alone in first place in the Big Ten.

They welcome Purdue and second-place Michigan State to Columbus this week.

3. Syracuse (23-1, Previous Ranking: 3)

So maybe Fab Melo was more important to this team than everyone realized.  After a loss and two other close games, Melo returned from his academic issues to score 14 points in a 25-point route of St. John’s.

The Orange face Georgetown and UConn at home this week, and the matchup with the Hoyas will be their first game against a ranked team in over a month.

4. Missouri (21-2, Previous Ranking: 6)

With the Tigers down eight points with just over two minutes left against Kansas, senior guard Marcus Denmon put the team on his back.  He scored nine of his 29 points during an 11-0 run to finish the game, which gave Mizzou the three-point victory.  Earlier in the week, Michael Dixon hit the game-winner with 30 seconds left to win at Texas.

The Tigers are now in a three-way tie for first place in the Big 12, and Monday they head to Oklahoma before a home date with Baylor next Saturday.

5. North Carolina (20-3, Previous Ranking: 4)

The Heels picked up a pair of road wins this week, although they trailed for a while against Maryland.  Tyler Zeller continued his solid play with 40 points and 25 rebounds in the two victories, while Kendall Marshall dished out 16 assists against the Terps.

UNC has a pair of huge home games this week with arch rival Duke visiting the Dean Dome on Wednesday and Virginia coming to town on Saturday.

6. Baylor (21-2, Previous Ranking: 7)

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Bears picked up road wins over Texas A&M and Oklahoma State by a total of just seven points.  Perry Jones III had 31 points and 16 rebounds during the week, while Pierre Jackson tallied 30 points.

This week Baylor gets a chance to avenge both of their losses when they host Kansas on Wednesday before traveling to Missouri on Saturday.

7. Kansas (18-5, Previous Ranking: 5)

The Jayhawks were mere minutes away from picking up a huge road win against Missouri, and many will cite a pair of questionable charging calls down the stretch as one of the reasons their lead slipped away.  Thomas Robinson was phenomenal in the second half and finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds against the Tigers after posting 20 points and 17 boards earlier in the week against Oklahoma.

Kansas heads to Baylor on Wednesday before a winnable home game against Oklahoma State next weekend.

8. Michigan State (18-5, Previous Ranking: 9)

Sparty lost an ugly game against Illinois early in the week, and they also feared they had lost Draymond Green who suffered a knee injury in the second half.  Green returned Sunday against Michigan and posted 14 points, 16 boards, and four assists in a 10-point victory.

Michigan State is a game behind Ohio State in the Big Ten race, but they get their first shot at the Buckeyes in Columbus next weekend after they host Penn State on Wednesday.

9. Georgetown (18-4, Previous Ranking: 12)

The Hoyas won home games against Connecticut and South Florida by a combined 44 points to get back on track.  Henry Sims scored 13 points in each game and had a strong all-around game against USF with nine rebounds and five assists.

Georgetown hits the road for three of their next four games, starting in Syracuse on Wednesday.

10. Florida (19-4, Previous Ranking: 17)

Saturday’s home win over Vanderbilt was Florida’s seventh straight victory, and the Gators are finally looking like the team many people ranked in the Top 10 before the season.  Freshman Brad Beal continued his solid play with 33 points, 18 rebounds, and one massive dunk over the course of the week.

Tuesday’s road trip to Rupp Arena will be Florida’s biggest test of the season, while Saturday gives them a chance for revenge against Tennessee.

11. Duke (19-4, Previous Ranking: 8)

The Blue Devils won at Virginia Tech early in the week behind 18 points from Austin Rivers, but they were outplayed at home by Miami on Sunday when they lost in overtime after coming back from a large second half deficit.

Getting back on track won’t be easy with their next game coming on Wednesday at North Carolina.  Duke follows up that rivalry game by hosting Maryland next weekend.

12. Murray State (23-0, Previous Ranking: 14)

Isaiah Canaan went off for six threes and 32 points in a comeback win over Southeast Missouri State, and the Racers followed that up with a seven-point victory against Tennessee-Martin.

Home games against Austin Peay and Tennessee State await this week, but the big one for Murray State comes on February 18th when Saint Mary’s comes to town as part of the BracketBusters.

13. Creighton (21-3, Previous Ranking: 11)

The Bluejays saw their 11-game win streak snapped when Northern Iowa’s Anthony James hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to win it for the Panthers. Earlier in the week, Creighton hung 102 points on Illinois State behind 25 from Player of the Year candidate Doug McDermott.

They head to Evansville on Tuesday before hosting MVC co-leader Wichita State on Saturday, which should be an outstanding matchup.

14. San Diego State (20-3, Previous Ranking: 16)

Wins over Boise State and TCU have the Aztecs at 6-1 through the first half of the Mountain West season.  Guard Jamaal Franklin led the way in both games with a total of 40 points and 19 rebounds during the week.

San Diego State’s only game this week comes Saturday at UNLV with first place in the MWC on the line.

15. UNLV (21-4, Previous Ranking: 10)

The Rebels made just 3-of-14 from beyond the arc in Saturday’s loss at Wyoming, but they blew out Colorado State by 19 points earlier in the week.  Chace Stanback has been up and down of late, and that continued this week with 16 points against the Rams but just two versus the Cowboys.

Like SDSU, the Rebels have the week off before they welcome the Aztecs in a revenge game for first place in the league.

16. Florida State (16-6, Previous Ranking: 18)

Things keep on rolling for the Noles, who knocked off Georgia Tech and Virginia at home this week.  They have now won seven straight games and are tied atop the ACC with North Carolina.  Michael Snaer continued his strong play with five three-pointers and 21 points against the Jackets, while the team relied on a more balanced attack versus UVA.

This week, the Noles head to Boston College before hosting an improving Miami squad next weekend.

17. Michigan (17-7, Previous Ranking: 15)

The Wolverines have now alternated wins and losses over their last eight games after beating Indiana at home during the week before falling at Michigan State on Sunday.  Tim Hardaway Jr. went just 5-of-25 during the week, while senior Zack Novak stepped up with 27 points and six threes.

Michigan heads to Nebraska this week before welcoming Illinois to Ann Arbor on Sunday.

18. Marquette (19-5, Previous Ranking: 13)

Marquette ran into a buzzsaw when they lost to Notre Dame on Saturday, which snapped their seven-game winning streak.  It was an up and down week for Jae Crowder, who had 20 points and 12 boards against Seton Hall but managed just four against the Irish.

The Golden Eagles travel to DePaul on Monday for a winnable road game, and then Cincinnati comes to Milwaukee next weekend.

19. Wisconsin (18-6, Previous Ranking: 19)

After winning at Penn State and losing at home to Ohio State, there’s no change for the Badgers this week.  Wisconsin’s struggles from long range crept up again versus OSU, as they hit just 5-of-27 from deep.

With their six-game win streak snapped, the Badgers hit the road for four of their next five games, starting with this week’s trip to Minnesota.

20. Saint Mary’s (22-2, Previous Ranking: 22)

The Gaels extended their winning streak to 12 games by beating San Diego, but their biggest headline came when they were announced as Murray State’s opponent in the BracketBusters.  Rob Jones went off for 28 points against the Toreros, and Stephen Holt chipped in with 23 of his own.

Saint Mary’s has a challenging road date with Gonzaga on Thursday as part of Rivalry Week, which gives us yet another “mid-major” game to look forward to this week.

21. Mississippi State (18-5, Previous Ranking: 23)

In their only game of the week, the Bulldogs won by just three against Auburn.  Forwards Arnett Moultrie and Renardo Sidney led the way with a combined 38 points, while Dee Bost and Brian Bryant combined for 16 assists.

MSU needs to take care of business at home this week against Mississippi and Georgia before playing four of their final six games on the road.

22. Indiana (18-6, Previous Ranking: 20)

The Hoosiers dug themselves a 20-point hole early against Michigan as their road woes continued, but they bounced back to win by 17 points at Mackey Arena against arch rival Purdue.  Victor Oladipo and Remy Abell keyed the victory against the Boilers thanks to their aggressiveness, and they will look to build on those performances against Illinois this week.

IU plays five of their final seven games at home to close out the regular season.

23. Virginia (18-4, Previous Ranking: 21)

A late rally against Florida State came up just short on Saturday, but Mike Scott had another fantastic week for the Cavaliers.  He had a pair of double-doubles and finished with 39 points and 21 boards while hitting 14-of-19 from the field.  Still, Virginia has just one Top 50 win and that came back in November.

After hosting Wake on Wednesday, the Cavs will get a chance to pick up another one when they travel to North Carolina next weekend.

24. Notre Dame (15-8, Previous Ranking: N/A)

I’m not sure if there is a hotter team in the country right how, as the Irish have ripped off four straight wins, three of which have come against ranked opponents and all of which have come against tournament teams.

Without Tim Abromaitis, the Irish have been getting contributions from a number of different players.  Eric Atkins combined for 31 points in last week’s wins, while Pat Connaughton came through with 23 points and 11 boards versus Marquette on Sunday.

Notre Dame heads to West Virginia in search of their fourth Big East road win before hosting DePaul on Saturday.

25. Southern Mississippi (20-3, Previous Ranking: N/A)

The Golden Eagles are overrated as a Top 10 team in the RPI, but this is a solid basketball teamwithout a doubt.  They beat Memphis at home this week to break a lengthy losing streak against the Tigers and take sole possession of first place in Conference USA.  Kentucky transfer Darnell Dodson is playing really well right now, and Larry Eustachy has seven players averaging at least 7.0 points.

This week USM has a road trip to UAB followed by a home date against a solid Central Florida team.

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Follow me on Twitter (@andybottoms) for more thoughts on college hoops, and check out the latest edition of the Bottoms Line podcast.

The great news is that in a mere six weeks, we’ll have a bracket in our hands with March Madness just days away.

College Basketball Power Rankings

1. Kentucky (21-1, Previous Ranking: 1)

The Wildcats won road games against Georgia and LSU by a combined 37 points, with Darius Miller leading the way with 19 against the Bulldogs and Terrence Jones going off for 27 against the Tigers.

Kentucky has now won 13 straight, but for those waiting to see them against the SEC’s best, they’ll have to wait another week.  The Wildcats are home against Tennessee on Tuesday before a road trip to South Carolina.

2. Ohio State (19-3, Previous Ranking: 2)

It was Lenzelle Smith Jr., not Jared Sullinger, who posted a double-double against Michigan, as the OSU sophomore had 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 15-point victory.  The Buckeyes crushed Penn State at home earlier in the week behind 20 points and 13 boards from Sullinger.

Ohio State is idle until next Saturday when they head to the Kohl Center for a matchup with the resurgent Badgers.

3. Syracuse (22-1, Previous Ranking: 4)

It wasn’t exactly pretty from the Orange this week, but they managed to beat Cincinnati and West Virginia.

Against the Bearcats, ‘Cuse made just 5-of-15 free throws, shot 25% from beyond the arc, and allowed 13 offensive rebounds, which is not exactly the typical recipe for a win.  They were nearly doubled up on the glass by West Virginia and benefited from a late no-call on a clear goaltend to win by two points.

Fab Melo’s status is still uncertain due to academic issues, and the Orange haven’t been quite the same without him.  Their only game this week is at St. John’s on Saturday.

4. North Carolina (18-3, Previous Ranking: 6)

The Heels took care of business at home this week against North Carolina State and Georgia Tech.  Tyler Zeller had 21 points and 17 rebounds against the Wolfpack, and Harrison Barnes poured in 23 against the Jackets.

UNC hits the road this week for a pair of winnable road games against Wake Forest and Maryland, but they need to make sure not to look ahead to the Duke game the following week.

5. Kansas (17-4, Previous Ranking: 5)

The Jayhawks suffered their first Big 12 loss at Iowa State on Saturday, as the Cyclones limited Thomas Robinson to 13 points and seven rebounds.  KU also put the Cyclones on the line 34 times and got almost no production from their bench.

The Jayhawks will look to bounce back when Oklahoma comes to Lawrence on Wednesday before they head to Mizzou for what should be a terrific game on Saturday.

For now, I gave the Jayhawks the slight edge over Missouri since their loss this week was more “forgiveable.”  I also couldn’t rank Baylor ahead of KU based on their margin of defeat in Lawrence.

6. Missouri (19-2, Previous Ranking: 3)

On the heels of their impressive road win at Baylor, the Tigers dropped a game at Oklahoma State, as they allowed their second-highest point total of the season and shot poorly from the outside.  They bounced back to beat Texas Tech at home behind 22 points from Kim English and 12 assists from Flip Pressey.

Mizzou starts a tough four-game stretch with a road trip to Texas on Monday before the Jayhawks visit Columbia on Saturday.

7. Baylor (19-2, Previous Ranking: 7)

The Bears pulled away late to pick up a road win at Oklahoma then held on to defeat Texas by five at home.  Perry Jones III had a huge week with 43 points and 26 rebounds in the team’s two wins.

Based on their overall body of work, Baylor is likely to be a one seed in my next set of bracket projections, but they can’t afford to slip up this week in road games against Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.

8. Duke (18-3, Previous Ranking: 6)

Mason Plumlee came up big for the Blue Devils this week with 23 points and 12 boards in a road win at Maryland, and he followed that up with 15 points and 17 rebounds against St. John’s.

Outside of a three-point home win against Virginia, Duke hasn’t beaten a tournament-caliber team since late November, which makes it hard to truly assess them.  This week features a road trip to Virginia Tech and a home game with Miami leading into a February 8th matchup against North Carolina.

9. Michigan State (17-4, Previous Ranking: 9)

Tom Izzo won his 400th game in MSU’s lone outing this week, a 16-point win over Minnesota at the Breslin Center.  Draymond Green was fantastic with 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting, 14 rebounds, and six assists.

The Spartans have a pair of tough games this week when they head to Illinois on Tuesday and host Michigan on Sunday.  They need to win both to stay tied in the loss column with Ohio State.

10. UNLV (20-3, Previous Ranking: 11)

The Rebels needed overtime to knock off both Boise State and Air Force on the road this week, but they managed to escape with a pair of wins.  Mike Moser was simply ridiculous, as he had 18 points and 21 (yes, 21) rebounds against the Broncos followed by 27 points and a mere 12 boards versus the Falcons.

UNLV hosts Colorado State this week before a weekend trip to Wyoming.

11. Creighton (20-2, Previous Ranking: 12)

With wins over Drake and Bradley, the Bluejays extended their winning streak to 10 games.  To the surprise of no one, Doug McDermott tallied 54 points in the victories, making 10-of-14 shots in each contest.

Creighton has just eight regular season games left, starting with a home game against Illinois State on Wednesday and a road trip to Northern Iowa on Saturday.

12. Georgetown (16-4, Previous Ranking: 10)

The Hoyas lost their only game of the week against an improving Pittsburgh team after allowing the Panthers to shoot 52.1 percent from the field while they struggled to get anything going offensively.

Senior guard Jason Clark was held to just nine points in the loss, but Georgetown can’t afford to get down on themselves with UConn coming to D.C. on Wednesday.

13. Marquette (18-4, Previous Ranking: 18)

Marquette continues to fall behind early in games, but they rallied from an 18-point first half deficit to win at Villanova on Saturday.  They also blasted South Florida by 20 points earlier in the week.  Seniors Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder combined for 46 points, 17 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals to key the victory over the Wildcats.

The Golden Eagles have now won six straight heading into a home game against reeling Seton Hall before a road trip to surging Notre Dame.

14. Murray State (21-0, Previous Ranking: 14)

The Racers won easily over Eastern Illinois in their only game of the week.  They got 18 points each from Isaiah Canaan and Donte Poole, but perhaps most importantly, forward Ivan Aska returned after missing the last six games with a hand injury.

Murray State shouldn’t have much trouble with Southeast Missouri State or Tennessee-Martin, but the biggest part of their week comes on Monday when the BracketBusters matchups are announced.

15. Michigan (16-6, Previous Ranking: 15)

After starting the week with a hard-fought road win against Purdue, the Wolverines lost by 15 at Ohio State on Sunday.  Tim Hardaway Jr. led the way in both games with a total of 34 points, but the team has now alternated wins and losses over the last six games.

The tough stretch of their schedule continues when Indiana comes to Ann Arbor on Wednesday before they head to East Lansing on Sunday.

16. San Diego State (18-3, Previous Ranking: 13)

I mentioned that road games at Wyoming and Colorado State might be tougher than people think, and that turned out to be the case when the Aztecs lost by 17 to the Rams on Saturday.  SDSU made just 3-of-21 from beyond the arc against Colorado State and shot only 31.3 percent from the field.

Home games with Boise State and TCU this week should allow them to get back on track and remain atop the MWC standings.

17. Florida (17-4, Previous Ranking: 19)

The Gators picked up a pair of solid victories this week, winning by four at Mississippi and knocking off a ranked Mississippi State team by 12 points.  A number of different players contributed for Florida, with Patric Young scoring 15 against the Rebels and freshman Brad Beal going for 19 versus the Bulldogs.

Thursday’s home game against South Carolina is one they should win handily, while a Saturday matchup with Vanderbilt gives Florida another chance to prove themselves.

18. Florida State (14-6, Previous Ranking: 20)

The red hot Noles extended their winning streak to five games with a 23-point win at Wake Forest last week.  Michael Snaer continued his strong play with 18 points in the victory, while the team turned in a solid all-around effort on both ends of the floor.

They shouldn’t have any issues with Georgia Tech on Wednesday, but Saturday’s date with Virginia will help settle the argument about who the ACC’s third-best team really is.

19. Wisconsin (17-5, Previous Ranking: 25)

After holding off Indiana on Thursday, the Badgers have now won five straight after a 1-3 start in Big Ten play.  Four players scored in double figures for Wisconsin, and Ryan Evans grabbed nine rebounds, including a few key offensive boards late.

The Badgers head to Penn State this week before a huge home date with Ohio State on Saturday.

20. Indiana (17-5, Previous Ranking: 16)

The Hoosiers had a chance to win in Madison but struggled down the stretch and lost by seven.  On Sunday, they bounced back to take advantage of a poor Iowa defense to the tune of 103 points.  Freshman Cody Zeller struggled against the Badgers but scored a career-high 26 points against the Hawkeyes.

The Hoosiers also changed up their starting lineup for the first time this season, as Will Sheehey started in place of fellow soph Victor Oladipo.

IU hits the road this week for games against Michigan and Purdue.

21. Virginia (17-3, Previous Ranking: 21)

ACC Player of the Year candidate Mike Scott scored 18 points against both Boston College and North Carolina State, as the Cavs won both games to move to 4-2 in the conference.

A winnable home game with Clemson awaits this week before a Saturday trip to Tallahassee.  The reality is that Virginia has a solid record, but only one of those victories has come at the expense of a Top 50 team.

22. Saint Mary’s (21-2, Previous Ranking: 23)

The Gaels beat Loyola Marymount and BYU on the road to move to 10-0 in the WCC.  Brad Waldow continued his solid play with 19 points and eight rebounds against the Cougars, and Saint Mary’s was able to win comfortably despite an uncharacteristic 11 turnovers during the week from Matthew Dellavedova.

Their only game this week is at home against San Diego, but they are also anxiously awaiting their BracketBusters fate.

23. Mississippi State (17-5, Previous Ranking: 22)

Arnett Moultrie extended his streak of double-doubles to five games, but the Bulldogs went 1-1 during the week, beating LSU at home and falling to Florida on the road.

MSU plays their next three games at home, starting with Saturday’s home date with Auburn.  They need to hold serve in those games with four of their final six on the road.

24. Kansas State (15-5, Previous Ranking: 17)

After losing to Oklahoma for the second time this year, the Wildcats nearly dropped out of the Top 25.  Rodney McGruder had a solid game against the Sooners with 19 points, but the team struggled offensively with 41.2 percent shooting and 20 turnovers.

This week they head to Ames to take on a confident Cyclones team followed by a home game against Texas A&M.

25. West Virginia (15-7, Previous Ranking: 24)

The Mountaineers played poorly in a road loss to St. John’s, but they bounced back to give Syracuse everything they could handle at the Carrier Dome.  Had referees not missed a clear goaltend near the end of regulation, West Virginia would have had a shot to pick up a huge road in overtime.

Kevin Jones continues to be phenomenal and has now scored at least 20 points in seven straight games, including four double-doubles.

The Mountaineers play three of their next four games at home, starting with Pitt on Monday.

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Follow me on Twitter (@andybottoms) for more thoughts on college hoops, and check out the latest edition of the Bottoms Line podcast.

And as usual, that led to plenty of shakeups in this week’s Top 25.

College Basketball Power Rankings

1. Kentucky (19-1, Previous Ranking: 2)

The Wildcats picked up a pair of home wins last week, crushing Arkansas by 23 and beating Alabama by six.  Anthony Davis was phenomenal against the Hogs with 27 points, 14 rebounds, and seven blocks, and he has already broken the UK single-season record for rejections.

Image source: Andy Lyons/Getty Images via B/R

Terrence Jones tallied 28 points, 15 boards, and seven blocks of his own in the two victories, which is a good sign for Kentucky fans.  They shouldn’t be tested until a February 7th home date with Florida.

2. Ohio State (17-3, Previous Ranking: 4)

William Buford led the way with 15 points in the Buckeyes’ lone game of the week, a 34-point drubbing of Nebraska.  Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas chipped in with 14 points each in OSU’s second road win in league play.

The Buckeyes play four of their next five games in Columbus, starting with this week’s matchups against Penn State and Michigan.

3. Missouri (18-1, Previous Ranking: 6)

After taking care of business at home against Texas A&M, the undersized Tigers picked up a huge road win at Baylor, outrebounding the much taller Bears in the process.  Ricardo Ratliffe grabbed six of Mizzou’s 12 offensive boards and scored 27 points in the victory.  Point guard Flip Pressey was fantastic with 18 points, seven assists, six steals, and five rebounds.

The Tigers have a pair of winnable games this week as they travel to Oklahoma State and host Texas Tech.

4. Syracuse (20-1, Previous Ranking: 1)

The Orange never led against Notre Dame and suffered their first loss of the year on Saturday night.  They were playing without center Fab Melo, who is out with academic issues of some kind.  Without him, the Irish dominated the glass and shot 50 percent from the field, while the Syracuse offense struggled throughout the game and shot just 34 percent.

The Orange beat Pitt by eight in their first game of the week, and this week brings a tough road test at Cincinnati on Monday followed by a home date with West Virginia.

5. Kansas (16-3, Previous Ranking: 9)

After outplaying Baylor and squeaking out a win at Texas, the Jayhawks have now won nine straight and 13 of their last 14 contests.  Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson continue to lead the way for KU, with Taylor posting 78 points over the last three games and Robinson going for 44 points and 23 boards in two games this week.

Next up for the Jayhawks is a home game against reeling Texas A&M and a road trip to Ames to face an Iowa State team desparate for a signature win.

6. North Carolina (16-3, Previous Ranking: 8)

For about a half, the Heels didn’t appear to have responded well to getting drubbed by Florida State, but a 19-0 run during the second half propelled them to a 14-point win at Virginia Tech in their only game this week.  Harrison Barnes scored 27 points and attempted a season-high 12 free throws, while John Henson and Tyler Zeller combined for 30 points and 27 rebounds.

UNC has four winnable games coming up before Duke comes to the Dean Dome in early February.

7. Baylor (17-2, Previous Ranking: 3)

The Bears lost their first two games of the season last week, losing by 18 at Kansas and by one at home to Missouri.  In both games, Baylor was outrebounded and allowed far too many second chance points for a team with so much height.

In the end, questions about the team’s toughness and Scott Drew’s ability to make adjustments remain following their two losses.  However, the Bears still have a number of quality wins, but they need to stop their skid with wins at Oklahoma and at home versus Texas this week.

8. Duke (16-3, Previous Ranking: 5)

A Michael Snaer buzzer-beater ended Duke’s 45-game home winning streak and gave the Devils their first conference loss.  Freshman Austin Rivers led the team in scoring with 19 points after not starting the Wake Forest game, but Duke shot under 40 percent from the field in a losing effort.

The Devils head to Maryland on Wednesday before a non-conference matchup with St. John’s next weekend.

9. Michigan State (16-4, Previous Ranking: 7)

It was another strange week for the Spartans.  Despite doubling up the Wolverines on the boards and shooting 46.7 percent from deep, they lost at Michigan before bouncing back to crush Purdue at home on Saturday.  Big man Derrick Nix played well in both games, totaling 25 points in just 41 minutes of action.

MSU plays just once this week with Minnesota visiting East Lansing on Wednesday.

10. Georgetown (16-3, Previous Ranking: 10)

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Hoyas won both of their games this week against DePaul and Rutgers.  Center Henry Sims posted a double-double against the Scarlet Knights and had 16 points and seven boards versus DePaul.

One potential concern is that Hollis Thompson has a pulled thigh muscle that limited him on Saturday, but the Hoyas don’t play again until next weekend when they visit Pittsburgh.

11. UNLV (18-3, Previous Ranking: 12)

The Rebels bounced back from a road loss to San Diego State to win a pair of home games this week versus TCU and New Mexico by a combined 40 points.  Mike Moser tallied 30 points and 25 boards while posting two double-doubles, and UNLV now faces winnable road games this week against Boise State and Air Force.

12. Creighton (18-2, Previous Ranking: 12)

Despite getting ”just” 27 points from star Doug McDermott in their two games last week, the Bluejays continue to pile up wins.  First they avenged one of their two defeats by winning at Missouri State, and then they crushed Indiana State on Saturday.

Creighton takes an eight-game winning streak into games at Drake and home against Bradley this week.

13. San Diego State (17-2, Previous Ranking: 15)

The Aztecs followed up their big home win against UNLV by going into The Pit to beat New Mexico behind 22 points from Xavier Thames.  Guard Jamaal Franklin had 14 points and 10 boards in Saturday’s game against Air Force, putting SDSU in sole possession of first place in the Mountain West.

Road games against Wyoming and Colorado State this week will be tougher than you might think.

14. Murray State (20-0, Previous Ranking: 20)

At some point you just have to give the Racers credit, because they just keep rolling along in a year when Top 25 losses are becoming the norm.  They got a scare from Morehead State this week, but guards Isaiah Canaan and Donte Poole combined for 35 points to lead the comeback.  Those same two players combined for 35 again on Saturday night to remain the lone unbeaten team in college hoops.

Murray State is idle until a Saturday home game against Eastern Illinois.

15. Michigan (15-5, Previous Ranking: 16)

The Wolverines continue to be inconsistent, and this week was no exception.  They picked up a hard-fought one-point win over Michigan but fell behind by as many as 20 points against Arkansas in a non-conference road game on Saturday.  A furious comeback came up just short, as a potential game-winning three-pointer by Trey Burke rimmed out at the buzzer.  Tim Hardaway Jr. continues to struggle with just 28 points in his last three games on 8-of-30 shooting.

A tough week awaits with road games at Purdue and Ohio State.

16. Indiana (16-4, Previous Ranking: 13)

After blowing a double-digit lead on the road against Nebraska, the Hoosiers stopped the bleeding with a home victory over Penn State.  Cody Zeller continued his strong play with 18 points in each game, but defense and turnovers continue to be a concern for Indiana.

This week they head to Madison to take on a resurgent Wisconsin squad before a home game with Iowa on Sunday.

17. Kansas State (14-4, Previous Ranking: 21)

Behind 33 points from Rodney McGruder, the Wildcats beat Texas at home early in the week.  They followed that up with a road win against Oklahoma State to even their Big 12 record at 3-3.

K-State has a pair of winnable games this week when they travel to Texas Tech before returning to The Octagon for a game against Oklahoma.

18. Marquette (16-4, Previous Ranking: 22)

The Golden Eagles dug themselves a huge early hole but stormed back to beat Louisville on Monday, then picked up a road win at Providence on Saturday.  Not surprisingly, they were led by seniors Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder, who combined for 69 points in the two victories.

Marquette hosts South Florida on Tuesday before traveling to Villanova on Saturday.

19. Florida (15-4, Previous Ranking: 19)

I have a hard time moving the Gators up any further in the rankings until they actually beat someone.  Five Florida players scored in double figures in a 12-point win over LSU this week, led by 15 from Erik Murphy.

On Thursday, they have a road date with Mississippi, and then turn around to host Mississippi State on Saturday.  Those games should tell us a bit more about the Gators.

20. Florida State (13-6, Previous Ranking: N/A)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a hotter team than the Seminoles right now.  In their last three games, they have blown out North Carolina, knocked off an improving Maryland squad, and pulled out a road win at Duke.  In addition to hitting the game-winner, Michael Snaer has really stepped up offensively with 50 points in those three victories.

The Noles travel to Wake Forest for their only game this week.

21. Virginia (15-3, Previous Ranking: 14)

The Cavaliers destroyed Georgia Tech on Thursday but slipped up at home against rival Virginia Tech Sunday night.  Against the Hokies, UVA hit just 1-of-14 from long range, and Mike Scott was held to just 10 points, which is not exactly a recipe for victory.  At this point, they have a number of good – but not great – wins on their profile with a pair of losses to teams who wouldn’t make the tournament if it started today.

The Cavaliers face Boston College at home on Thursday before heading to Raleigh for a matchup with North Carolina State.

22. Mississippi State (16-4, Previous Ranking: 18)

The Bulldogs stumbled on the road against Ole Miss but hung on for an overtime win at Vanderbilt on Saturday night to salvage their week.  Dee Bost and Arnett Moultrie combined for 45 points against the Commodores, while Jalen Steele drained five three-pointers.

LSU visits Starkville on Wednesday in a game MSU should win, but Saturday’s game at Florida will be a huge test.

23. Saint Mary’s (19-2, Previous Ranking: 24)

After beating Pepperdine and Santa Clara, the Gaels reached the halfway point of the WCC season with a perfect 8-0 record.  Matthew Dellavedova had 39 points and 12 assists in the two victories, and Saint Mary’s has now won nine straight and 17 of their last 18.

Five of their final eight league games are on the road, starting this week with trips to Loyola Marymount and BYU.

24. West Virginia (15-5, Previous Ranking: N/A)

The Mountaineers picked up a couple solid wins last week over Marshall and Cincinnati, and forward Kevin Jones continued his campaign for Big East Player of the Year with 51 points and 20 rebounds in those contests.  He now has at least 22 points in five straight games and 13 double-doubles for the season.

West Virginia hits the road this week for games against St. John’s and Syracuse.

25. Wisconsin (16-5, Previous Ranking: N/A)

A road win at Illinois extended Wisconsin’s winning streak to four games, and after a disastrous start to Big Ten play, they are now 5-3 in the league.  Jordan Taylor is starting to heat up with 53 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists over the last three games.

The Badgers return to the Kohl Center to take on Indiana this Thursday in their lone game of the week.

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Follow me on Twitter (@andybottoms) for more thoughts on college hoops, and check out the latest edition of the Bottoms Line podcast.

With that in mind, here are this week’s risers and fallers.

Bottoms Line: Stock Up

Cincinnati

After a huge road win at Connecticut on Wednesday, the Bearcats have now won an astonishing seven straight Big East road games.  In addition to the win over UConn, Cincinnati has also knocked off Pit and Georgetown in their buildings, and their only conference loss came on a last-second shot against St. John’s.  Outside of Syracuse, I’m not sure anyone in the Big East is playing better right now.

You have to give Mick Cronin and his team a ton of credit for how they have responded in the aftermath of the brawl with Xavier.

Image source: Ballin’ Is a Habit

Sean Kilpatrick, who drilled the game-winner against UConn, and Dion Dixon have stepped up and are averaging nearly 32 points combined in the 11 post-brawl games.  The Bearcats currently rank third in conference play with 1.07 points per possession thanks to a low 10.4 turnover rate, and they have also been effective at forcing their opponents into turnovers and keeping them off the line.

Cincinnati’s next two games – at West Virginia on Saturday and at home versus Syracuse on Monday – will be extremely tough, but rest of the remaining schedule is manageable.

Florida State

Somehow the Seminoles have gone from a team that can’t score to some kind of offensive juggernaut.  The Noles blew out North Carolina last weekend, scoring 1.20 points per possession in the process, and then followed that up with another strong offensive showing against a defensively challenged Maryland squad where they posted 1.27 ppp.  According to Run the Floor’s Managing Editor and FSU guru Michael Rogner, the offense has been sparked by the move to a three-guard lineup, which has allowed for better spacing and more dribble penetration.

The 32-point explosion from Deividas Dulkys against the Heels was well-publicized, but Michael Snaer also has 36 points over the last two games.  Sophomore forward Okaro White has put up 25 points off the bench in those victories, and the Noles enter Saturday’s showdown with Duke confidence on the offensive end.  That’s definitely not something you could have said about this team a few weeks ago.

Kansas

As if there was any doubt, the Jayhawks have made it clear that they won’t be relinquishing their stranglehold on the Big 12 without a fight.  They manhandled Baylor on the boards on Monday to take sole possession of first place in the league, with Thomas Robinson putting up 27 points and 14 boards to further his campaign for National Player of the Year.  Tyshawn Taylor has also been outstanding in the last two games with 56 points and 12 assists, and Travis Releford and Jeff Withey have both stepped up in significantly expanded roles.

Depth is still an issue for KU, but as long as Robinson can stay out of foul trouble, they can play with virtually anyone.  The Jayhawks have a couple upcoming road games, but they have a decent chance to be undefeated in the league before back-to-back road trips to Missouri and Baylor in early February.

San Diego State

The Aztecs lost their top four scorers from last season, and all they have done is go 16-2 and jump out to an early lead in the Mountain West.  Last Saturday, SDSU knocked off UNLV at home on a last-second shot by Jamaal Franklin, who led the team with 24 points and 10 boards.  They proceeded to go into The Pit and fall behind New Mexico 10-0 before storming back and picking up a huge road win.  The Aztecs turned the ball over just six times and got a career-high 22 points from Xavier Thames, who also leads the team in assists.

With so little height, it’s tough to predict how far this team might go in the post-season, but the fact that they’ll even be in the tournament is a real testament to Steve Fisher’s coaching.  At this point they have no bad losses, with the only blemishes on their profile a road loss against Baylor and a two-point home loss to Creighton.  With wins under their belt against their two biggest competitors for the MWC crown, the schedule gets a bit easier before facing the Rebels and Lobos again next month.

Wichita State

With so many teams struggling to win on the road, the Shockers deserve a ton of credit for already notching five road victories in the MVC.  Wichita State and Creighton have separated themselves from the rest of the pack with both currently at 7-1 in the league.

The Shockers lead the league in adjusted defensive efficiency in conference play, thanks in large part to a strong field goal percentage defense.  They rank second to Creighton in offensive efficiency and have a number of players with gaudy overall efficiency numbers.  Seven guys play at least 20 minutes per game, and six of them score at least 8.8 points per contest.

A pair of winnable home games are up next for the Shockers, who I would love to see face Murray State in the BracketBusters.

Bottoms Line: Stock Down

Alabama

Things can change quickly around here, as I had the Tide in the Stock Up section last week.  But they came up empty against both Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, and their offensive woes resurfaced.  They scored a total of 111 points in the two losses and hit just 7-of-33 from beyond the arc.

As was the case last season, this team is very talented defensively, but they can’t get out of their own way on the offensive end.  And while they don’t shoot it well from the field, they shoot a high percentage from the free throw line.  Unfortunately, they rarely make a concerted effort to get there regularly, as evidenced by their poor free throw rate.

The schedule also doesn’t get any easier with a trip to Rupp Arena coming up this weekend.  After that, they have a number of winnable games, but at this point, they could use a signature win or two since they haven’t beaten a tournament-caliber team since November.

BYU

The Cougars have been in the field 0f 68 in my first two bracket projections of the year, but that may change following a home loss to Loyola Marymount.  LMU is a decent team that is starting to get healthy, but BYU can’t really afford to lose at home to anyone not named Gonzaga or Saint Mary’s.  At this point, they have no Top 50 wins, and their best victories have come against Nevada, Oregon, and Weber State.

After Saturday’s trip to Pepperdine, BYU has a critical three-game stretch with an oddly-timed road game against Virginia Tech followed by back-to-back home games against Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga.  They certainly can’t afford to go winless during that stretch, and anything less than 2-1 probably puts them in serious jeopardy.

Indiana

The wheels are dangerously close to coming off for the Hoosiers after losing at Nebraska.  A 15-1 start has given way to a three-game losing streak, and a few ongoing concerns have emerged based on their recent play.  First, a defense that was generating plenty of deflections and turnovers early in the season is now allowing the most points per possession in league play.

Second, IU has struggled to clean the defensive glass.  In the first two losses, Minnesota and Ohio State both posted offensive rebounding percentages of at least 37.9, and the Hoosiers allowed Nebraska to grab eight offensive boards over the final 13 minutes of the game on Wednesday.

Finally, turnovers are killing the Hoosiers on offense, and their 21.6 turnover rate in league play is 11th in the Big Ten.  Against the Huskers, Indiana turned the ball over nine times during a nine minute stretch in the second half.  The team is playing too loosely with the ball, and players are making poor decisions and trying to do too much when the game gets tight.

Sunday’s game against Penn State is simply a must-win for Indiana, who desperately needs to stop the bleeding.

Seton Hall

The Pirates were riding high after knocking off West Virginia and Connecticut as they jumped out to a 4-1 Big East record.  Seton Hall has since lost back-to-back road games against South Florida and Villanova, neither of whom are tournament-caliber teams.

Against Villanova, the Pirates shot the ball very poorly and committed a ton of fouls, which led to an insane 80.4 free throw rate for the Wildcats.  At the same time, they rank 16th in free throw rate on offense, and in league games, their three-point shooting (40.0 percent) is nearly as good as their two-point shooting (43.5 percent).  They also need to do a better job of limiting offensive rebounds if they want to get back to winning games.

The good news is that their next two games are at home, where they have yet to lose this season.

Texas

I’m sure Joe Lunardi is a very nice man, but if he has the Longhorns in his next set of bracket projections, I will be left to believe it’s somehow tied in with ESPN’s affiliation with the Longhorn Network.  He had them in as a 10 seed last week, and I struggle to understand why.

Texas lost their only game against Kansas State this week, and they currently sit at 12-6.  However, eight of those wins have come against teams ranked 150th or lower in the RPI.  At the same time, they are just 1-5 against the Top 100, with their lone win coming at home against Temple.

Consequently, they need to start picking up some quality wins, and their upcoming schedule provides a number of chances to do just that.  Texas takes on Kansas this Saturday, gets a chance at revenge against Iowa State next week, head to Baylor for a road test, and then returns home to play Missouri.  The Longhorns would be well served to go .500 in those four matchups.

**********

Follow me on Twitter (@andybottoms) for more thoughts on college hoops, and check out the latest edition of the Bottoms Line podcast.

This week the topic list is long and includes:

• IU’s recent struggles,
• Cincinnati’s post-brawl resurgence,
• Thoughts from Baylor-Kansas and a look at this weekend’s Baylor-Missouri game,
• UNC’s blowout loss,
• Alabama’s continued offensive struggles,
• Rob and Troy’s impressions after seeing Doug McDermott in person,
• Early thoughts from the Mountain West,
• A look at some A-10 teams beating each other up.
• Rob and Troy also provided more updates from their roadtrip which were pretty funny.

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The middle of the list has proven to be a complete mess, but since road wins have been so tough to come by, there are some teams that actually stayed put or even moved up despite losing.

College Basketball Power Rankings

1. Syracuse (19-0, Previous Ranking: 1)

The Orange won their two games this week by a combined 36 points and are the only Big East team without a loss.  I am dying to see this team be challenged, but with games at home against a reeling Pitt squad and on the road at Notre Dame, I don’t see that happening this week.

2. Kentucky (17-1, Previous Ranking: 2)

With road victories against Auburn and Tennessee last week, the Wildcats have already equaled their SEC road win total from last season.  Freshmen Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist continue to lead the way for Kentucky, while fellow frosh Marquis Teague could stand to cut back on his shooting given his efficiency numbers.  Kentucky has home games against Arkansas and Alabama this week.

3. Baylor (17-0, Previous Ranking: 5)

The Bears picked up arguably the biggest road win in college hoops last week by knocking off K-State in the Octagon before dumptrucking Oklahoma State over the weekend.  Monday’s game with Kansas is the marquee matchup of the week, but win or lose, Baylor has proven they should be considered among the nation’s elite teams.  Saturday’s game against Missouri closes out a brutal week for the Bears.

4. Ohio State (16-3, Previous Ranking: 4)

Brandon Paul almost singlehandedly beat the Buckeyes on Tuesday with 43 points, but they returned to form against Indiana on Sunday and had the look of a Final Four team in that game.  Lenzelle Smith Jr. gave them a huge spark with 28 points against the Hoosiers, and if he can become a consistent contributor, it takes OSU to another level.  Their lone game this week is at Nebraska on Saturday.

5. Duke (15-2, Previous Ranking: 8)

The ACC doesn’t provide many chances for quality wins this year, but the Blue Devils picked up one on Thursday by knocking off Virginia at home.  They followed that up with a road win at Clemson and are currently the only team undefeated in ACC play.  A pair of home games await this week, with Wake Forest coming to Cameron on Thursday and surging Florida State visiting on Saturday.

6. Missouri (16-1, Previous Ranking: 9)

The Tigers rebounded from a loss to Kansas State to win by 10 points at Iowa State and by 11 at home versus Texas.  Flip Pressey tallied 30 points and 15 assists in the two victories, while Ricardo Ratliffe scored 21 against the Longhorns and is now shooting 77.4 percent from the field.  Mizzou has a winnable home game against A&M on Monday before a showdown at Baylor on Saturday.

7. Michigan State (15-3, Previous Ranking: 6)

It was an uneven week for the Spartans, who dismantled Iowa in their first game but lost at Northwestern on Saturday.  Draymond Green and Keith Appling continue to pace the MSU offensive attack, but turnovers were the team’s undoing against the Wildcats and their 1-3-1 zone.  An intra-state battle at Michigan awaits Sparty on Tuesday before they return home to take on Purdue next weekend.

8. North Carolina (15-3, Previous Ranking: 3)

It’s hard to put into words how disappointing UNC’s performance was on Sunday as they allowed Florida State to jump out to a large lead and eventually rolled over and got blown out.  As I mentioned with Duke, there aren’t many chance to pick up resume-enhancing wins in the ACC, which magnifies the importance of any unexpected losses.  UNC’s only game this week comes Thursday at Virginia Tech.

9. Kansas (14-3, Previous Ranking: 11)

Tyshawn Taylor had a fantastic game to lead the Jayhawks to a comeback win over Iowa State on Saturday, scoring 28 points and dishing out six assists.  Thomas Robinson posted two more double-doubles, and his play will be critical against Baylor’s talented frontline on Monday.  Kansas follows up that terrific matchup with a trip to Texas over the weekend.

10. Georgetown (14-3, Previous Ranking: 9)

Turnovers led to a disappointing home loss to Cincinnati, but the Hoyas bounced back to win at St. John’s on Sunday.  Senior Jason Clark had a solid all-around game against the Red Storm with 15 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.  With games against DePaul and Rutgers this week, Georgetown has a good chance to move to 16-3.

11. UNLV (16-3, Previous Ranking: 12)

The Rebels lost a hard-fought game against rival San Diego State on a last-second shot in their only game of the week.  Anthony Marshall paced the UNLV attack with 26 points while Chace Stanback, Mike Moser, and Oscar Bellfield combined to go 7-of-32 from the field.  They have a pair of home games this week, the second of which comes against a red hot New Mexico squad.

12. Creighton (16-2, Previous Ranking: 15)

While many teams had a hard time winning two games this week, the Bluejays won three MVC games, knocking off Northern Iowa, Illinois State, and Southern Illinois.  Player of the Year candidate Doug McDermott posted 59 points and 28 boards in the three games.  This week Creighton heads to Missouri State to try to avenge an earlier loss before hosting Indiana State over the weekend.

13. Indiana (15-3, Previous Ranking: 7)

It was a disappointing week for the Hoosiers, who dropped a winnable game at home against Minnesota on Thursday before losing by 17 at Ohio State on Sunday.  Defense continues to be a concern with IU allowing the most points per possession of any team in Big Ten play.  Games against Nebraska and Penn State give them the opportunity to get back on track.

14. Virginia (14-2, Previous Ranking: 16)

The Cavaliers had a pair of last-second shots that could have sent their game against Duke into overtime.  Mike Scott was fantastic once again with 23 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort.  The Cavs have established themselves as the clear-cut third best team in the ACC, which means they should be able to win at Georgia Tech and at home against Virginia Tech this week.

15. San Diego State (15-2, Previous Ranking: 22)

After beating UNLV at home, the Aztecs validated their hot start after having played virtually no one for a month.  Jamaal Franklin led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds, including the game winner with just 0.3 seconds left.  James Rahon was also on fire and poured in 22 points for the Aztecs.  Another tough tests awaits when they head to The Pit this week to face New Mexico.

16. Michigan (14-4, Previous Ranking: 13)

The Wolverines needed overtime to take care of Northwestern and followed that up with a 16-point loss at Iowa.  Tim Hardaway Jr.’s inconsistent shooting continued, and Michigan made just 8-of-31 from three-point range against the Hawkeyes.  They need significantly more production from their frontline with Michigan State coming to town this week.  On Saturday, the Wolverines head to Arkansas for a non-conference matchup of contrasting styles.

17. Connecticut (14-3, Previous Ranking: 20)

The Huskies picked up a much-needed win against West Virginia and played one of their best games of the season at Notre Dame on Saturday.  Freshman Andre Drummond had two more double-doubles to extend his streak to three, but fellow frosh Ryan Boatright’s eligibility is in question again.  Wednesday’s game against Cincinnati is a big one for both teams, and a non-conference matchup at Tennessee will be challenging as well based on how the Vols are playing.

18. Mississippi State (15-3, Previous Ranking: 24)

After losing to Arkansas last weekend, Mississippi State bounced back to beat Tennessee and Alabama at home.  Arnett Moultrie had a huge night against the Tide with 25 points and 13 boards, while Dee Bost had 30 points in the two wins.  The Bulldogs, who are just 1-1 in true away games, hit the road this week to take on Mississippi and Vanderbilt.

19. Florida (14-4, Previous Ranking: 19)

The Gators won two games they should have won this week, with Kenny Boynton leading the way with 32 points in victories over Georgia and South Carolina.  Florida still doesn’t really have a signature win this year, although the 18-point drubbing of Florida State looks better now.  Their only game this week comes on Saturday when a struggling LSU squad comes to Gainesville.

20. Murray State (18-0, Previous Ranking: 23)

Things just keep on rolling for the Racers even with second-leading scorer Ivan Aska out with an injury.  Donte Poole had a huge week for Murray State, scoring 21 points against Jacksonville State before pouring in a career-high 28 versus Tennessee Tech.    A pair of road games await the Racers this week, but I don’t expect them to lose either one.

21. Kansas State (12-4, Previous Ranking: 14)

The Wildcats lost a hard-fought game to Baylor on Tuesday, so there’s no shame in that.  However, they played poorly in a road loss to an Oklahoma team that had struggled in conference play.  K-State’s first three league games were as tough as they come, so things should start to even out for them from a scheduling standpoint.  This week they welcome Texas to the Ocatgon before heading to Oklahoma State.

22. Marquette (14-4, Previous Ranking: 25)

The Golden Eagles took care of business at home against St. John’s and Pitt thanks to seniors Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder.  DJO scored 38 points in the two wins while Crowder went for 30.  This week they face Louisville at home on Monday before a winnable road game at Providence on Saturday.

23. Illinois (15-3, Previous Ranking: N/A)

Brandon Paul’s 43-point outburst against Ohio State was one of the best individual performances this season, particularly given his subpar efficiency numbers heading into that game.  The Illini are now 4-1 in Big Ten play, and after a lengthy layoff, they head to Happy Valley this week for a date with Penn State before hosting Wisconsin on Sunday.

24. Saint Mary’s (17-2, Previous Ranking: N/A)

The Gaels already had a handful of decent wins, but they played arguably their best game of the season in a 21-point blowout of Gonzaga on Thursday.  Matthew Dellavedova was fantastic against the Zags with 26 points and six assists and is one of the more underrated guards in the country.  Saint Mary’s has a pair of winnable games this week as they look to stay alone atop the WCC.

25. Seton Hall (14-2, Previous Ranking: 17)

Blowing a late lead and losing at South Florida on Friday night put an end to the Pirates’ win streak, but I’m not prepared to write off wins over West Virginia and UConn as a fluke just yet.  However, they need to avoid a road loss against a struggling Villanova team in their only game this week to stay in the Top 25.

Follow me on Twitter (@andybottoms) for more thoughts on college hoops, and check out the latest edition of the Bottoms Line podcast.

The ACC now has 13 losses, Cal got dumptrucked by Missouri, Long Beach State lost immediately following their signature win, and Memphis went 1-2 in Maui just to name a few.

The possibility also exists that I am the kiss of death, so to fans of this week’s “stock up” teams, consider yourselves warned.

Stocks Up

Alabama

The Tide rolled through the Puerto Rico Tipoff, beating Maryland, Wichita State, and Purdue by an average of 13 points.  With Tony Mitchell (14.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 41.2 3P%) and JaMychal Green (14.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg), Alabama boasts one of the top frontcourt duos in the nation, and point guard Trevor Releford (12.0 ppg, 2.7 apg) is showing no signs of a sophomore slump.  Coach Anthony Grant is also getting decent contributions from his bench, but the Tide is really getting things done on the defensive end with the fifth-ranked defensive efficiency according to the Pomeroy Ratings.

On the most recent addition of the Bottoms Line podcast, Troy Machir made the case that Alabama is the second-best team in the SEC, and based on how they have played so far, it’s hard to disagree.

Kansas

It was tough to know what to expect from the Jayhawks this season based on the amount of roster turnover, but so far they have been better than I expected.

The one thing that isn’t shocking is the play of Thomas Robinson (16.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg), who has logged a double-double in each of KU’s five games.  Outside of his 11 turnover performance in the Maui final, Tyshawn Taylor (16.0 ppg, 3.8 apg) has been a consistent contributor, and backcourt mate Elijah Johnson (11.6 ppg, 3.8 apg) has shown flashes as well.  The Jayhawks have also received solid contributions from Travis Releford and Jeff Withey, both of whom have played sparingly over the course of their careers.

With essentially a seven-man rotation, depth will be a concern, but Kansas should be right in the thick of things in the Big 12 once again.

Marquette

With Pitt struggling, Louisville sustaining injuries at an alarming rate, and Cincinnati losing to the likes of Presbyterian, the door is open for the Golden Eagles to rise to the top of the second tier of the Big East behind UConn and Syracuse.

Marquette won the Paradise Jam and currently ranks 11th in offensive efficiency and 24th on defense in the Pomeroy Ratings.  Seven players are averaging at least 7.0 points, and 10 players are logging double-digit minutes.  Darius Johnson-Odom (20.0 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 56.9 FG%, 44.0 3P%) and Jae Crowder (17.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 spg, 58.6 FG%, 40.0 3P%) are leading the way, but sophomore Vander Blue has bounced back from a disappointing freshman season with 12.2 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.  Big men Davante Gardner and Chris Otule have combined to average 15.4 points and 9.6 rebounds to provide an additional presence inside, and Junior Cadougan is dishing out 6.4 assists.

The Golden Eagles have another huge test at Wisconsin on December 3rd, and a win there would further validate their early season success.

Mississippi State

I have to give credit where credit is due.  After a disappointing home loss to Akron, the Bulldogs bounced back with two solid wins at Madison Square Garden against Texas A&M and Arizona.  There are still going to be some ups and downs from MSU this season, but the roster isn’t short on talent.

Arnett Moultrie (15.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg) is a relentless rebounder, and point guard Dee Bost (16.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.3 spg) has done a decent job cutting back on his turnovers in the past couple games.  Freshman Rodney Hood (12.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 41.7 3P%) has been impressive as well, and his 20 points helped the team to a win over Louisiana-Monroe with Moultrie and the much-maligned Renardo Sidney out with injuries.

Again, consistency will never be the calling card of this team, but they have a chance to make some noise in the SEC.

Missouri

I was very skeptical of the Frank Haith hire, but after beating Notre Dame and Missouri by a combined 68 points, he deserves some credit.

Without Laurence Bowers, the team is relying heavily on Ricardo Ratliffe (11.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) inside, while a slew of talented guards and wings are pouring in points and leading a team shooting over 46 percent from beyond the arc.  Marcus Denmon (19.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 44.4 3P%), Kim English (16.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 60.0 3P%), and Flip Pressey (12.2 ppg, 3.4 apg, 3.0 spg, 41.7 3P%) have all been superb, propelling the Tigers to Top 10 rankings in effective field goal percentage and turnover rate.

The Tigers have also maintained their reputation as a tough defensive squad, and the top tier of the Big 12 is shaping up to be a real slugfest.

Oregon State

With the bulk of the Pac-12 struggling, the Beavers have one of the league’s few solid wins thanks to an overtime victory over Texas.  Sure the Longhorns are down, but Oregon State followed that up with a last-second loss to Vanderbilt, proving they will be a tough out this year.

Jared Cunningham (22.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.2 spg) is an electrifying player who is starting to get his due on a national level.  He’s already shot a staggering 62 free throws this season and is due for another highlight reel dunk anyday now.  Forward Devon Collier is also contributing 16.6 points per game, and four other players are chipping in better than seven points per contest.

The remainder of the non-conference schedule is manageable, so the Beavers could enter Pac-12 play with just one loss.

Saint Louis

The Billikens are doing their best to prove the A-10 isn’t just a two-team race between Xavier and Temple.  They beat Washington by 13 and won their opening game in the 76 Classic.  If they can beat Villanova in the semi-finals, they have a decent shot to win the whole thing.

The inside-outside duo of Brian Conklin (17.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 63.2 FG%) and Kwamain Mitchell (14.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.8 apg, 43.5 3P%) is leading the team offensively, while a stingy defense has been shutting down opponents with regularity.  This is easily Rick Majerus’ best team since taking the helm, and if they can get another player or two to become consistent contributors on offense, look out.

San Diego State

Without Kawhi Leonard, Malcom Thomas, D.J. Gay, and Billy White, it was natural to predict a down year for the depleted Aztecs, but after a home victory against Long Beach State and a road win over Arizona, they are going to be a factor in the Mountain West after all.

Guards Chase Tapley (16.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 3.1 spg, 55.6 3P%) and Jamaal Franklin (16.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg) have led the way for the Aztecs, but a defense ranked 20th in the Pomeroy Ratings has helped to offset some of their offensive shortcomings.  Upcoming games against Cal and Creighton will provide additional opportunities to pick up impressive non-conference wins, but the MWC is shaping up to be a three-team race among SDSU, UNLV, and New Mexico.

Stock Down

Cincinnati

For a team that didn’t go out of its way to construct a challenging non-conference schedule, the loss to Presbyterian looks that much worse.

The Bearcats blew a double-digit lead in the second half against the Blue Hose in what is the season’s biggest upset to date.  The lack of bench production is a huge concern for Mick Cronin with no one outside of the starting five scoring better than 4.0 points per game.

UC’s two toughest games left in the non-conference are at home against Marshall and at Xavier, so remaining opportunities for marquee wins outside of the Big East are limited to say the least.

Fairfield

Early losses to Providence and Minnesota, coupled with impressive play from Iona, aren’t great signs for the Stags’ at-large chances come March. Fairfield won their opener in the Old Spice Classic, and a rematch with the Gophers may await them if they make the finals, but it is imperative the Stags pick up some decent victories in the remainder of their non-conference slate which features games with Old Dominion, Connecticut, and Drexel.

While the team has maintained their level of play on the defensive end, there is still work to be done offensively.  The quartet of Rakim Sanders (17.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 52.9 FG%), Ryan Olander (13.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.0 bpg), Maurice Barrow (12.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 55.6 FG%), and Derek Needham (9.2 ppg, 2.8 apg) is doing nearly all of the team’s scoring, but as a team they’re doing a very poor job of getting to the free throw line.  Fairfield also needs to take better care of the ball, because their offense simply has to become more efficient if they want to challenge Iona for the MAAC title.

CAA

Traditionally one of the top non-BCS leagues, the CAA has been brutal so far this year.

Drexel was picked as one of the favorites to win the league, but they lost to Norfolk State and then were held to 35 points against Virginia.  Once Chris Fouch and Tavon Austin are back from injury, their offense should improve.  Quite frankly, it can’t get much worse.

George Mason was expected to be one of the other top teams, but they have lost to Florida International and Florida Atlantic so far, fueling the argument that Paul Hewitt simply isn’t a great coach.

The other top teams in the league haven’t fared well either.  Old Dominion lost at home to Northern Iowa and Vermont, while VCU lost by double digits to Seton Hall and Georgia, both of whom are expected to finish toward the bottom of their respective conferences.

It’s too early to know for sure, but the CAA has the early look of a one-bid league.

Memphis

The Tigers came dangerously close to leaving Maui with three losses, but they managed to hang on for an overtime win against Tennessee.

With the exception of a woeful offensive rebounding percentage, Memphis is playing relatively well on the offensive end.  However, their defense has been abysmal, making stars out of guys like Jeronne Maymon and Henry Sims in the process.  Sophomore big man Tarik Black has been unable to stay out of foul trouble, and that’s one area where the Tigers just don’t have much depth.

Overall though, seven players are scoring at least 7.8 points per game, and Josh Pastner is trying to work out his rotation.  Still, the Tigers can’t rely on simply outscoring their opponents every game, so they need to make strides on defense over the next few games, all of which are winnable.

New Mexico

As I mentioned above with San Diego State, the Lobos were projected as one of the league’s top teams, but they have now lost two of their first four games, at home against in-state rival New Mexico State and in the 76 Classic against Santa Clara.  New Mexico State has emerged as the favorite in the WAC and Santa Clara is better than many people realize, but it’s still not a reassuring start for Steve Alford’s squad.

Soph Tony Snell (14.3 ppg, 42.9 3P%) has played well, but the team’s two stars, Drew Gordon (10.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg) and Kendall Williams (9.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, 1.8 spg), have struggled with their shooting.  Nine players are averaging at least 14 minutes, but ultimately the team will go as far as Gordon and Williams can take them.  I’ll be interested to see how they respond over the remainder of the 76 Classic.

Pac-12

UCLA’s struggles both on and off the court have been well publicized, and while they have been an unmitigated disaster, the Bruins aren’t the only Pac-12 team off to a rough start.  Arizona dropped two games and has some issues with its talented freshman class, Cal got smoked by Missouri, Oregon’s top newcomer Jabari Brown has elected to transfer, and Washington lost by double digits to Saint Louis in its first real test.  In all, the conference has 23 losses, 14 of which have come against non-BCS teams.

Other than that, things are great.

Virginia

Many people (myself included) touted the Cavs as a potential sleeper team in the ACC.  And then they went and lost to TCU in their first game of the Paradise Jam.  They rebounded to beat Drexel and Drake but missed out on the chance to prove their mettle against Marquette in the finals.

Virginia plays at one of the slowest paces in all of college hoops, and while their defensive efficiency numbers have been solid, it’s another story on offense.  After hitting nearly 39 percent from deep last season, the Cavs have made just 33 percent from beyond the arc while seeing a drastic increase in their turnover rate.

Even though Tony Bennett is playing a number of guys, just two of them are scoring over 6.6 points per game.  Mike Scott (14.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg) looks healthy again and soph Joe Harris (12.4 ppg, 2.4 apg) has been fairly consistent in the backcourt, but other players have to step up and make outside shots based on how this team is constructed.

Wichita State

The Shockers didn’t necessarily play poorly in Puerto Rico, losing by 10 to Alabama and in overtime to Temple, but it could be deja vu for Wichita State fans.

Last season they endured a couple near misses in Maui, but in the end, their lack of quality non-conference wins was their undoing in terms of at-large consideration.  The Shockers did beat Colorado and they have games remaining against UAB, UNLV, and Utah State at home with a road trip to Tulsa mixed in.  Three players are scoring in double figures, but the team could stand to get to the line more often after attempting just 17 free throws per game so far.

So far, Creighton looks like the MVC team with the best chance to earn an at-large bid, but the Shockers’ play over the next month could change that.

**********

Follow me on Twitter (@andybottoms) for more thoughts on college hoops, and check out the latest edition of the Bottoms Line podcast.

Kansas Jayhawks

So far the Jayhawks have been better than I expected, but depth could be an issue that creeps up while playing their third game in as many days with essentially a seven-man rotation.

In the backcourt, Elijah Johnson is coming off of his best game at KU after scoring 23 points and hitting 4-of-8 from deep against UCLA.  Fellow guard Tyshawn Taylor has scored at least 12 points in each game and dished out six assists again the Bruins, as he and Johnson have done a nice job of teaming up to facilitate the offense.  Both will test Duke’s perimeter defense.

Inside, Thomas Robinson will be a tough matchup for Duke’s big men.  He has logged a double-double in all four of KU’s games, and he has been able to sustain his high level of effort and aggressiveness despite a steep increase in his playing time.  Supporting cast members Travis Releford, Conner Teahan, Jeff Withey, and Justin Wesley have all made key plays for the Jayhawks, but at least a couple of them will need to step up to keep pace with Duke.

Duke Blue Devils

For the Blue Devils, their opening win over Tennessee wasn’t a thing of beauty, but I was really impressed with the team’s defense again Michigan in the semi-finals, particularly their ability to limit Tim Hardaway Jr. in the first half.  They also canned 11-of-21 from three-point range, and as a team, the Blue Devils are now shooting 46.3 percent from deep on the season.  Kansas allowed UCLA to get some open looks from beyond the arc, so that will be a key factor in the championship game.

Duke’s retooled backcourt has performed very well so far, with Seth Curry (16.2 ppg, 3.2 apg, 1.7 spg, 58.3 3P%), Austin Rivers (15.2 ppg, 2.5 apg), and Andre Dawkins (10.8 ppg, 44.1 3P%) all making big shots.  Up front, Ryan Kelly is scoring better than 14 points per game and continues to show the ability to extend defenses due to his soft touch from beyond the arc.  Mason Plumlee is nearly averaging a double-double, and his brother Miles is chipping in on the glass as well.  Like Kansas, Duke is essentially playing seven players, so fatigue could be an issue for them as well.

Maui Championship Game Prediction

In the end, I think Duke’s outside shooting, coupled with the fact that they have more potential offensive options than the Jayhawks, will be the difference.

Look for Duke to extend their perfect record in the Maui Invitational with a win Wednesday night.

I’m too old to stay up for the whole thing, but for those of you wishing to check it out, I can offer you two things: 1) a link to the complete schedule of the games and commentators and 2) my thoughts and predictions for each contest.

Washington State at #23 Gonzaga – 12:00 AM EST (ESPN)

The Zags had to come back from a second-half deficit to beat Eastern Washington in their opener.  Gonzaga’s big men were the difference with Robert Sacre and Elias Harris combining for 38 points and 18 rebounds, and both should give the Cougars fits inside.

Gonzaga still needs someone to emerge at the point (see 11 assists and 17 turnovers in the opener), while the backcourt duo of Reggie Moore and Faisal Aden forms the strength of Wazzu. Both players are a little banged up already, so it’s difficult to predict how effective they might be.  The Cougars are picked to finish toward the bottom of the Pac-12, and it’s going to take time for them to find their stride without Klay Thompson around to pace the offense.

• Gonzaga-Washington State Pick: Gonzaga

Northern Iowa at Saint Mary’s – 2:00 AM EST (ESPN)

Both teams come in 1-0, and Northern Iowa’s win at Old Dominion was an impressive way to get their season started.  In fact, the MVC had a few solid performances over the weekend, with Missouri State winning by 23 at Nevada and Evansville knocking off Butler in OT.  The Panthers hit nearly 40 percent from deep but got to the free throw line just seven times.

Meanwhile, the Gaels beat Fresno Pacific by 40, led by a career-high 25 from Rob Jones.  Eight players scored at least six points, and the team tallied 25 assists on 35 made field goals.  Jones will likely lead the team in scoring, but the player to watch is Matthew Dellavedova, one of the nation’s most underrated guards. 

• Northern Iowa-Saint Mary’s Pick: Saint Mary’s

Cal State Northridge at Hawaii – 4:00 AM EST (ESPN)

Cal State Northridge lost their opener to USC and is expected to finish toward the bottom of the Big West, while Hawaii is breaking in a number of new players but is a potential sleeper team in the WAC.  The Rainbow Warriors have a solid frontcourt tandem with Vander Joaquim and Josten Thomas, but guard Zane Johnson should lead them in scoring after averaging nearly 16 points last year and knocking down over 40 percent from deep. 

• Cal State Northride-Hawaii Pick: Hawaii

Drexel at Rider – 6:00 AM EST (ESPN)

The Dragons are one of the preseason favorites to win the Colonial, while Rider got blown out by Robert Morris in their opener before surprisingly testing Pitt in their second contest.  But when the game starts at 6:00 AM, you can throw out the records.

It’s hard to believe this will be Bruiser Flint’s 11th year at the helm for Drexel, and it’s easily one of his most talented teams.  Forward Samme Givens averaged a double-double last season and is a monster on the offensive glass despite his 6-foot-5 frame.  Look for Givens, guard Chris Fouch, and a tenacious Drexel defense to be the difference here.

It’s also worth noting that Andy Katz and Doug Gottlieb will be calling this game.  Here’s hoping Katz makes it through the marathon in a bit better shape than he did a couple years ago, when it looked and sounded like he had been drug behind a truck for its duration. 

• Drexel-Rider Pick: Drexel

Morehead State at College of Charleston – 8:00 AM EST (ESPN)

No offense to this year’s squads, but this game is a year too late now that Kenneth Faried and Andrew Goudelock are gone.  Morehead State got blown out by NC State on Sunday, which means a quick turnaround for this early morning tilt.  Charleston beat Holy Cross by nine in their opener and placed four guys in double figures, led by 18 points from Antwaine Wiggins and a double-double from Trent Wiedeman.

One guy to watch here is freshman Adjehi Baru, who posted 11 points and eight boards in his debut, but 17 turnovers compared to nine assists is a potential red flag.  Perhaps most importantly this is a rare opportunity to inject some Stephen Bardo into your morning routine.  I’ll let you decide whether that is a good thing or not. 

• Morehead State-College of Charleston Pick: College of Charleston

Kent State at West Virginia – 10:00 AM EST (ESPN)

West Virginia held off a tough Oral Roberts team in their opener, but they were thoroughly outrebounded and had 21 turnovers in the process.  Kevin Jones got his senior year off to a good start with 20 points and eight boards, and the Mountaineers got some nice contributions from their freshmen with Aaron Brown, Gary Browne, and Jabarie Hinds combining for 28 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds, and six steals.

Kent State watched rival Akron knock off Mississippi State in the opening week but has yet to play a game of their own.  The Zips bring back four starters from a team that won 25 games last season, led by MAC Player of the Year Justin Greene.  They also boast the reigning Defensive POY and Sixth Man and add Juco All-American Chris Evans to the mix.  The Flashes have players who can pressure the ball and give West Virginia fits on the glass, which makes this my upset special.

Bill Raftery is calling this one, so it’s a great chance for some “early onions!”

• Kent State-West Virginia Pick: Kent State

Belmont at #9 Memphis – 12:00 PM EST (ESPN)

The Bruins nearly pulled off a road win at Duke, but in the process they showed why so many people (including yours truly) are high on them this year.  Their second road trip is a shorter one and gives them another shot to pick up a signature win.

This will be Memphis’ first game of the season, and it will be interesting to see the strides their heralded sophomore class made in the offseason as well as highly-touted freshman Adonis Thomas.  Among a number of matchups to watch here is a point guard showdown between Belmont’s Kerron Johnson and Memphis’ Joe Jackson and a battle inside featuring BU’s Mick Hedgepeth and Scott Saunders and Memphis soph Tarik Black.

Belmont clearly isn’t intimidated to play major programs away from home, and just to show I am firmly on the bandwagon, they’re upset number two.

In other good news, it’s way too early for Jimmy Dykes to pull out any kind of Jimmy’s Jet graphic while calling the game.  Thank God. 

• Belmont-Memphis Pick: Belmont

San Diego State at #12 Baylor – 2:00 PM EST (ESPN)

The Aztecs are in rebuilding mode after losing a ton from last year’s Top Five squad, but they are off to a 3-0 start.  They are led by guards Chase Tapley and Jamaal Franklin, who scored a career-high 31 points off the bench on Sunday.

Baylor is without top returnee Perry Jones as he serves a suspension for improper benefits, but freshman Quincy Miller has stepped up in his absence with 17 points in each of his first two games.  The Bears are absolutely loaded up front, while they are continuing to sort out their backcourt rotation before they get into the meat of their schedule.  Expect at least a couple highlight reel dunks from athletic forward Quincy Acy. 

• San Diego State-Baylor Pick: Baylor

Rhode Island at Texas – 4:00 PM EST (ESPN)

The Rams lost their opener in an overtime shootout with George Mason and are picked to finish in the lower half of the Atlantic 10.  Guard Jamal Wilson went off for 38 points in 41 minutes after scoring just 172 points over his first three seasons at URI, but what will he do for an encore?

The Longhorns blew out Boston in their first game, led by 28 points and eight assists from J’Covan Brown, one of the team’s only returning players.  A couple Texas freshmen to watch are point guard Myck Kabongo, who had seven dimes in his debut, and backcourt mate Julien Lewis, who poured in 18 points in the season-opening victory. 

• Rhode Island-Texas Pick: Texas

Florida International/George Mason at Virginia Tech – 6:00 PM EST (ESPNU)

GMU will be the likely opponent in this matchup and should provide a great test for the Hokies as part of the preseason NIT.  The Patriots have a terrific player in Ryan Pearson, who totaled 28 points and 12 boards in the opener, as well as guards Vertrail Vaughns and Sherrod Wright, both of whom scored 17 points.

Virginia Tech beat ETSU by 11 in their first game, although they played without top guard Errick Green, who sat out with an Achilles injury.  He said he hoped to miss only one game, and the Hokies will need him in this one.  Freshman Dorian Finney-Smith had an impressive debut for the VT with 10 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks, so keep an eye on him.  Injuries have limited depth on a team that lost a lot from last season, and Va Tech shot poorly in the opener.  This should be one of the better games of the day.

• FIU/George Mason-Virginia Tech Pick: George Mason

#6 Duke vs. Michigan State – 7:00 PM EST (ESPN)

After facing North Carolina and Duke in their first two games, Michigan State might be looking for a new approach to scheduling.

It’s hard to know how many conclusions can be drawn from Sparty’s opener given the uniqueness of the venue, but I was certainly impressed with their effort on the glass, a staple of some of Tom Izzo’s best teams over the years.  While Draymond Green grabbed 18 rebounds, he also missed 13 shots and had five turnovers, so the Spartans need more from him offensively.  The same can be said of their backcourt tandem of Keith Appling and Brandon Wood, who combined for just 12 points and one assist.

Duke got quite a scare from Belmont before boatracing Presbyterian, which enabled Coach K to tie Bob Knight for the most all-time wins.  Through two games, the signs point toward Mason Plumlee becoming a reliable contributor, and freshman phenom Austin Rivers is already leading the team in scoring.  Seth Curry has been decent at the point, and Ryan Kelly has turned in a couple double-digit scoring efforts.  I’m still not sold on Duke from a defensive standpoint on the outside, but I’m also not sure Michigan State will be able to take full advantage of that.

I think the Spartans can keep it close with toughness and rebounding, but I just don’t see enough reliable scorers from them at this stage of the season. 

• Duke-Michigan State Pick: Duke

Albany/Brown at Syracuse – 7:00 PM EST (ESPN3)

In the interest of space, I’m going to breeze through some of these ESPN3 tilts.  The Orange played nine guys at least 16 minutes in the opener and should win handily over either opponent.  I’m interested to see if soph Dion Waiters can keep up his hot streak after pouring in 14 in the opener.

• Albany/Brown-Syracuse Pick: Syracuse

Rutgers at Miami (FL) – 7:00 PM EST (ESPN3)

I love the intensity of Rutgers coach Mike Rice, but they are relying heavily on younger players, particularly in the backcourt.  The Hurricanes are essentially the exact opposite with a number of talented guards but virtually no one inside thanks in large part to injury.  Consequently, I think Rutgers soph Gilvydas Biruta could give them some trouble inside, but the veteran backcourt of Miami should be the difference. 

• Rutgers-Miami Pick: Miami (FL)

LaSalle at Villanova – 7:00 PM EST (ESPN3)

After going off for 27 points in the opener, I want to see what guard Dominic Cheek does for an encore.  Look for another big game from big man Mouphtaou Yarou as Nova rolls.

• LaSalle-Villanova Pick: Villanova

#10 Florida at #3 Ohio State – 8:00 PM EST (ESPN2)

These two teams won by a combined 71 points in their openers, but there were a few things to take away from those blowouts.

Florida’s quartet of guards was as advertised, scoring 62 points (including 11 made three-pointers) with 12 assists and just one turnover.  Patric Young logged a double-double inside to complement their strong outside game, but he will obviously have his hands full with Jared Sullinger.

Sullinger picked up right where he left off with 19 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks.  He made 10 free throws and even knocked down a three-pointer.  William Buford, Aaron Craft, and DeShaun Thomas were solid as expected, but Lenzelle Smith also played well.  He posted eight points, seven rebounds, and two steals in just 20 minutes, so I am interested to see if he can replicate that against tougher competition.

This should be one of the day’s most competitive games and your first chance to catch Dan Dakich on the mic this season. 

• Florida-Ohio State Pick: Ohio State

Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Oklahoma State – 8:00 PM EST (ESPN3)

Let’s be honest, with the other games here you probably aren’t tuning in to this one.  But if you do, be sure to check out Oklahoma State’s LeBryan Nash, who scored 13 points in his debut and should be one of the nation’s top freshmen. 

• Arkansas-Pine Bluff-Oklahoma State Pick: Oklahoma State

#2 Kentucky vs. #13 Kansas – 9:00 PM EST (ESPN)

This will be the first chance to get a look at this year’s crop of Kentucky freshmen on national TV.

The Cats beat Marist by 50 in their first game, and first-year phenom Anthony Davis got his college career off to an impressive start with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks.  The other three UK freshmen all scored at least 14 points, and soph Doron Lamb dished out eight assists.  I didn’t even mention preseason SEC Player of the Year Terrence Jones, who along with Davis will be charged with defending Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, who posted a double-double in KU’s opener.

The Jayhawks assisted on 30 of 41 made baskets, and deft passing will be critical if Kansas wants to bridge the talent and depth gap between these teams.  I’ll also be watching the leadership of Tyshawn Taylor and whether Travis Releford can continue his emergence after spending his first few seasons on the bench.

Brace yourself for Dickie V in this one, although is anyone else surprised he isn’t calling the game in which Coach K can earn his record-breaking win? 

• Kentucky-Kansas Pick: Kentucky

Austin Peay at #24 California – 10:00 PM EST (ESPN2)

The Governors come in 0-1 after losing by nine to Middle Tennessee State.  The guy to watch for them is TyShwan Edmondson who went for 20 points in the opener and averaged over 17 points a year ago.

The Bears feature a terrific backcourt duo in Allen Crabbe and Jorge Gutierrez.  Through two games, Crabbe has 45 points and has drained 9-of-17 from deep.  He’s one of the nation’s best emerging scorers, and he may well battle it out with Gutierrez for Pac-12 Player of the Year honors.  Gutierrez is one of my favorite players to watch and does a little of everything for this team, as evidenced by his 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists in the two Cal victories.  The combination of Crabbe and Gutierrez might be enough in this game, but the Bears really need other players to step up and be consistent contributors if they intend to challenge for the Pac-12 title.

Dave Flemming and Shawn Farnham will be calling their second game of the marathon after having called the Northern Iowa-Saint Mary’s tilt earlier in the day. 

• Austin Peay-California Pick: Cal

Colorado State/SMU at Stanford – 11:00 PM EST (ESPNU)

The Cardinal blew out Central Arkansas in their opener and should win handily over Fresno State on Monday.  Freshman Chasson Randle got his career off to a good start with 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while fellow guard Aaron Bright hit four out of five from deep.  Stanford also has Josh Owens inside, which should be enough to get past either potential opponent.  If SMU can beat Colorado State though, Owens may have his hands full inside with Robert Nyakundi.

• Colorado State/SMU-Stanford Pick: Stanford

Enjoy the games everyone.  College hoops is officially back!

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Follow me on Twitter (@andybottoms) for more thoughts on college hoops, and check out the latest edition of the Bottoms Line podcast.

Among the topics discussed in this episode: news items on the Kansas suspensions and Pe’Shon Howard’s injury at Maryland, plus a great deal of talk about the biggest, baddest conference in the land: the Big East.

Click play on the player below to listen:

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The article includes this footnote:

Though as a Kansan, I am trying to be mean to Missouri, even though I went to journalism school there. In Kansas City, collegiate rooting affiliations are bound by blood and soil, not matriculation. I root for the Tigers in journalism and for the Jayhawks in everything else.

I don’t understand. This approach to rooting affiliations is contrary to everything I know, understand, and believe about college sports fandom.

Photo credit: Nick Krug via LJWorld.com

Blood? Perhaps Suellentrop has inherited chromosomes from KU grads, but his blood spent four years in Columbia, Missouri. Why defer to ancestry? Would you root for your parents’ high school against your own? Soil? Living on the Kansas side of the border requires or compels one to be a Jayhawks fan? What about K-State? What about Wichita State? The Suellentrop family tax dollars found their way to Manhattan and Wichita as surely as they did Lawrence.

From birth until age 18, I was as big an Indiana Hoosiers fan as any of my peers. My dad graduated from IU and dressed me in cream and crimson during my formative years. The two of us spent several evenings each season in the balcony at Assembly Hall and many more watching promising Indiana recruits such as Greg Graham and Alan Henderson play high school ball.

from the UE bookstore

On my nineteenth birthday, I moved into the Hughes Hall dormitory on the campus of the University of Evansville. I was no longer an Indiana Hoosiers fan. I was an Evansville Purple Aces fan. It wasn’t an easy adjustment. Like Indiana, Evansville has five national championship banners hanging in its basketball arena, but UE’s banners are for the Division II titles the Aces won between 1959 and 1971. Unlike Indiana, Evansville hangs banners for NIT appearances. Indiana, for all its faults on the gridiron, plays football in the Big Ten. Evansville eliminated its football program during my junior year. Indiana has won 7 NCAA men’s soccer championships and 6 NCAA men’s swimming championships. Evansville hasn’t won any of either.

But Evansville was my school. It’s where I spent four of the most important years of my life; where I first encountered the Internet; where I won intramural championships in floor hockey, kickball, and C-league basketball; and where I met my wife. I take pride in knowing that I graduated from the same college as Jerry Sloan, Kenneth the Page from 30 Rock, and True Blood‘s Rutina Wesley. (Rutina Wesley was in my voice class. She is a much better singer than I.)

I identify with the University of Evansville. It’s a part of me. Therefore I cheer with “pep and vim” for the Aces. That’s how being a college sports fan works, right? You cheer for your school.

In 1996 Evansville and Indiana met at Madison Square Garden in the semi-finals of the Preseason NIT. Evansville led for much of the second half but lost the game on an Andrae Patterson buzzer beater. I was crushed. No part of me felt good for Indiana. In that moment, I loathed every one of my friends who was enrolled at IU-Bloomington. I wanted nothing to do with any of them. That’s how being a college sports fan works, right?

After Evansville I went to Divinity School at Vanderbilt, and Vandy took the number-two slot on my college-sports-rooting-affiliation list. Since beginning my post-secondary education, Evansville has made only one NCAA Tournament appearance (in 1999 they lost to Kansas in a first-round 6-11 matchup; I was there) and Vanderbilt has played in only one bowl game (they beat Boston College in the 2008 Music City Bowl). Between them, Evansville and Vanderbilt have won exactly one NCAA Division I championship: Vandy, women’s bowling, 2005.

But it doesn’t matter, because they’re my schools.

I have an Ace Purple bobblehead on my desk. I look forward to evenings when I can watch Evansville’s basketball team play on ESPN3.com or Vanderbilt’s baseball team play on regular ESPN. I was proud when the Purple Aces beat Hofstra in this year’s CIT and won’t pass up this opportunity to remind you that Evansville beat Butler at Hinkle last season. And in 2005 I watched Vandy take down Maryland Eastern Shore for that women’s bowling title. (It was on ESPN2.)

I still follow Indiana basketball, and I hope that Indiana will soon reclaim its place as a top ten college hoops program. But Indiana isn’t my school. And Kansas isn’t Chris Suellentrop’s school. I don’t care if the Jayhawks have a bigger trophy case or better fans or a richer tradition than their rivals to the east.

If you are a Mizzou grad, the Tigers are your team. Embrace them. Complain about the fifth down game. Reminisce about the Steve Stipanovich days. Look forward to Blaine Gabbert’s NFL career and wonder aloud if Chase Daniel will ever get a chance to be a starter.

Having said that, I now give you the worst hit song that Brian Wilson ever wrote:

1. School from which one earned a bachelor’s degree
2. School from which one earned a graduate degree
3. School one attended for two or more years without graduating
4. School(s) from which one’s parents or siblings earned a bachelor’s degree
5. School(s) from which one’s parents or siblings earned a graduate degree
6. School(s) one attended for fewer than two years
7. School(s) located in the metropolitan area in which one currently lives
8. School(s) from which one’s close friend(s) earned a bachelor’s degree
9. School(s) located in the metropolitan area in which one grew up
10. School(s) from which extended family members with whom one maintains contact earned a bachelor’s degree
11. School(s) where one’s band played a gig in the 1990s

Schools can be eliminated or demoted due to rivalries with schools higher on the list. For example, I have cousins who graduated from Drake and Illinois State, two of Evansville’s Missouri Valley Conference peers. So Drake and Illinois State are off my list, at least during MVC play.

**********

Josh Tinley is the author of Kneeling in the End Zone: Spiritual Lessons From the World of Sports. Follow him at twitter.com/joshtinley or send him an e-mail.

Update: Predictions are in (sort of) below.

Well, one of the teams in the Southwest Regional Final was expected to be here. The other team? Not so much. Heck, the other team wasn’t even expected to be in the Tournament!

But that doesn’t matter now. VCU has shaka’d the world and compelled us all to rethink whether or not the committee was smart to put them in the field of 68.

Sunday afternoon, the second day of Elite 8 games will tip off with #1 seed Kansas against #11 seed VCU. The Jayhawks were sensational in the Sweet 16, but you underestimate the Rams and coach Shaka Smart at your own risk.

Elite 8: Kansas-VCU Game Info

• Kansas-VCU Date: Sunday, March 27th
• Kansas-VCU Tip Time: 2:20 ET
• Kansas-VCU TV: CBS
• Kansas-VCU Announcers: Marv Albert and Steve Kerr
• Kansas-VCU Location: The Alamo Dome in San Antonio, TX
• Kansas-VCU Point Spread: Kansas -11.5
• Kansas-VCU Over-Under: 147

Kansas-VCU Statistical Analysis

Here is a statistical breakdown of the two teams via the ESPN Bracket Predictor.

Kansas-VCU Prediction

One our college basketball-obsessed writers will have a more complete analysis and prediction for this game later today or tomorrow morning (at the latest). Until then, we want to know what you think:

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I asked our buddy to Twitch, who nailed both the Butler and UCONN wins, to provide some analysis for this game. Here is what he said:

I really have no read whatsoever on the Kansas game. VCU is playing out of their minds, but they really have no reasons to think they could play with KU.

However, that’s what everyone said about George Mason…another 11 seed…who played in the same bracket…when they prepared to play UConn. And wouldn’t u know, George Mason won that game too.

So I am putting nothing past them.

That isn’t really prediction, but hey VCU fans – he’s telling you there’s a chance!

And I suppose I agree. Certainly if I were betting my life or any amount of money on this game (which I’m not), I’d put it on Kansas and expect a double-digit victory. But in this very wild tournament, nothing would shock me. So my official prediction is the Jayhawks to win and cover, as VCU’s thrilling run comes to an end.

But like Twitch said, at this point how can you put anything past Shaka Smart and the Rams?

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Nothing serious happened beyond some jawing, but it definitely carried over into the game. Despite Kansas running out to an early win, the game was chippy throughout.

Since it’s a slow early session of games, here is the video in case you didn’t see it:

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Coach Arbuckle, what do you say?

It’s okay coach. You’ve been up by 20 all game. And no signs of Faroukmanesh!

The Jayhawks make it back to the Sweet 16 after being upset by Northern Iowa in the second round in 2010. Kansas has what some would consider the easiest path the the Final Four considering the 10, 11, and 12 seeds are the teams still left in their bracket.

The 12 seed, Richmond, has returned to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1998, defeating Vanderbilt and Morehead State to get there. The Spiders have won 16 of their last 18 games with the only loses coming against Temple and Xavier, who both made the NCAA Tournament.

This sets up Kansas and Richmond in the Southwest semifinal. Game information is below.

Sweet 16: Kansas-Richmond Game Info

• Date: Friday, March 25
• Location: Alamo Dome in San Antonio, TX
• Tip Time: 7:27 ET
• TV: TBS
• Announcers: Marv Albert, Steve Kerr and Craig Sager
• Point Spread: Kansas -10.5
• Over-Under: 138

Kansas Jayhawks and Richmond Spiders by the Numbers

Here is the statistical breakdown of the two teams, via the ESPN Bracket Predictor.

What the Numbers Mean

Statistically, Kansas has almost every advantage. The only areas that Richmond holds over Kansas are Opponents Free Throw Attempts per Field Goal Attempts and Turnover Percentage. Kansas ranks fifth in the nation in points per game (82.4) compared to Richmond ranking 129th (70.2). Kansas also leads the nation in field goal percentage and grabs almost seven more rebounds per game than Richmond.

Fortunately for Richmond, the game of basketball isn’t played on paper, especially in March.

Richmond has thrived late in the season on their overall athleticism. They can match up athletically with any team in the nation, and that will definitely help them against Kansas. Both Morris twins can step out to the three point line and knock down open shots, which can be extremely difficult to cover.

Richmond has superb athletes, including Darrius Garrett who has contributed some fantastic blocks so far this tournament. If Richmond is able to cover the Morris brothers on the perimeter and force the ball out of their hands, they will force Kansas to rely on their guards to win, a position the Jayhawks have had problems with this year.

Part of that guard play has been indecision, which shows in the turnover percentage, one of the few statistics that is in Richmond’s favor. If Richmond can get their guards and athletes up and down the court, it might not be in their favor, but it may force Kansas’ guards to also push the tempo and create turnovers.

For Kansas to win this game, it is simple: come out to play early. A staple of Bill Self and this Kansas team is that they start slow and sometimes take too long to adjust and take over. That’s what we saw last year against Northern Iowa and at times in the first round against Boston. The Jayhawks need to control the boards as they have all year, make sure the Morris twins get involved early and often, and limit mistake from their guards.

Kansas-Richmond Prediction

This could end up being one of the better Sweet 16 games. Richmond is an extremely underrated team athletically and can hang with any team in the nation. They match up well against this Kansas team. Unfortunately, they don’t have the experience or a player like Marcus Morris to carry them through a full game.

Richmond will keep this game too close for too long, and if Kansas doesn’t show up early, we could have our second #1 seed fall. I don’t see that happening, but you can bet it will an exciting game.

• Kansas-Richmond Prediction: Kansas 76, Richmond 66
• Kansas-Richmond Spread Pick: Richmond +10.5
• Kansas-Richmond Over-Under Pick: Over

One of the most entertaining activities to engage in with a fresh, new bracket is to see all the possible matchups that could reasonably (or unreasonably) materialize. In this post, I run down 10 matchups that I really hope to see happen, and encourage you to share yours as well.

Duke v Michigan in Round of 32

If you watched the Fab 5 documentary on ESPN last night, which was absolutely fantastic, then you know exactly why I’m listing this here. A major theme during the early part of the movie was how much the young Michigan players hated Duke. Jalen Rose even went so far as to say that, at the time, he felt like Duke would only recruit black players who were “Uncle Toms”. Obviously that was 20 years ago, but I wonder if the current young Wolverines will be inspired at all by the words of the most legendary team in their school’s history. People forget how big of a rivalry this once was.

Regardless of the Fab 5 connection, this game is intriguing because of style. Both teams love to hoist up 3-pointers, which means that we could see a very entertaining game if both teams are shooting well. And if the Dookies struggle from downtown, and Tim Hardaway Jr and the Wolves are hitting, there is legit upset potential here. Michigan coach Jon Beilien has done it in March before.

San Diego State v Michigan in Elite 8

While we’re on the subject of the Fab 5, how about Steve Fisher versus the school he led to the 1989 championship and then to two more title games with Webber, Rose, et al? Sure, none of the current Wolverines nor Beilein, have any connection to that time at Michigan, but there would certainly be something fitting about Fisher having to go through Big Blue on his way back to the Final 4.

Plus, if Michigan were to make it to the Elite 8 as an 8 seed, it would mean some craziness happened on their portion of the bracket, which is always fun. The Wolves would have to go through Duke, Arizona, and Texas to get there, and despite how well they have been playing I’m not quite sure they are ready for that yet.

UCONN v Tennessee in Elite 8

And speaking of NCAA sanctions…how about a matchup between Bruce Pearl and Jim Calhoun, two coaches who ran afoul of the NCAA and paid a pretty heavy price for it. Calhoun was suspended for three games while Pearl had to sit out half of the Volunteers’ SEC schedule and still could face more punishment.

And if all of the subplots about NCAA rule breaking got annoying, you could always just turn down the volume and watch the great Kemba Walker go up against Tennessee’s Scotty Hopson. These two are among the most dynamic scorers in the nation, and their teams typically go how they go. If nothing else, watching them trade buckets would be entertaining.

Purdue v Notre Dame in Sweet 16

Purdue and Notre Dame have established themselves as the top two big conference teams in the state of Indiana, with Butler obviously right there nipping at both team’s heels after last year’s tourney run. (As for Indiana…the Cream & Crimson is a sleeping giant, but it needs to wake up and start winning, soon.) Should the Boilers and Irish meet in the Sweet 16, it would present an opportunity for one team to establish bragging rights that certainly cannot hurt when it comes to recruiting the fertile basketball grounds of the Hoosier State.

In addition to the Hoosier State connection, this game would be intriguing simply because these are two really good teams. Purdue has legit stars in E’Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson, and the Irish have Ben Hansbrough, who has emerged as a star this year. Big Ten/Big East bragging rights would also be on the line.

Kansas v Illinois in the Round of 32

This is a pretty easy one. Bill Self built the Illini into a national contender before taking the Kansas job and handing the reins over to Bruce Weber. With Self’s recruits, Weber made a Sweet 16 and a title game appearance his first two years in Champaign. Since then, Weber has not gotten past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, and he is starting to the feel the heat. The Illini underachieved this year, despite a pretty talented roster.

As for Self, he’s done quite well for himself in Lawrence. The man can recruit like no other, and he consistently has the Jayhawks among the best teams in the nation. They have won the Big 12 for almost a decade straight, and this year they are looking to avenge last year’s disappointing loss to Northern Iowa. Yet again, Self has a team with title potential.

Illinois certainly has enough talent to compete with Kansas, and a win to move on to the Sweet 16 surely would buy Weber some goodwill with a frustrated fan base. To get it, he’d have to beat Self, whose shadow Weber has not been able to escape since he took over.

Ohio State v North Carolina in the Elite 8

If chalk holds in the East Region, the Buckeyes and Tar Heels will meet up in the Elite 8. From a basketball perspective, this would be a fun matchup featuring the nation’s two best freshman: Jared Sullinger and Harrison Barnes. Watching Sullinger bang down low with Tyler Zeller would be highly entertaining, as would seeing Barnes compete against Ohio State’s terrific wing trio of William Buford-David Lighty-Jon Diebler.

And from a non-basketball perspective, this game would present an opportunity for each basketball team to take the minds of its school’s fans off of turmoil in their respective football programs. North Carolina had the agent scandal and now Ohio State has the Jim Tressel saga, so both schools have dealt and are dealing with pretty significant controversy regarding lack of compliance with NCAA rules. But on this night, all that would matter is basketball, with a Final 4 berth on the line.

Butler v Kansas State in Sweet 16

This would be a rematch of last year’s Elite 8 matchup, which Butler won 63-56 to advance to the Final 4. The Bulldogs no longer have their 2010 star Gordon Heyward, but the Wildcats do still have their #1 option in guard Jacob Pullen. Both of these teams struggled out of the gates this year, but ended the season playing very good basketball. Each team still has enough talent and certainly enough experience to pull a few upsets, making this game somewhat reasonable to hope for, but still very unlikely.

Wisconsin v BYU in the Elite 8

Obviously any game with BYU is intriguing because of the Jimmer factor, but you may be wondering why I’d care about seeing the Cougars play boring ol’ Wisconsin. Simple: Jordan Taylor.

In games I watched this season, no two players were able to absolutely take over portions of games more than Taylor and Jimmer Fredette. Taylor single-handedly pulled Wisconsin back from the brink against Ohio State to hand the Buckeyes their first loss. He also put on one of the great shooting displays I’ve ever seen at Assembly when the Badgers whitewashed Indiana. Surely there would be some mano-a-mano moments between these two great shooters, and it would make for a great Elite 8 matchup.

UAB v Kentucky in the Round of 32

This is a game that only an IU fan could appreciate, and as soon as I remind you that Mike Davis is coaching UAB, the Hoosier fans will start to nod in agony.

Remember this?

Mike Davis’ infamous meltdown occurred during the 2002-2003 season, after the Hoosiers made their unexpected run to the title game. We were ranked in the top 10 at the time, and everybody expected yet another great season. But the loss to Kentucky, punctuated by Davis totally losing his cool, created bad momentum for the season. We finished a disappointing 21-13, 8-8 in the conference, and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The next year we missed the tourney completely. Two years later, Davis was gone, replaced by He Who Shall Not Be Named, and now here we are missing the tournament for the third straight season after winning three Big Ten games.

And it can all be traced back to the infamous Mike Davis head slap.

Here’s hoping that if UAB can win its first round game over Clemson, and then beat West Virginia, that Coach Davis gives us some more entertaining theatrics against the Wildcats. I may not be able to watch though. Too painful.

And finally, just for shits and giggles…

Indiana State v Michigan State in National Championship Game

The likelihood of this happening is about the same as the likelihood of me ever fulfilling my dream of having a perfect bracket. The Sycamores are the 14th seed in the East and would have to go through Syracuse, North Carolina, Ohio State, and whoever comes out of the West region to make it to the title game. Michigan State is the 10 seed in the Southeast, and while they have a team loaded with Final 4 experience, the Spartans have been far too inconsistent this year to expect a deep March run.

But it sure would be fun, wouldn’t it? Not only would we get to relive Magic and Larry highlights, which are a joy for any basketball fan no matter how often you see them, but this would truly be an incredible Cinderella story combined with a coach in Tom Izzo adding yet another exciting tournament chapter to the storybook of his legendary career.

Think I’ve gone mad for suggesting this one? Well hey, they call it March Madness for a reason…

What potential March Madness matchups do you hope materialize?