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.

**********

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.

College Basketball Power Rankings

1. Syracuse (17-0, Previous Ranking: 1)

The Orange picked up a road win against Providence and held off a late Marquette rally on Saturday to remain unbeaten.  They continue to get contributions from a number of different players, with Brandon Triche stepping up this week to score 16 points in each game.

With struggling Villanova and another game with Providence on tap this week, ‘Cuse should be able to keep their perfect record intact.

2. Kentucky (15-1, Previous Ranking: 2)

Freshman sensation Anthony Davis had a big week, totaling 34 points, 26 rebounds, and 10 blocks in two comfortable wins.  Perhaps more importantly Terrence Jones scored 20 against South Carolina.  If he can develop some consistency, it takes the Cats to another level.

They have their second and third road games of the season this week against Auburn and Tennessee.

3. North Carolina (14-2, Previous Ranking: 3)

The Heels beat an overmatched Boston College squad in their only game of the week.  Harrison Barnes scored 25 points for UNC, who has been a bit under the radar since losing at Kentucky.

The ACC is clearly a two-horse race, and the Heels won’t face another ranked team until February.

4. Ohio State (15-2, Previous Ranking: 4)

After losing to IU on New Year’s Eve, the Buckeyes bounced back to beat Nebraska and Iowa by a combined 60 points this week.  Player of the Year candidate Jared Sullinger led the way with 28 against the Hawkeyes and a double-double against the Huskers.

OSU heads to Illinois on Tuesday and gets a chance for revenge against the Hoosiers on Sunday.

5. Baylor (15-0, Previous Ranking: 6)

Baylor won two more games this week, but things start to get more difficult starting with Tuesday’s trip to Kansas State.  They also have dates with Kansas and Missouri over the next couple weeks, which will be their three toughest games of the season.  We’ll know a lot more about how good this team is following that stretch.

Image source: Ballin Is a Habit

6. Michigan State (14-2, Previous Ranking: 10)

The Spartans picked up their second Big Ten road win at Wisconsin to extend their winning streak to 14 games.  Draymond Green posted 18 points and 14 boards in the overtime victory, while Keith Appling added 16 points and was the MSU offense at various points down the stretch.

With games against Northwestern and Iowa this week, Tom Izzo’s club should be able to keep their win streak alive.

7. Indiana (15-1, Previous Ranking: 11)

IU picked up another big victory in Assembly Hall this week by beating Michigan, led by Christian Watford with 25 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. While the frontcourt fueled the victory over the Wolverines, the backcourt stepped up in a road win at Penn State.  Jordan Hulls had a career-high 28 points, and Matt Roth came off the bench to hit five triples and a number of key free throws for the Hoosiers, who went 16-of-24 from beyond the arc.

Minnesota visits Bloomington this week before IU hits the road to face Ohio State.

8. Duke (13-2, Previous Ranking: 5)

The Blue Devils started the week by losing to Temple on the road, and they nearly fell to 0-3 in true road games against Georgia Tech on Saturday.  Ryan Kelly hit all 14 of his free throw attempts en route to 21 points, but there are still question marks about this team’s defense.

Unfortunately given the lack of depth in the ACC, they won’t have many chances to prove themselves.  One of those chances comes Thursday when Virginia comes to Cameron Indoor.

9. Missouri (14-1, Previous Ranking: 8)

The undersized Tigers got pounded on the boards against Kansas State and lost their first game of the season on Saturday.  It will be interesting to see how they respond with a road game against an improving Iowa State team followed by a home date with Texas this week.

Following the transfer of Kadeem Green, Mizzou has just seven scholarship players and just two guys over 6-foot-6, which should make it tough for them against the top teams in the league.

10. Georgetown (13-2, Previous Ranking: 9)

After staging a furious comeback to beat Marquette, Georgetown fell on the road against West Virginia to break an 11-game winning streak.  Hollis Thompson continued his solid play, hitting the game-winner against Marquette and scoring 20 points against the Mountaineers.

The Hoyas have a favorable schedule for the remainder of the month before facing UConn on February 1st.

11. Kansas (12-3, Previous Ranking: 15)

Junior guard Travis Releford came up big for the Jayhawks this week, posting a double-double in an 18-point win over Kansas State and pouring in 28 points on the road against Oklahoma.

Kansas isn’t going to end their reign as Big 12 champs without a fight, and they should be 14-3 when Baylor comes to Lawrence on January 16th.

12. UNLV (16-2, Previous Ranking: 13)

With just eight teams in the Mountain West, the Rebels have yet to play a conference game and played just once last week.  Mike Moser posted yet another double-double in a win over Cal State Bakersfield, but a road date at San Diego State this Saturday will make for an exciting MWC opener for both teams.

13. Michigan (13-3, Previous Ranking: 18)

The Wolverines bounced back from a close loss to Indiana by throttling Wisconsin at home on Sunday.  Tim Hardaway Jr. led the team in scoring in both games while Trey Burke continues to excel at the point and extended his double-digit scoring streak to 10 games.

They face Northwestern at home this week before traveling to a resurgent Iowa squad this weekend.

14. Kansas State (12-2, Previous Ranking: 24)

It was an interesting week for the Wildcats, who lost by 18 to rival Kansas but bounced back to beat Missouri by 16 points on Saturday.  The backcourt duo of Rodney McGruder and Will Spradling combined for 34 points against the Tigers, but the schedule doesn’t get much easier with Baylor coming to town on Tuesday.

15. Creighton (13-2, Previous Ranking: 21)

Doug McDermott went off for 44 points on 18-of-23 shooting against Bradley on Saturday, and I strongly suggest you find a way to see him play if you haven’t already.  The Bluejays have three games with week as they face Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois at home with a trip to Illinois State in between.

16. Virginia (14-1, Previous Ranking: 25)

To a certain extent, the Cavaliers took advantage of the losses by other Top 25 teams to move up, but they did pick up a solid road win at LSU and beat a tough Miami (FL) squad in their ACC opener.  Mike Scott should be receiving serious consideration for ACC Player of the Year.  He scored a total of 35 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the two wins, and he remains one of the most efficient players in the country.

17. Seton Hall (14-2, Previous Ranking: N/A)

The Pirates picked up a huge win over UConn at home this week and followed it up by beating Providence on the road.  Seton Hall’s only losses have come against Northwestern on a neutral floor and at Syracuse, but they have solid wins over West Virginia, Dayton, VCU, and Saint Joseph’s.

Kevin Willard has the Pirates playing well defensively, and point guard Jordan Theodore has been outstanding, posting 51 points and 28 assists in the last three games.

18. Louisville (13-3, Previous Ranking: 12)

After losing in double overtime to Notre Dame, the Cardinals have now dropped three of their last four games.  They continue to struggle offensively, but they should be able to bounce back against Providence and DePaul this week.

Louisville needs more from Peyton Siva, who has just 23 points and 13 assists to go with 12 fouls and 11 turnovers over the last three games.

19. Florida (12-4, Previous Ranking: 14)

The Gators shot just 35.7 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc in a loss to Tennessee, which was the second bad loss for Florida in their last four games.  They are now 0-4 in true road games this season and don’t have a signature win.  That said, the Gators should be able to take care of Georgia and South Carolina this week.

20. Connecticut (12-3, Previous Ranking: 7)

UConn is searching for answers after a pair of road losses last week.  They now sit at just 2-2 in the Big East with a tough test coming on Monday against West Virginia.  The Huskies clearly have the talent, but leadership is another matter without Kemba Walker.  Freshman Andre Drummond continues to be inconsistent, and Alex Oriahki continues to struggle.

21. Gonzaga (13-2, Previous Ranking: N/A)

The Zags have now won eight straight heading into Thursday’s game with rival Saint Mary’s.  Big man Sam Dower is playing well off the bench, and the freshman backcourt of Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell is really starting to gel.

22. San Diego State (13-2, Previous Ranking: 22)

The Aztecs haven’t played anyone decent since early December, but their first two MWC games are against UNLV and New Mexico, both of which will tell us a lot about SDSU.  Chase Tapley leads four players averaging in double figures for Steve Fisher’s club.

23. Murray State (16-0, Previous Ranking: 23)

Isaiah Canaan was on fire Saturday night against Austin Peay, hitting seven three-pointers and scoring 27 points in the first half.  He finished with 35 to keep the Racers unbeaten.  Look for them to stay that way with Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech coming to town this week.

24. Mississippi State (13-3, Previous Ranking: 16)

The Bulldogs played just their second true road game of the season on Saturday, losing by 10 points to Arkansas.  Foul trouble limited Arnett Moultrie and Renardo Sidney, and MSU managed to lose despite shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from deep.  Tennessee and Alabama both come to Starkville this week.

25. Marquette (12-4, Previous Ranking: 19)

It’s tough to penalize the Golden Eagles for losing at Georgetown and Syracuse, but they have now lost four of their last six games after starting 10-0.  They need to right the ship with their next three games at home, starting this week with St. John’s and Pitt.

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

College Basketball Power Rankings

1. Syracuse (15-0, Previous Ranking: 1)

Depth continues to be the calling card for the Orange with 10 players logging at least 11 minutes per game and seven of them averaging at least 7.1 points.  Outside of a home game against Florida, you could argue the schedule hasn’t been very challenging, and the Orange play just one ranked team (Marquette on January 7th) between now and February 8th.

2. Kentucky (13-1, Previous Ranking: 3)

I tweeted a month ago that freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was Kentucky’s most important player, and with 24 points and 19 boards against Louisville, he made me look pretty smart.  You would be hard-pressed to find a more fierce competitor, and he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite players to watch.

3. North Carolina (13-2, Previous Ranking: 4)

The Heels have won seven straight since falling to Kentucky, and Duke appears to be the only challenger in the ACC, meaning UNC should be able to reel off quite a few more wins before the Blue Devils visit the Dean Dome on February 8th.

4. Ohio State (13-2, Previous Ranking: 2)

It’s tough to penalize the Buckeyes too much for losing at IU, and I still believe they’re one of the four best teams in the country.  Three-point shooting continues to be a struggle (33.8% this season), but they are tough defensively and have a favorable schedule over the next few weeks, which should allow them to get back on track.  And oh yeah, they have that Sullinger guy who is pretty good.

5. Duke (12-1, Previous Ranking: 6)

Duke has played just five games since the end of November, and as I mentioned above, it’s the Devils, Heels, and everyone else in the ACC.  They also don’t have to play either Miami or Virginia on the road during conference play, so don’t look for them to fall out of the Top Five anytime soon.  That said, I couldn’t rank Duke above an OSU team that beat them by 22 in November.

6. Baylor (13-0, Previous Ranking: 7)

The Bears have had close calls in their last two games, going to overtime against West Virginia and winning on a last-second layup against Mississippi State.  Pierre Jackson has come up big in both games, scoring 23 points against the Mountaineers and making the game-winner against the Bulldogs.  Road trips to Kansas and Kansas State in the next two weeks will test them even more.

7. Connecticut (12-1, Previous Ranking: 8)

Freshman big man Andre Drummond is averaging 14.4 points, 7.8 boards, and 2.0 blocks over the last five games, and the Huskies have won seven straight.  They head to Seton Hall and Rutgers this week for their second and third road games of the season.  They only beat South Florida by three in their first.

8. Missouri (13-0, Previous Ranking: 9)

The Tigers got all they could handle from Old Dominion in their first true road game last week.  They ranked first in effective field goal percentage and second in turnover rate, but just one of their wins has come against a team ranked better than 50th in the Pomeroy Ratings.  Saturday’s game at Kansas State should be a good one.

9. Georgetown (12-1, Previous Ranking: 12)

Since losing to Kansas in their Maui opener, the Hoyas have ripped off 10 straight wins, including a home win over Memphis and a road victory over Louisville in the last couple weeks.  Markel Starks (20 points) and Otto Porter (14 points, 14 rebounds) led the way against the Cardinals and give Georgetown additional weapons on offense.

10. Michigan State (13-2, Previous Ranking: 20)

You could argue the Spartans are playing the best basketball of anyone in the Big Ten right now, and they’ve now won 13 in a row since losing to UNC and Duke to start the season.  Keith Appling was phenomenal against Indiana with 25 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and disruptive defense against Jordan Hulls and the Hoosiers.  This has the look of a classic Izzo team that locks you down defensively and owns the glass.

Al Goldis, AP via The Only Colors

11. Indiana (13-1, Previous Ranking: 18)

The Hoosiers bounced back from their first loss of the season to beat Ohio State on New Year’s Eve.  Perhaps even more impressive is that they did it without Will Sheehey who has been sidelined recently with an ankle injury.  They have another tough game on Thursday when Michigan comes to town, but the win over OSU proved the Kentucky game was no fluke.  This team is legit.

12. Louisville (12-2, Previous Ranking: 5)

After winning their first 12 games, the Cardinals have lost two straight, albeit against tough competition.  The good news is they’re starting to get healthy and have four winnable Big East games up next on the schedule.  The bad news is their offensive efficiency numbers are pretty ugly so far.

13. UNLV (15-2, Previous Ranking: 22)

Their only two losses have come on the road in tough environments against Wisconsin and Wichita State, and the Rebels have beaten North Carolina, Cal, and Illinois by double-digits.  They look like the favorites in a top-heavy Mountain West thanks to solid three-point shooting, the duo of Mike Moser and Chace Stanback, and nine players averaging at least 5.3 points.

14. Florida (11-3, Previous Ranking: 11)

The Gators lost in double overtime to Rutgers, and some of the team’s guards might need to be re-introduced to big man Patric Young.  The talented sophomore is shooting 62.0 percent from the field, yet there are stretches where he only touches the ball after getting an offensive rebound.  Instead, Florida is taking nearly 44 percent of their field goal attempts from beyond the arc.

15. Kansas (10-3, Previous Ranking: 15)

I recognize that the Jayhawks were only playing North Dakota, but that doesn’t make Thomas Robinson’s 30-point, 21-rebound effort any less impressive.  He’s now averaging 17.7 points and 12.2 boards on the season.  Depth is the main concern entering Big 12 play, which Kansas opens against K-State this week.

16. Mississippi State (13-2, Previous Ranking: 16)

The Bulldogs acquitted themselves well against Baylor, but they failed to get a good shot on the game’s final possession.  Arnett Moultrie continues to impress, and freshman Rodney Hood is one of the nation’s most underrated newcomers.  He’s second on the team in rebounding (5.4 rpg), third in scoring (12.3 ppg) and assists (2.1 apg), and shoots 44.4 percent from deep.

17. Harvard (12-1, Previous Ranking: 19)

Harvard’s comeback win over Saint Joseph’s is better than many people realize.  Forwards Keith Wright and Kyle Casey combined for 42 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks against the Hawks.

18. Michigan (12-2, Previous Ranking: 21)

With just one win against Pomeroy’s Top 45 and none against the Top 30, it’s hard to get a read on just how good the Wolverines are, but with their next two games against Indiana and Wisconsin, they will have a chance to prove themselves.  Freshman Trey Burke came up big on Sunday with 27 points in a win over Minnesota.

19. Marquette (12-2, Previous Ranking: 13)

The Golden Eagles looked awful in a home loss to Vanderbilt, which was their second loss in three games after winning their first ten.  They bounced back to beat Villanova, but things don’t get any easier with road games against Georgetown and Syracuse up next on the docket.  Shooting woes (particularly from three-point range) and struggles on the defensive glass have plagued them recently.

20. Wisconsin (12-3, Previous Ranking: 17)

After losing just one game at the Kohl Center over the past two seasons, the Badgers have already lost there twice this season, including Saturday’s stunning loss to Iowa.  They went just 3-of-28 from beyond the arc against the Hawkeyes, which compounds their troubles  getting to the free throw line and grabbing offensive rebounds.

21. Creighton (11-2, Previous Ranking: 23)

The Bluejays lost their conference opener at home to Missouri State but bounced back to win a tough road game against Wichita State on Saturday.  It looks like we are in for another hard-fought season in the Missouri Valley.

22. San Diego State (12-2, Previous Ranking: 25)

The Aztecs have been feasting on cupcakes since beating Cal in early December.  That all changes when they open MWC play at home against UNLV and on the road against New Mexico, but that doesn’t start until January 14th.

23. Murray State (14-0, Previous Ranking: 24)

Even though the Racers should keep on winning, their competition won’t do much to move the dial on people’s impressions of them.  A lot will ride on who they face in the BracketBusters in February.

24. Kansas State (11-1, Previous Ranking: N/A)

The Wildcats knocked off a talented Long Beach State squad to win the Diamond Head Classic, but things only get tougher for K-State with their first three Big 12 games against Kansas, Missouri, and Baylor.  Frank Martin’s team has been tough defensively and has four players scoring in double figures on offense.

25. Virginia (12-1, Previous Ranking: N/A)

After a disappointing loss to TCU in the Paradise Jam, the Cavs have won 10 straight.  However, outside of a home win over Michigan, they really haven’t played anyone.  Upcoming games against LSU, Miami, and Duke will give a better idea of just how good this team can be.

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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.

College Basketball Power Rankings

1. Syracuse (12-0, Last Week: 1)

The Orange passed their first road test with a 16-point win at North Carolina State led by another big game from Dion Waiters, who scored 22 points off the bench.  Few (if any) teams in the nation can rival their depth, and they have ratcheted up the defensive intensity, as evidenced by the third best turnover rate and top-ranked steal percentage in the country.

2. Ohio State (11-1, Last Week: 2)

Jared Sullinger suffered a foot injury against South Carolina, but DeShaun Thomas came to the rescue with a career-high 30 points.  He now has 89 points over his last four games, hitting 36-of-57 (63.2%) from the field and 10-of-21 (47.6%) from three-point range during that span.

Image credit:  Jim Davidson the-Ozone.net

Sullinger returned for OSU’s game against Lamar, but the Buckeyes’ next big test won’t come until a New Year’s Eve trip to Bloomington.

3. Kentucky (10-1, Last Week: 3)

The Wildcats blew out Chattanooga and Samford in their first games since losing to Indiana, but forward Terrence Jones dislocated his pinky and missed the Samford contest.  Doron Lamb tallied 50 points in the two victories, but they’ll need Jones on New Year’s Eve when they host Louisville.

4. North Carolina (10-2, Last Week: 4)

Appalachian State and Nicholls State were sacrifical lambs for the Heels during the last week, with Tyler Zeller going off for 31 points against the Mountaineers.  UNC takes on Texas on Wednesday but should enter ACC play at 13-2 based on their remaining non-conference schedule.

5. Louisville (11-0, Last Week: 5)

The Cardinals won a track meet against Memphis and came used a late flurry against College of Charleston to move to 11-0.  Against the Tigers, seven Louisville players scored in double figures, led by Russ Smith with 24 and Gorgui Dieng with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks.  Kyle Kuric was the hero against the Cougars, as his play in the middle of the Charleston zone was the difference in the game.  Freshman Kevin Ware has joined the squad, and the team is getting closer to being at full strength, which is good news with games against Georgetown and Kentucky before the end of the month.

6. Duke (10-1, Last Week: 6)

After crushing UNC Greensboro, the Blue Devils are off until a December 30th date with Western Michigan.  Mason Plumlee posted 15 points and 13 boards in the victory, which was his fifth straight game in double figures and his third double-double over that span.

7. Baylor (10-0, Last Week: 7)

The Bears picked up a huge road win at BYU on Saturday.  Perry Jones III was dominant with 28 points and eight boards, while Brady Heslip canned six three-pointers and 5-foot-10 Pierre Jackson secured the win with a huge block in the closing seconds.  Their remaining non-conference schedule is relatively tough with upcoming games against Saint Mary’s, West Virginia, and Mississippi State.

8. Connecticut (9-1, Last Week: 9)

If Andre Drummond’s performance against Holy Cross is a sign of things to come, look out.  The freshman big man went 11-of-12 from the field for 24 points to go with eight boards and five blocks.  Obviously you have to consider the level of competition, but he has started to show signs of the ability that made him such a highly regarded recruit in recent weeks.  As it stands, he’s already in the Top 15 in offensive rebounding and block percentage.

9. Missouri (11-0, Last Week: 11)

The Tigers won their last two games by a combined 75 points and continue to fire on all cylinders offensively.  They boast the top effective field goal percentage in the country as well as the nation’s lowest turnover rate.  Guard Marcus Denmon is one of the most underrated players in college hoops and is having a phenomenal season so far.

10. Xavier (8-1, Last Week: 8)

Without the suspended Tu Holloway, Mark Lyons, and Dez Wells, the Musketeers were beaten soundly by Oral Roberts.  It’s tough to hold this against them given the fact that they were playing short-handed, but I decided to penalize them two spots.  I, too, can dole out questionable punishments.

11. Florida (9-2, Last Week: 13)

The Gators got off to a hot start and hung 50 points on Texas A&M in the first half.  Kenny Boynton led the way with six three-pointers, and the backcourt trio of Boynton, Erving Walker, and Brad Beal combined for 54 points.  Still, the fact Patric Young got just two shots is concerning.

12. Georgetown (9-1, Last Week: 14)

After averaging just 3.6 points last season, center Henry Sims is playing like an All-Conference performer.  The 6-foot-10 senior is leading the team with 3.9 assists per game to go with 12.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks.  The Hoyas will need him to continue his improved play with games coming up against Memphis and Louisville.

13. Marquette (10-1, Last Week: 10)

The Golden Eagles were unable to knock down long-range shots against LSU and lost to the Tigers on the road.  After serving a one-game suspension, Darius Johnson-Odom returned to score 16 points while Jae Crowder continued his recent scoring binge with 22.  Crowder is averaging 20 points over the last four contests.

14. Pittsburgh (11-1, Last Week: 15)

Freshman big man Khem Birch has decided to transfer, but the Panthers won two more games to extend their winning streak to nine.  Dante Taylor grabbed six offensive boards and scored 14 points against St. Francis (PA), and Pitt will need more of the same from him as Big East play begins.  Lamar Patterson is also becoming a consistent contributor for the Panthers with three straight double-digit scoring efforts.

15. Kansas (7-3, Last Week: 12)

The Jayhawks followed up their win over Ohio State by shooting poorly in a loss to Davidson.  Thomas Robinson had 21 points and 18 rebounds for KU but struggled to get consistent touches down the stretch.  Tyshawn Taylor returned from knee surgery to score 15 points, but he also had five turnovers.  Bench play remains a concern as the Jayhawks approach the conference season.

16. Mississippi State (11-1, Last Week: 16)

The Bulldogs picked up a solid road win at Detroit last weekend led by 17 points and 13 boards from Arnett Moultrie.  He and Renardo Sidney are learning to play well together, with Sidney tallying 44 points over the last three games.  Next Wednesday’s matchup with Baylor will be a measuring stick game for MSU.

17. Wisconsin (10-2, Last Week: 17)

After another defensive clinic against Savannah State, the Badgers are now the top-rated team in the Pomeroy Ratings.  They still need preseason All-American Jordan Taylor to find his shooting stroke, but given their schedule, they should be 13-2 when Sparty comes to town in early January.

18. Indiana (11-0, Last Week: 18)

The Hoosiers won an ugly game with Notre Dame before dismantling Howard early this week.  They now lead the nation in three-point shooting and are 11-0 for the first time since their undefeated season in 1975-76.  Cody Zeller has been phenomenal and boasts Top 50 rankings in effective field goal percentage, true shooting percentage, steal percentage, and overall offensive rating.

19. Harvard (9-1, Last Week: 19)

Tommy Amaker’s squad took the week off, but they should be favored in every game left on their schedule.  That sounds great on the surface, but it also means virtually any loss will hurt their seed come March.

20. Michigan State (10-2, Last Week: 22)

Make it 10 straight wins for the Spartans, who are starting to get things figured out offensively.  They have scored at least 1.04 points per possession over their last seven contests, and they continue to be one of the top defensive teams in the country.  Their next test will come when Indiana visits the Breslin Center next week.

21. Michigan (9-2, Last Week: 21)

Forward Evan Smotrycz has 53 points, 28 boards, and eight steals over the last three games, which is huge for a team looking for reliable frontcourt production.  Their recent level of competition hasn’t been great, so we won’t find out more about the Wolverines until Big Ten play tips off.

22. UNLV (12-2, Last Week: 24)

Even with Chace Stanback scoring just two points, the Rebels won handily against Illinois led by 17 points and 11 board from Mike Moser.  Quintrell Thomas had a big game as well with 13 points and seven rebounds in just 19 minutes of action.  Friday’s game against Cal gives them another chance at a solid non-conference win.

23. Creighton (9-1, Last Week: 25)

Doug McDermott poured in 35 points in a road win against Tulsa and now ranks second in the nation in scoring at 25.2 points per game.  Defense continues to be a potential concern for the Bluejays, and a visit from Northwestern this week should challenge them in that regard with John Shurna and Drew Crawford both playing well.

24. Murray State (12-0, Last Week: Not Rated)

The Racers lost their coach and two of their top three scorers, so naturally they are undefeated.  Remember the name Isaiah Canaan, who is leading Murray State with 19.3 points per game and shooting 48.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Image credit: Jacobsohn/Getty Image via Bleacher Report

Like Harvard, the Racers will be favored in all of their remaining regular season games, which should be a fun storyline to follow as the season progresses.

25. San Diego State (10-2, Last Week: Not Rated)

SDSU’s only losses have come on the road at Baylor and by two points at home against Creighton.  Guard Chase Tapley is averaging 17.7 points and 2.3 steals while knocking down a ridiculous 52.4 percent from long range.  With four very winnable games up next on the schedule, the Aztecs should be 14-2 when they open conference play against UNLV.

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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.

College Basketball Power Rankings

1. Syracuse (10-0, Previous Ranking: 3)

The Orange held on to beat a tough Marshall squad and steamrolled George Washington last week, and thanks to losses by Kentucky and Ohio State, they move into the top spot.  Dion Waiters continues to excel off the bench with 19 points, six steals, five rebounds, and four assists in just 21 minutes against GW.

2. Ohio State (9-1, Previous Ranking: 2)

It’s hard to penalize the Buckeyes for losing at Kansas without Jared Sullinger, so I didn’t.  The sophomore big man returned in a comfortable win over USC Upstate, and quite frankly the Buckeyes probably don’t need him to win their remaining non-conference games.

3. Kentucky (8-1, Previous Ranking: 1)

After losing their first road test to the Hoosiers, Kentucky has four winnable games before a New Year’s Eve date with Louisville.  Terrence Jones continues to be an enigma after his no-show against the Hoosiers, but the good news is that the light seemed to come on for Marquis Teague during the second half with 15 points and no turnovers against IU.

4. North Carolina (8-2, Previous Ranking: 4)

The Heels routed Evansville early in the week and then trailed at the half before coming back to beat Long Beach State on Saturday.  Against the 49ers, Kendall Marshall dished out 16 assists, while John Henson posted another double-double and Reggie Bullock came off the bench to score 15 points.  Based on their schedule, don’t expect UNC to lose again in 2011.

5. Louisville (9-0, Previous Ranking: 5)

Surprisingly the Cardinals made it a week without anyone getting hurt, and they even got Rakeem Buckles back against IUPUI, although he didn’t play against Fairleigh Dickinson.  The schedule gets tougher in the coming weeks with home games against Memphis and Georgetown as well as a trip to Rupp Arena remaining in December.

6. Duke (9-1, Previous Ranking: 6)

After knocking off Washington at Madison Square Garden, the Blue Devils have just two games over the last 16 days of the month, both of which they should win handily.  Austin Rivers has continued to build on his solid performance against Ohio State with 35 points in last week’s two wins, while backcourt mate Andre Dawkins posted 32 in those victories.

7. Baylor (8-0, Previous Ranking: 7)

The Bears had the week off before pounding Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday, but their remaining non-conference schedule has some challenging matchups with games coming up at BYU, at home against Saint Mary’s and West Virginia, and in Dallas against Mississippi State.

8. Xavier (8-0, Previous Ranking: 8)

What a difference a week makes.  Last time around I was raving about X’s wins over Vanderbilt and Purdue, and even though the Musketeers dominated Cincinnati in the Crosstown Shootout, the late-game brawl dominated the headlines.  With three starters suspended, Sunday’s game against Oral Roberts will be a challenge.

9. Connecticut (8-1, Previous Ranking: 9)

Led by 18 points from Jeremy Lamb and another double-digit effort from Ryan Boatright, the Huskies took care of Harvard at home last week.  Two non-conference games remain for UConn, then Big East play (and Jim Calhoun’s suspension) begins.

10. Marquette (9-0, Previous Ranking: 10)

A last-second three-pointer from Jae Crowder gave the Golden Eagles a neutral court win against Washington and led me to profess my love for them on Run the Floor.  Big man Chris Otule sustained a knee injury in the win over the Huskies, but even though they were short-handed, Marquette took care of Green Bay to remain unbeaten.

11. Missouri (9-0, Previous Ranking: 11)

Following wins over Vanderbilt and Navy, the Tigers are still undefeated and boast one of the nation’s most efficient offenses.  A pair of winnable games stand between Mizzou and a date with unbeaten Illinois for their annual Braggin’ Rights tilt.

12. Kansas (7-2, Previous Ranking: 13)

The Jayhawks took advantage of Sullinger’s absence to pick up a big win at home.  Guard Tyshawn Taylor dished out 13 assists while playing with a torn meniscus, and he’s expected to miss up to three weeks after undergoing surgery earlier this week.  Even though Kansas doesn’t have a ton of depth, the schedule is manageable without him.

13. Florida (7-2, Previous Ranking: 12)

After blowing a late lead against Arizona, the Gators bounced back to win in overtime.  However, with Patric Young dominating inside, the guard-heavy attack failed to force feed him the ball, which was a concern for me heading into this season.  Upcoming games against Texas A&M and Florida State will be solid tests before SEC play begins.

14. Georgetown (8-1, Previous Ranking: 16)

The Hoyas won their lone game of the week against Howard, but the schedule starts to get tougher with a home game against Memphis and a road trip to Louisville among their next three contests.

15. Pittsburgh (9-1, Previous Ranking: 17)

Wins over VMI and Oklahoma State extended Pitt’s win streak to seven games.  Even with Tray Woodall sidelined, that streak should continue to grow with winnable games remaining in the non-conference and four manageable games to start Big East play.

16. Mississippi State (10-1, Previous Ranking: 18)

Despite playing without starters Arnett Moultrie (knee tendinitis) and Brian Bryant (suspension), the Bulldogs hung on to beat Florida Atlantic on Tuesday.  Freshman Rodney Hood continues to impress with 19 points and 10 boards while playing all 40 minutes against FAU.  They have now won nine straight games since losing to Akron with a trip to Detroit looming this weekend.

17. Wisconsin (9-2, Previous Ranking: 20)

Even though Jordan Taylor continues to struggle with his shooting, the Badgers beat UNLV by 11 last weekend and picked up a road win against a solid Milwaukee team on Tuesday.  Other players have picked up the slack though, with Ben Brust going off for 25 against the Rebels and Jared Berggren and Ryan Evans combining for 33 against Milwaukee.

18. Indiana (9-0, Previous Ranking: N/A)

The Hoosiers’ win over Kentucky vaults them into the Top 20, and a 12-0 non-conference record is within reach if they can avoid a post-big win hangover against Notre Dame on Saturday.  IU will need plenty of confidence when they open Big Ten play with games against Michigan State, Ohio State, and Michigan, but Christian Watford has been a different player since the second half of the NC State game.

19. Harvard (9-1, Previous Ranking: 19)

There’s no shame in losing on the road at UConn, so I’m leaving the Crimson here.  I\Even though it was their last chance to pick up another marquee win, this is still a Top 20 team.

20. Illinois (10-0, Previous Ranking: 21)

The Illini remained unbeaten after grinding out a win over St. Bonaventure, and they hit 10 three-pointers against Coppin State to keep their perfect record intact.  They will need more production from their bench with games against UNLV and Missouri on the horizon, but both of those matchups will be good measuring stick games for the surprising Illini.

21. Michigan (8-2, Previous Ranking: 24)

Sophomore Evan Smotrycz tallied 36 points in wins over Oakland and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and his continued development gives the Wolverines another threat on the offensive end.  Michigan has two winnable non-conference games remaining before opening the Big Ten season.

22. Michigan State (8-2, Previous Ranking: N/A)

The Spartans have now reeled off eight straight victories after losing their first two games.  Senior Draymond Green went off for 34 of Sparty’s 74 points in a road win at Gonzaga last Saturday, and MSU should be 11-2 before starting conference play against Indiana on December 28th.

23. Alabama (8-2, Previous Ranking: 14)

Their offensive woes were on display in a surprising double-digit loss to Dayton, but the Tide bounced back to beat Detroit over the weekend.  Freshman Nick Jacobs made his first start again the Titans and acquitted himself well with 13 points.  He gives Alabama another frontcourt option, but they really need a consistent outside threat to improve on their 25.3 percent three-point shooting.

24. UNLV (10-2, Previous Ranking: 22)

The Rebels’ road loss to Wisconsin was their second defeat in three games, but upcoming games against Illinois and Cal will help to determine whether UNLV’s big win over North Carolina was a fluke or not.  For now, I’m still a believer.

25. Creighton (7-1, Previous Ranking: 15)

A road loss to Saint Joseph’s was disappointing, and while the Bluejays can score with just about anyone, their defense and rebounding need some work.  Creighton closes out non-conference play against Northwestern next week in what should be an interesting game.

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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.

Putting these together is my attempt at balancing how teams are playing as well as who they are playing (and ideally beating) to rank the top teams in the nation.  So before you get bent out of shape and call me an idiot for having North Carolina at number four, make an argument that they aren’t among the four best teams in the country based on how they played against Kentucky.

That’s what I thought.

College Basketball Power Rankings

1. Kentucky (8-0)

It’s easy to focus on the wealth of offensive riches for the Wildcats, but they also boast the 3rd-ranked defense according to Ken Pomeroy.  Freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist may not be UK’s most talented player, but he just might be their most important.

2. Ohio State (8-0)

The Buckeyes own a pair of marquee wins over Florida and Duke, the latter of which they won in convincing fashion.  Keep an eye on Jared Sullinger’s recovery from a back injury, particularly with Saturday’s matchup against Kansas on the horizon.

3. Syracuse (8-0)

With the Bernie Fine scandal dominating the headlines, Syracuse’s play on the court has taken a back seat.  The Orange have a ton of depth and lead the nation in offensive rebounding percentage.  Sophomores Fab Melo and Dion Waiters have both made huge strides.

4. North Carolina (6-2)

The Heels played poorly in a loss to UNLV but bounced back to knock off Wisconsin and had a legitimate chance to win at Rupp.  Despite their struggles, this is still one of the top teams in the country.  Keep an eye on freshman P.J. Hairston, who has been impressive early on.

5. Louisville (7-0)

Despite a rash of injuries, the Cardinals are undefeated after an overtime win against Vanderbilt.  For now, they’re getting it done with defense, but the best is yet to come once Pitino’s squad gets healthy.

6. Duke (7-1)

The Blue Devils have played one of the toughest schedules in the nation and ran the table in Maui before getting steamrolled by Ohio State.  Perimeter defense remains a concern, but Austin Rivers played his best game against the Buckeyes and will continue to assert himself.

7. Baylor (7-0)

Sunday’s 28-point blowout at Northwestern was Baylor’s best performance of the season.  Freshman Quincy Miller has been terrific, and Pierre Jackson looks like the answer at the point guard.  Their frontline is as deep and athletic as they come.

8. Xavier (6-0)

Star guard Tu Holloway was phenomenal in comeback wins over Vanderbilt and Purdue last week.  They need more out of their frontcourt, but Holloway and backcourt mate Mark Lyons will lead them through a treacherous non-conference schedule.

9. Connecticut (7-1)

The Huskies laid an egg against Central Florida in the Battle 4 Atlantis, but the addition of Ryan Boatright has paid dividends already.  No signs of a sophomore slump for Jeremy Lamb or Shabazz Napier either.

10. Marquette (7-0)

Name a better road win than Marquette’s victory at the Kohl Center over the weekend.  The Golden Eagles were the aggressor on both ends of the floor and have the look of a top three team in the Big East.  Buzz Williams is getting great leadership from Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder, but there is a ton of depth on this roster.

11. Missouri (7-0)

So far, so good for the Frank Haith era at Mizzou.  The offense has been extremely efficient thanks to phenomenal shooting and a stunning lack of turnovers.  Their 39-point demolition of Cal was one of the best performances of the early season.

12. Florida (5-2)

The guard-heavy Gators have stumbled in their only two tests of the season, but they do own the most efficient offense according to Pomeroy.  Kenny Boynton has been on fire from beyond the arc, and freshman Brad Beal is the real deal.  Erik Murphy’s impending return from a knee injury should bolster the front line.

13. Kansas (5-2)

The Jayhawks aren’t deep, but they have a talented nucleus led by Thomas Robinson.  Elijah Johnson and Jeff Withey have been pleasant surprises as well, so it looks like KU’s reign atop the Big 12 won’t end easily.

14. Alabama (7-1)

If not for a last second loss to Georgetown, the Tide might be in the Top 10.  The frontcourt duo of JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell is among the best in the country, and point guard Trevor Releford continues to improve.  Their freshmen are being asked to play major minutes and will only get better.

15. Creighton (7-0)

The Bluejays boast the highest effective field goal percentage in the nation, led by sophomore Doug McDermott whose efficiency numbers are off the charts.  They also picked up an impressive road win at San Diego State last week to maintain their perfect record.

16. Georgetown (7-1)

Even before Hollis Thompson’s three-pointer to beat Alabama, the Hoyas were one of the biggest surprises this season.  Thompson has been fantastic, and Henry Sims has been a revelation inside.

17. Pittsburgh (7-1)

Surprisingly, Pitt’s struggles have been on the defensive end of the floor, but their offense is among the most efficient in the country.  The short-term loss of Tray Woodall hurts, but they’re starting to get more consistent contributions from some of their frontcourt players as Jamie Dixon gets his rotation worked out.

18. Mississippi State (8-1)

The Bulldogs rebounded from a disappointing home loss to Akron, but the fact that they didn’t allow things to snowball shows – dare I say it – maturity from MSU.  Arnett Moultrie has been a monster on the glass, and freshman Rodney Hood is off to a hot start.

19. Harvard (8-0)

A vastly improved defense has helped the Crimson to offset their early season struggles from beyond the arc.  Keith Wright and Kyle Casey form a terrific frontcourt, and their toughest test awaits as Harvard travels to UConn on Thursday.

20. Wisconsin (6-2)

Even after a disappointing week, the Badgers have one of the most efficient defenses around.  A few guys have stepped up in an effort to support Jordan Taylor, but Wisconsin has become almost completely reliant on the three-point shot offensively.

21. Illinois (8-0)

Bradley transfer Sam Maniscalco has provided much-needed leadership, and big man Meyers Leonard has come up big on both ends of the floor in his sophomore season.  Saturday’s win over Gonzaga was their best game of the season.

22. UNLV (8-1)

The Rebels made headlines by shooting their way past North Carolina, and they picked up a solid road win at UC-Santa Barbara before losing at Wichita State.  UCLA transfer Mike Moser has done a little of everything for this team, and his effort and relentless attitude is infectious for his teammates.

23. Gonzaga (5-1)

Coach Mark Few knew what to expect from big men Robert Sacre and Elias Harris, but freshman Kevin Pangos has bolstered the backcourt with a sweet stroke from beyond the arc.

24. Michigan (6-2)

Freshman Trey Burke has helped ease the blow of losing point guard Darius Morris, and star Tim Hardaway Jr. has at least 19 points in four of his last five games.

25. San Diego State (8-2)

Despite losing a ton of production from last season’s Top 10 team, the Aztecs have been impressive in the early going.  Led by guards Chase Tapley and Jamaal Franklin, SDSU has wins over Cal, Long Beach State, and UCSB and will be a factor in the MWC race.

**********

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

This week, they discuss: the unfortunate knee injuries to Tim Abromaitis and Trevor Mbakwe; the 3-team race in the MWC; a great week for the A-10; Harvard; struggling Big East teams; and a look at how UNC will respond to their first loss. Also, a look ahead to a few big games over the weekend.

Click play on the player below to listen:

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Throughout the season, my goal is to highlight notable games so you can plan your weeknights and weekends accordingly. This week is fairly light until we get to Friday…when there are over 120 games to choose from, including the much anticipated Carrier Classic between Michigan State and North Carolina.

As you might expect, there aren’t a ton of big-name matchups since most major conference teams would rather get a win or two under their belts before actually challenging themselves.

Monday

William & Mary at St. John’s – 7:00 on ESPNU

I could tell you that this is part of the 2K Sports Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic or that it’s your first chance to get a look at the totally revamped Red Storm roster.

But this game marks the official start of the season.

Hell.  Yes.

Wednesday

Akron at Mississippi State – 7:00 EST on ESPNU

The Bulldogs are a potential sleeper in the SEC if they can make headlines on the court instead of off.  They boast a formidable frontline with the enigmatic Renardo Sidney and UTEP transfer Arnett Moultrie to go with terrific point guard Dee Bost.

The Zips won’t be a pushover though after tallying at least 23 wins in each of the past six seasons.  They have a tough frontcourt of their own with Nikola Cvetinovic and Zeke Marshall, and Brett McClanahan can shoot it from deep.  The newcomers to watch in this one are freshman Rodney Hood for MSU and UMBC transfer Chauncey Gilliam for Akron.

If the Bulldogs want to be taken seriously this season, they can’t slip up at home early on.

Friday

#1 North Carolina vs. Michigan State – 7:00 EST on ESPN

I’m not sure Sparty can actually hang with UNC in this one, but who cares because it’s being played on a freaking aircraft carrier?!

Image source: SBNation

Above and beyond that, it will be our first look at the top-ranked Tar Heels who have virtually everyone back from last season’s team.

I’m more intrigued to see Michigan State though, because they have so many changes in their rotation.  I want to see how Keith Appling looks at the point and how Valpo transfer Brandon Wood fits into the offense, and I want to hear my first rendition of the Derrick Nix weight loss story.

In case playing UNC wasn’t enough, Michigan State plays Duke in their second game next week.

Stony Brook at Indiana – 7:00 EST on BTN

The Cody Zeller era begins at IU in what is a pivotal season for Tom Crean.  While this may look like a cakewalk, Stony Brook was one of the nation’s top field goal percentage defenses last year.

Keep an eye on point guard Bryan Dougher who can knock down open threes if IU’s perimeter defense hasn’t improved.

Obviously this is a game the Hoosiers simply can’t lose, but it may not be as easy as most fans think.

Belmont at Duke – 9:00 EST on ESPNU

This is part of the new stateside portion of the Maui Invitational, and Belmont has two great opportunities to get a signature victory with games against Duke and Memphis.

The Bruins return nine players from last year’s 11-man rotation and won’t be a pushover.  They have a solid backcourt with Ian Clark and Drew Hanlen to go with the inside duo of Mick Hedgepeth and Scott Saunders.

It will be our first chance to see how Seth Curry looks as Duke’s point guard, and it’s also the debut of highly touted Austin Rivers.  Perimeter defense is a potential concern for Duke, so it will be interesting to see how the efficient Belmont offense attacks them.

BYU at Utah State – 9:05 EST on ESPN3

The post-Jimmer era begins for BYU at one of the nation’s toughest venues, the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.  While the Aggies are rebuilding after the loss of six seniors, you can be sure the crowd will have a few special chants ready for Brandon Davies.

Oregon at #7 Vanderbilt – 10:00 on ESPN3

The Ducks are a sleeper in the Pac-12 while the Commodores have become a trendy Final Four pick thanks to the fact that nearly their entire roster is back.

They will be playing without big man Festus Ezeli who is both suspended and sidelined with a knee injury.  There is still plenty of offensive firepower with John Jenkins and Jeffrey Taylor, but Oregon has the potential to be explosive offensively in their own right.  It will be the first look at the team with transfers Olu Ashaolu and Tony Woods up front as well as highly touted freshman Jabari Brown in the backcourt.

If the Ducks can keep it close, it will be a chance for Vandy to show they have what it takes to win close games this year.

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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.

I will say that the impending additions of Syracuse and Pitt will provide additional depth to a league which has been pretty top-heavy in recent years.  But none of that matters this season.

What does matter is that the ACC boasts a North Carolina team rated first in virtually every preseason poll to go with perennial contender Duke and a number of other intriguing teams competing for tournament berths.

Before I unveil my predictions for this season’s ACC, here’s a quick rundown of what has happened in the league since I first broke it down.

• Duke: The Blue Devils went to China and Dubai over the summer for an exhibition tour, and big man Ryan Kelly was described as the team’s best player on the trip.  Seth Curry also started each game at point guard, a trend which is expected to continue this year.
• Florida State: Juco transfer Kiel Turpin has been unable to participate in practices thus far, not because of eligibility questions, but because of mono.  Luckily, the Seminoles have some solid depth along the front line, which should allow them to ease Turpin into things as he gets healthy.  Recruit Aaron Thomas failed to qualify and will spend this season at prep school.
• Georgia Tech: Forward Brian Oliver transferred to Seton Hall, leaving an already thin roster in an even tougher bind heading into Brian Gregory’s first season at the helm.
• Maryland: The Terps added Ukrainian center Alex Len, although his eligibility remains in question as the season draws near.  He gives the team some much-needed size inside and has been described by some as a potential lottery pick.  Forward Haukur Palsson announced his decision to leave the program to pursue a professional career in Europe, making an already thin roster that much thinner.  As if that wasn’t enough, sophomore guard Pe’Shon Howard broke a bone in his foot last week and will miss up to three months.  There has also been some discussion of a medical redshirt, but nothing formal has been decided in that regard.
• Miami (FL): Big man Reggie Johnson tore his meniscus during a pickup game and will miss the beginning of the season.  Coach Jim Larranaga is hopeful that Johnson can return by the start of conference play.  The Canes were dealt another blow when forward Julian Gamble tore his ACL.  He will miss the entire season, putting more pressure on Florida transfer Kenny Kadji, particularly in the early going.  In light of the Miami scandal that broke over the summer, there is some question around the eligibility of swingman DeQuan Jones, but nothing official has been announced.
• North Carolina: Guard Leslie McDonald tore his ACL in a summer league game and is expected to miss the season.  This puts more pressure on Reggie Bullock as he recovers from his own knee injury, as well as freshman P.J. Hairston, who got off to a hot start by hitting four three-pointers in UNC’s first exhibition game.
• North Carolina State: Forward C.J. Williams suffered a hairline fracture in his thumb during a recent practice.  It’s unclear at this point how much time he might miss.
• Virginia Tech: Florida transfer Allan Chaney was denied medical clearance for his heart condition and will not suit up for the Hokies.  For a team with relatively few options inside, this will put additional pressure on redshirt freshman Cadarian Raines and true freshman C.J. Barksdale.  In addition, freshman point guard Marquis Rankin underwent knee surgery and is expected to return in late November or early December.
• Wake Forest: After violating the student code of conduct, center Ty Walker will not play until a December 10 matchup with Seton Hall.  Teammate Melvin Tabb wasn’t so lucky, as he has been dismissed from the team after another brush with the law, and guard J.T. Terrell transferred to USC in the wake of another alcohol-related incident.

ACC Predictions: Standings

1. North Carolina

This one was a no-brainer.

The Heels are absolutely loaded across the front line with Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, and John Henson.  Barnes entered last season with incredibly high expectations and struggled early on, but he rebounded to averaged nearly 20 points over the final 18 games of the year.  Zeller blew up in the NCAA Tournament and gives the team a terrific post scorer and rebounder, while Henson averaged a double-double last year and blocked over three shots per game.  That level of depth will allow highly touted freshman James Michael McAdoo to come off the bench and ease his way into the college game.

The key backcourt returnee is point man Kendall Marshall, who sparked the team when inserted into the starting lineup last year.  He should easily lead the league in assists.  Shooting guard is essentially the only question on the team, with the aforementioned Reggie Bullock and P.J. Hairston along with Dexter Strickland.  The Heels really don’t need a ton of scoring from that spot, so it shouldn’t be a huge issue.  Another option might even be to play Barnes at shooting guard to go with a bigger lineup.  Regardless, this is one of the top teams in the country and should take home the ACC crown.

2. Duke

Despite losing three top players, the Blue Devils are still ranked in many preseason Top 1o’s.  The strength of the team should be their backcourt.  Seth Curry is sliding over to the point after finishing third on the team in assists last season.  Like fellow guard Andre Dawkins, Curry hit better than 40 percent from beyond the arc last year.  The gem of another top recruiting class is Austin Rivers, who some services had pegged as the nation’s top high school player.  He can knock down shots from the outside and is aggressive driving to the basket, so scoring won’t be an issue for the Blue Devils.  Defense might be though, particularly on the perimeter.

Inside, Duke has a trio of Plumlees to go with Ryan Kelly.  Mason and Miles Plumlee are the most experienced, but neither has shown the ability to be a consistent offensive threat, which needs to change this season.  As mentioned above, Kelly played well this summer, but he would much rather play on the outside than bang down low.  Freshmen Michael Gbinje and Alex Murphy give Coach K additional options on the wing, and soph Josh Hairston should see expanded minutes as well.

As is always the case with Duke, the talent and coaching are constants, but there are a lot of moving pieces here, making their early season play something to keep an eye on.

3. Florida State

Like Duke, the ‘Noles have a couple big holes to fill after the departure of Chris Singleton and Derwin Kitchen.

There is plenty of depth up front, starting with Bernard James who posted 8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in just 21 minutes per game.  Sophomore Okaro White showed flashes last year and should emerge as the second-best frontcourt option this season.  Xavier Gibson, Terrance Shannon, and the aforementioned Kiel Turpin give Coach Leonard Hamilton multiple options for rebounding and defense.

There are definitely more questions in the backcourt.  It will be imperative that Michael Snaer play more consistently as a junior, and the same can be said of Ian Miller, who had an up-and-down freshman year.  What the Noles really need is a guy who can consistently knock down outside shots, and freshmen Antwan Space and Terry Whisnant may end the season as the team’s top shooters.

Defense and rebounding will keep FSU in virtually every game this season, but offensive question marks leave a fairly wide gap between them and the top two teams in the league.

4.Virginia

I was high on the Cavaliers during my early look at the conference, and I am still firmly on the bandwagon.

All indications are positive about the health of Mike Scott, who is one of the top players in the league.  He was averaging a double-double when he went down last season, and he should pick up where he left off as a sixth-year senior.  Big man Assane Sene gives the team a defensive presence in the lane, and I continue to read rave reviews about redshirt freshman James Johnson who should add another dimension to the frontcourt.

The backcourt and wing positions feature plenty of depth and multiple reliable outside shooters.  Joe Harris averaged in double figures as a freshman and hit over 40 percent from deep.  Fellow soph K.T. Harrell played well early last year and should be more consistent this year, while Sammy Zeglinski played his best basketball late in the season and shot well from the outside.  Jontel Evans is a lockdown defender at the point, and a pair of freshman, Malcolm Brogdon and Paul Jesperson, will add to Coach Tony Bennett’s stable of sharpshooters.

The key here is Scott’s health, but assuming he doesn’t suffer any setbacks, the Cavaliers have a ton of upside and should challenge for a tournament bid.

5. Virginia Tech

Despite the loss of guys like Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen, the Hokie cupboard isn’t bare.

Guard Erick Green scored at least 10 points in 22 of the final 26 games last season.  His assist rate was decent as well, and improvement on his outside shooting will only make him more dangerous offensively.  He’ll be joined in the backcourt by Dorenzo Hudson, who ended up taking a medical redshirt but averaged over 15 points in 2009-10.  J.T. Thompson is also back after missing last season with a torn ACL and should provide additional rebounding and athleticism on the wing.

Inside, Victor Davila will need to be more than a role player this year to help with interior scoring.  Cadarian Raines will also be asked to contribute inside, as will freshman C.J. Barksdale.  The top-rated incoming freshman is Dorian Finney-Smith whose versatility will allow Coach Seth Greenberg to experiment with different lineups.  He should start right away and be one of the ACC’s top newcomers.

There is enough talent on the roster that you can’t just write the Hokies off, but they aren’t a surefire tournament team either.  That said, all signs point toward a continuation of Coach Seth Greenberg’s annual appearance as a potential snub on Selection Sunday.

6. Miami

I’d probably have the Hurricanes at least a couple spots higher if not for Johnson’s injury.  Sure, he’s expected back for the conference season, but conditioning will be a big concern for a guy who has battled weight issues in the past.  When at full strength, he’s a double-double machine and a monster on the offensive glass. With Julian Gamble also out, Coach Jim Larranaga will have to rely heavily on Florida transfer Kenny Kadji, who was once a highly rated recruit.  Seldom-used Raphael Akpejiori will also be thrust into action.

While the frontcourt is a complete unknown, the backcourt is the exact opposite.  Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott may well be the top tandem in the league.  Grant scored nearly 15 points per game and hit 42.3 percent from deep en route to 29 double-digit scoring games.  Scott is a do-it-all talent who finished second on the team in points, rebounds, and assists.  They combined to shoot over 300 free throws last season, with both converting over 83 percent of their attempts.  Garrius Adams will likely be the starting small forward after starting 24 games there last season.  His efficiency numbers aren’t great, but they need his help on the glass.

If the Canes can keep things afloat while Johnson works his way back, they could outperform this ranking, but their lack of depth inside may plague them the entire season.

7. Clemson

The Tigers lost a couple key players from a team that snuck into the tournament thanks to a weak bubble last year, but there is a nice nucleus here, starting with senior Andre Young.  The 5-foot-9 guard had 20 double-digit scoring games, hit almost 40 percent from three-point range, and posted a strong assist-to-turnover ratio, which is particularly good news since he will play more point guard this year.  Fellow senior Tanner Smith needs to improve his shooting and offensive output this season, and a trio of freshman will be counted on as key reserves in the backcourt and on the wing.

Up front, Milton Jennings and Devin Booker return.  Jennings contributed 8.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game but posted brutal efficiency numbers in the process.  He needs to harness the talent that made him a McDonald’s All-American for the Tigers to exceed expectations.  Booker averaged 8.1 points and 5.5 boards last season, and Coach Brad Brownell needs even more from him this year.  The team’s top recruit, Bernard Sullivan, should provide additional depth inside, and senior wing Brian Narcisse will finally get a chance to play extended minutes.

Brownell’s teams are always tough to play against on the defensive end, which should allow them to stay close in most games and ultimately finish in the middle of the pack.

8. North Carolina State

Coach Mark Gottfried’s first team will have some talent but not a ton of depth.  C.J. Leslie averaged 11 points per game and led the team in rebounds and blocks as a freshman, but he has the potential to be even better and certainly to be more consistent.  The breakout performer on the front line should be Richard Howell who had the sixth best offensive rebounding percentage in the nation and will see expanded minutes with Tracy Smith gone.  He posted 7.4 points and 6.5 boards in roughly 18 minutes per game last year.

Lorenzo Brown and Scott Wood give the backcourt a solid foundation.  Brown led the team in assists and steals as a freshman and showed steady improvement as the season went along.  He’ll be counted on to run the point following Ryan Harrow’s transfer, but he needs to cut back on his turnovers.  Wood is an outstanding shooter as evidenced by his gaudy effective field goal and true shooting percentages.  UCSB transfer Alex Johnson gives the team another experienced guard and should factor heavily into the rotation after scoring 13.3 points per game last season.  The other returnees of note are C.J. Williams, one of the team’s top defenders, and DeShawn Painter, who gives additional bulk inside.  The freshman to watch is Tyler Harris, whose brother Tobias was drafted by the Bucks last summer.

The starting lineup should be decent, but the depth just isn’t there to finish much higher than this.

9. Maryland

The hiring of Coach Mark Turgeon will ultimately pay dividends, and he’s already making great strides on the recruiting trail.  But his first year at the helm is setting up to be a long one due to a short bench.

The team’s top player is sophomore guard Terrell Stoglin, who SI’s Luke Winn tabbed as one of his breakout performers for the upcoming season.  In under 22 minutes per game last year, Stoglin scored 11.4 points and dished out over three assists.  During one seven-game stretch he averaged over 20 points per game, and Turgeon will need plenty of that this year.  Fellow soph Pe’Shon Howard showed flashes as well, but as mentioned above, a foot injury will minimally cut his season short.  Sean Mosley is back on the wing after scoring 8.1 points per contest last year, but he’s known more for his defense.  That means true freshman Nick Faust will be counted on early and often, and thanks to a well-rounded offensive game, he should be able to answer the bell.

Very little offensive production returns to the frontcourt, with Scott Padgett’s 3.3 points per game leading the way.  Turgeon needs more from him and senior Berend Weijs, as well as youngsters Ashton Pankey and Mychal Parker.  Given the question marks there, Alex Len’s eligibility will go a long way toward determining Maryland’s fate.

10. Georgia Tech

Iman Shumpert was one of the most hotly debated NBA draft picks last year, but he meant pretty much everything to the Jackets.  Even so, the strength of this team is still its backcourt.  Glen Rice Jr. is the team’s top returning scorer at 12.8 points per game to go with 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals.  He can get hot at times, but his three-point shooting numbers took a dive last year, a trend that Coach Brian Gregory hopes to see reverse this season.  Mfon Udofia will replace Shumpert at the point, but his poor assist rate and shooting percentages are red flags.  Guard Jason Morris hit 40 percent from beyond the arc last year and was starting by the end of the season, and Arkansas State transfer Brandon Reed for the averaged 15.1 points for the Red Wolves in 2009-10.  He needed plenty of shots to do it, but he does provide some added scoring punch for GT.

A trio of returnees form the foundation of the frontcourt.  Daniel Miller started every game last season, but Gregory needs him to show more on the offensive end to complement his solid rebounding and shot-blocking.  The same can be said of Kammeon Holsey and Nate Hicks, who combined to average 5.0 points last season.  Their limitations open the door for true freshman Julian Royal to earn minutes right away.

Gregory’s teams have traditionally been built on a defensive foundation, and his first team at Georgia Tech will need to embrace that mindset in order to finish outside the bottom third of the league.

11. Wake Forest

After winning just one conference game last year, there’s nowhere to go by up for the Demon Deacons.

While the offseason has been a bit tumultuous as described above, they do return talented sophomore forward Travis McKie.  He led the team with 13.0 points and 7.7 rebounds and shot better than 50 percent from the field.  McKie posted strong rebounding percentages on both ends and finished with 24 double-digit scoring efforts.

With J.T. Terrell gones, C.J. Harris is expected to slide back over to shooting guard.  He scored 10.3 points per game and led the team in assists but never really felt comfortable playing the point.  Tony Chennault was limited to just 15 games last season after breaking his foot, but he’s now healthy and is likely to be the starting point guard.  The top newcomer is freshman guard Chase Fischer who averaged 37 points as a senior in high school and should easily be the team’s top outside threat.

Up front, soph Carson Desrosiers returns, and it sounds as though he has added some much-needed bulk in the offseason.  He’ll definitely see extended minutes while Ty Walker sits out early on.  Nikita Mescheriakov played for his native Belarus  over the summer and should improve on his 4.5 points per game from last year, and freshman Daniel Green may also seem time inside out of necessity during what is shaping up to be another long year for Wake.

12. Boston College

It won’t take long for me to recap BC’s top returning players, since no one on the roster scored more than 4.1 points per game last year.  Guards Danny Rubin and Gabe Moton are really the only returnees of note, with Rubin averaging 4.1 points and hitting 43.4 percent from deep and Moton showed solid defensive ability at the point.  Oregon transfer Matt Humphrey was a highly regarded scorer coming out of high school and should lead the Eagles in scoring.

A large recruiting class will be thrust into action right away.  Forward Ryan Anderson was the Gatorade Player of the Year in California and should start at the four, while big men K.C. Caudill and Dennis Clifford will rotate at center.  Eddie Odio gives the team a tremendous athlete on the wing, and German guard Patrick Heckmann played well in the 2010 European Championships.  Jordan Daniels lacks size but brings tremendous quickness to the point, while fellow frosh Lonnie Jackson  has been described as the best shooter among the nine-man incoming class.

There are essentially no expectations for Boston College given the roster turnover, and Steve Donahue will deserve Coach of the Year consideration if this team finishes any higher than 11th.

ACC Predictions: POY and All-Conference Team

All-Conference

• Harrison Barnes, F, North Carolina
• Malcolm Grant, G, Miami
• Austin Rivers, G, Duke
• Mike Scott, F, Virginia
• Tyler Zeller, F, North Carolina

Player of the Year: Harrison Barnes, F, North Carolina

His challenges to live up to the preseason hype last year were well documented, but Barnes was terrific over the latter half of the season and showed the clutch scoring ability inherent in all great players.  Over the final 18 games of the season, he averaged 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds while hitting nearly 38 percent from beyond the arc.

Among the many highlights of his freshman season was a marquee performance against Clemson in the ACC semis, where he scored 40 points, including 14 of UNC’s 18 points in OT.  He worked on his ballhandling over the summer and enters this season ready to lead the nation’s top team, and his experience dealing with high expectations last season will serve both him and the Tar Heels well in that endeavour.

Freshman of the Year: Austin Rivers, G, Duke

After earning multiple high school player of the year honors last season, Rivers brings a definitive swagger and confidence to Durham.  He has a wide array of skills on the offensive end, which make him extremely difficult to defend.

Rivers can blow by you and get into the lane, pull up for mid-range jumpers, or knock down three-pointers.  When he gets on a roll, just sit back and enjoy the show.  If he can avoid the temptation to force the action and instead focus on protecting the ball and shot selection, the sky is the limit for Rivers given his immense talent and fearless attitude.

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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.

Update: The predictions are in below.

Wow.

My heart is still racing from that incredible Kentucky-Ohio State game, and I didn’t even have a dog in the fight! That is what makes March Madness so incredible. Even when your team – for me it’s Indiana – doesn’t make the tournament, the games are still so dramatic that you are compelled to get into it as much as if your own team was playing.

It should not be too difficult to get college basketball fans excited about this matchup. Two of the bluest of the blue bloods (literally) will be facing off in Newark on Sunday. It’s Kentucky-North Carolina. What the hell else do I really have to say?

Elite 8: Kentucky-North Carolina Game Info

• Kentucky-North Carolina Date: Sunday, March 27th
• Kentucky-North Carolina Tip Time: 5:05 ET
• Kentucky-North Carolina TV: CBS
• Kentucky-North Carolina Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg
• Kentucky-North Carolina Location: The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
• Kentucky-North Carolina Point Spread: Kentucky -1
• Kentucky-North Carolina Over-Under: 147

Kentucky-North Carolina Statistical Analysis

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

Kentucky-North Carolina 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:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Here are Twitch’s thoughts on this game. And remember, he nailed yesterday’s games.

The UNC/Kentucky game is very intriguing. Both teams ended the season playing better basketball than when they started the year.

The teams actually mirror each other quite a bit too. Both have freshmen playing major roles, and both have solid inside-outside games.

I would urge everyone to not be too swayed by Friday night’s games, and really try to look at the matchups as a whole.

Knight/Marshall, Barnes/Jones, Zeller/Harrellson. In each matchup, Kentucky has the better athlete, but UNC has more skill.

I think that will be the key to the game. There will probably be a lot of fast breaking early on. It will be exciting, and Kentucky may even have a 6-10 point lead at some point. But as the game slows down, I think UNC’s skill will be the deciding factor.

Kentucky won’t be able to keep Zeller and Henson off the offensive glass, Marshall will make every right pass, and Barnes will hit a few more key shots to put the game away for the Tar Heels.

• North Carolina-Kentucky Prediction: UNC 83 – Kentucky 77
• North Carolina-Kentucky Spread Pick: UNC +1
• North Carolina-Kentucky Over-Under: Over

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Note: This post is from 2009. To view our 2010 March Madness coverage, use the following links:

• March Madness 2010 Schedule, Sites, and Tickets
• MSF Bracket Challenge
• Mens NCAA Tournament Bracket, TV Schedule, Announcers, Spreads
• Midwest Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
• East Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
• South Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
• West Region Bracket Picks, Predictions, TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers
• History of Final Four in Indianapolis
• Women’s NCAA Tournament Schedule, Sites, Tickets

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This post will analyze the Michigan State-North Carolina NCAA Championship game using a statistical analysis provided by the Game Predictor at ESPN.com, which is powered by TeamRankings.com. For an analysis of how this program works, hop over to the first individual game Sweet 16 preview I put out for UConn-Purdue. The methodology is all explained there.

From the Maui Invitational to March Madness, it all comes down to Championship Monday. One of the participants in this year’s Mens NCAA Championship Game was excepted: North Carolina. The other, Michigan State, surprised a lot of people (but not me) by surpassing Louisville to even make it to Detroit for the Final Four. They then surprised even more people (including me) by knocking off UConn Saturday night.

Now, the Spartans and head coach Tom Izzo have an opportunity to bring even more joy to the city of Detroit by capturing the 2009 NCAA Championship. All that stands in their way is the most talented team in America and the team that has been more dominant than any other during the NCAA Tournament. Monday night’s game will be, undoubtedly, the most challenging yet for Izzo, Kalin Lucas, and the mighty Spartans.

But so was Saturday night’s game against UConn, and Michigan State was able to impose their will in an 82-73 victory.

And so was last weekend’s game against Louisville, but the Spartans took the Cardinals behind the woodshed in the second half and made all fans of Big Ten basketball proud in a 64-52 victory.

The question now is: can these magic Spartans pull another unexpected rabbit out of their hat with an upset over North Carolina?

I’m about to put my 12-2 record predicting all of the games since the Sweet 16 on the line. I went against Michigan State in their Final Four matchup with UConn. It will take a lot for me to pick against them again.

Unfortunately for all of the Big Ten and Spartan supporters who will be cheering on the guys in green Monday night, North Carolina has proven there are a lot of reasons to like their chances. Will it be enough to overcome the decidedly home court-like advantage that Michigan State will enjoy on Monday night? That’s what we’re here to find out. (Or, at least, predict.)

First, a few of the specifics for the 2009 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship game between Michigan State and North Carolina:

Michigan State v North Carolina National Championship Game Preview and Prediction

• StubHub: 2009 Mens NCAA Championship Game Tickets
• RazorGator: 2009 Mens NCAA Championship Game Tickets
• Hotels.com: Find Hotels in Detroit for Mens NCAA Championship Game
• What: 70th Mens Basketball NCAA Championship Game
• Where: Ford Field in Detroit, MI
• When: Monday, April 6th
• TV Time: 9:21 ET on CBS
• Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg
• Point Spread: North Carolina -7.5
• Over-Under: 153

(FYI…the spread and over-under info are the initial lines from BetUs.com from Saturday night. You may want to check there for the most up-to-date info.)

And now, let’s head over to Game Predictor and see how Michigan State and North Carolina match up with respect to the same five statistical categories we have used to analyze every game thus far since the Sweet 16:

• Offensive Efficiency: North Carolina – 1.155 | Michigan State – 1.058
• Defensive Efficiency: North Carolina – 0.932 | Michigan State – 0.925
• Assist/TO Ratio: North Carolina – 1.416 | Michigan State – 1.181
• Free Throw %: North Carolina – 0.765 | Michigan State – 0.698
• Defensive Field Goal %: North Carolina – 0.414 | Michigan State – 0.414

So the Tar Heels win three out of the five categories, with the teams being identical in terms of the field goal percentage they give up. For anyone who has been following these predictions, we know that Game Predictor will choose the Tar Heels. They are the higher seed and have the advantage in the stat categories. The question is, how strong will the prediction be? Let’s find out:

• Odds to Win Game: North Carolina – 59.2% | Michigan State – 40.8%
• Most Likely Final Score: North Carolina – 74.7 | Michigan State – 71.8
• Odds to Cover Spread: (I did this before the spread had been posted. Use the link above to go to Game Predictor and analyze it on your own, using your own stats, if you really want to know. I don’t bet on sports, so I don’t really care that much.)
• Confidence Level: 2 Stars

Now that we know how Game Predictor sees the game, with no real surprises, it’s time for a little analysis and prediction.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s discuss one thing that does not matter heading into Monday night’s MSU-UNC game:

Back in December, North Carolina beat Michigan State 98-63 at Ford Field in Detroit

A lot of people are going to point to the Michigan State-North Carolina game from earlier this season as a reason for why North Carolina can and should beat Michigan State on Monday. Why? Same teams + same season + same venue (should) = same result…right?

Not so fast, and here are the reasons:

• In December, the announced attendance was 25,267 out of the 70,000 person capacity at Ford Field. Monday night, there will be 70,000 strong at the game and the vast majority will be partial to the Spartans. Michigan State may not be in East Lansing, but it will be as close to a home game as possible for a game like this in terms of fan support.
• Goran Suton did not play in the first meeting. He was out with a sprained knee. Suton did not have a good game against UConn Saturday, but he was huge in the Spartans’ wins over Kansas and Louisville.
• Michigan State came into the game having only two days rest after playing three games in four nights at the Old Spice Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. After the game, Tom Izzo said, “The blame goes on me for the scheduling. We were dead.” The Tar Heels had finished up their championship run in the Maui Invitational on November 26th and then played a tune-up game against UNC-Asheville that resulted in a relaxing 116-48 victory. Ty Lawson smartly said during the press conference after the Villanova game that the previous game would have no bearing on Monday night.
• Kalin Lucas scored six points on 2-10 shooting. Have you seen him play in the tournament? Do you think he’ll do that again? I don’t think so.

Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let’s take a look at where each team has an advantage with three reasons why each team will win.

Three Reasons Why North Carolina Will Beat Michigan State

1 – Plain and simple, North Carolina at its best is better than Michigan State at its best.

Can anyone truly, honestly dispute this?

If both of these teams play their absolute best basketball of the season, North Carolina will win. But luckily for the Spartans, the game is not played in such a vacuum. Many people thought Michigan State and Kansas were an even match, and the Spartans came out on top. Most people gave Louisville and UConn the advantage over Michigan State, but the Spartans still came out on top.

Nearly everyone, again, will give North Carolina the advantage over Michigan State — so can the Spartans come out on top?

Well, they can…but they have to force the Tar Heels to play below their ability. And while this is certainly possible in a one game scenario, you would lose more money that you’d win betting against the team with superior ability.

An old adage of winning in the NCAA Tournament is that usually the teams with the most NBA-level talent end up going the furthest. North Carolina certainly has more players projected to make an impact at the next level than Michigan State. Again, this does not necessarily mean that North Carolina will win, but their chances of doing so are certainly better.

2 – Ty Lawson is the best player on the floor.

I realize that this somewhat piggybacks on the last one, but it’s an important distinction. Having a lot of talent is great, but if that talent does not function together as a unit, it does not matter. The reason why Michigan State has beaten Louisville and UConn is that Kalin Lucas has been an oustanding floor general and has guided the talent on the floor with him to play better team basketball than its opponents.

Ty Lawson is doing the exact same thing, and now we know why everyone was so concerned about his toe injury. This guy is magnificent.

And as good as Kalin Lucas is, Ty Lawson is still a notch above. I love Kalin, but he is not as consistent a shooter nor quite as effective a playmaker in the open court as Lawson. A quick comparison:

• Points per game: Ty Lawson – 16.3 | Kalin Lucas – 14.6
• Assists per game: Ty Lawson – 6.5 | Kalin Lucas – 4.6
• Field Goal %: Ty Lawson – .542 | Kalin Lucas – .394
• Free Throw %: Ty Lawson – .815 | Kalin Lucas – .814
• Free Throw Attempts per game: Ty Lawson – 5.2 | Kalin Lucas – 5.52
• 3 Point %: Ty Lawson – .485 | Kalin Lucas – .388

Look, I love Kalin Lucas. (In fact, I’ve now said that I love him in two consecutive paragraphs, but it’s just a basketball crush and nothing more, I promise.) And you can chalk up Lawson’s advantage in points and assists to the style of play North Carolina employs. Surprisingly, the more slight-of-frame Lucas actually get to the foul line more than Lawson, which proves the kid’s toughness and ability to get into the teeth of the defense. (As well as the fact that Michigan State has played in a few more close games.)

However, those shooting percentages are difficult to ignore. In a one game scenario, either of these guys could be hot or cold. The question is, who is more likely to be hot and who is more likely to be cold? The stats say Ty Lawson is more likely to a great shooting night.

I think the frontcourts for these two teams are very similar (assuming either Raymar Morgan or Goran Suton shows up), and that guard production will likely decide the outcome; if this is true, then it’s hard to choose against the Tar Heels and Lawson.

3 – The Tar Heels have been on a mission since this time last year.

After North Carolina got royally spanked by Kansas in the Final Four last year, the Tar Heels’ terrific trio of Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Tyler Hansbrough all decided to come back for another run. Without question, they had one primary goal in mind: win the national title.

Now, I realize that every top echelon team (Michigan State included) enters a season hoping to win a national title. But the Tar Heels entered the season expecting to win a national title, and knowing they had the talent to do it. Plus, they had the extra motivation of erasing last year’s Final Four embarrassment. They did that tonight by beating Villanova, and now they have one more step left to complete their season-long journey.

I think this is a big difference between these two teams.

North Carolina started the season as the #1 team in America in both polls, with no other team receiving a first place vote. Then they went out and dominated the majority of their competition and are peaking at just the right time. Michigan State started out at #6 and #7 in the two polls, had an up and down season, but they too are peaking at the right time. But I get a small sense to happy-to-be-here from Michigan State. I think their goal was to make it to Detroit entering the season. North Carolina’s goal was to win it in Detroit.

You will see below that I think the home court advantage is big for Michigan State, but I also think the confidence, belief, and season-long championship tunnel-vision of North Carolina is a big advantage for the Tar Heels. If North Carolina was going to lay an egg, I think they would have done it tonight in the Final Four; but they stared down the evil memory of last year and overcame it emphatically. Now freed from that pressure, there is only one more sprint to the only finish line they were targeting all season: the National Championship.

A supremely talented team that is on a mission, and peaking as they approach their mission’s achievement, is extremely dangerous. North Carolina heading into Monday night is extremely dangerous.

Three Reasons Why Michigan State Will Beat North Carolina

1 – Michigan State can work the offensive glass and control teams in transition

Watch North Carolina play and you are likely to wear our your neck going back and forth trying to keep up with the action. The Tar Heels push the ball and push the ball and push the ball some more. If you are going to beat North Carolina, you absolutely have to be able to play strong transition defense. Surprisingly though, you do not have to dominate the Tar Heels on the glass to win.

Case in point, in their four losses this year:

• North Carolina outrebounded Maryland 46-38 in an 88-85 loss
• North Carolina outrebounded Wake Forest 46-35 in a 92-89 loss
• North Carolina outrebounded Boston College 45-38 in an 85-78 loss
• North Carolina was outrebounded by Florida State 35-34 in a 73-70 loss

And earlier tonight, Villanova outrebounded North Carolina 50-46, but still lost 83-69. So clearly, rebounding by itself is not a key to beating North Carolina. But here is what is a key: getting solid offensive rebounding from your frontcourt players, while your backcourt guys are heading back to slow down the North Carolina transition. A deeper look at the Carolina losses this year:

• Maryland had 12 offensive rebounds, seven of which came from frontcourt players
• Wake Forest had 8 offensive rebounds, all of which came from frontcourt players
• Boston College had 14 offensive rebounds, 10 of which came from frontcourt players
• Florida State had 12 offensive rebounds, 10 of which came from frontcourt players

And tonight, Villanova had 19 offensive rebounds, but 10 of them came from backcourt players Dwayne Anderson, Scottie Reynolds, Reggie Redding, and Corey Fisher. With those guys battling inside for offensive rebounds, North Carolina was able to get into transition and get open looks. The result was 83 points and 11-22 shooting from downtown.

Look at the Oklahoma-UNC game. The Sooners tied the Tar Heels on the glass 27-27 overall and beat them 10-6 on the offensive end, with all of those offensive rebounds coming from frontcourt guys. The Sooners held the Tar Heels to 72 points, which is 11 less than the Heels scored in any other tournament game and 17 fewer than their season average. Unfortunately for Oklahoma, they simply could not hit a shot themselves (2-19 from downtown) and only scored 60.

If Michigan State shoots 2-19 from downtown, obviously they have no chance. They had a poor shooting night tonight and still went 6-19 from deep. But if they can follow Oklahoma’s blueprint for slowing down UNC’s pace, the Spartans can win a game played in the 70s.

Can they follow that blueprint?

Well, just look at tonight — because they did. Against a much bigger UConn team, the Spartans were outrebounded only 41-40 and won on the offensive side 16-15. Most importantly, neither Kalin Lucas nor Travis Walton contributed even one rebound to the excellent effort on the offensive glass. What they did do is get back and slow down AJ Price and the Huskies’ running game. UConn only shot 42.4% overall and 2-6 from downtown, both stats proving that they did not get many easy shots, most of which typically come out of transition.

2 – To beat North Carolina you must have guards who can score; Michigan State does

Let’s take a look at North Carolina’s three losses again:

• G Greivis Vasquez scored 35 points on 13-24 shooting and 5-10 from downtown in the Maryland loss
• Gs Tyrese Rice and Rakim Sanders combined for 47 points on 16-28 shooting and 6-13 from downtown in the Boston College loss
• G Jeff Teague scored 34 points on 9-17 shooting and 3-4 from downtown in the Wake Forest loss
• G Toney Douglas scored 27 points on 10-18 shooting and 3-8 from deep in the Florida State loss in the ACC Tournament.

I actually thought that this was a reason why Villanova would have a chance against North Carolina. And while Scottie Reynolds, Reggie Redding, and Corey Fisher combined for 45 points, they were a combined 16-46 from the field. Villanova’s shot selection on Saturday night was, in a word, atrocious.

Michigan State is a much more disciplined team offensively, and should use better shot judgment and be more patient to get open looks. And while I do not think you will see any of their players individually match the output that Vasquez, Rice, Sanders, Teague, and Douglas had in leading their teams to victory, Michigan State does have five players capable of scoring in double-digits and hitting outside shots on a nightly basis: Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen, Durrell Summers, Travis Walton, and Korie Lucious.

Kalin Lucas is the most consistent of the bunch, and he will have to score points on Monday night. He has scored at least 10 in the Spartans’ last four tournament games, including 21 Saturday against UConn. I think Lucas needs to score in the 15-20 range for the Spartans to win, but most importantly they must get balance from these five guys.

The biggest question mark about North Carolina throughout the season was their defense, but they have proven over the last couple of games that they can step it up and play solid D. By no means is it a foregone conclusion that Michigan State’s guards can score enough points to keep up with the Tar Heels, but they do have the talent to do it, which is why they have a chance Monday night.

Without significant point production from the backcourt, you simply do not beat North Carolina; the Spartan guards need to bring it Monday night, and they are capable.

3 – The home court advantage and close game experience

I think these are a big deal. A very big deal.

North Carolina is a team with incredible “spurtability” that likes to lay the hammer down on opponents — a lot like they did against the Spartans early in the year, and a lot like they did against Villanova Saturday. North Carolina jumped out on the Wildcats early, and ‘Nova was never able to get back into it. It looked to me like Villanova was playing as if everything was going against them, and the self-fulfilling prophecy proved true.

The Tar Heels average point differential on the season is 17.8 points (89.8-72.0), so they are used to imposing their will and putting teams away. There is no question in my mind that North Carolina will make some runs on Monday night. They are too good and too talented not to. But with Michigan State having a raucous Detroit crowd willing them on at every opportunity, the Tar Heels will be hard pressed to “knock out” the Spartans.

For a team that gets lots of easy victories, being in a knock-down, drag-out fight can sometimes be challenging. Certainly, North Carolina has won close games this year (79-76 over Virginia Tech, 69-65 over Miami, for example), but they have only played 10 games decided by 10 points or less, going 6-4 in these contests. Michigan State, on the other hand, has been grinding out games all season long. The Spartans average point differential is 9.0 (72.0-63.0) and they are 12-2 in games decided by 10 points or less.

The point differential is obviously a double-edged sword. North Carolina’s shows its potential for dominance, which is why they are about a touchdown favorite on Monday night, and I don’t think anyone would walk away from Monday night completely shocked if North Carolina puts on a dominating performance; we’ve just seen it too often from them in the tournament. However, if Michigan State can battle and keep it close, I like the Spartans’ chances. They are used to playing in closer games and have a great record when it comes to pulling them out.

And that’s where the crowd comes in.

I saw first hand how much a crowd can will a team to stay in a game when the Spartans played in Bloomington this year. Michigan State is one of the finalists for the NCAA title, and Indiana fielded perhaps the worst team in school history. Yet, somehow, the Hoosiers were able to make it only a 5-point game, losing 64-59, with Indiana outscoring the Spartans 32-30 in the second half. With such a great disparity in talent, the Hoosiers used grit, determination, will, and the energy of the home crowd to fight until the end.

There is no question that while North Carolina is the more talented and explosive team, that Michigan State is far closer to the Tar Heels than Indiana was to Michigan State. A little more talent and Indiana might have pulled off the upset. For Michigan State, we have seen their grit, determination, and will — and we know how crazy the Ford Field crowd will be for them Monday night. I think all of those factors will help the Spartans keep it close; and if they do, as the stats prove, I think the Spartans have an advantage in a close game.

Okay, so now that we’ve run down three reasons why each team will win, it’s time to hop onto one side of the fence and choose which of these two teams will actually be the victor, and the 2009 NCAA Mens Basketball Champion, on Monday night. However, it’s not quite as easy as just picking one or the other.

My gut says that Tom Izzo’s game-planning brilliance, the Spartans’ grit, Kalin Lucas’ leadership, and the support of the Detroit crowd will keep this game close. And in a close game I like the Spartans, as I just mentioned. However, my head says that North Carolina has such a fierce combination of talent and focus that they are simply unbeatable by any team in college basketball right now. Yet, my heart says Michigan State because of my affinity for their coach and my desire to see the Big Ten gain back some of the prestige that has been lost in recent seasons.

It would be easy to go with my head on this one and make the “safe” pick. However, I’m going with the Spartans, and unlike during the games on Saturday night (when I picked UConn and UNC to win) I can actually cheer with my pick on Monday.

But in the end, I’m not just picking the Spartans because I want to. I saved a very important “why they will win” reason for the end, and here it is:

I trust Tom Izzo more in big games than I trust Roy Williams.

Both are great coaches — Hall of Famers, in fact — and both have won championships before. And while both coaches have had successes and failures in big spots, there is just something visceral about Tom Izzo’s fiery, underdog, energetic style that I buy into more than Roy Williams’ style. Unlike the analysis above, I don’t have lots of stats to back my support for Izzo up, and you are well within your right to say I am biased on this one. But I picked against Izzo in the Michigan State-Connecticut game, and I’m not about to do it again on Monday.

Plus, I think an overzealous North Carolina fan may have unwittingly jinxed the Tar Heels.

I just went to the Wikipedia pages for both Tom Izzo and Roy Williams to examine their career records for something quantitative to back up by claim of trusting Izzo more in big games.

Here is a screen shot of what the section on Izzo’s career coaching record looked like:

And here is a screen shot of what the section on Williams’ career coaching record looked like:

Notice anything funny about the Roy Williams page? Someone already edited it to say “National Championship” for this season. (If you go to the page now, it very well could be edited, but that’s why I did the screen capture. Readers of this site know that I like to have fun with Photoshop from time to time, but I promise you that this is exactly how the pages looked.)

Hmm…it’s 1:20 am Central Time on Sunday morning as I write this. Looks like somebody jumped the gun bit declaring a winner. And while it’s not the same as the New England Patriots copyrighting 19-0 before the Super Bowl, it’s still jinx-worthy in my book.

Add up North Carolina’s three reasons and the Game Predictor outcome, and then add up Michigan State’s three reasons plus Izzo over Williams, and the two teams are knotted at 4-4. Throw in the jinx and the tie is broken.

Prediction: Michigan State completes a storybook run to the National Championship by winning a close, hard-fought game on Monday night against the backdrop of a city that loves its Spartans, and certainly deserves some joy in the midst of its terrible economic woes.

I can’t wait for this one. It’s going to be one hell of a championship game.

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