25. USC
Record: 10-0
Last week’s ranking: 25th
AP ranking: 23rd
Coaches’ poll ranking: 25th
Games last week: W 82-77 vs. Troy
Games this week: vs. Cornell (December 19), vs. Missouri State (December 22 in Las Vegas), vs. DePaul or Wyoming (December 23 in Las Vegas)
Breakdown: USC had some issues with Troy on Saturday, with their ball screen defense not being as sharp as it should be before they managed to clean some things up down the stretch. Andy Enfield’s team is now 10-0 on the season, and while they’re the lone undefeated team that isn’t in the Top 10 that has more to do with their starting point than anything else. USC’s still awaiting the return of Bennie Boatwright, but with point guard Jordan McLaughlin running the show the Trojans are still plenty dangerous on the offensive end. The next three games, which they’ll be favored to win, give USC the opportunity to clean some things up before they begin Pac-12 play at Oregon State on December 28.
24. South Carolina
Record: 9-1
Last week’s ranking:18th
AP ranking: 22nd
Coaches’ poll ranking: 20th
Games last week: L 67-64 vs. Seton Hall, W 77-67 at South Florida
Games this week: vs. Clemson (December 21)
Breakdown: Playing without suspended guard Sindarius Thornwell, who has been South Carolina’s best offensive player, shrinks the Gamecocks’ margin for error when they face teams that can handle their defensive pressure. That’s what happened last Tuesday against Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden, as they Pirates regained their footing after initially struggling to deal with South Carolina’s aggressive defense. Add in Duane Notice shooting 1-for-10 from the field, and P.J. Dozier’s 20-point night went for naught. South Carolina rebounded to take care of South Florida in Tampa over the weekend, and they face another challenge this week as in-state rival Clemson visits Columbia.
23. Florida State
Record: 11-1
Last week’s ranking: 23rd
AP ranking: 21st
Coaches’ poll ranking: 22nd
Games last week: W 83-67 vs. Manhattan
Games this week: vs. Samford (December 19)
Breakdown: The Seminoles won their seventh consecutive game Saturday, as they beat Manhattan by 16 at the Orange Bowl Classic. Dwayne Bacon scored 16 points to lead the way offensively, but the big takeaway from that win is how Florida State defended. Manhattan committed 18 turnovers, giving up the ball on 25.4 percent of their possessions, and Florida State turned those miscues into 22 points. That, combined with Florida State’s size inside, proved to be too much for the Jaspers to handle Saturday afternoon. Florida State still has some things to clean up (16 turnovers vs. Manhattan), because their ACC schedule will be full of talented foes, but Bacon, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Jonathan Isaac and company have the tools required to reach the NCAA tournament.
22. Xavier
Record: 9-2
Last week’s ranking: 24th
AP ranking: 17th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 17th
Games last week: W 69-65 vs. Wake Forest
Games this week: vs. Eastern Washington (December 20)
Breakdown: Xavier has won its last two games, most recently beating Wake Forest by four in the Skip Prosser Classic. Despite turning the ball over 15 times, Xavier’s superior scoring inside of the three-point line proved to be the difference. Wake Forest attempted seven more two-pointers than Xavier, 41 to the Musketeers’ 34, but Xavier made 61.8 percent of its attempts to just 45.5 percent for Wake Forest. Edmond Sumner shot 6-for-6 from two and RaShid Gaston 6-for-9, and the rate at which Xavier converts two-point shots will be key for them. Xavier’s shooting just 32.3 percent from three, and that’s an area where suspended guard Myles Davis can help them provided he do what it takes to be reinstated.
21. Notre Dame
Record: 9-2
Last week’s ranking:19th
AP ranking: 25th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 24th
Games last week: L 86-81 vs. Purdue
Games this week: vs. Colgate (December 19)
Breakdown: After winning their first nine games of the season the Fighting Irish have lost their last two, with both defeats coming against ranked teams. In their loss to Purdue at the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis, Notre Dame was done in by Purdue’s decision to go “small” with Caleb Swanigan at the five and 7-foot-2 Isaac Haas playing just 14 minutes. Vince Edwards came off the bench to grab six of Purdue’s 14 offensive rebounds, and the area where Notre Dame appeared to be in some trouble entering the game came back to haunt them in the end. With Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell playing as well as they have recently, Notre Dame will be fine heading into ACC play. And while missing out on quality wins against Villanova and Purdue does sting, they won’t lack for opportunities in conference play.
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