20. Maryland
Record: 11-1
Last week’s ranking: 21st
AP ranking: Unranked
Coaches’ poll ranking: Unranked
Games last week: W 92-66 vs. Jacksonville St.
Games this week: vs. Charlotte (December 20 in Baltimore)
Breakdown: While they aren’t ranked in either major poll, the Terrapins continue to chug along as Big Ten play approaches. Maryland used more full-court pressure in their win over Jacksonville State, forcing 16 turnovers with freshmen Kevin Huerter and Justin Jackson combining for five steals. With those two on the wings, and vets Dion Wiley and Jared Nickens back them up, Mark Turgeon has enough depth to use the pressure on a more regular basis. Last season Maryland called on the 1-2-1-1 on occasion, with Jake Layman at the head of it, but depth issues kept them from doing it too much. That doesn’t appear to be a problem in 2016-17.
19. Oregon
Record: 10-2
Last week’s ranking: 22nd
AP ranking: 20th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 21st
Games last week: W 81-67 vs. Montana, W 83-63 vs. UNLV
Games this week: vs. Fresno State (December 20)
Breakdown: Winners of eight straight games, Dana Altman’s Ducks look much more comfortable than they did in the first games of Dillon Brooks’ return. Oregon averaged 82 points per game against overmatched foes Montana and UNLV last week, with Brooks scoring 20 points, Tyler Dorsey 18 and Jordan Bell 16 (with 12 rebounds and three blocks) in the 20-point win over UNLV. Oregon’s got one last non-conference game before their Pac-12 opener against No. 2 UCLA on December 28, in what will be a showdown between the team picked to win the conference in the preseason (Oregon) and the team that has looked the most impressive to this point in the season (UCLA).
18. Saint Mary’s
Record: 8-1
Last week’s ranking: 17th
AP ranking: 19th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 19th
Games last week: W 73-51 vs. Western Kentucky
Games this week: vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (December 20), vs. South Carolina St. (December 22)
Breakdown: Saint Mary’s has won two straight since its lone defeat of the season thus far, most recently limiting Western Kentucky to 0.85 points per possession on Saturday. The Gaels have one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, as they’re ranked eighth in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency per KenPom.com. Saint Mary’s, which doesn’t turn opponents over at a high rate, has done a good job thus far of making their foes take (and make) challenged shots. Opponents have an effective field goal percentage of 47.2 this season, and their defense will be critical in the WCC showdowns to come against Gonzaga and BYU when league play begins.
17. Arizona
Record: 10-2
Last week’s ranking: 20th
AP ranking: 18th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 18th
Games last week: W 64-54 vs. Grand Canyon, W 67-63 vs. Texas A&M
Games this week: vs. New Mexico (December 20)
Breakdown: For all of their injury issues the Wildcats continue to win games, with their win streak up to four after they hung on to beat Texas A&M Saturday afternoon in Houston. Arizona led the game by as much as 20 before the Aggies made their furious rally, and the rotation used will be what head coach Sean Miller goes to in big games until guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright returns from an ankle injury. Four of Arizona’s five starters played at least 36 minutes Saturday, with the fifth starter (center Dusan Ristic) scoring a team-best 18 points despite dealing with four trouble and Lauri Markkanen adding 17 points and seven rebounds. After their non-conference finale against New Mexico, Arizona will play four of its first seven Pac-12 games on the road, but by then the hope is that Jackson-Cartwright will be able to return (Allonzo Trier? We’ll see).
16. Wisconsin
Record: 10-2
Last week’s ranking: 15th
AP ranking: 14th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 14th
Games last week: W 73-59 vs. Green Bay
Games this week: vs. Florida A&M (December 23)
Breakdown: Wisconsin led by as much as 24 in their win over Green Bay Wednesday night, with Nigel Hayes continuing his run of high-level play with 24 points and five rebounds. Wisconsin doesn’t lack for talent or depth, with fellow senior Bronson Koenig and sophomore Ethan Happ among their other standouts. But when it comes to the “difference-maker” who can take Wisconsin a long way both within the Big Ten and in the NCAA tournament, that man is Hayes. He’s done it in a variety of ways of late, scoring in some games while serving as a distributor in others (Syracuse) with the rebounding being a constant.
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