15. Indiana
Record: 8-2
Last week’s ranking: 10th
AP ranking: 16th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 16th
Games last week: L 83-78 vs. Butler
Games this week: vs. Delaware St. (December 19), vs. Austin Peay (December 22)
Breakdown: Indiana got off to a slow start against Butler at the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis, trailing by as much as 16 points before mounting a rally that fell short. The difference was the three-point line, as Indiana shot 6-for-21 from three and Butler was 10-for-21. And if you remove James Blackmon Jr.’s 4-for-7 night, the other Hoosiers combined to shoot 2-for-14. That shouldn’t happen too often to the Hoosiers given their many scoring options, but it reinforces the need to make sure that big man Thomas Bryant is getting consistent touches in the post. Bryant attempted ten shots on Saturday, and given the matchup issues he can cause getting the sophomore even more shots wouldn’t be a bad thing.
14. Purdue
Record: 9-2
Last week’s ranking: 16th
AP ranking: 15th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 15th
Games last week: W 86-81 vs. Notre Dame
Games this week: vs. Western Illinois (December 19), vs. Norfolk St. (December 21)
Breakdown: Purdue was forced to play a smaller lineup for large stretches of Saturday’s game against Notre Dame, and the move worked out just fine for Matt Painter’s team. Caleb Swanigan, who’s been dominant to this point in the season, finished with 26 points, ten rebounds and four blocks, and Vince Edwards gave the Boilers some good minutes off the bench as he finished with 20 points and ten boards. Edwards is an interesting case, as he was moved from the starting lineup to the bench. He’s still getting good minutes, but for some guys that shift can be an issue. That hasn’t been the case for Edwards, and if he continues to embrace the sixth man role Purdue will be better for it.
13. Butler
Record: 10-1
Last week’s ranking: 14th
AP ranking: 13th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 13th
Games last week: W 83-78 vs. Indiana
Games this week: vs. Vermont (December 21)
Breakdown: With Indiana wing OG Anunoby returning to their lineup for Saturday’s game, it appeared as if they would have an answer for Kelan Martin. Not the case, as Martin got off to a hot start and finished with a game-high 28 points as the Bulldogs beat Indiana by five. Andrew Chrabascz and Kamar Baldwin added 14 apiece, and Butler’s 12-point advantage from beyond the arc proved to be too much for the Hoosiers to overcome. And when you score nearly 1.2 points per possession and commit just six turnover as Butler did Saturday, there aren’t many teams that will be able to knock you off.
12. Virginia
Record: 9-1
Last week’s ranking: 13th
AP ranking: 12th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 10th
Games last week: W 79-39 vs. Robert Morris
Games this week: at California (December 21)
Breakdown: Playing for the first time in 11 days, the Cavaliers put together a dominant second half in their 79-39 win over Robert Morris. Virginia limited RMU to 7-for-31 shooting inside of the three-point line, and this is the third time this season that the Cavaliers have held an opponent under 40 points. They’ll face far tougher competition in ACC play, as well as their game at Cal Wednesday night. But you’ll win more than you’ll lose when the defense remains consistent. London Perrantes continues to lead the way for Tony Bennett’s team, which may not have an elite scorer in the bunch but there are multiple players capable of chipping in with double-digit scoring nights on occasion.
11. West Virginia
Record: 9-1
Last week’s ranking: 12th
AP ranking: 11th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 12th
Games last week: W 112-67 vs. UMKC
Games this week: vs. Radford (December 20), vs. Northern Kentucky (December 23)
Breakdown: Bob Huggins joined the 800 career wins club on Saturday, as the Mountaineers rolled to a 45-point win over UMKC. Similar outcomes should be expected in the Mountaineers’ final two non-conference games before they face Oklahoma State in the Big 12 opener. West Virginia forced 27 turnovers Saturday, with 34.6 percent of UMKC’s possessions ending in a turnover. That’s just below WVU’s turnover percentage number for the season, as their defensive turnover percentage of 34.7 percent leads the nation.
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