5. Kansas
Record: 10-1
Last week’s ranking:4th
AP ranking: 3rd
Coaches’ poll ranking: 3rd
Games last week: W 89-71 vs. Davidson
Games this week: at UNLV (December 22)
Breakdown: Kansas certainly has a case that they should be higher on this list, especially when factoring in their head-to-head win over Duke at the Champions Classic (more on that later). Bill Self’s team has won its last ten games, most recently beating Davidson by 18 after struggling with the Wildcats for most of the first half. Josh Jackson and Frank Mason scored 18 points apiece to lead the way, and Carlton Bragg and Landen Lucas combined to add 15 points and 16 rebounds off the bench. The front court remains a question, but the good news for Kansas is that they have multiple players they can call upon (Bragg, Lucas and Udoka Azubuike) to man the middle.
4. Baylor
Record: 11-0
Last week’s ranking: 3rd
AP ranking: 4th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 6th
Games last week: W 89-59 vs. Southern, W 82-57 vs. Jackson St., W 107-53 vs. John Brown
Games this week: vs. Texas Southern (December 21)
Breakdown: Baylor coasted to wins over three overmatched opponents last week, with the win over Jackson St. coming at Fort Hood. That will likely be the case when the Bears host Texas Southern Wednesday night. The good thing about those games is that they give Scott Drew the ability to work forward Nuni Omot into the rotation. The 6-foot-9 Omot was cleared for competition ahead of Baylor’s game against Southern. Omot gives Baylor yet another long, athletic forward to go along with Johnathon Motley, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. and Terry Maston.
3. Duke
Record: 10-1
Last week’s ranking:5th
AP ranking: 5th
Coaches’ poll ranking: 4th
Games last week: Idle
Games this week: vs. Tennessee St. (December 19), vs. Elon (December 21)
Breakdown: Duke presents an interesting dilemma when it comes to where to place them in the power rankings. Is their résumé as strong as Baylor’s? No. Is it fair to ignore the fact that Kansas beat them on a neutral court? No. But to counter those questions, Duke has yet to field its full rotation, with Jayson Tatum and Marques Bolden just recently making their season debuts. And in time, Harry Giles will do the same. Luke Kennard has played like a national player of the year candidate, and Grayson Allen looks healthy after struggling with a toe injury earlier this season. Mike Krzyzewski likely has the best team in the country when every player is available, but for now we’ll split the difference.
2. UCLA
Record: 12-0
Last week’s ranking: 2nd
AP ranking: 2nd
Coaches’ poll ranking: 2nd
Games last week: W 102-62 vs. UCSB, W 86-73 vs. Ohio State
Games this week: vs. Western Michigan (December 21)
Breakdown: Steve Alford’s Bruins moved to 12-0 with wins over UCSB and Ohio State, with the win over the Buckeyes coming in Las Vegas. The Bruins are ruthlessly efficient on offense, with Lonzo Ball running the point and multiple players not only willing to shoot the ball but pass it as well. UCLA averaged 1.1 points per possession against Ohio State, and had they not shot 10-for-31 from three the Bruins could have won the game by even more than 13 points. UCLA has one non-conference game remaining before they open Pac-12 play at Oregon, in what should be a highly entertaining matchup.
1.Villanova
Record: 11-0
Last week’s ranking: 1st
AP ranking: 1st
Coaches’ poll ranking: 1st
Games last week: W 78-57 vs. Temple
Games this week: vs. American (December 21)
Breakdown: Jay Wright’s Wildcats wrapped up another Philadelphia Big 5 title with their win over Temple, and the senior class of Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds made history as a result. Hart, Jenkins and Reynolds are the first class in the history of the Big 5 to go 16-0, which is no small feat considering just how intense those games are. Now Villanova sets their sights on another Big East regular season title, and with two of their first three conference games being on the road against Creighton and Butler (Nova opens league play at home against DePaul), it won’t be easy to get off to a hot start.
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NCAA Basketball Rankings: Heavy’s Top 30 for December 19