College Basketball Rankings: Projected Top 10 after West Virginia loss
By Chris Stone
Here’s what Monday’s top 10 might look like after Oklahoma knocked off West Virginia
The West Virginia Mountaineers suffered their second loss in the Big 12 conference as Jordan Woodard and the Oklahoma Sooners knocked them off, 89-87, in Morgantown.
Woodard made clutch play after clutch play, including a go-ahead layup with 2.2 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Sooners the win.
West Virginia’s loss will inevitably result in a shakeup in the polls. Here’s what the new top 10 might look like.
1. Villanova – The Wildcats found their way back to the top of the AP poll this week. They solidified their spot with 30-point drubbing of Seton Hall on Tuesday night.
2. Kansas – The Jayhawks actually received more first place votes than Villanova in the latest poll, but the rules of rankings at the top tend to be that if you don’t lose, you don’t fall, so this is where Kansas stays.
3. UCLA – Lonzo Ball and company are the best team in the Pac-12, but the polls probably overvalue their starpower. The Bruins are ranked just no. 13 based on adjusted efficiency margin because of their porous defense.
4. Gonzaga – The Bulldogs have a legitimate chance to go undefeated in the West Coast Conference. All that stands in the way is a date on February 11 at Saint Mary’s.
5. Kentucky – John Calipari’s squad has looked a little shaky in single-digit wins in its last two away contests in the SEC, but the Wildcats have been dominant at home. They face South Carolina on Saturday. The Gamecocks are also undefeated in league play.
6. Baylor – The Bears were brought back down to earth after a hot start to the season. They’re still talented enough to make a deep run in March, though.
7. Creighton – The Bluejays lost starting point guard Mo Watson to a torn ACL, but still managed to pull off a road win at Xavier without him in the second half.
8. North Carolina – The Tarheels appear to be finding their form after adding guard Theo Pinson back into the lineup.
9. Florida State – The Seminoles knocked off Notre Dame on Wednesday night. They now sit in a three-way tie with North Carolina and Notre Dame atop the ACC.
10. Oregon – Dana Altman’s group is finally starting to look like the Final Four contender that many thought they could be before the season began.