College Basketball AP Poll Week 10: Winners and losers

Jan 7, 2017; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears forward Johnathan Motley (5) shakes the hand of guard Al Freeman (25) after picking up a foul against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the second half at Ferrell Center. Baylor won 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 7, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino talks with guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and others in the second half of their game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at McCamish Pavilion. The Cardinals won 65-50. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Loser: Louisville Cardinals (No. 9 down to No. 14)

Louisville suffered one of the biggest drops of the week, second to only Virginia, and the ACC is looking more beatable. The Cardinals are one of those teams that could potentially win the conference title, but the inconsistency will do them in.

In fact, Louisville started the season 5-0 and had a big lead against Baylor in the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis, but let it slip away. They then beat Purdue and Kentucky before conference play began, but the Cardinals have already lost to a struggling Virginia team and Notre Dame.

The Cardinals need to find that middle ground so that they can reel off 5-6 wins in a row and really supplant themselves atop the conference standings. However, things won’t get any easier as they will play No. 7 Duke this week and then No. 9 Florida State the following week. The ACC schedule is grueling and it’s already starting to wear on this team.

Rick Pitino is an elite coach, though, and he knows how to dig his guys out of a hole like this. Two losses early on in conference play might seem like a disastrous start, but there is still plenty of basketball to be played. Louisville will be just fine with the talent that it has.