College Basketball Rankings: Projected Top 25 for Week 3
Kentucky seems like a team that might just be a few weeks away from truly hitting its stride. While the season just began, it does seem like the youth on this squad is struggling to gain any footing, but it kept things interesting in the Champions Classic against Kansas before losing, 65-61. They rebounded to beat Tennessee State over the weekend, but this team still has a long way to go. John Calipari has his work cut out for him.
The first two games of the season for Andy Enfield and the USC Trojans were a cakewalk. They had no problem dismantling Cal State Fullerton and then North Dakota State, but a road game on Sunday against a tough Vanderbilt game woke the Trojans up a bit. They weren’t expecting such a tough battle, but the nation’s No. 10 team got one in a hostile environment. They were able to hold the Commodores off in overtime to improve to 3-0 and will likely remain in the top 10.
The reigning national champs have been somewhat quiet to start the season. The Tar Heels have played just two games, as opposed to three or four for most teams, going 2-0 but allowing an average of 75 points to Bucknell and Northern Iowa. North Carolina still has a strong offensive attack and Roy Williams will make sure the defense steps up. Luke Maye has been on fire to start the year, averaging 23 points, 9.5 rebounds and shooting 71 percent from 3-point range. They will be headed to the Phil Knight Invitational this week.
Mike White and the Florida Gators found themselves in the middle of a dogfight on Sunday evening as they struggled to pull away from New Hampshire. The Gators and Wildcats were actually tied at the half before the former was able to make some stops down the stretch. Although the Gators shot just 32 percent from the floor and 17 percent from 3-point land, they found a way to win. Good teams always do.
Wichita State is in a new conference this season and it will be looking to make a splash. Despite a 2-0 record, though, there aren’t many who know much about the potential of this year’s team. Wins over UMKC and Charleston aren’t exactly telling, but the Shockers should reveal more about themselves in the coming weeks with games against Cal, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.