College Basketball Rankings: Projected Top 25 for Week 7
There aren’t many undefeated teams left in college basketball this season, but Miami has bucked the trend, taking down George Washington in Week 6 to remain one of four undefeated teams in the AP Top 25. The win won only by nine points and the Hurricanes scored just 50 points, so that won’t impress voters, but they will likely move into the top-five with a Wichita State loss.
Arizona State is the surprise team of college basketball. I know I’ve said that about both Florida State and Oklahoma, but the Sun Devils came out of nowhere and have really put their mark on the season. They’ve gone from unranked to No. 16 to No. 5 and likely top-four this week thanks to a Wichita State loss. What a rise in the polls, but Tra Holder and the Sun Devils are playing at a high level and they took care of Vanderbilt in Week 6.
A week after being upset by Boston College, Duke had a week off. The Blue Devils probably needed that week to clear their heads after being dropped from the top spot as it can be tough on young players to go down for the first time at the collegiate level. Still, Duke has a perfect blend of veterans and elite young players which is good enough to get back to that No. 1 spot before the season is over. For now, the Blue Devils will have to settle for No. 3.
Michigan State was passed up by Villanova for the No. 1 spot last week which ruffled the feathers of Spartan fans, but it’s still December. The Spartans may have the most talented of any team in the country not named Duke, but they will continue to get the best shot of inferior opponents. Such was the case when they took down Oakland, 86-73, but the annual in-state matchup nearly went down to the wire.
Surprise, yet another team in the Top 25 with one game played in Week 6 and the newly-anointed No. 1 team in the country, Villanova, took care of Temple by 20 points. Jay Wright said last week that rankings in December don’t much matter, and he’s right, but you know his team will be motivated to hold on to that No. 1 ranking for the better part of the season. This team is surely talented enough to remain unbeaten.