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College Basketball Rankings: Projected Top 25 for Week 11

By Connor Muldowney

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 09: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) shoots a three point shot during a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the William & Mary Tribe on December 9, 2017 at Value City Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 09: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) shoots a three point shot during a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the William & Mary Tribe on December 9, 2017 at Value City Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – JANUARY 13: Brandon Huffman #42 of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Jalek Felton #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on January 13, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – JANUARY 13: Brandon Huffman #42 of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Jalek Felton #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on January 13, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Who would have thought Auburn would be a strong basketball team this season? The Tigers are known more for the football side of things, but Auburn is playing with a purpose right now. They’re currently in first place in the wide-open SEC and have won 14 straight games since losing to Temple earlier in the season. The Tigers beat Ole Miss and then came from behind to take down Mississippi State on the road in Week 10.

Different week, different Kentucky team. That’s what happens when you field a team of mostly freshmen and John Calipari has to be used to the inconsistent play by now. The Wildcats aren’t exactly as dominant as most loaded Calipari teams, but they have the talent. They beat a struggling Texas A&M team at home and then went on the road to take down Vanderbilt in Week 10 after losing to Tennessee to close out Week 9. Will we see a more consistent team in Week 11 against South Carolina and Florida?

Seton Hall ended the week with a nice 13-point home win against Georgetown, but that doesn’t necessarily make up for the 20-point loss to Marquette earlier on. The Pirates will get a decent drop in this week’s rankings because of that loss to Marquette and voters are more likely to plummet teams from conferences like the Big East after losses than they are, say, teams from the ACC after blowout defeats.

Clemson went 1-1 in Week 10, but you can’t knock the Tigers much for their one-point road loss against NC State since the Wolfpack seem to play everyone tough at home — just ask Duke. The Tigers did close the week with a nice win over Miami at home. They are now 4-1 in ACC play and just a game behind Virginia and despite that loss to NC State, I could see them rising a couple of spots for a ranked win.

The reigning national champs are a tough team to really figure out this season. The Tar Heels have guys like Luke Maye who have broken out this year as well as Joel Berry II who is one of the nation’s top point guards, but outside of their top three or four scorers, there’s not as many scoring options. North Carolina did have a strong week, though, beating Boston College by 30 and then going on the road to take down a Notre Dame team that was on the verge of breaking into the Top 25 by one.