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College basketball rankings: Week 2 AP Top 25 – Kansas or Duke at 1?

By Connor Muldowney

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils is seen during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils is seen during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 06: Michigan Wolverines guard Zavier Simpson (3) leads a fast break during the Michigan Wolverines game versus the Norfolk State Spartans on Tuesday November 6, 2018 at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 06: Michigan Wolverines guard Zavier Simpson (3) leads a fast break during the Michigan Wolverines game versus the Norfolk State Spartans on Tuesday November 6, 2018 at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

After some unfortunate offseason which saw some big injuries, UCLA opened the year with Fort Wayne and Long Beach State, handling both. The Bruins, led by Kris Wilkes, are averaging over 90 points per game and it doesn’t look like offense will be an issue. They’re making over 50 percent of their shots and only 33 percent from 3-point range, but the competition will increase in the coming weeks.

Jamie Dixon returned to his alma mater with the intention of bringing the Horned Frogs back to relevancy. They looked like a dark-horse Big 12 contender in 2017-18, but have begun the 2018-19 season ranked in the top-20 and they have raced out to a 2-0 record with wins over CSU Bakersfield as well as Oral Roberts. They’ll see a slight jump in the rankings this week.

Losing Mo Wagner, Duncan Robinson and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman won’t be easy on the Wolverines, but Michigan is bringing in one of John Beilein’s best recruiting classes yet and Charles Matthews and Zavier Simpson return as experienced guards. This team should be as talented as any in the Big Ten and took care of Norfolk State and Holy Cross.

Mississippi State isn’t exactly a team you’d expect to see in the preseason AP Top 25, but Ben Howland has done a fantastic job with the SEC program. They’re looking like one of the league’s top contenders and could give Kentucky a run for their money. They finished last season with a deep run in the NIT and bring back some key players. They have big wins over Austin Peay and Hartford, entering Week 2 with a 2-0 mark.

Everyone remembers Syracuse’s improbable run to the Sweet 16 a year ago, just two years after an unthinkable Final Four push. Jim Boeheim can still coach, that much is for sure. The Orange have gotten off to a 2-0 start to the season with wins over Eastern Washington and Morehead State and the defense continues to smother opponents with that zone.