Fansided

College basketball rankings: Week 6 AP Top 25 predictions

By Connor Muldowney

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
LUBBOCK, TX – DECEMBER 05: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs the court during the game against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions on December 5, 2018 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – DECEMBER 05: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs the court during the game against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions on December 5, 2018 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Who’s going to step up and take control of the offense? Will it be Kaleb Wesson, C.J. Jackson or even freshman guard Duane Washington Jr.? The Buckeyes are looking for some go-to scorers and it may be the latter two, but Washington Jr. has been a pleasant surprise. Ohio State won its second Big Ten game by double-digits, beating Illinois by 10 and improving to 2-0 in the league with a month off before conference play resumes.

Who would have thought the MAC would have a team approaching the top 15 at this point in the season? Definitely not me, but Buffalo is playing some high-level basketball and they could very well jump into that top 15 after winning two games by double-digits in Week 5. No, they weren’t quality victories, but wins over Le Moyne by 34 and St. Bonaventure by 18 will be enough to impress AP voters.

Buzz Williams’ Virginia Tech team isn’t one of the deepest in the country, but that doesn’t mean the Hokies can’t contend in the ACC. They have about six players who contribute at a high level while two others play at least 17 minutes but average under four points per game. That didn’t stop the Hokies from running right past VMI and South Carolina State last week thanks to Nickel Alexander-Walker.

Just one week after North Carolina was dominated on the road by a red-hot Michigan team, the Tar Heels faced in-state foe UNC Wilmington. This one was no contest as the Tar Heels blew the doors off UNC Wilmington, 97-69, as Cameron Johnson led the way. North Carolina still hasn’t beaten anyone outside of UCLA, so it remains to be seen if Roy Williams’ squad can contend with Duke in the ACC.

Texas Tech is a program on the rise under Chris Beard. The Red Raiders went just 18-14 in his first year with the program and then 27-10 with an Elite Eight appearance last year before starting this season with an 8-0 record and a recent victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Red Raiders are led by Big 12 Player of the Year candidate Jarrett Culver who is shooting lights out and averaging 18.3 points per game.