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College basketball rankings: AP Top 25 Poll predictions – Virginia makes case to be No. 1

By Connor Muldowney

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 09: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers calls a play in the first half during a game against the Louisville Cardinals at John Paul Jones Arena on March 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 09: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers calls a play in the first half during a game against the Louisville Cardinals at John Paul Jones Arena on March 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 23: Bryce Brown #2 of the Auburn Tigers drives to the basket during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on February 23, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 23: Bryce Brown #2 of the Auburn Tigers drives to the basket during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on February 23, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Villanova is going to get lucky that the field of unranked teams is just not good. The Wildcats lost at Seton Hall to end the season to drop to 22-9 which seems bad, but for most teams, that’s a good year. Jay Wright and the Wildcats have high expectations, though, especially after winning the national title last year. If the Wildcats can get hot in the conference tournament, watch out for them in the Big Dance.

I know, I know, this is a generous ranking for UCF after it ended the regular season with a loss at Temple, but you have to look at what the Knights did earlier in the week — plus the Owls aren’t all that bad of a team. Central Florida looks to be in the NCAA Tournament field no matter what and it may just remain in the AP Top 25 after beating Cincinnati prior to the Temple loss.

When Utah State lost to Nevada to kick off Mountain West play a couple of months ago, it seemed as if the two teams were on completely different levels. Fast forward to today and you’re looking at a Utah State team that has avenged that loss to the Wolf Pack and has won 14-of-15 games to capture a share of the Mountain West title with that same team that beat them 72-49 earlier in the season. It’s been a heck of a year for Utah State athletics.

It wasn’t that long ago that we were talking about Auburn being a dark-horse contender in the SEC, but a rough patch in the middle of the season which saw the Tigers go just 7-7 shattered their title hopes. But since that 80-53 thrashing at Kentucky, Bruce Pearl’s team bounced back in a big way to win four straight, including a nice home win over Mississippi State and last week at Alabama and against No. 5 Tennessee. This team is heating up again.

A ton wasn’t expected of this Maryland team before the season started, so you could call a 22-9 campaign and being somewhat of a contender in the Big Ten a success for Mark Turgeon. The Terrapins will finish the regular season ranked after beating a Minnesota team that upset Purdue earlier in the week and if they fare well enough in the Big Ten Tournament, they could be in line for a top-five seed.