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2021 brought the death of the college basketball blue blood

By Bre'ana Singleton

Feb 3, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts to play during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts to play during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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For the first time in almost 60 years, the new men’s college basketball AP poll is missing Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA, and Michigan State.

The 2021 men’s college basketball season has been very peculiar so far. COVID-19 has seen games, tournaments and practices either postponed or canceled. Players and coaches alike are having to adjust their approaches to the season just to make it through. Despite all of the craziness so far, the NCAA is pushing forward with its season. While some of the major teams that we see on the polls every year are still there, a lot of them are missing.

Gonzaga and Baylor still sit atop the rankings, but for the first time since 1961, a lot of blue blood college basketball teams are missing from the latest AP poll. Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and Michigan State is more likely to be the Final Four than all unranked at the same time, but that’s what this year has delivered.

https://twitter.com/EditorEdge/status/1358846251710763011?s=20

Some of college basketball’s notoriously elite programs are unranked

While 2021 has certainly been a rollercoaster for many of these programs, it seems as if the ones we’re typically talking about have suffered the most. John Calipari and Kentucky have had an awful year filled with injuries and COVID-19 cancellations. We’re not even sure if Coach K and Duke will make the NCAA tournament.

Two North Carolina Tarheels players were spotted partying without masks recently, forcing the cancellation of their matchup with Miami. At 12-4, their season isn’t going exactly as planned either. Kansas is missing from the Top 25 poll for the first time in 12 years.

The list of struggling programs goes on and on. Losing is something these teams just simply aren’t used to but 2021 is doing its thing.

It’ll be interesting to see if these top tier programs can turn things around before the tournament. The season’s end is swiftly approaching with March just around the corner.

Next. College basketball blue bloods ranked by legacy. dark

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