UConn men make big jump on our AP Top 25 ballot
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Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley, right, talks to Andre Jackson Jr., left, and Hassan Diarra, center, during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma State, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Jessica Hill/Associated Press
As crazy as this year’s Big East tournament promises to be, with Villanova joining the fray as one of six (seven, Seton Hall?) teams with a legit shot to win the title, the NCAA tourney promises to be just as fun.
There is so much parity in college basketball, where it feels like there are about 50 teams either 22-7 (like the UConn men’s basketball team), 21-9 or 20-9. Of the 25 teams we had ranked last week, 16 lost games this past week. Virginia, Creighton and Iowa State lost twice. Purdue and Arizona lost the only games they played.
With all that in mind, we’re going heavy on some “mid-majors” this week. Don’t really care about NET or KenPom rankings, both of which are severely flawed, anyway. We’re rewarding a few teams that barely get any chances to get Quad 1 wins in a system rigged against them.
Or do you really believe this year’s Sweet 16 will be all power conference teams? No chance. There will be a few mid-majors sprinkled in.
Fourteen of the teams we ranked ahead of UConn last week lost. With that in mind, coupled with the Huskies’ resounding home win over Providence and a convincing “road” win over St. John’s at Madison Square Garden, we move them up eight spots to No. 15. With a bullet.
- Kansas: Say what you want about Bill Self, the man can coach.
- Alabama: Remember when Nate Oats’ biggest quirk was his disdain for the midrange jumper?
- Houston: Looking more and more likely the Cougars will be playing home games at Final Four.
- UCLA: Eight straight wins, first outright Pac-12 regular-season title in 10 years.
- Kansas State: Second-best team in best conference, and in its own state.
- Marquette: First Big East regular season title looking very likely.
- Purdue: Swept by home state rival Indiana.
- Gonzaga: Will be No. 2 seed in WCC tourney because its NET is lower than Saint Mary’s.
- Baylor: Keyontae George’s injury bears watching.
- Arizona: Buzzer-beating loss to Bobby Hurley’s Arizona State on Saturday.
- Texas: Chris Who?
- Miami: Hard to defend blowing 25-point lead at home to Florida State, but we still like ‘Canes.
- Indiana: Season sweep of Purdue is impressive.
- Xavier: Season sweep of UConn keeps Musketeers one spot ahead of Huskies.
- UConn: Has Andre Jackson “solved the puzzle”?
- Tennessee: Vols have lost four of last six.
- San Diego State: No SID petitions AP voters for Top 25 consideration more than the Aztecs’.
- Virginia: Losing at…
Read More: UConn men make big jump on our AP Top 25 ballot 2023-02-26 23:58:37