Another week of college basketball is in the books. As promised, here is my college basketball Top 25 after Week 8 of the season:
College Basketball Top 25: Week 8
- Michigan State Spartans (Previous: 1)
Record: 13-0
Week Record: 1-0
Michigan State managed to keep their perfect season alive this week with a 99-93 overtime win over a very scrappy Oakland team. Also of note: Oakland’s Khalil Felder is the real deal. The point guard packs a punch, and is a solid shooter. One of the best players in the country.
- Oklahoma Sooners (2)
Record: 11-0
Week Record: 3-0
Oklahoma had the best week of those in the top ten, as they won the Diamond Head Title in Hawaii to celebrate the holidays. They were tested by Hawai’i, but ultimately passed, and would beat Harvard to win the trophy.
- Kansas Jayhawks (3)
Record: 10-1
Week Record: 1-0
The Jayhawks got a solid win out west over San Diego State this week. Although the Aztecs have not performed as well as they could have this season, they are still a pretty solid team, and it is a good win for Kansas.
- Xavier Musketeers (4)
Record: 12-0
Week Record: 1-0
Xavier was also able to continue their perfect season with a grueling road win, as they beat Wake Forest 78-70. The Musketeers go into conference play as the favorites in the Big East.
- North Carolina Tar Heels (5)
Record: 10-2
Week Record: 1-0
North Carolina beat an overwhelmed Appalachian State team this week, as the Tar Heels are finding their identity. Justin Jackson had a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds), while Joel Berry II had 11 assists in the win. North Carolina needs both players to be solid in conference play.
- Maryland Terrapins (6)
Record: 11-1
Week Record: 1-0
Maryland got a fairly easy win over Marshall on Sunday, as the Terrapins have hit their stride late in nonconference play. Diamond Stone and Robert Carter predictably big games, as they dominated Thundering Herd’s big men.
- Virginia Cavaliers (7)
Record: 10-1
Week Record: 1-0
Virginia did not look great against California on their home court, but they got the 63-62 win at the end of the day. Malcolm Brogden looked especially slow at the beginning of the game, but he picked it up in the second half. The Cavaliers only have one blemish on their resume, and George Washington has proven to be a good team.
- Arizona Wildcats (8)
Record: 12-1
Week Record: 1-0
Arizona had some doubters going into the season, but they have a nice nonconference record to take into conference play, as their only loss is to Providence. The Wildcats still need to find ways to play physical more often, but they are the slight favorites in the Pac-12 right now.
- Miami Hurricanes (9)
Record: 10-1
Week Record: 1-0
Miami’s only loss on the season continues to be on a last second shot against Northeastern, who is good in their own right. They have solid wins over Butler and Utah as well. Sheldon McClellan has had the type of season some thought he could have, as he is averaging 16.3 points per game.
- Duke Blue Devils (10)
Record: 9-2
Week Record: 0-0
Duke did not play any games this week, as they hold onto a top ten spot this week. Losses against Kentucky and Utah are not the end of the world at all, and they should be fine once conference play starts up.
- Butler Bulldogs (11) (10-1)
- Purdue Boilermakers (13) (12-1)
- SMU Mustangs (12) (11-0)
- Villanova Wildcats (14) (9-2)
- Kentucky Wildcats (18) (10-2)
- Iowa State Cyclones (19) (10-1)
- West Virginia Mountaineers (16) (10-1)
- Providence Friars (17) (12-1)
- Louisville Cardinals (15) (11-2)
- Pittsburgh Panthers (23) (10-1)
- Texas A&M Aggies (24) (9-2)
- Baylor Bears (25) (9-2)
- South Carolina Gamecocks (UnR) (11-0)
- Cincinnati Bearcats (20) (10-3)
- Colorado Buffaloes (UnR) (11-2)
T26. UCLA, UConn, Baylor, Utah, Monmouth, Florida State, Northwestern
Dropped out: No. 21 George Washington, No. 22 Vanderbilt
