21. Tennessee
I think I’ve figured out Rick Barnes’ blueprint. He’s just going to recruit a bunch of hard-nosed, defensive-minded players, and then bring in one guy who is going to take all of the shots and just be asked to score. It’s what he did with Dalton Knecht and Chaz Lanier, and this year he has both Maryland transfer Jakobi Gillespie and freshman Nate Ament, who can absolutely fill it up.
22. Saint Louis
If you have not gotten eyes on Josh Schertz’s Saint Louis Billikens, this week is a great time to do so. Not only do the Billikens have an entertaining, high-octane offense, but they’re going to be playing two teams that do as well in George Washington and Dayton. If the Billikens are going to lose in A10 play, this week is probably the most likely time for them to do so.
23. North Carolina
This Saturday was a massive win for Hubert Davis and co, as the Tar Heels went on the road and knocked off ACC rival Virginia. Caleb Wilson was his normal outstanding self, but a big reason for the Tar Heels’ recent turnaround has been the solid play of Derek Dixon after he was inserted into the starting lineup.
24. Auburn
I don’t think it would be an overstatement to call the Tigers’ win over Florida this past weekend the biggest win in the Steven Pearl era of Auburn basketball. Which started this season. Still, it could be a huge turnaround for a team that is still trying to find its identity after losing all of its starting lineup from last season.
25. Texas
Make a note: you don’t want to play Texas after Sean Miller goes off about his team. After going off to the media about his team’s propensity to foul, the Longhorns proceeded to play a very clean game in a 20-point victory over Georgia. The Longhorns appear to have righted the ship, and I look for them to work their way into the NCAA Tournament.
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