This week is when I begin to realize that, at times, advanced analytics can be the thief of joy. When I was younger, I would look at a team like Miami (Ohio) and put them in the top-10 of these rankings. They’re unbeaten! How could they not be top-10? But, now that I know more about advanced metrics, I can’t possibly argue to put them there. They’ve played the 336th-toughest schedule in the nation, haven’t beaten a team in the KenPom top-100, and themselves check in at 90. Sigh. I just can’t objectively argue that a team with that profile belongs in the top-25. So I’m not ranking them.
Latest Top 25 College Basketball Rankings
1. Michigan
The Wolverines faced their toughest test of the season this past week, and they passed it with flying colors. They knocked off unbeaten Nebraska, then made the short road trip to East Lansing to beat Michigan State. Elliott Cadeau really stepped up, and if he continues to play like this, they will be very tough to beat. Can the Wolverines be the team to break the Big Ten’s National Championship drought?
2. Arizona
This team just keeps on winning. They survived a tough road test at BYU. But the last month of the season will be an absolute gauntlet – 6 of the remaining 9 games are against top-25 KenPom teams, with road trips for Allen Fieldhouse and the Fertitta Center on the docket. Going unbeaten would be an insanely tough accomplishment.
3. Duke
The ACC is back this year, but it is clear that no one else in the league is on the same level as the Blue Devils. Louisville is potentially the 2nd-best team in the league, and Duke blasted them by 30 points last week. Cameron Boozer gets all of the headlines, but the length and versatility of the supporting cast has been key in keeping Duke unbeaten in ACC play.
4. Illinois
Keaton Wagler. Keaton Wagler. Keaton Wagler. By now, we all know the name, and we know that it’s pronounced “Wogg-ler.” He has been on an absolute tear since the injury to Kylan Boswell, and is showing no signs of slowing down. With Boswell’s shooting slump this season, you could make a compelling argument that Illinois’ offense is better with him off the floor.
5. UConn
Dan Hurley’s Huskies finally blew out an inferior Big East opponent this weekend, as they walloped Creighton 85-58. If not for a narrow loss to Arizona in November, we could very easily be talking about this team completing an undefeated regular season. They certainly should finish Big East play unbeaten.
