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Rank (Last Week)
Record
Comment
1. Syracuse (1)
17-0
So far, no road woes – beat three opponents (North Carolina State, DePaul and Seton Hall) by an average of 16 points on their home courts. Villanova next up in Philly Wednesday night.
2. Kentucky (2)
15-1
The Wildcats have allowed as much as 70 points just twice (in the 73-72 win against North Carolina and loss to Indiana by the same score).
3. Ohio State (3)
15-2
NBA types-galore will be in the building to watch the Buckeyes play at Illinois Tuesday night for battle of sophomore post studs (Jared Sullinger vs. Meyers Leonard).
4. North Carolina (5)
14-2
The Tar Heels play first road game in about six weeks when they face struggling Florida State in Tallahassee on Saturday.
5. Baylor (6)
15-0
The Bears’ toughest test of the season? They’re about to get it Tuesday night in Manhattan, KS.
6. Indiana (9)
15-1
It’s safe to assume Tom Crean won’t allow his club to look past the home game with Minnesota (0 for 4 in conference) Thursday to the Sunday game in Columbus vs. Ohio State.
7. Duke (7)
13-2
The Virginia Cavaliers visiting Cameron Indoor Stadium Thursday night is suddenly much more significant – within the ACC and nationally – than a lot of people probably would have guessed in October.
8. Michigan State (10)
14-2
What a way to start Big 10 play – hand Indiana its only loss and then get wins at Nebraska and Wisconsin.
9.Missouri (8)
14-1
How will the Tigers react to their first loss (a shellacking via Kansas State)? It better be “well” or it will be a long evening for them at Iowa State (12-3 and 2-0) Wednesday.
10. Kansas (12)
12-3
The Jayhawks have allowed just 49.8 ppg during their five-game winning streak.
11. Connecticut (4)
12-3
Don’t leap off the bandwagon quite yet. Remember, the 2-2 Huskies split their 18 Big East regular-season games en route to a national title last spring.
12. Creighton (13)
13-2
Doug McDermott isn’t the only Iowa import having a tremendous season – guard Grant Gibbs (7.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 6.1 apg; .515 FG percentage).
13. UNLV (14)
16-2
There is no easing into Mountain West Conference play this season – the Rebels open at San Diego State Saturday.
14.Virginia (16)
14-1
That 20-point win over George Mason (five wins in a row) on Dec. 6 is looking more impressive every day.
15. Murray State (NR)
16-0

It seems like yesterday – or 76 years ago – that the Racers last got off to a 16-0 start.

16. San Diego St. (NR)
13-2
Does junior Chase Tapley (.513 on 3s; 16.9 ppg) have a sweet jump shot or what?

On the cusp: Georgetown 13-2, Kansas State 12-2, Michigan 13-3, Gonzaga 13-2, Harvard 13-2, Louisville 13-3, Seton Hall 14-2, Florida 12-4, Purdue 13-4, West Virginia 12-4, Alabama 12-3, Illinois 14-3, Saint Mary’s 14-2, Cal 13-4 and Wichita State 12-3.

TOP PERFORMANCES OF JAN. 2-8

TEAMS: Dayton (opened A-10 play with a home victory over Saint Louis and a win at Temple – three nights after the Owls beat Duke), West Virginia (won by 21 points at Rutgers and then beat Georgetown in Morgantown), Colorado (improved to 3-0 in the Pac-12 with 18- and 11-point decisions over Washington and Washington State, respectively) and Nevada (had road wins at Idaho and Utah State – snapping the Aggies’ 33-game home winning streak in conference to open WAC action).

TEAM OF THE WEEK: West Virginia

PLAYERS: Deonte Burton (Nevada/Averaged 25.5 points with 5.5 assists, 3 rebounds and only 1.5 assists in two WAC road wins), Isaiah Canaan (Murray State/ Averaged 25.5 points in OVC wins over Eastern Kentucky and Austin Peay, hitting nine of 13 shots from behind the arc in the process), Kevin Jones (West Virginia/averaged 18 points and 15 rebounds in Big East wins over Rutgers and Georgetown), Damian Lillard (Weber State/averaged 34.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in Big Sky road wins against Eastern Washington and Portland State), Doug McDermott (Creighton/hit 27 of 35 shots from the field while scoring 24 and 44 points, respectively, in MVC victories over Drake and Bradley) Dominique Morrison (Oral Roberts/27.3 avg in Summit League wins over Oakland, North Dakota State and South Dakota State).

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kevin Jones

Frank Burlison has been covering hoops for 30+ years for a variety of publications.

Follow Frank on twitter @FrankieBur. Also make sure to follow his website at www.burlisononbasketball.com. College coaching staffs interested in Burlison’s scouting service should contact him at [email protected].

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