How, uh, wide open is the landscape of college basketball deep into January?
Well, consider this: Based upon the way they are playing and not programs’ reputations or “traditions”, there are few – if any – teams playing as well, right now, as are Clemson (ACC), Texas A&M (SEC), Iowa (Big Ten) and USC (Pac 12).
And, of course, there remains the last of the unbeatens: 17-0 SMU, which is ineligible for post-season play in March. All of that goes quite a bit against the grain of the sport, eh?
Rank (Last week’s rank) | Record | Comment |
1. Oklahoma (3) | 15-1 | The Sooners couldn’t have cut it much closer in two-point Big 12 wins at Oklahoma State and home to West Virginia. But, hey! It was enough to move them back into the top spot. |
2. North Carolina (4) | 16-2 | Nothing too flashy for the Tar Heels but a pair of ACC wins (one on the road) is not to be quibbled over. |
3. Villanova (8) | 16-2 | The Wildcats (6-0 in conference) have done everything asked of them so far to prove they are the Big East’s best for now. They get Providence in Philly on Saturday. |
4. Xavier (9) | 16-1 | The only team to knock off the Musketeers in Big East play (or anywhere else, for that matter) is . . . Villanova. |
5. SMU (10) | 17-0 | Hoosiers everywhere – Bob Knight included – are following the Mustangs’ season with interest, one would think. After all, the 1975-76 IU club coached by Knight was the last to go unbeaten. |
6. Kansas (1) | 15-2 | It’s tough sledding in Morgantown, WV for opposing teams as the Jayhawks will aptly attest. |
7. Maryland (5) | 16-2 | It’s going to be far from Saturday in the park when the Terps visit East Lansing this week. |
8. West Virginia (6) | 15-2 | The Mountaineers were oh-so-close to pulling off a win in Norman that would have vaulted them several slots higher than this. |
9. Michigan St. (2) | 16-3 | No need for panic here after losses at home to Iowa and at Wisconsin – Coach Tom Izzo is the coach, after all. |
10. Texas A&M (15) | 15-2 | Two four-year transfers (Danuel House/Houston and Jalen Jones/SMU) have the Aggies clicking quite nicely in an SEC that was expected to be again dominated by Kentucky. |
11. Providence (13) | 15-3 | The Friars, at 3-2 conference and that Big East hole will get a bit deeper if they can’t stun Villanova on its home court this weekend. |
12. South Carolina (16) | 16-1 | Alabama helped shrink the pool of unbeatens to just one (SMU) after knocking off the Gamecocks in Tuscaloosa. |
13. USC (NR) | 15-3 | In case you haven’t noticed the Trojans are in the hunt for a Pac 12 title in Andy Enfield’s third season as the program’s head coach. |
14. Iowa (NR) | 14-3 | And to think, after a 5-zip start in the Big 10, that the Hawkeyes lost to a D-II program in a preseason exhibition. |
15. Arizona (NR) | 15-3 | The Wildcats’ depth and a strong senior group keep the team clicking even in the midst of another injury to a key player (Alonzo Trier). |
16. Clemson (NR) | 12-6 | Because of the overall record, this ranking doesn’t do justice to how well the Tigers have played in consecutive wins over Florida State, Syracuse, Louisville, Duke and Miami. |
ON THE CUSP: Arkansas-Little Rock 15-1, Baylor 14-3, Butler 13-4, Dayton 14-3, Duke 14-4, Gonzaga 14-4, Indiana 15-3, Iowa State 13-4, Louisville 14-3, Kentucky 13-4, Miami-Fl. 13-3, Pittsburgh 15-2, Purdue 15-3, Saint Mary’s 15-2 and Virginia 13-4.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (Jan. 11-17)
* Jarod Blossomgame (Clemson): The 6-7 junior averaged 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocked shots in ACC wins over Duke and Miami.
*Buddy Hield (Oklahoma): The senior from the Bahamas continued closing in on John R. Wooden Award hardware while averaging 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in narrow Big 12 wins at Oklahoma State and at home to West Virginia.
*Parker Jackson-Cartwright (Arizona): The sophomore point guard collected 18 assists and just three turnovers in 50 reserve minutes as the Wildcats swept Washington and Washington State in Tucson.
*Jalen Jones (Texas A&M): The junior forward, who started his college career at SMU, averaged 19.0 points and 8.0 rebounds as the Aggies picked up SEC wins over Florida and Georgia.
*Jarod Uthoff (Iowa): The 6-9 senior averaged 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in Big Ten wins over Michigan State and Michigan.
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].
