LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Two more weeks of regular-season play. One week of conference tournaments. Then on to the main event.
The NCAA Tournament begins in 22 days. That’s wonderful news because every week it gets more difficult sorting through the teams with seven, eight or nine losses on my Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball ballot.
1. Auburn (25-2) — Rupp Arena should be percolating when the No. 1 team arrives on Saturday. Bruce Pearl enjoys playing the role of enemy.
2. Duke (24-3) — The Blue Devils made Illinois look like a team from the Patriot League — and Cooper Flagg was only good, not sensational.
3. Florida (24-3) — The Gators were terrific before they got their shot-blocker Micah Handlogten back.
4. Houston (23-4) — If the Cougars win at Texas Tech Monday night, give them the Big 12 trophy.
5. Alabama (22-5) — Yes, the Crimson Tide can score like crazy but if they don’t tighten up the defense they’re not going back to the Final Four.
6. Tennessee (22-5) — The Vols have won five of their last six. Maybe they can get Rick Barnes to his first Final Four since 2003.
7. St. John’s (24-4) — Rick Pitino swept Danny Hurley and UConn — and welcomed Jeff Brohm and his family to Madison Square Garden this weekend.
8. Texas Tech (21-6) — Grant McCasland has the Red Raiders on track for their best season since Chris Beard took Tech to the 2019 title game.
9. Iowa State (21-6) — Jeff Goodman became the second person to suggest T.J. Otzelberger for the Indiana job, but I don’t see him leaving Ames, considering his wife was a basketball star there.
10. Michigan State (22-5) — The Spartans are one or two 3-point shooters shy of having a legitimate national title contender.
11. Wisconsin (21-6) — The Badgers blew one against Oregon Saturday and will need help to win the Big Ten title now.
12. Maryland (21-6) — With remaining games against Michigan State and Michigan, the Terps still have a shot to grab a share of the Big Ten title.
13. Missouri (20-7) — Not sure what the odds are on Missouri winning it all, but there are worse longshot picks.
14. Arizona (18-9) — The Wildcats have lost three of their last four and still must visit Iowa State and Kansas.
15. Saint Mary’s (25-4) — Sorry Gonzaga fans, the Gaels have already clinched the West Coast Conference title.
16. Clemson (22-5) — The Tigers remain the only ACC team to topple Duke.
17. Texas A&M (20-7) — Tough 2-loss week for Buzz Williams, and he has to visit Florida Saturday.
18. Michigan (20-8) — The Wolverines begin a 5 games in 13 days stretch at Nebraska Monday night.
19. Kentucky (18-9) — With a trip to Oklahoma and a visit by No. 1 Auburn, Kentucky will have to scramble to earn a split this week.
20. Louisville (21-6) — Only 13 of the Cards’ 14 ACC wins have been by double digits.
21. Purdue (19-9) — The Boilermakers have lost four straight and are in legitimate danger of not earning a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
22. Memphis (22-5) — PJ Haggerty is putting up dazzling numbers.
23. Creighton (19-8) — The Bluejays, not Marquette or UConn, sit in second place in the Big East.
24. BYU (19-8) — The Cougars routed Kansas and won at Arizona. That’s a nice week.
25. New Mexico (22-5) — Despite the stumble against Boise State, Richard Pitino’s team is still in front in the Mountain West Conference.
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