LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The opening week of full-throttle conference play in men’s college basketball did not disappoint.
Two of the three unbeaten Southeastern Conference teams are no longer unbeaten. Kansas discovered it won’t be able to cruise through the Big 12. Louisville came home happy from Virginia. And Illinois made a statement in the Big 10.
On to my weekly ballot in the Associated Press men’s Top 25 poll.
1. Tennessee (14-0) — The Vols are America’s last unbeaten men’s team. Will that still be the situation after Rick Barnes takes his team to Florida Tuesday night?
2. Auburn (13-1) — The Tigers have to win at Texas and South Carolina this week. There are tougher places to go in the SEC. Much tougher.
3. Iowa State (12-1) — Winning at Colorado and then beating Baylor in Ames was a solid start to Big 12 play for the Cyclones.
4. Duke (12-2 — Ken Pomeroy now has the Blue Devils finishing 19-1 in the ACC. Agree? For the record, Duke forward Cooper Flagg trails Johni Broome of Auburn in the player of the year standings at Ken Pomeroy’s web site.
5. Alabama (12-2) — The Crimson Tide welcomed Oklahoma to the SEC with a 28-point beatdown in Tuscaloosa Saturday night.
6. Houston (10-3) — Sorry to keep reminding you, but two of the Cougars’ three losses came in overtime.
7. UConn (12-3) — With Liam McNeeley injured, the Huskies could stumble this week at Villanova and Georgetown.
8. Kentucky (12-2) — The Wildcats will be a slight favorite to win at Georgia and then a slight underdog at Mississippi State. Welcome to the SEC.
9. Florida (13-1) — The Gators looked the part of a legitimate SEC contender in Rupp Arena Saturday.
10. Marquette (13-2) — The Golden Eagles took care of Creighton after Creighton took care of St. John’s.
11. Texas A&M (12-2) — The Aggies have limited their last six opponents to 67 points or less — and three of them to 54 or less.
12. Illinois (11-3) — Move the Illini into the role of Big Ten favorite after they walloped Oregon in Eugene.
13. Michigan State (12-2) — The Spartans have won seven straight and all three of their Big Ten games.
14. Mississippi State (13-1) — The Bulldogs visit Vanderbilt before hosting Kentucky Saturday.
15. Kansas (10-3) — A loss to West Virginia in Allen Fieldhouse to open Big 12 play? Not what Bill Self drew up.
16. Oregon (13-2) — The Ducks rebounded from an ugly loss to Illinois by defeating Maryland.
17. Michigan (11-3) — The Wolverines are 3-0 in the Big Ten with road wins over Wisconsin and USC.
18. Oklahoma (13-1) — The Sooners gave up 22 offensive rebounds and let Alabama make 62% of its 2-point field goal attempts while suffering their first defeat.
19. Pittsburgh (12-2) — Jeff Capel’s team can prove it is legit Tuesday night at Duke. Will they?
20. Wisconsin (11-3) — The Badgers made 21 three-pointers while scoring 116 points on Iowa. Does Bo Ryan know?
21. West Virginia (11-2) — The Mountaineers backed up their win at Kansas by defeating Oklahoma State.
22. Gonzaga (12-4) — The Zags will slowly gain ground because the meat-grinder part of their schedule is over.
23. Memphis (12-3) — P.J. Haggerty is having a dynamic season after transferring from Tulsa and TCU.
24. Nebraska (12-2) — Big week for the Cornhuskers with games at Iowa and Purdue.
25. UCLA (11-3) — The Bruins discovered it’s not fun playing Nebraska in Lincoln.
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