LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The calendar has flipped to February and we’re reduced to two teams that are unbeaten in league play in the five power conferences.
Those are the two squads that headline my weekly ballot for the Associated Press men’s Top 25 basketball poll — and are cruising toward No. 1 seeds for the NCAA Tournament next month.
Did I just say next month?
And, Louisville and Kentucky split a pair of games last week with each losing to an unranked opponent Saturday. How far will they slip in the ratings when the new poll is released at 1 p.m.?
On to the poll.
1. Auburn (20-1) — When are the Tigers finally going to play Alabama? Not for another 12 days.
2. Duke (19-2) — The Blue Devils not only made their case to replace Auburn at No. 1, they put Hubert Davis on the Hot Seat.
3. Alabama (19-3) —The Crimson Tide have the middle of the week off before visiting John Calipari in Fayetteville Saturday.
4. Houston (17-4) — The last three Cougars’ defeats have been in overtime. I should ask Kelvin Sampson if he wants to join Eric Crawford and me on our show at WDRB+.
5. Purdue (17-5) — After a three-game home-stand, the Boilermakers play four of their next six on the road — not that winning at Iowa would be a big deal this season.
6. Texas Tech (17-4) — The Red Raiders beat Houston in Houston, a wonderful credential to flash on Selection Sunday.
7. Michigan State (18-3) — The Spartans’ 13-game winning streak ended at USC — and they still have to visit UCLA Tuesday night.
8. St. John’s (19-3) — I considered voting the Red Storm higher but Rick Pitino was not pleased with the way they finished the Providence game Saturday.
9. Texas A&M (17-5) — I wonder if Buzz Williams will be a candidate for the one of the jobs that will open next month?
10. Tennessee (18-4) — The Volunteers have split their last eight games.
11. Florida (18-3) — The team that scored 100 points on Kentucky scored 44 against Tennessee. Hmmmm.
12. Marquette (18-4) — The Golden Eagles have lost two of their last three home games.
13. Iowa State (17-4) — An overtime loss at Arizona? That can happen. A 19-point home loss to Kansas State? That should not happen — not if you expect to be a No. 1 seed in March.
14. Kansas (15-6) — Speaking of home losses, the Jayhawks need to avoid a third one when Iowa State visits Monday night.
15. Maryland (17-5) —The Terps have won four in a row and their schedule sets them up for a big finish.
16. Missouri (17-4) — The Tigers embarrassed Mississippi State in Starkville Saturday.
17. Kentucky (15-6) — According to Ken Pomeroy, the Wildcats have the third-most efficient offense but only the 89th most efficient defense.
18. Wisconsin (17-5) — The Badgers get Indiana at home Tuesday and the Hoosiers have not won in Madison since Bob Knight was the coach.
19. Clemson (18-4) — The Tigers get Louisville-killer Georgia Tech and then Duke at home this week.
20. Michigan (16-5) — Dusty May will bring the Wolverines to Bloomington Saturday and that will be fascinating, awkward and worth a look.
21. Arizona (15-6) — Bobby Hurley won’t like me saying this but the Wildcats sit in second place in the Big 12 and have won 11 of 12.
22. New Mexico (18-4) — Richard Pitino’s team went into Logan and took first place in the Mountain West Conference away from Utah State.
23. Ole Miss (16-6) — Chris Beard’s team has lost four of five but three of the defeats were to Texas A&M, Missouri and Auburn.
24. Louisville (16-6) — Pat Kelsey’s concerns about how the Cardinals finished the Wake Forest game were confirmed by the way they finished the Georgia Tech game.
25. Saint Mary’s (20-3) — The Gaels have built a three-game lead in the West Coast Conference after handling Gonzaga.
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