LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — We’ve reached the point in the college basketball season where we hit several annual milestones:
First, Tennessee will surrender the top spot in the Associated Press men’s college basketball poll this week because the Vols lost at Florida, leaving the country without any unbeatens teams.
Second, conference play generated so many losses that the first 5-loss teams showed up on my AP ballot this week.
Is one of those teams Pat Kelsey’s University of Louisville Cardinals?
You’ll have to read on.
1. Auburn (15-1) — Any celebration over moving to the top spot will be subdued until Johni Broome returns from his high ankle sprain.
2. Iowa State (14-1) — The Cyclones host Kansas Monday night after they escaped at Texas Tech.
3. Duke (14-2) — Ken Pomeroy’s formula has the Blue Devils going 19-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with the loss most likely to come at Clemson or at North Carolina.
4. Alabama (14-2) — One of three remaining unbeatens in SEC play, the Crimson Tide get Ole Miss (home) and Kentucky (away) this week.
5. Houston (12-3) — The Cougars have won their last eight by 13 or more — usually much more.
6. Florida (15-1) — The Gators backed up their punishing win over Tennessee by beating Arkansas in Fayetteville.
7. Marquette (14-2) — The Golden Eagles don’t figure to be tested until they play St. John’s and Rick Pitino Feb. 4.
8. Tennessee (15-1) — I expected the Vols would lose one before the month ended. I didn’t think it would be by 30 points at Florida.
9. Kentucky (13-3) — The Wildcats were more likely to win at Georgia than Mississippi State but did the opposite. It worked for George Costanza.
10. Michigan State (14-2) — The Spartans have already collected three Big Ten road wins. They’ll get more.
11. Kansas (12-3) — The Jayhawks bounced back from that puzzling home loss to West Virginia with three super-sized wins.
12. Oregon (15-2) — The Ducks survived the first of their four trips to the Midwest with a two-point win over Ohio State and a one-point win over Penn State. Better than the football team did in the Rose Bowl.
13. Michigan (13-3) — Dusty May and friends have won their last five by double figures. Don’t tell Indiana fans.
14. UConn (13-4) — A two-point loss at Villanova without Liam McNeely is no reason to panic.
15. Texas A&M (13-3) — Buzz Williams brings his team to Lexington on Tuesday off a 6-point home loss to Alabama.
16. Mississippi State (14-2) — The Bulldogs lost to Kentucky Saturday but looked like a Top 16 team to me — and to Mark Pope.
17. Illinois (12-4) — Losing a home game to USC could cost the Illini the Big Ten title.
18. Wisconsin (13-3) — The Badgers cruised past Rutgers and Minnesota after hanging 116 on Iowa.
19. Purdue (13-4) — Matt Painter’s team is figuring it out, winning its last four Big Ten games by an average of 23.3 points. Don’t tell that to Indiana fans either.
20. Gonzaga (14-4) — The Zags handled new West Coast Conference foe Washington State.
21. Memphis (13-3) — The Tigers are on a four-game winning streak, which started with a win over Ole Miss.
22. Ole Miss (14-2) — Chris Beard has the third team unbeaten in SEC play but probably not for long with trips to Alabama and Mississippi State this week.
23. Georgia (14-2) — Double figure victories over Kentucky and Oklahoma showed that Mike White has a formidable team in Athens.
24. Louisville (12-5) — The Cards earned their way by handling Clemson and Pittsburgh to extend their winning streak to six.
25. Arizona (10-5) — The Wildcats are tied with Houston and Iowa State atop the Big 12 after beating TCU, Cincinnati, West Virginia and UCF.
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