1. Kansas (7-0)
Though the Jayhawks have not been tested yet, their number one ranking comes because of a natural ability to do everything right. They lead the Big 12 in both points and rebounds per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio. Freshman stud Xavier Henry leads the team with 16.9 points per game, while junior center Cole Aldrich is averaging a double-double (points and rebounds).
This week: 12/9 vs. Radford, 12/12 vs. La Salle.
2. Texas (6-0)
As hard as it is to believe, the Longhorns have not missed departed guard AJ Abrams, who played more games for the school than any other Texas basketball player in history. Turkish import Dogus Balbay has done a great job stepping into his role as starting point guard, distributing the ball to a team with six players averaging eight points or more, including the star trio of freshmen- Avery Bradley (9.4), Jordan Hamilton (9.1), and surprise superstar J'Covan Brown (12.6). When Brown and senior guard-forward Damion James patrol the backcourt, the Longhorns are nearly unstoppable on offense.
This week: 12/12 vs Texas State.
3. Villanova (8-0)
Antonio Pena might be a candidate for Most Surprising Player of the Decade. The redshirt junior was considered by many (including me) to be a weak link in the starting lineup, replacing Wildcat standout Dante Cunningham, now with the Portland Trail Blazers. Nuh uh. Pena averages 12.8 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game and is shooting a mind-boggling .576 from the field. The star of last year's Elite Eight game against Pittsburgh, senior Scottie Reynolds, started off slow but bounced back with 25 points and 8 assists in a win against Maryland.
This week: 12/9 at Saint Joseph's, 12/13 at Temple.
4. Purdue (7-0)
The trio of dominating juniors, E'Twaun Moore, Robbie Hummel, and JaJuan Johnson, are the top three Boilermakers in both points and rebounds. The telling statistic, however? 44.6% field goal shooting in a win over Tennessee.
This week: 12/9 vs Valparaiso, 12/12 at Alabama.
5. Kentucky (8-0)
The Wildcats have four players averaging over ten points per game, three of them freshmen. Point guard John Wall leads the team with 18.1 ppg and 7.7 assists per game. Yowch. Did I mention that they score at will?
This week: 12/9 vs. Connecticut, 12/12 at Indiana.
6. Syracuse (8-0)
In their game against Maine, the Orange led 60 to 12 at halftime. That's five times more than the other team. FIVE. The Orange are averaging 90.4 points a game as a team, including two Chamberlains. (Those are 100-point games, in case you were wondering.) Coach Jim Boeheim's seven-man system seems to be working, as seven players score over eight points per game, and four of those seven grab 4 or more rebounds a game.
This week: 12/10 vs Florida, 12/13 vs St. Francis (NY).
7. Tennessee (6-1)
The Volunteers' only loss this year came in a 73-72 thriller against Purdue, when versatile forward-center Wayne Chism's shot took a bad bounce at the buzzer. The experienced Volunteers, who lost only two non-vital players in the off-season, have been riding strong except for that setback.
This week: 12/11 at Middle Tennessee State.
8. West Virginia (5-0)
The Mountaineers are led by a group of forwards: senior Da'Sean Butler (18.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), sophomore Devin Ebanks (14.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg), and sophomore Kevin Jones (12.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg). Schizophrenic (in a good way, so far) sophomore point guard Darryl "Truck" Bryant has played well.
This week: 12/9 vs Duquesne, 12/12 vs Coppin State.
9. Duke (7-1)
Since a blowout-win-that-should-have-happened-but-didn't-so-it-was-just-a-win to Connecticut, in which the Blue Devils still looked strong, they have been slipping. This skid included an unnecessary close game against St. John's and a loss to Wisconsin.
This week: Off.
10. North Carolina (7-2)
The Tar Heels will almost certainly win the Gonzaga Award for Most Ridiculously Difficult and Physically Deteriorating Non-Conference Schedule this year. UNC already lost to Syracuse and Kentucky and beat Ohio State and Michigan State. Next up is Texas on December 19.
This week: 12/12 vs Presbyterian.
11. Florida (8-0)
Except for a November win against Michigan State, the Gators have not looked terribly impressive this year, but their mettle will be tested by a ready Syracuse team on Thursday. Shoot-first guards Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker lead the team in points.
This week: 12/10 vs Syracuse
12. Ohio State (7-1)
Preseason All-American Evan Turner was lost for 2 months with a back injury. Can Jon Diebler and David Lighty step up for the Buckeyes?
This week: 12/12 at Butler.
13. Georgetown (6-0)
The Hoyas are still undefeated, but haven't impressed anyone with their gameplay so far, the worst example being a one-point victory over the mediocre Temple Owls. Sophomore center Greg Monroe leads Georgetown in both points and rebounds and is averaging a double-double.
This week: 12/8 vs Butler, 12/12 at Washington.
14. Michigan State (7-2)
The Spartans have rebounded from a pair of close losses, but have a weak and empty schedule leading up to a game at Texas on December 22. Senior guard Raymar Morgan leads the team in points and assists.
This week: 12/10 vs Oakland.
15. Connecticut (6-1)
Forward-center Gavin Edwards is third in the country in field goal percentage and eleventh in blocks. Jerome "Slicin'" Dyson, Stanley Robinson, and Kemba Walker each average over 15 points per game. However, the Huskies' problem lies in their depth- only six players average over 4 points per game.
This week: 12/9 vs Kentucky.
16. Texas A&M (7-1)
The Aggies have suffered only one loss, to West Virginia, and have earned a pair of good wins, over Clemson and Minnesota. Guard tandem Donald Sloan and Derrick Roland lead the charge on offense, where the Aggies leave something to be desired. However, they make up for it on the defensive end, where they give up only 63.3 points a game.
This week: 12/12 at New Mexico
17. Washington (6-1)
Despite an overtime loss to Texas Tech, the Huskies remain one of the strongest teams in the country. The team is fueled by the scoring escapades of sophomore guard Isaiah Thomas (no relation to the former NBA star) and senior forward Quincy Pondexter, both of whom average 20 ppg.
This week: 12/12 vs Georgetown.
18. Gonzaga (6-2)
The Bullzags (that's my new nickname for them) may have lost to Michigan State and Wake Forest, but those losses will both be turned into learning processes. Gonzaga picked up good wins against Wisconsin and Cincinnati (in overtime) and looked forceful during them both. Matt Bouldin may become the next Adam Morrison, in terms of his leadership and scoring abilities, and his ugly 1970s-style haircut.
This week: 12/9 vs Augustana-Illinois, 12/12 vs Davidson.
19. Cincinnati (5-1)
Vanderbilt. Maryland. Almost Gonzaga. Those are only some of the teams the Bearcats have already beaten. (So they lost to Gonzaga; it was in overtime! Gimme a break...) Freshman forward Lance Stephenson, the all-time leading scorer in New York high school history, has proved himself a valuable addition to a frontcourt that includes talented sophomore Yancy Gates.
This week: 12/10 vs Miami (OH), 12/13 at Xavier.
20. UNLV (7-0)
The Rebels are runnin! (Sorry, bad joke.) UNLV looked strong in back-to-back wins over Louisville and Arizona, and junior guard Tre'Von Wills is shooting .532% from the field, good enough to lead the team in points.
This week: 12/12 vs Kansas State.
21. Texas Tech (8-0)
The undefeated statistic may be a bit misleading, as the Red Raiders have only defeated one solid team. It just so happens that team is Washington. Texas Tech is centered behind their backcourt of Mike Singletary (son of the San Francisco 49ers head coach), John Roberson (12.6 ppg, 5.1 apg), and David Tairu (10.8 ppg).
This week: 12/8 vs TCU.
22. Wisconsin (6-1)
It seems that beating Maryland and Arizona is a popular pick among this week's top 25 teams. The Badgers have also beaten both the Terrapins and the Wildcats. Wisconsin can also include a huge home victory against Duke in their resume. The Badgers have good all-around rebounding skills, and Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon once again are the offensive go-to-guys.
This week: 12/9 at Green Bay, 12/12 vs Marquette.
23. Georgia Tech (6-1)
The Yellow Jackets bounced back from an early loss to Dayton to defeat Siena and USC in consecutive games. Gani Lawal is unstoppable in the post and freshman Derrick Favors is not far off Lawal's production numbers.
This week: Off.
24. Butler (6-2)
Butler has lost twice, to Minnesota and Clemson, but those were not bad losses. Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard, the leaders of the team in all areas, including off-court, will kickstart the team to a higher ranking in a few weeks' time.
This week: 12/8 vs Georgetown, 12/12 vs Ohio State
25. Vanderbilt (6-1)
The Commodores sneak onto the Top 25 this week because of powerful wins against Missouri and, you guessed it, Arizona. The dominating frontcourt is sparked by Jeffery Taylor and A.J. "It-Seems-Like-He's-Been-There-Much-Longer-Than-He-Really-Has" Ogilvy, both averaging over 14 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Just missed the cut: Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Kansas State
-Tucker Warner
GO HOYAS
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