There’s no steadfast rule that says a team can’t jump
another team even though neither has lost.
I gave Kansas the nod as the preseason No. 1 team in the
nation with a slight edge over both Texas and Kentucky.
Now, after watching Texas knock off North Carolina and
Michigan State — a pair of top 15 teams — in
person within a four-day span, I’ve decided that the
Longhorns are more deserving than Kansas of the top spot.
Early in the year, there’s virtually no other way of
compiling a poll besides looking at last season’s
performance, how many key players return and who teams have added.
However, as the season progresses, body of work should
out-distance how the team looks on paper. I also take into account
the look and feel of a team when I see them play.
Anyway, it’s not as if I’m removing a Kansas team
that won the national title last season from the top spot. The
Jayhawks went to the Sweet 16 and added a talented freshman class
led by Xavier Henry, but Rick Barnes had an NCAA tournament team a
year ago and added three impact freshmen — guards Avery
Bradley and J’Covan Brown as well as scoring wing Jordan
Hamilton.
Let’s take a closer look at the two teams thus far.
Kansas barely got past Memphis in St. Louis and its so-called
résumé win would be against a Cal team that is far from a
lock for an NCAA tournament bid. The Jayhawks also knocked off
Michigan — a team that would likely be on the outside
looking in if the Big Dance began tomorrow.
Texas hadn’t done much prior to the last 10 days, but
now the Longhorns have a pair of résumé wins against
North Carolina and Michigan State. Sure, both of them came in the
Lone Star State, but true road games for elite teams early in the
season are few and far between.
To be honest, Kentucky could lay a legitimate claim to the
No. 2 spot ahead of Kansas since the Wildcats have beaten UConn on
a neutral court and also knocked off North Carolina in Lexington.
I’m just not quite ready to jump Kentucky over Kansas
yet, but it could happen soon.
Four teams in the back end of the poll dropped out after
losses this past week. Florida is reeling after its third
consecutive loss, this time to South Alabama; UNLV got handled by
USC out in Hawaii; St. John’s lasted one week after a setback
to Cornell; and Missouri State fell from the ranks of the unbeaten
after a loss at Arkansas.
Washington, following a pair of early season losses, is back
in the poll after a win against No. 23 Texas A&M. UAB makes its
debut after a win against Butler and also a victory over Cincinnati
on its résumé, and Clemson checks in at No. 24 because,
well, there just aren’t a ton of deserving teams right now.
The most difficult decision was what to do with a USC team
that has already lost four games, including one to Loyola Marymount
at home.
The Trojans are finally at full strength with the addition of
starting point guard Mike Gerrity and the return of talented
forward Leonard Washington. With those two guys, USC pounded
Tennessee at home and knocked off UNLV and Saint Mary’s out
in Hawaii.
That’s worthy of inclusion in the top 25, so Kevin
O’Neill’s club makes its way into the poll in the final
spot.
WEEK 7 TOP 25
1. Texas (11-0) *2
2. Kansas (11-0) *1
3. Kentucky (13-0) *3
4. Purdue (11-0) *4
5. Syracuse (12-0) *5
6. West Virginia (10-0) *6
7. Villanova (11-1) *7
8. Duke (9-1) *8
9. North Carolina (9-3) *11
10. Mississippi (10-2) *9
11. Kansas State (11-1) *10
12. Michigan State (9-3) *12
13. Connecticut (9-2) *13
14. Georgetown (9-1) *15
15. New Mexico (12-1) *14
16. Dayton (9-2) *16
17. Washington (9-2) *NR
18. Ohio State (10-2) *19
19. Temple (9-2) *22
20. Florida State (11-2) *23
21. Gonzaga (8-3) *24
22. UAB (11-1) *NR
23. Texas A&M (9-3) 17
24. Clemson (11-2) *NR
25. USC (8-4) *NR
Dropped out: No. 18 Florida, No. 20 UNLV, No. 21
St. John’s, No. 25 Missouri State.
