By Zac Jackson
FOX Sports Ohio
February 22, 2011
Diving into the college basketball landscape, starting with the polls, Buckeye concerns and the brackets taking shape...
1. Who's No. 1? Who stinking knows? The new polls say it's Duke, but those polls mean nothing and generally are indicative of even less. It's certainly a mess after all Nos. 1-4 from last week all lost road games, and there are certainly fair arguments on both sides. And the real argument is just beginning. I say a Kyrie Irving-less Duke isn't the nation's No. 1 team, but I've been wrong before (you may have noticed) and you don't bet against Coach K deep into March. I still say Ohio State is the most well-rounded team when it's clicking and is probably the safest bet to win it. But the Buckeyes are on their heels a little bit and playing with heavy legs. And there's a lot of season left, so that's a problem.
2. So, Zac, answer your own question. Who is No. 1? I'm pretty sure Kansas isn't -- the Jayhawks were a far-from-unanimous and undeserving pick last week -- but we still have varying opinions on who is. And, given the events of the past seven days, a very valid question. Who would want to be? It's all about being one of four No. 1 seeds on Selection Sunday, which is creeping nearer. Ohio State is still going to be a 1 seed and play in Cleveland. Pitt should be -- and easily could be No. 1 now -- but is somehow, mystifyingly, ranked sixth in the Coaches Poll. Pitt lost at St. John's at the buzzer last weekend. Duke lost at St. John's by a bunch three weeks ago. BYU got two first-place votes in the AP Poll. Yes, BYU. Does anybody watch the games? Does anybody remember Texas winning at Kansas, or see that Duke is playing in the weakest ACC ever? Again, at least we get a tournament at the end of the year to decide it.
3. Ohio State's two losses are understandable. And/or excusable, if that makes any sense. Nobody wins at Wisconsin; Duke didn't last year, and the track record the Badgers have at home in big games under Bo Ryan is sparkling. Losing at Purdue Sunday was a little more worrisome, but I wasn't shocked. Purdue got shellacked in the first meeting, was playing to stay alive in the Big Ten race and probably for a 3 seed in the big tournament, had a packed house and a national TV audience and every reason to think it was better than it showed in Columbus in late January. OSU fans should be concerned about the defensive lapses and the lack of depth -- and wonder if they're tied together -- and know that opposing guards aren't going to quit launching from the 3-point line. Games like the one E'Twaun Moore had are the stuff those unpredictable March upsets are made of.
4. Why might the Buckeyes be No. 1? Because of their balance and leadership. Because lots of teams would lose at Wiscosin and Purdue. Because nobody else has Jared Sullinger, mostly. Other teams have more impressive wins. Texas has the best overall quickness, Duke is Duke, Pitt defends like crazy and crazy things happen -- a few Big East teams will flame out, a few others
