Another week of the college basketball season is in the books, which means another edition of the Vavel Top 20 Rankings are out and about.
The top team once again remains unchanged (shocker!), and it was once again a unanimous vote. However, below the top team there were some movers and shakers, so let’s get right into this week’s top 20 teams!
1. Kentucky Wildcats
The only undefeated team in the NCAA needs no introduction. The Wildcats had to fight through their first two conference games of the season, but have found their groove and have since rolled over any and all competition. Don’t be surprised to see them enter the NCAA Tournament undefeated.
2. Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Bulldogs easily dismantled the Saint Mary’s Gaels, who are their top contention in the WCC this season. The Bulldogs have quietly crept up to the #2 spot in the country, and for good reason. Kyle Wiltjer has helped take the team to the next level, and has emerged as a legitimate Wooden Award candidate.
3. Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers suffered their first loss of the season last week, to the Duke Blue Devils, on their home floor no less. Despite the loss, the Cavaliers are still a top contender in the loaded ACC, and can make a statement with a big week over the upcoming seven days.
4. Duke Blue Devils
The Blue Devils took down the previously-unbeaten Virginia Cavaliers, and Coach K is continuing to extend his win total as the season progresses. The team dismissed Rasheed Sulaimon from the team, which could have a big impact on team morale. As of right now, the Blue Devils are flying high and are one of the nation’s best teams, thanks in large part to the play of Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones, and Justise Winslow.
5. Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats disposed of the Utah Utes earlier this season, who are widely considered as their top threat in the Pac-12 this season, and knocked off the Oregon State Beavers to overcome their early-season upset to the Beavers. Arizona still looks like a top national title threat, and will need to hold off a strong Pac-12 field to win the conference this season.
6. Kansas Jayhawks
The Kansas Jayhawks are currently the top team in the loaded Big 12 conference, where it seems that six or seven teams have realistic chances to win the conference title. Wayne Selden is coming into his own as the season progresses, and Perry Ellis is as solid as ever, so the Jayhawks are a team to keep an eye on.
7. Wisconsin Badgers
The preseason consensus Big Ten favourite doesn’t look untouchable anymore. Their upset loss to Rutgers raised a few red flags, and the loss of Traevon Jackson to injury for six-to-eight weeks leaves a hole in the lineup. So far, the Badgers have stepped up their game in Jackson’s absence, and are still the team to beat in the weaker-than-usual Big Ten.
8. Villanova Wildcats
The Wildcats are the top team in the Big East so far this season, in a conference race where it seems like anyone can beat anyone on any given night. With Jay Wright at the helm, you know the Wildcats will be prepared for any opponent they face, and they will look to keep their strong play going as the season moves along.
9. Louisville Cardinals
Montrezl Harrell is no longer a captain for the Cardinals, which may be a good thing for the program. Harrell hasn’t had the impact that many thought he would have when he returned this season. Regardless, Harrell and the Cardinals are once again in the national title discussion, and are a top threat in the ACC.
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Make that four teams in the top 10 from the ACC, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have emerged as a top contender in the conference. Jerian Grant has taken the team to new heights this season, and has firmly established himself as a top contender for both the ACC Player of the Year and the Wooden Award.
11. Northern Iowa Panthers
The Panthers established themselves as one of the top mid-major programs in the country, and arguably the top team in the Missouri Valley conference in 2014-15. The Panthers throttled the Wichita State Shockers on their home floor this past week, behind a strong performance from Seth Tuttle. With a strong bench and stellar starting lineup, the Panthers are a team to keep an eye on.
12. Utah Utes
The Utah Utes are still a trendy pick in the Pac-12 this season, even after a loss to the Arizona Wildcats. They are still a threat in the conference race, and are home to one of the nation’s best players, in Delon Wright. The Utes have a talented, balanced roster that is allowing the program to experience some much-deserved success in 2014-15.
13. West Virginia Mountaineers
As mentioned earlier, there are six or seven teams who have a realistic chance to win the Big 12 title this season, and the West Virginia Mountaineers are one of top contenders. Behind the play of Juwan Staten, the Mountaineers are putting people on notice with their strong play this season, and are looking to end Kansas’ reign of terror on the conference title.
14. Iowa State Cyclones
For the second year in a row, the Iowa State Cyclones are right in the thick of things in the Big 12. Georges Niang is having another strong year for the Cyclones, but the emergence of Dustin Hogue and Monte Morris have taken the program to new heights in 2014-15. Losing Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane from last year’s team hasn’t hurt the team like some thought it would, which is great news for the Cyclones.
15. North Carolina Tar Heels
After a brief fall from grace last season, the North Carolina Tar Heels are once again among the NCAA’s best teams, and that’s great news for college basketball as a whole. Marcus Paige is leading the way for the Tar Heels, and have them back in contention in the ACC. Their dates with the Duke Blue Devils have to be circled on all calendars, as they will be some of the best contests between the two in recent years.
16. Virginia Commonwealth Rams
This past weekend wasn’t the greatest for the Virginia Commonwealth Rams. While they are still the cream of the crop in the Atlantic 10, the road to the title just got a whole lot tougher. In their loss to Richmond on Saturday, star guard Briante Weber was lost for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL and MCL. Weber’s NCAA career ended with him just 12 steals shy of setting the all-time steals record. The Rams will still be a tough team to knock off, but things got a little tougher for Shaka Smart and his team.
17. Wichita State Shockers
Wichita State saw their lengthy conference winning streak come to an end this past weekend, with their blowout loss at the hands of the Northern Iowa Panthers. However, the loss may do the program a little bit of good. It will force them to improve and work harder to avenge the loss when the two teams square off later in the season. Ron Baker, Fred VanVleet, and Tekele Cotton still have the Shockers atop the conference, and they will be there come the end of the season.
18. Maryland Terrapins
When Dez Wells went down with an injury earlier this season, Melo Trimble stepped up and carried the Terrapins. Now that Wells is back in the mix and the Terrapins are finally healthy, they have the look of the top contender to Wisconsin in the Big Ten. Trimble has emerged as one of the nation’s best freshmen, and the Terrapins find themselves in a logjam for the second spot in the conference standings.
19. Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners are a team who has had its fair share of ups and downs so far in the 2014-15 season. They entered the year with a ton of optimism surrounding the program, but have failed to live up to those expectations in 2014-15. They have a ton of talent on their roster, led by Buddy Hield and Isaiah Cousins, but need to find some consistency if they want to be a true threat in the Big 12 conference.
20. Baylor Bears
The Baylor Bears dismantled the Texas Longhorns this past week to help propel themselves back into the Vavel Top 20 rankings. Baylor has been in and out of the rankings throughout the season, but hopefully they are here to stay. Kenny Chery is leading the way for the Bears, and they are the fifth team from the Big 12 conference to make the rankings.
Also receiving votes: Colorado State Rams, Southern Methodist Mustangs, Arkansas Razorbacks
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Half of this week’s rankings are tied up between two conferences, the ACC and the Big 12. However, the top spot hasn’t changed all season long, with the Kentucky Wildcats firmly holding onto the #1 slot. It will take a bad week to knock the Wildcats off the top of the NCAA totem pole, and even a loss may not be enough to do so.
Enjoy the upcoming week of college basketball, as there are a plethora of great games on tap for fans everywhere!