The first power rankings of the new year are hot off the press, and there is a new team holding down the No. 1 spot.
After blowing out Nebraska in their Big 10 opener, the Badgers fell to the lowly Iowa Hawkeyes. Things don’t get any easier for the Badgers as they host red hot Michigan State on Tuesday.
Last week’s ranking: 13
Since their upset loss to Davidson, the Jayhawks have won three in a row. Kansas will host Kansas State on Wednesday to kick-off conference play.
Last week’s ranking: 14
Eli Carter scored 31 points for Rutgers, as the Scarlett Knights handed the Gators their third loss of the season in a double-overtime classic. The Gators bounced back later in the week, defeating Yale by 20 points.
Last week’s ranking: 8
It was certainly a bitter-sweet week for the Hoosiers. On Wednesday, the team lost its first game of the season, falling to the Michigan State Spartans by 15 points. But Indiana showed some grit after experiencing their first hiccup of the season.
Led by 17 points from Jordan Hulls, the Hoosiers upset Jared Sullinger and Ohio State on Saturday.
Last week’s ranking: 10
After losing their first two games of the season to Duke and North Carolina, the Spartans have won 13 in a row, including handing Indiana their first loss of the season last week.
Last week’s ranking: 15
After wins over Providence and Louisville (Louisville’s first loss of the season), the Hoyas are making their first appearance in this season’s power rankings. Don’t look now, but John Thompson’s boys have won 10 in a row.
Last week’s ranking: Did not appear
Rick Pitino’s gang lost their first two games of the season this past week, falling to Georgetown and Kentucky. The Cardinals will look to bounce back against St. John’s on Tuesday.
Last week’s ranking: 5
Serving a three-game suspension for recruiting violations, coach Jim Calhoun was absent for his team’s two Big East wins this past week over South Florida and St. John’s.
The Huskies travel to Seton Hall on Tuesday.
Last week’s ranking: 11
Thanks to a game-winning layup from Pierre Jackson with 28 seconds left and 12 points and six rebounds from Quincy Miller, the Bears remained undefeated with a 54-52 win over Mississippi State.
Last week’s ranking: 9
The Tigers remained undefeated this week with a close win over Old Dominion, thanks to a late game three-pointer from Marcus Denmon, breaking a 67-all tie.
Missouri hosts Oklahoma on Tuesday.
Last week’s ranking: 7
After 10 days off between games, the Blue Devils didn’t appear too rusty, defeating Western Michigan and Pennsylvania this past week
The team plays Temple on Wednesday before starting their slate of ACC games this weekend against Georgia Tech.
Last week’s ranking: 6
It was a hum-ho week for the Tar Heels. The team defeated Elon and Monmouth by 38 and 37 points, respectively. North Carolina starts ACC play on Saturday against Boston College.
Last week’s ranking: 4
The Buckeyes split their first two Big 10 games of the season, blowing out Northwestern and losing to Indiana. The loss to the Hooisers drops Ohio State from No. 1 to No. 3 in this week’s rankings.
Last week’s ranking: 1
Kentucky’s week was highlighted with a win over in-state rival Louisville. Freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist extended his double digit scoring streak to seven games, scoring 24 points and snatching 19 rebounds against the Cardinals.
Last week’s ranking: 3
With Ohio State’s upset loss to Indiana, Syracuse moves into the No. 1 slot for the first time this season. The Orange started Big East play on a high note, blowing out Seton Hall and DePaul by an average of 22 points.
Last week’s ranking: 2
Out of this week’s rankings:
Marquette: Marquette has now lost two of their last four games to unranked opponents (LSU, Vanderbilt). Fans have to wonder if the team didn’t peak too early with their 10-0 start. Now the Golden Eagles begin conference play with serious questions surrounding them for the first time all season.
Joshua Sexton is a lifelong basketball fanatic, who watches as many games as possible. In addition, He has played and coached the game at the high school level. He has recently started writing about the game of basketball.
