I finally caved, I am making my top 25. NOTE: This is not trying to predict the AP poll, and for those of you who aren’t super into college basketball, it is key to understand that the AP poll isn’t good, and often doesn’t rank teams close to accurately. This will be my opinion on team’s performance so far. In my reasoning, I will explain whether I think teams are likely to move up throughout the season or have over performed thus far. I will also include where these teams are on KenPom and Barttorvik, my favorite analytic sites. (This ranking includes all games through 12/12)

#1: Auburn Tigers (8-1)

KenPom: 1

Torvik: 3

The Tigers have been dominant this year, with their only loss coming to a strong Duke team at Cameron Indoor, one of the most difficult environments to play in. They are led by the player who I believe is the best in all of college basketball, Johni Broome. If you want to hear more about him, check out my last post. (He’s a beast.) However, the thing that made me keep this team at #1 despite having one loss has been the emergence of freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford. He is a dynamic scorer and playmaker who’s two best games this season have been against Houston and Duke. He shows up in big games. This team has great guard depth, so there’s always one hot shooter each game, It will be hard for them to fall out of my top 5-10 this season, as long as they stay healthy.

#2: Tennessee Volunteers (8-0)

KenPom: 2

Torvik: 4

The Vols are 8-0 and haven’t won a game by less than 15 all season. That includes a 15 point win over Baylor and 22 point win over Louisville. They were able to replace Dalton Knecht near perfectly so far, with North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier coming in as their leading scorer with 18.8 points a game and shooting 47.7% from three. If he can keep that up, which I have some doubts about, Tennessee should remain one of the top ranked teams all year. Charlotte transfer Igor Milicic Jr. has also impressed me, scoring 12.5 points and grabbing 7 boards a game. This team makes shots, and if they can continue that way, they will be a real threat to win it all this season.

#3: Iowa State Cyclones (8-1)

KenPom: 6

Torvik: 6

I am a big fan of this Cyclone team, led by the returning guard trio of Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert, and Curtis Jones. We knew they would be great, but what I didn’t expect was the performance of their bigs, Dishon Jackson and Joshua Jefferson. Jefferson was great at St. Mary’s, but I wasn’t sure how he would recover from his injury last year. He has looked strong as ever, and his 15 and 12 performance against Marquette was a huge factor in their win by 11. The only loss for the Cyclones was to my #1 team, Auburn, and was only by 2 on a Johni Broome game winner. T.J. Otzelberger is due for a Final 4, and I think this team could get it for him.

#4: Duke Blue Devils (8-2)

KenPom: 3

Torvik: 2

Yes, Duke has 2 losses, and yes, they did lose to Kentucky who I have behind them, but if you are ranking head to head you shouldn’t be doing rankings. The Blue Devils have a couple big wins on their belt, and the losses by 5 points or less to Kentucky and Kansas are as good of losses as you can have. They beat Auburn, which is the reason they were able to be top 5. This team should continue to improve as the season continues, and more roles are being established. Cooper Flagg is quite a good basketball player. He is scoring 17 a game along with 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 stocks. He is doing that while shooting poorly from three. If he can get that shot going, the rest of college basketball could be in danger. The other thing that has led to their success so far has been really impressive portal additions who fit their roster construction. They got veterans who can lead them on the defensive end, since they already recruited top level offensive talent from their freshmen.

#5: Kentucky Wildcats (9-1)

KenPom: 9

Torvik: 8

I’ll be the first to admit that I was a UK disbeliever to start the season. I didn’t think that they brought in enough top end talent, or that it would mesh well. I was absolutely wrong. Mark Pope cooked a 5 star meal with this team, and the way these guys play as a team has been extremely impressive to me, given the fact that they’ve only been playing together for a short couple of months. The Wildcats hold wins over Duke and Gonzaga, and their only loss came in a tough road environment at Clemson (a team not to be overlooked). Otega Oweh has made huge steps from last season, becoming a much more well rounded player and leading the wildcats with 15.7 points per game, coming from Oklahoma. Koby Brea has also been spectacular. We knew he was a great shooter from his years at Dayton, but he has been unreal this season, shooting 55% from three on 5 attempts per game! If this team can continue this through SEC play, be careful, cause they have some DOGS.

#6 Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-2)

KenPom: 4

Torvik: 5

I am a big fan of the Bulldogs. They have a very nicely constructed roster, with multiple guys who can get buckets and consistent game management from guard Ryan Nembhard, who’s averaging 10.7 assists a game. They fell just short in a spectacular comeback from Kentucky in overtime, and lost by 6 to West Virginia in overtime. When your only two losses are in overtime, there isn’t a ton of concern. Their 8 man rotation is one of the strongest in the country, and their ability to be consistent as a team will continue to lift them throughout the year. Candidly, they are my current favorite to win the National Championship, and if they can stay healthy, I think it will be a steep task for anyone to take them down. I’d also like to give Graham Ike a little shoutout here, as he has been a huge presence for them, with 15.7 points a game, including 28 points and 11 rebounds in their loss to Kentucky.

#7 Marquette Golden Eagles (9-1)

KenPom: 9

Torvik: 11

There is one reason Marquette is this high. Kam Jones. He is the heart and soul of this team, and the fate of their season will undoubtedly rest on his shoulders. They have 3 BIG10 wins so far, over Maryland, Purdue, and Wisconsin, which is really impressive, and their only loss is to Iowa State, a very acceptable loss. While I’m not sure if the Golden Eagles have the firepower to be a final four team, they continue to prove me wrong, and look strong as ever despite having no transfers and losing key pieces. One thing to highlight here is Shaka Smart’s recruiting, because every year he brings in guys I’ve never heard of who become big time contributors for them, whether it’s only in one game or throughout the season. He sees talent, not ranking, which is something I really respect in a coach.

#8 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-2)

KenPom: 7

Torvik: 7

Once again, Alabama has started their season off with a gauntlet of top tier matchups, getting wins over Illinois, Houston, Rutgers, and UNC, but falling to Oregon and Purdue. The Tide are legit once again, and despite Latrell Wrightsell Jr. being out for the year, they will not falter, as they have a tonnn of guard depth. The addition of Clifford Omoruyi has been spectacular, and I think they haven’t quite reached their full potential using him. Another thing to note is that, despite averaging 16.4 points per game, Mark Sears hasn’t yet consistently been the player he was last year, which makes me excited for how much better the Tide could be. Freshman Labaron Philon has been the largest emergence, single handedly winning them some games, including his 16 point, 7 rebound, and 9 assist game vs. Illinois, in which Mark Sears had 0 points.

#9 Houston Cougars (6-3)

KenPom: 5

Torvik: 1

Despite their record, I couldn’t move Houston out of the top 10, as the analytics just like them too damn much! With two of their losses being to Auburn and Alabama, and the third to San Diego State, they haven’t suffered any terrible defeats. They also didn’t lose a single one of those by more than 5 points, which is important to note. One concern for the Cougars so far has been their offensive production from other sources than threes. They find themselves relying on threes because many of their interior presences are great defenders, but not offensive talents. The key for this will be J’wan Roberts stepping up back to the level he was last year, and getting up from a measly 8.1 points per game, as well as Terrance Arceneaux continuing to work back from his injury and becoming a multi level option for the Cougars. I don’t think there is much concern for them, as Kelvin Sampson will surely figure it out, and we will be seeing them as a big threat come march.

#10 Florida Gators (9-0)

KenPom: 8

Torvik: 12

This one is fairly self explanatory. They haven’t lost! They have won every game by 13 points or more, beating Wake by 17 and UVA by 18. These are solid wins, but sadly, the Gators just haven’t played the level of competition that the teams ahead of them have, so I can’t compare them accurately enough to move them above the other teams. I do think that this is a top 25 team, and if Alex Condon can play as well as he has been against SEC bigs, they could remain in this top 10 for a while. Walter Clayton Jr. is a very very good basketball player, and should be in conversations for All American. He’s scoring 18.4 points a game, shooting 37% from three on a whopping 8.3 attempts per game. He is shooting with volume, but shooting effectively (48% from the field). Will they keep it up, we shall see… (December 17 vs. UNC!!)

#11 Kansas Jayhawks (7-2)

KenPom: 11

Torvik: 8

The preseason #1 had a strong start, with wins over Duke and UNC, but has slipped in their last two, losing to Creighton by 13 and Missouri by 9, while being down 24 at one point. These losses absolutely concern me, and this team generally has some gaping issues that people overlooked preseason. Losing the defensive impact of Kevin McCullar Jr. really hurt them, and both wings they brought in, Rylan Griffen and AJ Storr, have not been good in filling that role. Unless some of their transfers can step up and play more like they did at their last schools, this could become a disaster season for Bill Self. And to be honest, I would be a-okay with that, as I cannot STAND Hunter Dickinson. He’s scoring 15 a game, which isn’t close to his standard, so that at least makes me happy. I think they will right the ship, but this definitely isn’t the team we thought they were prior to the season, and I don’t see them as a real threat to win it all right now.

#12 St. John’s Red Storm (8-2)

KenPom: 13

Torvik: 14

Rick Pitino’s team is off to a good start, with their two losses being by a combined 4 points, against two teams just outside of my top 25, Georgia and Baylor. They don’t have any spectacular wins, but they dominated UVA and Kansas State, which are solid teams. RJ Luis Jr. is the often overlooked member of this team, and has been awesome this season, definitely deserving more attention. He’s scoring 17 points and grabbing 7 boards a night, and his ability to play as a casual scorer is huge on a team of more aggressive and loud playmakers. Zuby Ejiofor has been the other unsung hero, with the big man scoring 13.6 and grabbing 7.4 boards a game, with his best games coming in their biggest matchups, like 28 points and 13 boards against KSU. Highly touted transfer Kadary Richmond hasn’t even gotten going yet, so the ceiling for the Red Storm could be even higher than initially expected.

#13 UCLA Bruins (8-1)

KenPom: 15

Torvik: 13

The Bruins are a very reloaded team, with 5 transfers playing large roles. They have done their work under the radar thus far, as they’ve only played 3 strong teams, with a loss to New Mexico, 10 point win over Washington, and a Dylan Andrews game winner over Oregon, which is why UCLA is one spot ahead. The one glaring issue for UCLA is interior presence. While Aday Mara could be good in a year or two, he’s not quite there yet, and they have no other traditional bigs, which could be problematic in their new conference, the BIG10, which loves post ups. However, there are also positives. Oregon State transfer Tyler Bilodeau has been great so far, and honestly most of the other contributors haven’t quite been playing at the level we’ve seen from them in the past. Once they have some more real tests, we’ll see for sure, but I’m not sure the ceiling is much higher than where they are right now.

#14 Oregon Ducks (9-1)

KenPom: 21

Torvik: 27

This is an odd one. The analytics really aren’t fans of the Ducks, yet the Ducks just win. Their only loss is to UCLA on a game winner, and they hold victories over Texas A&M, San Diego State, Alabama, and USC. While they aren’t dominating any of these teams, they are getting the wins, so I have to give them their respect. Nate Bittle is finally healthy, and making a big impact with 14.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, and is joined in double digits by Jackson Shelstad, Keeshawn Barthelemy, and. TJ Bamba. Shelstad was one of my favorite breakout candidates preseason, and has disappointed thus far if I’m being honest. He’s shooting below 30% from three and has had some ROUGH games. This team needs to shoot better as a whole as well, but no matter what, I see this team competing in March, and I am a big fan of what they could do.

#15 Clemson Tigers (9-1)

KenPom: 20

Torvik: 30

Another team the analytics don’t love, but they just win. Their one loss felt like a fluke loss to Boise State, a team that has struggled since then. However, the Tigers hold wins over Penn State, Kentucky, and Miami, and are a team that I really like. They have maybe my favorite player in all of college basketball, Ian Schieffelin, who’s scoring 12.3 points and grabbing 12.6 boards per game, a stat that he just passed Johni Broome in to be #1. This guy is the hardest working player on the court at all times, and is the definition of a pure DAWG. Alongside him, guard Chase Hunter is building off of his great March Madness performance last year, scoring 16 points a game, and Cincinnati transfer Viktor Lakhin has slid into PJ Hall’s role fairly well, and while he plays differently, he has been a good threat for Clemson, scoring 11 points a contest. This team has the build of one that could go far, with guys off the bench who can make plays along with their great veteran leadership. Watch out for the Tigers!

#16 Illinois Fighting Illini (7-2)

KenPom: 16

Torvik: 10

This is a team I had close to zero confidence in to begin the season, with so many large risks and big unknowns, but I can say now that I was wrong, and I have actually become a bit of an Illini fan. Now that’s something I never thought I’d say. The Illini moved up as I was making this due to their 6 point win over Wisconsin, which added to their other win over Arkansas, who just beat Michigan. Although the Northwestern loss doesn’t look good, that’s just how BIG10 play goes, and I did predict it and bet on Northwestern… just saying (follow the best bets when I post them!!) Kasparas Jakucionis has been really really good as a freshman coming from Europe, scoring 15.4 points a game while grabbing 6 boards and dishing out 6 assists as well. He’s had 4 straight 20 point games, so I think he’s just getting started, and his shooting of 44% from three on about 5 attempts per game is also really good. The other guy who has really surprised me is Tomislav Ivicic. The twin brother of Arkansas big man Zvonimir has been much better than big Z was last year, or ever, scoring 15.3 points and grabbing 9.4 boards per game. At 7’1 230 pounds, this guy is also an above average shooter! This season he’s 36.4% on 5 three point attempts per game. This team could be a reallll threat when it gets later into the season and all the new guys get even more development.

#17 Purdue Boilermakers (8-2)

KenPom: 17

Torvik: 17

Unlike the last two teams, I am not a believer in the Boilermakers. The loss of Edey was big, and although they have good wins over Alabama, Ole Miss, and Maryland, I don’t think they will be able to maintain this start throughout the whole season, as they’re just lacking talent. Braden Smith is a very good player, scoring 13 a game and dishing 9 assists, as well as Trey Kaufman-Renn, who’s scoring 19 points a game, but there is a lot of inconsistency behind those two on who contributes. Freshman CJ Cox has been somewhat of a bright spot, as the unranked recruit has had multiple double digit games, including in the win over Alabama and in a loss to Penn State. (Lexington native!!) I’m sure Purdue will stay in the mix throughout the season, but in no ways do I think this team has the firepower to make any sort of run in March, unless some of their wings or guards step it up in a big way.

#18 Texas A&M Aggies (8-2)

KenPom: 23

Torvik: 16

The Aggies always seem to start slow in non conference games, but despite dropping their first game to UCF, they have been solid since. Their other loss came to Oregon by 10, which isn’t terrible by any means. They have also won four straight against Creighton, Rutgers, Wake, and Texas Tech, which are all big time wins, and their trajectory is looking very positive. Wade Taylor IV is scoring as always, with 16 points a game, but he hasn’t been efficient thus far, and once he gets there, they could be even better. SMU transfer Zhuric Phelps has been able to fill the hole left by Tyrece Radford well, scoring 13 points a game and grabbing 2 steals a game. They’ve maintained their rough and tough identity, and that should carry them into another strong top 25 season.

#19 Oklahoma Sooners (9-0)

KenPom: 44

Torvik: 60

This is my most doubted ranking. The analytics HATE it, but the Sooners haven’t lost, so I have to give them some credit. They hold solid wins as well, over Providence, Arizona, Louisville, and Georgia Tech. They are led. by the guard tandem of freshman Jeremiah Fears and senior Jalon Moore. Moore is scoring 18 points a game, as a great athlete and rim finisher, while Fears is a more dynamic scorer averaging 16.7 points a game. The biggest flaw for OU is their lack of interior presence. Sam Godwin and Mo Wague are not good solutions on the interior, and when they continue in SEC play, I think they are going to have large problems in that regard. Despite this, they’re undefeated so far, so we’ll let them keep doing their thing. (I would be VERY surprised if they’re still here at the end of the season)

#20 Ole Miss Rebels (8-1)

KenPom: 28

Torvik: 34

The Rebels have been solid this year, not playing crazy competition, but their only loss was on a game winner to my #17 team Purdue. They have wins over BYU and Louisville, two strong teams, and despite some random struggle games, seem to have hit a rhythm as conference play is coming up. Sean Pedulla, a Virginia Tech transfer, has been great so far, scoring 14 points a night on 44.6% from three, taking 5.6 shots a game from the distance. They don’t have a typical big, but their athleticism from the wings should maintain the team’s performance throughout the year. This is a tough team for me to judge, as I can’t quite figure them out. I think it will continue to be a wait and see situation, but their floor is high.

#21 Michigan Wolverines (8-2)

KenPom: 24

Torvik: 24

The Wolverines are the most recent faller after losing to Arkansas by 2 last night. However, they still have solid wins over TCU, Xavier, Wisconsin, and Iowa. They have started BIG10 play well, and this team is one that I think has a genuine chance to win it all, simply due to their dynamic 7 footer duo, Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf. Wolf has opened a lot of eyes this year with his ability to play with the ball in his hands. He’s averaging 12.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, and his ability to playmake at 7 feet gives Michigan a big advantage in any game. Goldin followed coach Dusty May, and despite a slow start, he’s turned it on, scoring 17 or more points in his last 4 games. I was definitely unsure about the roster construction preseason, but Danny Wolf flipped the script on me with his ability to playmake, giving everyone better looks. The ball screen between the bigs is one of the more unstoppable plays I’ve ever seen, so that solely can hold them together. If their guards are able to get a little more consistent, this team could continue to rise, but no matter what, the floor is a NCAA Tournament birth.

#22 Cincinnati Bearcats (7-1)

KenPom: 18

Torvik: 22

The Bearcats haven’t played any real top competition as of yet, and their one loss was at Villanova. That definitely isn’t a good loss, but after the UVA game, Villanova does seem to have figured it out and may be turning this season around. Despite that, the Bearcats have all the pieces to be really good, and there is no reason to keep them out of the top 25 at this point in the season. Simas Lukasius and Jizzle James are dynamic guards, scoring 16.3 and 13.6 points respectively, and when you include their athletic bigs, there’s a lot of potential. Guards Day Day Thomas and Dan Skillings Jr. have yet to get going, but once they do, this team could give the BIG12 a real surprise. Cincinnati is definitely one of my favorite built teams, and their games are always entertaining to watch.

#23 Maryland Terrapins (8-2)

KenPom: 19

Torvik: 15

The Terrapins are off to a strong start, with a demolition of Ohio State highlighting their season thus far. They do have losses to Purdue and Marquette, but those are high quality losses, and neither was by more than 5. The play of freshman Derik Queen has elevated them to a higher level than I thought they could reach, as he’s leading them with 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Queen is a dynamic big man, who can move with the ball in his hand and finish strong. The other biggest piece has been Belmont transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who’s scoring 14 points a game on 42% from three, which he’s shooting in volume (5.5 attempts per game). If the Terps can maintain close to their current level of shooting, they’ll have a solid year, but if they can improve it, they could be a real threat at the top of the BIG10.

#24 Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-1)

KenPom: 27

Torvik: 25

This Bulldog team could be very dangerous this season, as an underrated team that has tons of contributors. The definite offensive leader is sophomore Josh Hubbard, who is scoring 19 points a game, shooting 43% from three on 8 attempts per game. He is the heart of this team, and a large portion of their success will rest on his shoulders. Unlike last year, however, they have other capable, yet streaky, scorers off the bench, which could wins them some games come SEC play. They maintained their identity of lengthy, athletic bigs, and they have a larger “variety” of them this year than last year, when there was a lot of reliance on Tolu Smith. This team’s ability to have a new guy play a big role each night will be crucial, and I think it will carry them to some big time victories, and a chance for some madness in March!

#25 Michigan State Spartans (8-2)

KenPom: 22

Torvik: 21

The Spartans are off to a much stronger start than last season, with a win over UNC and their most recent result being a demolition of Nebraska. Their two losses come to Kansas and Memphis, two strong teams, so they are reasonable losses. I definitely have some doubts about this team, but their performance so far deserves a nod into the top 25. Firstly, their bigs have been much better than I expected, especially Jaxon Kohler, who is putting up 8 and 8 per game. Jaden Akins is the leading scorer for MSU as many expected prior to the season, with 13 points a game, but the scoring behind him is fairly even, with a bunch of guys in the 6-10 range. One of them is point guard and sophomore leader Jeremy Fears Jr., who is scoring 7.6 points along with 5.9 assists per game, playing their most important role. While I don’t think this is a top 25 team to end the season, I do think a tournament birth could be in their future as long as they start shooting better from three, because they are an atrocious 27%.

Honorable Mentions

Georgia Bulldogs (8-1)

I think the Bulldogs deserve a shoutout here, starting the season with wins over St. John’s, Georgia Tech, and Notre Dame. This team is a lot of fun, but I’m not sure if they’ll be able to keep this up through SEC play yet. Freshman forward Asa Newell has been great, scoring 16 points a game, and if their interior presence can maintain itself against tougher competition, their dynamic guards could make some noise.

Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-2)

The Red Raiders would be in the top 25 if not for their loss to St. Joes by 1. They have wins over Syracuse and Depaul, so not great wins, but they haven’t yet played to their potential, and I think this team could make some noise if they stay healthy. JT Toppin has been spectacular coming from New Mexico, scoring 18.6 points and grabbing 11 boards a game, and guard Darrion Williams is also contributing at a high level, with 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists a game.

Baylor Bears (7-3)

Despite their 3 losses, I have no doubts that Baylor is one of the top teams in the country, with wins over St. Johns and Arkansas. VJ Edgecombe has been underwhelming, but when he gets going, this team could get to a whole other level. Norchard Omier and Jeremy Roach will keep the floor high, and I am very confident they will be seen in the tournament.

(P.C. UCLA MBB)