Rant Sports Week 2 Official College Basketball Top 25 Rankings
Top 25 Teams
The first weekend of college basketball didn’t really see any big upsets, which means the rankings will not change all that much. Regardless, this week's top 25 looks a little different than the preseason top 25.
I am sure every college hoops fan is excited about the matchups that are in store for this week. If you aren’t, then I have to question you as a college basketball fan or a fan of sports in general.
Michigan State and Kentucky will square off and Duke and Kansas play each other on the same night. Heck, even the Florida vs. Wisconsin game has a lot of hype going into it. This is going to be an exciting week of college ball to say the least.
So although the rankings will not look a whole lot different this week, you can bet that they will really change up the following one. That can be expected when four teams in the top five play each other.
So far Julius Randle and the Kentucky Wildcats have looked great and many freshmen all over the country stole the show on opening night. Jabari Parker looked like a veteran in his first game with the Duke Blue Devils and Andrew Wiggins had a good outing for Kansas as well.
Oregon, Wisconsin and Baylor all had big wins this past weekend and all three will be featured in this week’s top 25. However, you are going to have to read on to find out where they are ranked, along with the rest of the teams.
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25. Oregon Ducks (1,0)
Preseason Ranking: NR
The Oregon Ducks took a hit with two players getting suspended last week, but they followed that up with a big win against the Georgetown Hoyas.
The transfer players came up big in that victory. Jason Calliste scored 16 points. Mike Moser scored 15 and he also had seven rebounds and six steals. It was Joseph Young who led the team in scoring, though, dropping 24 points.
24. Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0)
Preseason Ranking: 24
The Iowa Hawkeyes played two easy teams and they won both games. Aaron White is leading the way, averaging 15 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game.
23. Marquette Golden Eagles (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 23
Todd Mayo and Davante Gardner combined for 45 points in Marquette’s season opener. It will have one more tuneup game and then it will take on a very good Ohio State Buckeyes team.
22. Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 22
The Gonzaga Bulldogs could have tested themselves more in their non-conference schedule, but that is okay. The Bulldogs do still play in the Maui Invitational and the game against Memphis could be the toughest contest of the season.
Colorado State is up next. This would have been a much better matchup if the Rams did not lose all five of their starters in the off-season.
21. Creighton Bluejays (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 21
The Creighton Bluejays have played one game and Doug McDermott looked like Doug McDermott in that game. He dropped 20 points and shot 53.8 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from behind the arc.
20. Wisconsin Badgers (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 24
The Wisconsin Badgers beat a very talented St. John’s team to open up the season. Florida is next. The Gators will more than likely be short-handed, but that would still be a huge victory for the Badgers. Not to mention, it would move them way up in the rankings.
19. Tennessee Volunteers (0-0)
Preseason Ranking: 19
Tennessee has not played a game yet, so there is really not a whole lot to say. However, a win against Xavier would be a great way to start off the season.
18. Wichita State Shockers (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 18
Cleanthony Early and Ron Baker both came up big in the first game of the season. Early had 21 points and Baker had 17. The competition was not very tough, but dropping 93 on any team has to feel pretty good.
17. New Mexico Lobos (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 17
New Mexico will not play another game until Nov. 17, so they get a little break (totally needed it since the season just started and everything).
I would love to see Kendall Williams become a star this season and a 17-point performance has him heading in the right direction. It helps that he was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 7-for-8 from the charity stripe.
16. Baylor Bears (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 16
Baylor has the best victory of any team so far this season. That will change come Tuesday, but a win against Colorado should not be overlooked.
15. Connecticut Huskies (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 15
Like I said in the intro slide, the rankings did not change a whole lot. With that in mind, the Huskies beat a Maryland team that could still make the NCAA tournament.
Shabazz Napier did what he does best and led the team with 18 points. He also led Connecticut with seven rebounds and seven assists.
14. VCU Rams (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 14
VCU will take on the Virginia Cavaliers next. This is actually one of the best matchups of the Tip-Off Marathon, but it is obviously getting put to the back burner thanks to the Duke-Kansas game and the Kentucky-Michigan State game.
13. Syracuse Orange (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 13
C.J. Fair had a big first game, but it is Trevor Cooney who made the most noise. Cooney drained seven three-pointers and he had 27 points in the game.
12. Memphis Tigers (0-0)
Preseason Ranking: 12
Memphis has not played yet, but it will take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Nov. 19.
11. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 11
I keep telling myself that James Michael McAdoo is going to be a star, but I have been saying that since last season. Regardless, he put up big boy numbers in North Carolina’s first game, scoring 21 and rebounding nine.
10. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 10
Deshaun Thomas may be missed, but the Buckeyes had no problem scoring against Morgan State. They had 89 points in that contest and five players scored 10 or more points.
9. Michigan Wolverines (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 9
Mitch McGary was in a suit and tie for the first game, but Michigan needs him on the court for this team to be at its best. The Wolverines have plenty of talent, but McGary was named a preseason All-American for a reason.
8. Florida Gators (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 8
I respect Billy Donovan’s decision to suspend players before the season started, but boy do I wish Florida was at full-strength against Wisconsin.
Florida ran away with the victory last season, but the Badgers are underrated--as usual--and the Gators will be without some very talented players.
How about Casey Prather. He looked great against North Florida and had a solid 28 points to show for it.
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 7
Marcus Smart may have not looked like the best player in college hoops in the Cowboys’ opener, but Phil Forte and Le’Bryan Nash sure looked good. The two combined for 43 points. Oklahoma State had 117 total.
6. Kansas Jayhawks (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 6
I am sure Kansas will make a great game out of it--against Duke--and I am also sure Andrew Wiggins will show us why we have been talking about him nonstop.
With that in mind, Duke looked very, very good in its season opener. I have the Blue Devils beating Kansas, but the Jayhawks clearly have the talent to win.
5. Arizona Wildcats (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 5
Arizona only beat Cal Poly by 11 points, but at least it did not pull a UCLA. The Bruins lost to the Mustangs last season when they were ranked No. 11... at home.
The Wildcats won and that is all that matters, but they have to get better before they play teams like Michigan, San Diego State, UNLV, possibly Duke and the list goes on and on.
4. Louisville Cardinals (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 3
Russ Smith picked up where he left off last season by dropping 21 points in Louisville’s first game of the year. He also had five assists to go along with that.
3. Duke Blue Devils (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 4
Duke lost its top three scorers from last season. It shouldn’t look this good this early in the season, but it does. The Blue Devils dropped 111 points on Davidson and four players scored 20 or more points.
Jabari Parker did not disappoint and neither did Rodney Hood. This is going to be a really good Duke team. It already is.
2. Michigan State Spartans (1-0)
Preseason Ranking: 2
Michigan State can earn the No. 1 ranking with a win over the Kentucky Wildcats. It will not be easy, but the Spartans are more experienced than Kentucky and have a lot of talent as well.
1. Kentucky Wildcats (2-0)
Preseason Ranking: 1
Kentucky already looks much better than it did last season. Julius Randle has been a beast so far and he looks ready for the showdown with the Michigan State Spartans.
Other players on the team have been good as well, but Randle is making it pretty clear that he will be the leader of this team--on the court at least.
Kentucky is No. 1 and Michigan State is No. 2. They play each other during the Tip-Off Marathon. It may be November, but this game might as well be for a national championship.
