Top 25

1. Ohio State 27-2
quality wins: @Florida, @Florida State, Minnesota, @Illinois, Purdue, @Minnesota, Michigan State, Illinois
losses: @Wisconsin, @Purdue
previous rank: 3

2. Kansas 27-2
quality wins: Arizona(n), UCLA, Memphis(n), @Baylor, @Colorado, Kansas State, Missouri, Colorado
losses: Texas, @Kansas State
previous rank: 4

3. Pittsburgh 25-4
quality wins: Maryland(n), Texas(n), Connecticut, Marquette, @Georgetown, Syracuse, Cincinnati, @West Virginia, @Villanova, West Virginia
losses: Tennessee(n), Notre Dame, @St. John's, @Louisville
previous rank: 2

4. Duke 26-3
quality wins: Marquette(n), Kansas State(n), Michigan State, Maryland, Boston College, @Maryland, North Carolina, Temple
losses: @Florida State, @St. John's, @Virginia Tech
previous rank: 1

5. Brigham Young 27-2
quality wins: Utah State, St. Mary's(n), Arizona(n), @UNLV, San Diego State, UNLV, @San Diego State
losses: UCLA(n), @New Mexico
previous rank: 7

6. Texas 24-5
quality wins: Illinois(n), North Carolina(n), @Michigan State, Texas A&M, @Kansas, Missouri, @Texas A&M, Baylor
losses: Pittsburgh(n), @USC, Connecticut, @Nebraska, @Colorado
previous rank: 5

7. Purdue 24-5
quality wins: @Virginia Tech, Alabama, Michigan State, Minnesota, @Illiois, Wisconsin, Ohio State, @Michigan State
losses: Richmond(n), @Minnesota, @West Virginia, @Ohio State, @Wisconsin
previous rank: 9

8. Notre Dame 23-5
quality wins: Georgia(n), Wisconsin(n), Gonzaga, Georgetown, Connecticut, St. John's, Cincinnati, Marquette, @Pittsburgh, Louisville
losses: Kentucky(n), @Syracuse, @Marquette, @St. John's, @West Virginia
previous rank: 8

9. San Diego State 27-2
quality wins: @Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Wichita State, UNLV, @UNLV
loss: @Brigham Young, Brigham Young
previous rank: 6

10. Wisconsin 22-6
quality wins: Boston College(n), @Marquette, Minnesota, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State
losses: @UNLV, Notre Dame(n), @Illinois, @Michigan State, @Penn State, @Purdue
previous rank: 12

11. Louisville 22-7
quality wins: UNLV, Marquette, St. John's, West Virginia, @Connecticut, Syracuse, Connecticut, Pittsburgh
losses: Drexel, Kentucky, @Villanova, @Providence, @Georgetown, @Notre Dame, @Cincinnati
previous rank: 14

12. Syracuse 24-6
quality wins: Michigan State(n), Notre Dame, @St. John's, Cincinnati, @Connecticut, West Virginia, @Villanova, @Georgetown
losses: @Pittsburgh, Villanova, Seton Hall, @Marquette, Georgetown, @Louisville
previous rank: 17

13. Connecticut 21-7
quality wins: Wichita State(n), Michigan State(n), Kentucky(n), @Texas, Villanova, Tennessee, @Marquette, Georgetown, @Cincinnati
losses: @Pittsburgh, @Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse, @St. John's, @Louisville, Marquette
previous rank: 10

14. Florida 22-6
quality wins: @Florida State, Kansas State(n), @Xavier, @Tennessee, @Georgia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia
losses: Ohio State, Central Florida(n), Jacksonville, South Carolina, @Mississippi State, @Kentucky
previous rank: 15

15. Georgetown 21-8
quality wins: @Old Dominion, Coastal Carolina, Missouri(n), Utah State, @Memphis, St. John's, @Villanova, Louisville, @Syracuse, Marquette
losses: @Temple, @Notre Dame, @St. John's, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, @Connecticut, Cincinnati, Syracuse
previous rank: 11

16. North Carolina 22-6
quality wins: Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Clemson, @Boston College, Florida State, @Clemson, Boston College, Maryland
losses: Minnesota(n), Vanderbilt(n), @Illinois, Texas(n), @Georgia Tech, @Duke
previous rank: 19

17. St. John's 19-9
quality wins: @West Virginia, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Duke, Connecticut, @Cincinnati, @Marquette, Pittsburgh, @Villanova
losses: @Saint Mary's, St. Bonaventure, @Fordham, @Notre Dame, Syracuse, @Louisville, Cincinnati, @Georgetown, @UCLA
previous rank: 24

18. Missouri 22-7
quality wins: Vanderbilt, Illinois(n), Old Dominion, Kansas State, Colorado, Baylor
losses: Georgetown(n), @Colorado, @Texas A&M, @Texas, @Oklahoma State, @Kansas, @Kansas State
previous rank: 18

19. Arizona 23-6
quality wins: @Washington State, UCLA, Washington State, Washington
losses: Kansas(n), Brigham Young(n), @Oregon State, @Washington, @USC, @UCLA
previous rank: 13

20. Kentucky 20-8
quality wins: Washington(n), Notre Dame(n), @Louisville, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida
losses: Connecticut(n), @North Carolina, @Georgia, @Alabama, @Mississippi, @Florida, @Vanderbilt, @Arkansas
previous rank: 22

21. Villanova 21-8
quality wins: UCLA(n), Temple, Cincinnati, Louisville, Maryland, @Syracuse, Marquette, West Virginia
losses: Tennessee(n), @Connecticut, @Providence, Georgetown, @Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, St. John's
previous rank: 16

22. Vanderbilt 21-7
quality wins: North Carolina(n), Belmont, Marquette, Georgia, St. Mary's, Alabama, Kentucky, @Georgia
losses: West Virginia(n), @Missouri, @South Carolina, @Tennessee, Arkansas, @Florida, Tennessee
previous rank: 21

23. Texas A&M 22-6
quality wins: Temple(n), Washington, Missouri, Kansas State, @Colorado
losses: Boston College(n), @Texas, @Nebraska, Texas, Baylor, @Baylor
previous rank: 20

24. Xavier 22-6
quality wins: Temple, @Richmond, @Georgia
losses: Old Dominion(n), @Miami-OH, @Gonzaga, Florida, @Cincinnati, @Charlotte
previous rank: 25

25. George Mason 25-5
quality wins: Old Dominion, @VCU
losses: North Carolina State(n), Wofford(n), @Dayton, @Hofstra, @Old Dominion
previous rank: NR

Top 25

1. Duke 25-2
quality wins: Marquette(n), Kansas State(n), Michigan State, Maryland, Boston College, @Maryland, North Carolina
losses: @Florida State, @St. John's
previous rank: 5

2. Pittsburgh 24-3
quality wins: Maryland(n), Texas(n), Duquesne(n), Connecticut, Marquette, @Georgetown, Syracuse, Cincinnati, @West Virginia, @Villanova
losses: Tennessee(n), Notre Dame, @St. John's
previous rank: 2

3. Ohio State 25-2
quality wins: @Florida, @Florida State, Minnesota, @Illinois, Purdue, @Minnesota, Michigan State
losses: @Wisconsin, @Purdue
previous rank: 3

4. Kansas 25-2
quality wins: Arizona(n), UCLA, Memphis(n), @Baylor, @Colorado, Kansas State, Missouri, Colorado
losses: Texas, @Kansas State
previous rank: 1

5. Texas 23-4
quality wins: Illinois(n), North Carolina(n), @Michigan State, Texas A&M, @Kansas, Missouri, @Texas A&M, Baylor
losses: Pittsburgh(n), @USC, Connecticut, @Nebraska
previous rank: 4

6. San Diego State 27-1
quality wins: @Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Wichita State, UNLV, @UNLV
loss: @Brigham Young
previous rank: 6

7. Brigham Young 25-2
quality wins: Utah State, St. Mary's(n), Arizona(n), UTEP, @UNLV, San Diego State, UNLV
losses: UCLA(n), @New Mexico
previous rank: 8

8. Notre Dame 21-5
quality wins: Georgia(n), Wisconsin(n), Gonzaga, Georgetown, Connecticut, St. John's, Cincinnati, Marquette, @Pittsburgh, Louisville
losses: Kentucky(n), @Syracuse, @Marquette, @St. John's, @West Virginia
previous rank: 7

9. Purdue 22-5
quality wins: @Virginia Tech, Alabama, Michigan State, Minnesota, @Illiois, Wisconsin, Ohio State
losses: Richmond(n), @Minnesota, @West Virginia, @Ohio State, @Wisconsin
previous rank: 12

10. Connecticut 20-6
quality wins: Wichita State(n), Michigan State(n), Kentucky(n), @Texas, Villanova, Tennessee, @Marquette, Georgetown
losses: @Pittsburgh, @Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse, @St. John's, @Louisville
previous rank: 11

11. Georgetown 21-6
quality wins: @Old Dominion, Coastal Carolina, Missouri(n), Utah State, @Memphis, St. John's, @Villanova, Louisville, @Syracuse, Marquette
losses: @Temple, @Notre Dame, @St. John's, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, @Connecticut
previous rank: 10

12. Wisconsin 20-6
quality wins: Boston College(n), @Marquette, Minnesota, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State
losses: @UNLV, Notre Dame(n), @Illinois, @Michigan State, @Penn State, @Purdue
previous rank: 9

13. Arizona 23-4
quality wins: @Washington State, UCLA, Washington State, Washington
losses: Kansas(n), Brigham Young(n), @Oregon State, @Washington
previous rank: 15

14. Louisville 20-7
quality wins: UNLV, Marquette, St. John's, West Virginia, @Connecticut, Syracuse, Connecticut
losses: Drexel, Kentucky, @Villanova, @Providence, @Georgetown, @Notre Dame, @Cincinnati
previous rank: 13

15. Florida 21-5
quality wins: @Florida State, Kansas State(n), @Xavier, @Tennessee, @Georgia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Tennessee
losses: Ohio State, Central Florida(n), Jacksonville, South Carolina, @Mississippi State
previous rank: 14

16. Villanova 21-6
quality wins: UCLA(n), Temple, Cincinnati, Louisville, Maryland, @Syracuse, Marquette, West Virginia
losses: Tennessee(n), @Connecticut, @Providence, Georgetown, @Rutgers, Pittsburgh
previous rank: 16

17. Syracuse 22-6
quality wins: Michigan State(n), Notre Dame, @St. John's, Cincinnati, @Connecticut, West Virginia
losses: @Pittsburgh, Villanova, Seton Hall, @Marquette, Georgetown, @Louisville
previous rank: 18

18. Missouri 21-6
quality wins: Vanderbilt, Illinois(n), Old Dominion, Kansas State, Colorado
losses: Georgetown(n), @Colorado, @Texas A&M, @Texas, @Oklahoma State, @Kansas
previous rank: 17

19. North Carolina 20-6
quality wins: Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Clemson, @Boston College, Florida State, @Clemson, Boston College
losses: Minnesota(n), Vanderbilt(n), @Illinois, Texas(n), @Georgia Tech, @Duke
previous rank: 20

20. Texas A&M 21-5
quality wins: Temple(n), Washington, Missouri, Kansas State, @Colorado
losses: Boston College(n), @Texas, @Nebraska, Texas, Baylor
previous rank: 19

21. Vanderbilt 20-6
quality wins: North Carolina(n), Marquette, Georgia, St. Mary's, Alabama, Kentucky, @Georgia
losses: West Virginia(n), @Missouri, @South Carolina, @Tennessee, Arkansas, @Florida
previous rank: 21

22. Kentucky 19-7
quality wins: Washington(n), Notre Dame(n), @Louisville, Georgia, Tennessee
losses: Connecticut(n), @North Carolina, @Georgia, @Alabama, @Mississippi, @Florida, @Vanderbilt
previous rank: 22

23. Temple 21-5
quality wins: Georgia(n), Maryland(n), Georgetown, @Dayton, Richmond
losses: California(n), Texas A&M(n), @Villanova, @Duquesne, @Xavier
previous rank: 23

24. St. John's 17-9
quality wins: @West Virginia, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Duke, Connecticut, @Cincinnati, @Marquette, Pittsburgh
losses: @Saint Mary's, St. Bonaventure, @Fordham, @Notre Dame, Syracuse, @Louisville, Cincinnati, @Georgetown, @UCLA
previous rank: NR

25. Xavier 20-6
quality wins: Dayton, Temple, @Richmond, @Georgia, @Duquesne
losses: Old Dominion(n), @Miami-OH, @Gonzaga, Florida, @Cincinnati, @Charlotte
previous rank: 24

An Open Letter of Apology to Kyle Kuric

Kyle,

I just wanted to apologize to you. In the preseason I referred to you as a poor man’s Bobby Perry. I didn’t really mean it as a compliment. It wasn’t a complete smack in the face, after all, Bobby posted a 20-10 game against UConn’s NBA front line in the tourney, and went for 20+ against UAB in a tournament game as a senior. But really, it was a way of saying there is no “it” quality to your game. I watched you as a sophomore and wondered why you got any clock. You aren’t a prolific rebounder. You’re undersized for a 3, let alone a 4, and you only managed to hit eighteen threes in an entire season (good for 8th on the team). I mean, I heard talk about how you could jump, but all I saw was another white kid jacking up threes, and when seven of your teammates can outdo your biggest strength, well, I guess your game left something to be desired.

Moving forward, you started slowly this year, only hitting double figures in two of the Cards’ first eleven games (I’m not counting a ten-point effort against WKU when your team scored 114, that’s like saying that you got to wear a jersey). Then your game started to heat up. Your stats still aren’t outrageous (10 ppg and 3 rpg), but there is something very not-Bobby Perry about your game. It is obvious when you are on the court. You bring energy. You hit 46.9% of your threes. You have big games against good teams (17 v. UNLV, 28 v. Notre Dame, 15 v. UConn, 23 v. Syracuse). When UofL’s half-court offense struggles, you’re often the guy who gets open in the corner for a 3 or finds a way to punch in second-chance points. Most importantly, you dunk on faces. Everyone notices when white guys dunk on faces, and that’s what you started doing this year. You dunk on faces and you don’t care. Ask anyone if they noticed when you dunked against Notre Dame. They did. They noticed big time. They’re still talking about it.

I don’t want to lay it on too thick, but I just need you to know that I know I was wrong about you. You may not be Jeff Sheppard, but you’re closing in on that standing. You’re bringing plenty to the table as a basketball player, and you don’t stop there. You were also homecoming king of your college...and it’s a big college. I was homecoming prince of my high school, so I can appreciate the hard work it probably took for you to achieve that honor. You should be pretty proud. You have nicely-defined arms too. They may be the best-looking arms on your whole team, and everyone likes to be the guy on the good end of a bunch of "Gun Show" jabs. But I digress. This post is about setting things right between us. As an olive branch, I’d like to offer you “Special K” as a nickname. Your coach really likes nicknames, but he veers towards initial-themed monikers (T-Will, E5) or seemingly nonsensical nicknames (“Bullet” for Elisha Justice?). Special K isn't a creative nickname, but it’s better than nothing. You take Special K, and go ahead and use something corny like “8 essential ingredients for building a championship basketball team.” I hope we’re cool.

Top 25

1. Kansas 24-1
quality wins: Arizona(n), UCLA, Memphis(n), @Baylor, @Colorado, Kansas State, Missouri
loss: Texas
previous rank: 2

2. Pittsburgh 23-2
quality wins: Maryland(n), Texas(n), Duquesne(n), Connecticut, Marquette, @Georgetown, Syracuse, Cincinnati, @West Virginia, @Villanova
losses: Tennessee(n), Notre Dame
previous rank: 3

3. Ohio State 24-1
quality wins: @Florida, @Florida State, Minnesota, @Illinois, Purdue, @Minnesota
loss: @Wisconsin
previous rank: 1

4. Texas 22-3
quality wins: Illinois(n), North Carolina(n), @Michigan State, Texas A&M, @Kansas, Missouri, @Texas A&M, Baylor
losses: Pittsburgh(n), @USC, Connecticut
previous rank: 4

5. Duke 23-2
quality wins: Marquette(n), Kansas State(n), Michigan State, Maryland, Boston College, @Maryland, North Carolina
losses: @Florida State, @St. John's
previous rank: 5

6. San Diego State 25-1
quality wins: @Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Wichita State, UNLV, @UNLV
loss: @Brigham Young
previous rank: 6

7. Notre Dame 21-4
quality wins: Georgia(n), Wisconsin(n), Gonzaga, Georgetown, Connecticut, St. John's, Cincinnati, Marquette, @Pittsburgh, Louisville
losses: Kentucky(n), @Syracuse, @Marquette, @St. John's
previous rank: 9

8. Brigham Young 24-2
quality wins: Utah State, St. Mary's(n), Arizona(n), UTEP, @UNLV, San Diego State, UNLV
losses: UCLA(n), @New Mexico
previous rank: 7

9. Wisconsin 19-5
quality wins: Boston College(n), @Marquette, Minnesota, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State
losses: @UNLV, Notre Dame(n), @Illinois, @Michigan State, @Penn State
previous rank: 11

10. Georgetown 20-5
quality wins: @Old Dominion, Coastal Carolina, Missouri(n), Utah State, @Memphis, St. John's, @Villanova, Louisville, @Syracuse, Marquette
losses: @Temple, @Notre Dame, @St. John's, West Virginia, Pittsburgh
previous rank: 12

11. Connecticut 19-5
quality wins: Wichita State(n), Michigan State(n), Kentucky(n), @Texas, Villanova, Tennessee, @Marquette
losses: @Pittsburgh, @Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse, @St. John's
previous rank: 8

12. Purdue 20-5
quality wins: @Virginia Tech, Alabama, Michigan State, Minnesota, @Illiois
losses: Richmond(n), @Minnesota, @West Virginia, @Ohio State, @Wisconsin
previous rank: 16

13. Louisville 19-6
quality wins: UNLV, Marquette, St. John's, West Virginia, @Connecticut, Syracuse
losses: Drexel, Kentucky, @Villanova, @Providence, @Georgetown, @Notre Dame
previous rank: 15

14. Florida 20-5
quality wins: @Florida State, Kansas State(n), @Xavier, @Tennessee, @Georgia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Tennessee
losses: Ohio State, Central Florida(n), Jacksonville, South Carolina, @Mississippi State
previous rank: 18

15. Arizona 21-4
quality wins: @Washington State, UCLA
losses: Kansas(n), Brigham Young(n), @Oregon State, @Washington
previous rank: 19

16. Villanova 19-6
quality wins: UCLA(n), Temple, Cincinnati, Louisville, Maryland, @Syracuse, Marquette, West Virginia
losses: Tennessee(n), @Connecticut, @Providence, Georgetown, @Rutgers, Pittsburgh
previous rank: 10

17. Missouri 19-6
quality wins: Vanderbilt, Illinois(n), Old Dominion, Kansas State, Colorado
losses: Georgetown(n), @Colorado, @Texas A&M, @Texas, @Oklahoma State, @Kansas
previous rank: 14

18. Syracuse 20-6
quality wins: Michigan State(n), Notre Dame, @St. John's, Cincinnati, @Connecticut
losses: @Pittsburgh, Villanova, Seton Hall, @Marquette, Georgetown, @Louisville
previous rank: 13

19. Texas A&M 19-5
quality wins: Temple(n), Washington, Missouri, Kansas State, @Colorado
losses: Boston College(n), @Texas, @Nebraska, Texas, Baylor
previous rank: 20

20. North Carolina 18-6
quality wins: Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Clemson, @Boston College, Florida State, @Clemson
losses: Minnesota(n), Vanderbilt(n), @Illinois, Texas(n), @Georgia Tech, @Duke
previous rank: 22

21. Vanderbilt 18-6
quality wins: North Carolina(n), Marquette, Georgia, St. Mary's, Alabama, Kentucky
losses: West Virginia(n), @Missouri, @South Carolina, @Tennessee, Arkansas, @Florida
previous rank: 23

22. Kentucky 17-7
quality wins: Washington(n), Notre Dame(n), @Louisville, Georgia, Tennessee
losses: Connecticut(n), @North Carolina, @Georgia, @Alabama, @Mississippi, @Florida, @Vanderbilt
previous rank: 17

23. Temple 19-5
quality wins: Georgia(n), Maryland(n), Georgetown, @Dayton
losses: California(n), Texas A&M(n), @Villanova, @Duquesne, @Xavier
previous rank: 25

24. Xavier 18-6
quality wins: Dayton, Temple, @Richmond, @Georgia, @Duquesne
losses: Old Dominion(n), @Miami-OH, @Gonzaga, Florida, @Cincinnati, @Charlotte
previous rank: NR

25. Washington 17-7
quality wins: @UCLA, Arizona
losses: Kentucky(n), Michigan State(n), @Texas A&M, @Stanford, @Washington State, @Oregon State, @Oregon
previous rank: NR

Mount MacCulloch: Retired from Basketball but Dork Career Surging

Former University of Washington star and retired NBA big man, Todd MacCulloch is ranked 145th in the world in pinball. The 76ers famously relied upon the tandem of a geriatric Dikembe Mutombo and MacCulloch to slow down a still in his prime Shaquille O'Neal in the NBA finals. Upon learning of MacCulloch's newfound career, Shaq noted that he has never been bested in basketball by a pinball aficionado from the Pacific Northwest (See 2001 NBA Finals & "Shaq vs." Season 1 episode 9). Roundball Portfolio would like to hand out a big congrats to MacCulloch for using his NBA riches to try to live out Tom Hanks' fake adult life in "Big." Watch out Elizabeth Perking, T-Mac may have romance on his mind this Valentine's weekend.

In other news, not enough can possibly be made of Norris Cole's amazing game for Cleveland State yesterday. He played all forty minutes, scored forty-one points, grabbed twenty rebounds, and handed out nine assists. We all would have loved for him to get the triple-double, but let's think about how hard it was to get nine assists when all of your teammates play for Cleveland State. Those were probably some nifty passes.

Bo Ryan led the Sconnies to an upset over the Ohio State Jared Sullingers. We normally only get good vibrations from Madison, but after the game, Sully tweeted that a Wisconsin fan spat in his face. I like Sullinger, but this was probably a lie. I spent a weekend in Madison, and those people were adorable. It was much more likely that one of the fans was trying to feed Sullinger some delicious ice cream and Spotted Cow beer. The only way I would believe this story was if Sullinger was wearing a Brett Favre jersey.

Speaking of Wisconsin, I have to acknowledge the ballsiest bar proclamation I ever witnessed, which happened when a friend of mine demonstratively declared before two dozen people in a Madison, Wisconsin bar that Brett Favre (who was still playing for the Packers) was the most overrated quarterback of all time. He could have collectively called all of their mothers whores, and received less vitriol. Onions, my friend.

The Starting Five: Tu Holloway Edition

1. Outside of Jimmer and Kemba, no one imposes his will on the game like Xavier's Tu Holloway. At a solid 6-0 185 lbs, he's a bull with the rock and gets where he wants to be on the court. And while he can be a bit of a hothead, he plays with a fury that is too often lacking in this generation of AAU prima donnas. Plus, the junior guard knows how to fill a stat sheet, averaging just over 20 points, right at 5 assists, nearly 5 rebounds, and 1.5 swipes per contest. Down to 9 healthy scholarship players, Holloway is the main reason the Musketeers are tied for first place in the A-10 and 16-6 overall. As a side note, kudos to Holloway for following in Jordan Crawford's footsteps by rocking a jersey number in the 50s while playing on the perimeter. We can only hope this becomes something of a tradition at XU.

2. About three weeks ago RBP put together a list of the top 25 players in college basketball at the season's mid-way point. Perhaps the list's most egregious omission – Wisconsin point guard Jordan Taylor. Built like a tailback and conducting Bo Ryan's demanding swing offense at maximum efficiency, Taylor is quite possibly more important to his team's success than highly-touted teammate Jon Leuer, who, incidentally, came in at #17 on my list. To say Taylor knows how to take care of the ball is an understatement. To put things in perspective, the Badger junior has 44 assists to 11 turnovers in Big Ten play. Or, put another way, 11 turnovers in 376 minutes of running the point for Wisconsin against Big Ten foes. (Well, he was playing defense for about 188 of those minutes.) He's also scored 20 points or more in 6 of 10 conference games and at least 14 points in the other 4. Fellow Big Ten point guards Kalin Lucas and Demetri McCamey got the preseason ink, but Taylor has played the best basketball.

3. Minnesota is in trouble. Point guard Al Nolen is out until at least the end of February with a broken foot, and combo guard Devoe Joseph left the team, opting to transfer to Oregon, leaving Tubby Smith's squad without its two best ballhandlers . A season-ending injury to big Mo Walker hasn't helped matters, as the once deep Gophers find themselves a tad thin on the bench. After losing their last three, Minnesota is one game below .500 in Big Ten play. Their remaining conference schedule is favorable. They get Illinois and Michigan State at home, and Penn State will be their toughest road test. Unfortunately, if the Gophers can't find a solution at the point guard position, it won't matter how well they finish in conference play, because an early exit in March will be inevitable.

4. The Texas Longhorns may be playing the best basketball in the country right now, and that is due, in large part, to the maturation of Jordan Hamilton. Hamilton's freshman campaign consisted largely of jacking up ill-advised shots seemingly every time he got his hands on the ball, providing only minimal effort on defense, and sulking. Just when it seemed safe to write him off as a talented headcase with no hustle, Hamilton has morphed into, not only one of the nation's most improved players, but an All-American candidate. Averaging 18.9 points per contest and 7.6 boards, Hamilton is making a case for Big 12 Player of the Year honors. Oh, and shades of Calbert Cheaney on this kid's jump shot. He doesn't have the lift of the Indiana legend (and Evansville native), but his ability to catch and shoot in rhythm without putting the ball on the floor is certainly reminiscent of one of the Big Ten's all-time greats.

5. As has been the case for the past couple years, it's the Big East and everyone else. It may not be as top-heavy with national title contenders as in years past, but this year's Big East offering may be just as impressive, as 11 teams realistically have at-large hopes. After the Big East, I may give a slight edge to the Big 12 over the Big Ten. There's a significant drop off after these three, though. In fact, I think the SEC, ACC, and Pac-10 have more in common with the Mountain West and Atlantic-10 right now in terms of the level of basketball being played in-conference.

Top 25

1. Ohio State 24-0
quality wins: @Florida, @Florida State, Minnesota, @Illinois, Purdue, @Minnesota
previous rank: 1

2. Kansas 22-1
quality wins: Arizona(n), UCLA, Memphis(n), @Baylor, @Colorado, Kansas State
loss: Texas
previous rank: 2

3. Pittsburgh 21-2
quality wins: Maryland(n), Texas(n), Duquesne(n), Connecticut, Marquette, @Georgetown, Syracuse, Cincinnati
loss: Tennessee(n), Notre Dame
previous rank: 3

4. Texas 20-3
quality wins: Illinois(n), North Carolina(n), @Michigan State, Texas A&M, @Kansas, Missouri, @Texas A&M
losses: Pittsburgh(n), @USC, Connecticut
previous rank: 4

5. Duke 21-2
quality wins: Marquette(n), Kansas State(n), Michigan State, Maryland, Boston College, @Maryland
losses: @Florida State, @St. John's
previous rank: 5

6. San Diego State 23-1
quality wins: @Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Wichita State, UNLV
loss: @Brigham Young
previous rank: 7

7. Brigham Young 22-2
quality wins: Utah State, St. Mary's(n), Arizona(n), @UNLV, San Diego State, UNLV
losses: UCLA(n), @New Mexico
previous rank: 8

8. Connecticut 18-4
quality wins: Wichita State(n), Michigan State(n), Kentucky(n), @Texas, Villanova, Tennessee, @Marquette
losses: @Pittsburgh, @Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse
previous rank: 6

9. Notre Dame 19-4
quality wins: Georgia(n), Wisconsin(n), Gonzaga, Georgetown, Connecticut, St. John's, Cincinnati, Marquette, @Pittsburgh
losses: Kentucky(n), @Syracuse, @Marquette, @St. John's
previous rank: 9

10. Villanova 19-4
quality wins: UCLA(n), Temple, Cincinnati, Louisville, Maryland, @Syracuse, Marquette, West Virginia
losses: Tennessee(n), @Connecticut, @Providence, Georgetown
previous rank: 10

11. Wisconsin 17-5
quality wins: Boston College(n), @Marquette, Minnesota, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State
losses: @UNLV, Notre Dame(n), @Illinois, @Michigan State, @Penn State
previous rank: 16

12. Georgetown 18-5
quality wins: @Old Dominion, Missouri(n), Utah State, @Memphis, St. John's, @Villanova, Louisville
losses: @Temple, @Notre Dame, @St. John's, West Virginia, Pittsburgh
previous rank: 17

13. Syracuse 20-4
quality wins: Michigan State(n), Notre Dame, @St. John's, Cincinnati, @Connecticut
losses: @Pittsburgh, Villanova, Seton Hall, @Marquette
previous rank: 19

14. Missouri 18-5
quality wins: Vanderbilt, Illinois(n), Old Dominion, Kansas State, Colorado
losses: Georgetown(n), @Colorado, @Texas A&M, @Texas, @Oklahoma State
previous rank: 11

15. Louisville 18-5
quality wins: UNLV, Marquette, St. John's, West Virginia, @Connecticut
losses: Drexel, Kentucky, @Villanova, @Providence, @Georgetown
previous rank: 13

16. Purdue 18-5
quality wins: @Virginia Tech, Michigan State, Minnesota
losses: Richmond(n), @Minnesota, @West Virginia, @Ohio State, @Wisconsin
previous rank: 14

17. Kentucky 16-6
quality wins: Washington(n), Notre Dame(n), @Louisville, Georgia
losses: Connecticut(n), @North Carolina, @Georgia, @Alabama, @Mississippi, @Florida
previous rank: 12

18. Florida 18-5
quality wins: @Florida State, Kansas State(n), @Xavier, @Tennessee, @Georgia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
losses: Ohio State, Central Florida(n), Jacksonville, South Carolina, @Mississippi State
previous rank: 24

19. Arizona 20-4
quality wins: @Washington State, UCLA
losses: Kansas(n), Brigham Young(n), @Oregon State, @Washington
previous rank: 21

20. Texas A&M 17-5
quality wins: Temple(n), Washington, Missouri, Kansas State
losses: Boston College(n), @Texas, @Nebraska, Texas, Baylor
previous rank: 15

21. Utah State 22-2
losses: @Brigham Young, @Georgetown
previous rank: 23

22. North Carolina 17-5
quality wins: Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Clemson, @Boston College, Florida State
losses: Minnesota(n), Vanderbilt(n), @Illinois, Texas(n), @Georgia Tech
previous rank: NR

23. Vanderbilt 16-6
quality wins: North Carolina(n), Marquette, Georgia, St. Mary's
losses: West Virginia(n), @Missouri, @South Carolina, @Tennessee, Arkansas, @Florida
previous rank: 22

24. Minnesota 16-7
quality wins: North Carolina(n), West Virginia(n), Purdue
losses: Virginia, @Wisconsin, @Michigan State, @Ohio State, @Purdue, @Indiana, Ohio State
previous rank: 18

25. Temple 17-5
quality wins: Georgia(n), Maryland(n), Georgetown
losses: California(n), Texas A&M(n), @Villanova, @Duquesne, @Xavier
previous rank: NR