Top 25

*previous rank in parentheses
**My choices for each team's five best wins are subjective - meaning I haven't simply listed a team's top five opponents according to kenpom or RPI numbers. I have avoided including wins over sub-.500 teams. The five best wins (and losses) are listed chronologically.

1. Kentucky 21-1 (1)
Five Best Wins: Kansas(n), North Carolina, Louisville, Alabama, @LSU
Losses: @Indiana

2. Syracuse 22-1 (2)
Five Best Wins: Stanford(n), Florida, Marquette, @Cincinnati, West Virginia
Losses: @Notre Dame

3. Ohio State 19-3 (4)
Five Best Wins: Florida, Duke, Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan
Losses: @Kansas, @Indiana, @Illinois

4. Missouri 19-2 (3)
Five Best Wins: Notre Dame(n), California(n), Illinois(n), @Iowa State, @Baylor
Losses: @Kansas State, @Oklahoma State

5. Baylor 19-2 (6)
Five Best Wins: San Diego State, Saint Mary's(n), West Virginia(n), Mississippi State(n), @Kansas State
Losses: @Kansas, Missouri

6. North Carolina 18-3 (7)
Five Best Wins: Michigan State(n), Wisconsin, Long Beach State, Texas, North Carolina State
Losses: UNLV(n), @Kentucky, @Florida State

7. Kansas 17-4 (5)
Five Best Wins: Georgetown(n), Ohio State, Kansas State, Baylor, @Texas
Losses: Kentucky(n), Duke(n), Davidson, @Iowa State

8. Duke 18-3 (8)
Five Best Wins: Michigan State(n), Michigan(n), Kansas(n), Washington(n), Virginia
Losses: @Ohio State, @Temple, Florida State

9. Michigan State 17-4 (10)
Five Best Wins: Florida State, @Gonzaga, Indiana, @Wisconsin, Purdue
Losses: North Carolina(n), Duke(n), @Northwestern, @Michigan

10. Murray State 21-0 (11)
Five Best Wins: Southern Miss(n), Dayton, @Memphis, Tennessee Tech, @Morehead State
Losses: none

11. Georgetown 16-4 (9)
Five Best Wins: Memphis(n), @Alabama, Memphis, @Louisville, @Marquette
Losses: Kansas(n), @West Virginia, Cincinnati, @Pittsburgh

12. Florida 17-4 (14)
Five Best Wins: Arizona, Texas A&M(n), Florida State, @Mississippi, Mississippi State
Losses: @Ohio State, @Syracuse, @Rutgers, @Tennessee

13. Marquette 18-4 (15)
Five Best Wins: Mississippi(n), @Wisconsin, Washington(n), Pittsburgh, Louisville
Losses: @LSU, Vanderbilt, @Georgetown, @Syracuse

14. UNLV 20-3 (13)
Five Best Wins: Nevada, North Carolina(n), Illinois(n), California, New Mexico
Losses: @Wichita State, @Wisconsin, @San Diego State

15. Virginia 17-3 (16)
Five Best Wins: Michigan, George Mason, @Oregon, @LSU, @North Carolina State
Losses: TCU(n), @Duke, Virginia Tech

16. Florida State 14-6 (20)
Five Best Wins: Massachusetts(n), @Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Maryland, @Duke
Losses: Harvard(n), Connecticut(n), @Michigan State, @Florida, Princeton, @Clemson

17. Indiana 17-5 (12)
Five Best Wins: @North Carolina State, Kentucky, Notre Dame(n), Ohio State, Michigan
Losses: @Michigan State, Minnesota, @Ohio State, @Nebraska, @Wisconsin

18. Creighton 20-2 (21)
Five Best Wins: @San Diego State, Nebraska, Northwestern, @Wichita State, @Illinois State
Losses: @St. Joseph's, Missouri State

19. Saint Mary's 21-2 (19)
Five Best Wins: Northern Iowa, Weber State, Brigham Young, Gonzaga, @Brigham Young
Losses: @Denver, Baylor(n)

20. Vanderbilt 16-5 (24)
Five Best Wins: Oregon, North Carolina State(n), @Marquette, @Alabama, Middle Tennessee
Losses: Cleveland State, Xavier, @Louisville, Indiana State, Mississippi State

21. Wisconsin 17-5 (NR)
Five Best Wins: Brigham Young(n), UNLV, @Purdue, @Illinois, Indiana
Losses: @North Carolina, Marquette, Iowa, Michigan State, @Michigan

22. Mississippi State 17-5 (18)
Five Best Wins: Texas A&M(n), Arizona(n), West Virginia, Alabama, @Vanderbilt
Losses: Akron, Baylor(n), @Arkansas, @Mississippi, @Florida

23. San Diego State 18-3 (19)
Five Best Wins: Long Beach State, @Arizona, California, UNLV, @New Mexico
Losses: @Baylor, Creighton, @Colorado State

24. Michigan 16-6 (25)
Five Best Wins: Memphis(n), Iowa State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Purdue
Losses: Duke(n), @Virginia, @Indiana, @Iowa, @Arkansas, @Ohio State

25. Louisville 17-5 (NR)
Five Best Wins: Long Beach State, Vanderbilt, Memphis, @Pittsburgh, @Seton Hall
Losses: Georgetown, @Kentucky, Notre Dame, @Providence, @Marquette

IN: Wisconsin, Louisville
OUT: Connecticut, Kansas State

Midseason Honors & Awards

Okay, so it's a little past the midway point, but we're far enough into conference play that we can get a feel for how things are stacking up. There's still a lot of basketball left to be played, so these lists are subject to change.

Player of the Year

1) Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
Soph Center 6-9 265
17.3p 9.3r 1.5s
Cases certainly can be made for Robinson and Davis, but I'll take Sully, who reminds me of Kevin Love in his ability to dictate the flow of the game from the post.

2) Thomas Robinson, Kansas
Jr Forward 6-10 235
17.8p 12.0r 1.2b
Nation's second leading rebounder has recorded a double-double in 14 of 20 outings.

3) Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Fr Center 6-10 220
13.2p 10.3r 4.7b
The gap between Sullinger and Davis is negligible.

4) Doug McDermott, Creighton
Soph Forward 6-7 220
23.5p 8.5r 1.3a
Heady offensive player is nation's second leading scorer but doesn't care much for playing defense.

5) Mike Scott, Virginia
Sr Forward 6-8 235
16.6p 8.4r 1.6a
The fifth year senior's numbers are all the more impressive considering the Cavaliers' exceedingly slow pace.

6) Kevin Jones, West Virginia
Sr Forward 6-8 260
20.9p 11.6r 1.1b
Jones is averaging a double-double and shooting almost four 3-pointers a game (despite making less than 30% of his attempts).

7) Draymond Green, Michigan State
Sr Forward 6-7 230
15.3p 10.4r 3.7a
Once overrated, one of the smartest players in college basketball is now underrated, especially on the defensive end.

8) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky
Fr Forward 6-7 230
13.2p 7.6r 1.2s
There's a significant gap between the 8 and 9 spots on this list.

9) Cody Zeller, Indiana
Fr Center 6-11 230
14.7p 6.2r 1.5b
Where would the Hoosiers be without the talented freshman?

10) Damian Lillard, Weber State
Jr Guard 6-3 195
24.8p 5.8r 3.7a
The Wildcats are 16-3 and undefeated in Big Sky play thanks in no small part to the nation's leading scorer (who gets the nod over Mizzou's Marcus Denmon and UConn's Jeremy Lamb for the 10 spot).

Best Defender

1) Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Fr Center 6-10 220
Future Number One pick leads nation with 4.7 blocks per contest and hauls in 10.3 boards per game.

2) Aaron Craft, Ohio State
Soph Guard 6-2 190
The best on-ball defender in the country averages 2.4 steals per game and is the only defender in the same stratosphere as Davis.

3) C.J. Aiken, St. Joseph's
Soph Forward 6-9 190
Nation's second leading shot-blocker at 4.3 rejections per game is big reason St. Joe's is competitive again after a disastrous 2010-11 campaign.

4) John Henson, North Carolina
Jr Forward 6-11 220
Just imagine how much more awful the Tar Heels' defense would be without Hensons's 3.3 blocks and 10.1 rebounds per contest.

5) Fuquan Edwin, Seton Hall
Soph Forward 6-6 205
Could have gone with Oregon State's Jared Cunningham here, but Edwin, who has been largely over-shadowed by teammates Herb Pope and Jordan Theodore, leads nation in steals at 3.1 per game and also crashes the boards to the tune of 6.8 rebounds per contest.

Top Freshman

1) Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Center 6-10 220
The impact Davis has on the defensive end is almost impossible to overstate.

2) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky
Forward 6-7 230
MKG's numbers are impressive, but they don't begin to tell the whole story for one of the most versatile players in the country.

3) Cody Zeller, Indiana
Center 6-11 230
Zeller is getting banged around in Big Ten play but has exceeded lofty expectations.

4) Trey Burke, Michigan
Guard 5-11 180
Wolverines' point guard averages 14 points and 5 assists per game and has more than made up for the early departure of Darius Morris.

5) Moe Harkless, St. John's
Forward 6-8 190
Harkless, an extremely well-rounded player (16.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 1.6 steals) who has filled a number of roles for the Red Storm, edges out the one-dimensional Austin Rivers, who leads Duke in scoring but doesn't add much else.

*For those of you who miss RBP's Freshman Power Rankings, here are 6 -10: (6) Austin Rivers, Duke; (7) Quincy Miller, Baylor; (8) Le'Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State; (9) Tony Wroten, Washington; and (10) Jerian Grant, Notre Dame. Florida's Bradley Beal is my first man out. There's not much of a difference between Quincy Miller at 7 and Beal at 11. In fact, I like Beal more than Austin Rivers, but Beal has been a bit passive at times. If Beal starts asserting himself more often, there's no reason he couldn't finish the season as the country's fourth best freshman. Central Connecticut State's Kyle Vinales probably deserves some recognition for being the leading scorer among all freshman at 18.4 points per game. And where are you, Andre Drummond? I see flashes, but the consistency just isn't there right now.

Coach of the Year

1) John Thompson III, Georgetown
The Hoyas were picked to finish in bottom half of Big East and are now a top 10 team nationally, despite not having a star on their roster.

2) Bill Self, Kansas
I'm not sure any team has improved as much as the Jayhawks have over the course of the season.

3) Tony Bennett, Virginia
Watch this team play, and try not to be impressed with its discipline on both ends of the floor.

4) Tom Crean, Indiana
Three weeks ago Crean would have topped this list.

5) Frank Haith, Missouri
Sure, they are Mike Anderson's guys, but Haith has made some pretty significant changes to the Tigers' approach and has them playing like a top 10 team (despite having only 2 scholarship players taller than 6-6).

CBB Uniforms (1988-89 to Present): 8 Seeds

RBP has been ranking the top 64 uniforms from the 1988-89 season to the present. For more on that process, read the introduction to the original post. The 8 seeds:

32) San Diego State (Kawhi Leonard): While I didn't give the Aztecs bonus points for their shoe game, please enjoy the various Jordan models pictured below.





31) Memphis (Anfernee Hardaway): Back when Penny was balling in Bluff City and the school was still known as Memphis State, the blue unis with the gray trim were hard to top.




30) St. John's (Moe Harkless):Big fan of the black alternate and even bigger fan of the font.




29) Kentucky (Brandon Knight):As Kentucky has a history of terrible uniform choices (denim Converse unis, Apex cat scratch shorts, and soon to be debuted Nike Platinum gear come to mind), I am fearful the Wildcats will drop their current duds, which continue to grow on me.

CBB Uniforms (1988-89 to Present): 9 Seeds

I don't mean to post over top of HAL 9000's return, but the Russians want their uniform rankings. We're ranking the top 64 uniforms from the 1988-89 season to the present. For more on that process, read the introduction to the original post. And here are the 9 seeds:

36) Virginia Tech (Malcolm Delaney): Bonus points both for making maroon and orange look good and for using white and orange lettering on the maroon jersey.





35) Xavier (Tu Holloway): The "X" on the shorts is one of the more creative uniform details in recent memory, but the odd number placement (too high on both front and back of jersey) keeps Xavier's current look from being ranked higher.






34) USC (O.J. Mayo): Nike provided the Trojans with four very different looks for Orange Juice's single season in SoCal.





33) Old Dominion (Kent Bazemore):Navy with what I'm told is cerulean blue trim is a good look for the Monarchs.

Mock 2012 NBA Draft (Lottery)

With the college basketball season on the downward slope towards March Madness, a better understanding of the top prospects for this year's NBA Draft is unfolding. Here, we look at the lottery picks and my thoughts on who should be chosen at each spot.

1. Washington Wizards - Anthony Davis, PF Kentucky Frosh.
- The Wizards need immediate help across the board. Davis and Andre Drummond have the most upside of any player in this draft, but I feel Davis may be ready to make an immediate impact on the defensive end of the floor, whereas I'm not sure Drummond will be much more than an athletic finisher in his rookie year.

2. Charlotte Bobcats - Harrison Barnes, SG/SF UNC Soph.
- As mentioned above, Drummond and Davis are considered the two picks with the highest upside in next year's draft, so it is hard to imagine him slipping past the number 2 pick. However, the Bobcats need a high profile scoring guard, and with Barnes playing his college ball in state, I think they would be wise to take a serious look at Barnes with their pick. Barnes hasn't taken the college basketball world by storm as almost everyone projected, but he projects to be a prolific scorer at the next level. Barnes' one-on-one game is advanced for his age, and I happen to be in the camp that believes he will be a better pro than college player, and he's been a pretty damn good college player.

3. Brooklyn Nets - Andre Drummond, PF UCONN Frosh.
- The Nets need some serious athleticism along their frontline, which is currently being left in the hands and slow moving feet of Memhet Okur, Kris Humphries, and Shelden Williams. They get Brook Lopez back from injury, and are in the running for Dwight Howard, but Drummond would play well with either and won't need the ball to make an impact.

4. Detroit Pistons - Jeremy Lamb, SG UCONN Soph.
- Even with the praise I previously heaped on Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Lamb has been the better college player. He could end up being a better scorer than Barnes, is probably a better ball handler, and slightly more athletic; however, Barnes is bigger and stronger, and thus I think he projects better at the next level.

5. New Orleans Hornets - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF Kentucky Frosh.
- MKG is deservedly praised for his energy and effort on the basketball court, but too often that overlooks how skilled he is in all facets of the game. MKG is an elite defender and rebounder, but is also a very good ball handler, passer, and finisher in transition. He gets to the foul line at a good rate and makes a high percentage of his free throws. If he develops a better jump shot, he could produce like Gerald Wallace's all-star worthy years, plus bring every intangible you could want from a player.

6. Utah Jazz - Kendall Marshall, PG UNC Soph.
- Likely to trade Devin Harris per rumors, Utah has plenty of depth on the frontline and likely won't look to Jared Sullinger or Thomas Robinson at this point. They may look to trade down if Barnes, Lamb, or MKG don't fall to them, but I think they should take a serious look at Marshall. He's a big point guard who doesn't shoot well and isn't super athletic, but at this point seems like he could develop into a slightly past his prime Jason Kidd.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers - Brad Beal, SG Florida Frosh.
- Beal reminds me of a skinnier Eric Gordon at this point in his career. Cleveland needs a 2 guard for the future, and I think after Lamb and Barnes, Beal is the next best option in this draft. He's a little undersized, but I believe he will also be able to play some point at the next level.

8. Toronto Raptors - Jared Sullinger, PF/C Ohio State Soph.
- Sullinger may be the best college player in the draft, but many question whether his game translates to the NBA. He's an undersized PF, but possesses incredible strength and touch around the basket. Guys of his build have found better success as of late in the NBA, and Sullinger's ability to knock down outside shots could make him a valuable asset for an NBA team. Sullinger's also a great post defender and an elite rebounder at the college level, skills that seem to translate well to the NBA.

9. Phoenix Suns - Thomas Robinson, PF Kansas Jr.
- Robinson is a player of the year candidate this year in college basketball. Limited in action behind the Morris twins last year, Robinson looks to be better than either in his junior year. Robinson plays with great energy, has refined post up and face up games, able to back his man down or take him off the dribble. He is an elite rebounder and should be ready to contribute immediately at the next level.

10. New Orleans Hornets - Terrence Ross, SG Washington Soph.
- Ross is a dangerous outside shooter who has elite athleticism. Though at times he seems passive, Ross has not shyed away from the big stage. He has great size for the SG position, and would be able to play some SF as well.

11. Milwaukee Bucks - Terrence Jones, SF Kentucky Soph.
- Jones is a unique talent who possesses an improved outside shot, above average ball handling skills, and elite athleticism. At 6'9, Jones could be a matchup nightmare for NBA SFs by either backing them down in the post or putting the ball on the floor. He shoots it well enough that you have to respect him on the perimeter, and he has a quick first step to blow by defenders. Jones has to develop a better feel for the game, recognize when and where to pass out of double teams and avoid help defense.

12. Brooklyn Nets - Austin Rivers, SG Duke Frosh.
- Rivers inadequacies have been displayed during his freshman year at Duke, but what scouts loved about him - his quick first step; fearless, although streaky, shooting, and athleticism to finish above the rim - have proven to be valid. Rivers often seems single minded when driving to the basket, and hasn't been able to finish after contact very well, but he will continue to be able to break defenses down at the next level.

13. Milwaukee Bucks - Perry Jones III, SF/PF Baylor Soph.
- Jones may be the most offensively gifted athlete in the draft, but many question his aggressiveness and work ethic. It's easy to see him falling into the same pattern as Brandon Wright or Anthony Randolph, but when Jones is aggressive, he is better than either of those guys. Jones' upside is to significant to ignore

14. Boston Celtics - Arnett Moultrie, PF Mississippi State Jr.
- Moutlrie is a super athletic power forward who rebounds and can step outside and knock down shots. He could work in the pick and roll situations currently run by Rondo and Garnett, and may be the replacement for Garnett down the line. The Celtics are in desparate need for some athleticism along their front line that can also provide some scoring off the bench. Moultrie gives them both.

Top 25

*previous rank in parentheses

1. Kentucky 19-1 (2)
2. Syracuse 20-1 (1)
3. Missouri 18-1 (6)
4. Ohio State 17-3 (4)
5. Kansas 16-3 (8)
6. Baylor 17-2 (3)
7. North Carolina 16-3 (7)
8. Duke 16-3 (5)
9. Georgetown 16-3 (12)
10. Michigan State 16-4 (9)
11. Murray State 20-0 (14)
12. Indiana 16-4 (11)
13. UNLV 18-3 (15)
14. Florida 15-4 (16)
15. Marquette 16-4 (18)
16. Virginia 15-3 (13)
17. Connecticut 14-5 (10)
18. Mississippi State 16-4 (19)
19. San Diego State 17-2 (22)
20. Florida State 13-6 (NR)
21. Creighton 18-2 (23)
22. Saint Mary's 19-2 (24)
23. Kansas State 14-4 (25)
24. Vanderbilt 14-5 (17)
25. Michigan 15-5 (21)

IN: Florida State
OUT: Illinois

CBB Uniforms (1988-89 to Present): 10 Seeds

We now move ahead with RBP's ranking of the top 64 uniforms from the 1988-89 season to the present. For more on that process, read the introduction to the original post. Here are the 10 seeds:

40) Iowa (Luke Recker): "Black and yellow, black and yellow."




39) Saint Louis (Larry Hughes): Check out Larry in the navy Air Jordan 13s in the third photo.




38) Illinois (Kendall Gill): The Flyin' Illini's inclusion is about fit rather than design, as Kendall Gill and company were arguably the precursors to the Fab Five's style revolution (though, I'm not sure these pictures really illustrate how roomy the Illini's shorts were in comparison to their contemporaries).



37) Gonzaga (Dan Dickau):It's Gonzaga's signature font - used in both the numbering and the team name - that make this uni special.

Top 25

*previous rank in parentheses

1. Syracuse 19-0 (1)
2. Kentucky 17-1 (2)
3. Baylor 17-0 (5)
4. Ohio State 16-3 (4)
5. Duke 15-2 (7)
6. Missouri 16-1 (9)
7. North Carolina 15-3 (3)
8. Kansas 14-3 (13)
9. Michigan State 15-3 (8)
10. Connecticut 14-3 (15)
11. Indiana 15-3 (6)
12. Georgetown 14-3 (10)
13. Virginia 14-2 (12)
14. Murray State 18-0 (16)
15. UNLV 16-3 (11)
16. Florida 14-4 (18)
17. Vanderbilt 13-4 (19)
18. Marquette 14-4 (20)
19. Mississippi State 15-3 (22)
20. Illinois 15-3 (NR)
21. Michigan 14-4 (17)
22. San Diego State 15-2 (24)
23. Creighton 16-2 (NR)
24. St. Mary's 17-2 (NR)
25. Kansas State 12-4 (21)

IN: Illinois, Creighton, St. Mary's
OUT: Louisville, Gonzaga, Seton Hall

CBB Uniforms (1988-89 to Present): 11 Seeds

We are moving along with RBP's ranking of the top 64 uniforms from the 1988-89 season to the present. For more on that process, read the introduction to the original post. Now for the 11 seeds:

44) Syracuse (Lawrence Moten):And this ranking doesn't even factor in Moten's signature knee-highs.



43) Washington (Brandon Roy): The unfortunate gold alternates keep the Huskies from being ranked higher.





42) Alabama (Kennedy Winston): Cursive "A" and horizontal striping on the shorts offset an otherwise average jersey.



41) Oklahoma State (James Anderson):Oklahoma State still sports its second and final entry in the Field of 64 - a design that features subtle stitching down the sides of both the jersey and shorts.