TOP 25
Rivalry games shake up standings
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In-state and in-city rivalries cost ranked teams dearly this week, with Cincinnati losing four spots after going down in double-overtime at Xavier in arguably the most entertaining and intense game of the year so far; Wisconsin also is looking at anonymity after an overtime hiccup against Wisconsin-Green Bay. Temple is headed the other direction by chalking up a signature win for the A-10, beating Big 5 rival Villanova for the first time in four tries. Ohio State looks cooked without Evan Turner while Washington (lost to Georgetown) and UNLV (lost to Kansas State) just didn’t keep the pace.
*records through 12/13
| No. | Team (Record) | Comment | Pvs. |
| 1 | Kentucky (10-0) | Calipari: ‘Cats are just 5-5.’ Same delusions about Final Fours? | 1 |
| 2 | Kansas (9-0) | See your John Wall, raise you Xavier Henry (31 pts vs. La Salle) | 2 |
| 3 | Texas (8-0) | Another guard injured? J’Covan Brown limped off Saturday | 3 |
| 4 | Purdue (7-0) | Season-high 23 pts for Hummel in win over ‘Bama | 5 |
| 5 | West Virginia (7-0) | Steady soph F Kevin Jones has led team in scoring in past two | 6 |
| 6 | Tennessee (7-1) | Tough not to look ahead to in-state showdown at Memphis | 7 |
| 7 | Syracuse (10-0) | Jackson’s double-double powers Orange to win over Florida | 8 |
| 8 | Villanova (9-1) | For a brief moment, Wildcats football getting bigger headlines | 4 |
| 9 | Florida (8-1) | Gators exposed by ’Cuse — was rest of the SEC watching? | 9 |
| 10 | North Carolina (8-2) | Duke fans can only hope Roy Williams yells at them | 11 |
| 11 | Duke (7-1) | Visit by Gonzaga on Saturday the last test before ACC | 13 |
| 12 | Connecticut (6-2) | Stanley Robinson shooting only 38 percent in two losses | 14 |
| 13 | Georgetown (8-0) | Sends both Butler and Washington tumbling out of rankings | 16 |
| 14 | Michigan State (8-2) | Draymond Green hit first nine shots in win over Oakland | 15 |
| 15 | Texas Tech (9-0) | A tough next 3 means it won’t be easy to end year undefeated | 18 |
| 16 | New Mexico (10-0) | With win over Aggies, Lobos no longer a secret | NR |
| 17 | Texas A&M (8-1) | After 4 straight in double-digits, Ronald had goose egg vs. UNM | 10 |
| 18 | Memphis (7-1) | No reason yet to wish they’d gotten Calipari’s recruits | 21 |
| 19 | Ole Miss (7-1) | Have trailed at half in their last two but didn’t lose either | 22 |
| 20 | Florida State (7-2) | ACC opener comes Sunday at Georgia Tech | 23 |
| 21 | Kansas State (9-1) | Wildcats beat UNLV and took their place in the Top 25 | NR |
| 22 | Georgia Tech (6-1) | Jackets haven’t beaten Seminoles since 2006-07 | 25 |
| 23 | Temple (8-2) | Hoyas’ ugly squeaker over Owls looks different now | NR |
| 24 | Cincinnati (6-2) | Bearcats can’t let three straight L’s to Xavier derail them | 20 |
| 25 | Wisconsin (7-2) | 25 ppg, 11 rpg for F Jon Leuer in last two games | 17 |
HEATING UP
Georgetown » A decisive victory on each coast and a surging Temple have Hoyas feeling the holiday spirit.
Also » New Mexico, Kansas State
COOLING DOWN
Connecticut » No championship team starts a game by going down, 12-0, as Huskies did against Kentucky.
Also » Wisconsin, Cincinnati
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 24 Cincinnati at UAB, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Playing a schedule full of directional schools, UAB (8-1) has won seven straight, its most impressive victory coming over the mighty Green Bay Phoenix, conqueror of Wisconsin. But the team with the best record in Conference USA will get a big home challenge against Cincinnati (6-2), which is coming off a double-overtime loss at Xavier. Junior Elijah Millsap, a 6-6 guard, leads UAB in scoring (15.8 points per game) and rebounding (9.3 pg). He’ll likely match up with the Bearcats’ highly-touted and similarly-built freshman G Lance Stephenson, coming off a season-high, 22-point outing.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Derrick Caracter, UTEP, forward
In two years at loaded Louisville, Caracter was a productive reserve (8.2 points per game), but had weight, classroom and authority issues. So he transferred, making his UTEP debut Sunday. But it wasn’t a triumphant return as the 6-9, 275-pounder had more fouls (3) than points (2) and rebounds (2) in 12 minutes as UTEP (5-1) lost for the first time, 87-80, to visiting also-ran New Mexico State. The Miners, who play Ole Miss Wednesday, will be a threat in the Conference USA, especially if Caracter can get in shape, play to his potential and join a rotation that includes five players scoring in double figures.
STORY LINES
1. City rivalries produce upsets » The reluctance of Georgetown prevents Washington D.C. from having a high-level city rivalry. Too bad. Sunday was a reminder of how good games can be between city foes, as unranked teams toppled ranked rivals in Philadelphia and Cincinnati. Temple got seven 3-pointers and 33 points from Juan Fernandez in an upset of Villanova, 75-65, while Xavier pulled out a physical, emotional, trash-talking-filled, 83-79, double-overtime victory over Cincinnati in the annual Crosstown Shootout. The victory for Temple (8-2) came over a previously undefeated Villanova (9-1) squad, which had won 21 of its last 22 Big 5 games. The victory for Xavier (6-3) included a bench-clearing tussle, another near-scuffle, two technical fouls, lots of other hard ones and much drama at the end of regulation and both overtimes.
2. Tournament expansion? » The NCAA is talking tournament expansion and it could happen as early as next year. CBS’s current 11-year, $6 billion contract runs through 2013, but the NCAA can opt out after this season. The discussed expansion would include 96 teams, requiring an extra round, and giving the top 32 teams byes. Regardless how you feel about an expanded tournament, this could be great news for viewers long frustrated by the broadcast limitations of CBS. If the contract went to ESPN, could it clear the way for many more games — especially in the opening rounds — to be seen in their entirety? The questions the NCAA are considering: How much more money could be made? How much more appetite does America have for March Madness?
3. Exam week » With most schools taking exams, the schedule is light this week. Only nine teams in the Top 25 will play Monday-Friday and none will face each other. That all changes Saturday when 22 of the top 25 are in action, including the following enticing matchups: No. 10 North Carolina at No. 3 Texas; Gonzaga at No. 11 Duke; and Xavier at Butler. The only Washington-area team playing this week is American at DePaul (Wednesday). To demonstrate the slim pickings, these are this week’s offerings on ESPN: Gardner-Webb at Duke (Tuesday); Wright State at Mississippi State (Wednesday); and Arkansas-Little Rock at South Alabama (Wednesday). On Tuesday, Richmond (7-2) at South Carolina (6-2) is mildly intriguing. The only major-conference matchup of note is Auburn at Florida State (Thursday).
