EXAMINER TOP 25
Lots of change at the top
Nine of the top 12 teams in last week’s poll lost. But the carnage was such that some teams, even after losing, moved up. Purdue, a decisive loser to No. 1 Ohio State, moved from No. 16 to No. 13 thanks to an 11-point win over No. 19 Minnesota. Despite losses, Pittsburgh and BYU also moved up a notch. BYU toppled previously unbeaten San Diego State but then lost at New Mexico. After two losses each, Villanova and Syracuse tumbled seven and eight slots respectively. Arizona and Duquesne enter the rankings for the first time, while North Carolina and Temple return.
Recommended Stories
| No. Team » Comment » Last week 1. Ohio State (22-0) » Six of the Buckeyes’ last eight wins are by five or fewer » 1 2. Texas (19-3) » Remain only undefeated team in Big 12 conference play » 8 3. Kansas (20-1) » F Robinson (17 points) provided inspiration in rout » 4 4. Pittsburgh (20-2) » With victory at Rutgers, 10th straight 20-win season for Pitt » 5 5. San Diego State (21-1) » Aztecs made a school-record 17 3s in rout of Wyoming » 2 6. Duke (19-2) » Smith has hit nine of 37 from 3-point line in last seven » 3 7. Connecticut (17-3) » Freshman G Lamb (17.6 ppg in last five games) emerging » 6 8. Kentucky (16-4) » Stifled Ga. F Thompkins (2 of 10 shooting) in revenge win » 13 9. BYU (20-2) » Lobos’ 6-foot-7 freshman Snell ‘held’ Fredette to 32 points » 10 10. Notre Dame (17-4) » The Irish have defeated Georgetown, UConn and Pitt » 14 11. Georgetown (17-5) » Owns longest win streak in Big East after Monday’s victory » 24 12. Texas A&M (17-4) » Lost three of last four games, including Monday vs. Texas » 11 13. Purdue (18-4) » At home, will get another shot at No. 1 OSU on Feb. 20 » 16 14. Villanova (17-4) » Starting to look a lot like 2010 for the slumping Wildcats » 7 15. Louisville (17-5) » Loss to Georgetown puts them two back of Pitt in Big East » 21 16. Missouri (17-4) » At Texas, Tigers got a season-low 58 points (by 8 points) » 12 17. Syracuse (18-4) » Last time they lost five straight was 1968-69 (Danforth) » 9 18. Wisconsin (15-5) » In next 15 days, Badgers play Purdue twice, OSU once » 17 19. Minnesota (16-5) » Host Sullinger, No. 1 Ohio State on Super Bowl Sunday » 18 20. Washington (15-5) » At Washington St., done in by Thompson (25 points, 5 steals) » 15 21. Arizona (18-4) » 6-8 Williams has hit 24 of 34 from the beyond the arc » NR 22. West Virginia (14-6) » Seven of Mountaineers’ last nine vs. ranked Big East foes » 23 23. Duquesne (15-5) » Up-tempo Dukes have won 10 straight by average of 17.8 » NR 24. Temple (15-5) » Looking forward to unusual Feb. 23 matchup at Duke » NR 25. North Carolina (15-5) » Freshman Barnes hit 3-point, game winner against Miami » NR * Results include Monday night’s games |
HEATING UP
Duquesne; Also » Texas, Georgetown
COOLING DOWN
Villanova; Also » Syracuse, Georgia
TOP 25 GAME OF THE WEEK
Maryland at No. 6 Duke, Wednesday, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
In the mediocre ACC, Maryland (14-7, 4-3) is running out of chances for a quality win. The Terps made Duke (19-2, 6-1) sweat three weeks ago in a 71-64 loss before missing key free throws. The Blue Devils should be focused after they were thrashed at St. John’s 93-78, missing 20 of their first 21 attempts from beyond the arc. Afterward coach Mike Krzyzewski said, “We were not ready to compete. We had blank expressions on our faces.”
PLAYER TO WATCH
Kemba Walker, UConn G
During its four-game losing streak, No. 17 Syracuse (18-4) has been riddled by hot-shooting foes — surrendering 51.6 percent from the floor and 47.8 percent from 3-point range. So what will Walker, the nation’s third-leading scorer (24.2 ppg), do against the 2-3 zone of the ‘Cuse? Walker missed shots at the end of regulation and the second overtime in a loss Saturday as Louisville snapped No. 7 UConn’s (17-3) six-game winning streak. (Wed., 7 p.m., ESPN)
STORYLINES
1. Upside down Big East » It was a topsy-turvy week in the Big East as the league’s four highest-ranked teams — Pittsburgh, Villanova, Connecticut and Syracuse — went a combined 2-6. The most inexplicable defeat was suffered by Syracuse at home to Seton Hall, 90-68. The Pirates entered with an 8-12 record. Other than Seton Hall Big East teams that thrived last week were Georgetown, with wins over Villanova and St. John’s; Louisville, which beat Connecticut and West Virginia; and Notre Dame, which toppled Pitt. Eight Big East teams remain ranked, twice as many as the Big 12 and Big Ten.
2. Here’s to you Mr. Robinson » Kansas forward and Washington D.C. native Thomas Robinson returned to the Jayhawks on Saturday, playing two days after attending the funeral of his mother, Lisa Robinson. In the three weeks preceding the death of his mother, Robinson also lost both his grandparents. He is left with custody of his 7-year-old sister, Jayla. Robinson scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds, leading No. 3 Kansas to a 90-66 victory over Kansas State. “It is beyond words to describe how I feel and the love that I have for the University of Kansas and the fans,” Robinson said.
3. Duke dominated » On Saturday, Maryland coach Gary Williams took issue with those who insist the ACC is down this year. A day later, however, the ACC’s first-place team, No. 6 Duke, was thumped by the 11th place team in the Big East, unranked St. John’s, 93-78. The Red Storm rattled the Blue Devils with three-quarter court pressure, exposed Duke’s lack of a low-post scorer and harassed their perimeter threats into five of 26 shooting from beyond the arc (19.2 percent). It was a loss that could hurt the ACC at NCAA tournament selection time.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
The Terps failed to hit a 3-pointer in six tries Sunday night at Georgia Tech, but won 74-63 thanks to dominating inside work by Jordan Williams (21 points, 15 rebounds). Maryland (14-7, 4-3) can take a big step toward earning an NCAA berth with a victory Wednesday against ACC leader Duke (19-2, 6-1).
Next » Duke, Wed., 9 p.m. (ESPN)
GEORGE MASON
In a matchup of former NCAA Cinderellas on Feb. 19, the Patriots play at Northern Iowa in the ESPN Bracketbusters. With seven straight wins, including six by 15 or more points, GMU (17-5, 9-2) is the hottest team in the CAA. This week the Patriots can avenge road losses to Hofstra (14-8, 8-3) and ODU (17-5, 8-3).
Next » Hofstra, Wed., 7 p.m.
NAVY
With three straight wins, the Midshipmen are rolling in the Patriot League. Senior G Greg Brown scored 20 points, hitting all eight of his free throws, in an 81-78 double overtime victory at Colgate. Navy (8-15, 3-4) faces perhaps its toughest conference test Saturday at league-leading Bucknell (15-8, 6-1).
Next » at Bucknell, Sat., 7 p.m.
AMERICAN
After eight days off, AU (15-7, 5-2) faces a tough stretch at defending Patriot League champion Lehigh (12-10, 3-4) on Sunday, followed by league-leading Bucknell (15-8, 6-1) on Wednesday. In a 73-60 win over Lafayette on Saturday, Stephen Lumpkins (21 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks) hit eight of nine shots.
Next » at Lehigh, Sun., 2 p.m. (CBS College Sports)
GEORGE WASHINGTON
After snapping its four-game losing streak with a 52-46 victory over St. Louis, GW (11-10, 4-3) faces one of the hottest teams in the nation in A-10 co-leader Duquesne (15-5, 7-0), which has won 10 straight games by an average of 17.8 points. The Colonials have lost once each of the last three years to the Dukes.
Next » at Duquesne, Wed. 7 p.m..
