EXAMINER TOP 25
A tradition-filled top five
Five traditional powers remain undefeated at the top of the rankings. With the loss of freshman Kyrie Irving, however, No. 1 Duke could be on the way down, while No. 3 Kansas, with the addition of freshman Josh Selby, could be on the way up. After losing at home to Oakland and Charlotte, Tennessee (7-2) tumbles from No. 7 to No. 24. Kansas State took a big fall as well, from No. 4 to No. 16, after a 57-44 loss to Florida. Teams that also were upset and dropped from the rankings were Louisville (beaten by Drexel), Illinois (Illinois-Chicago), and UNLV (UCSB).
| No. Team » Comment » Last week 1. Duke (11-0) » Against Elon, Coach K tied Dean Smith (879 wins) » 1 2. Ohio State (10-0) » How good would the Bucks have been with Evan Turner? » 2 3. Kansas (10-0) » Cal will be their fourth Pac-10 foe in span of six games » 3 4. UConn (9-0) » Three of their next four at ranked foes — Pitt, ND, Texas » 5 5. Syracuse (12-0) » Orange face giant-killing Drexel (8-1) on Wednesday » 6 6. Michigan St. (8-3) » Next three opponents have a combined record of 26-3 » 9 7. Pittsburgh (11-1) » Are No. 1 in nation in apg (20.8), No. 2 in rpg (44.8) » 10 8. Georgetown (10-1) » For what it’s worth, Hoyas are No. 1 in nation in RPI » 11 9. Missouri (10-1) » 116 points vs. Central Ark. were most at Mizzou Arena » 12 10. Villanova (9-1) » Can frosh Bell deliver wakeup call for lifeless Wildcats? » 14 11. San Diego St. (12-0) » Nine of Aztecs’ wins have come by 14 or more points » 16 12. Baylor (7-1) » With Dunn off, Bears lost first game in Dec. since 2006 » 8 13. Kentucky (8-2) » Calipari’s ejection vs. Miss. Valley St. was 2nd of career » 18 14. Texas (7-2) » Freshman G Joseph made the big shot at North Carolina » 20 15. Memphis (9-1) » Tigers’ freshmen backcourt takes on Georgetown’s vets » 13 16. Kansas State (9-2) » 44 points vs. Fla. was lowest output in Martin’s five years » 4 17. Notre Dame (10-1) » Irish’s first three in Big East — GU, Syracuse, UConn » 21 18. Purdue (10-1) » Nice duo — Moore (20.2 ppg) and Johnson (19.5 ppg) » 23 19. Central Fla. (10-0) » Knights’ boast: They’re real and they’re spectacular » 22 20. Minnesota (10-1) » Mbakwe (13.7 ppg, 10.5 rpg) a huge difference-maker » 24 21. BYU (10-1) » No shame in losing to Howland and improved UCLA » 17 22. Texas A&M (10-1) » Aggies have knocked two teams out of the rankings » NR 23. Cincinnati (10-0) » Yeah, but can they even go .500 in loaded Big East? » NR 24. Tennessee (7-2) » Held Charlotte to 30 percent FG shooting and still lost » 7 25. Wash. St. (8-1) » Cougars have best record in the improved Pac-10 » NR |
HEATING UP
San Diego State; Also » Texas A&M
COOLING DOWN
Tennessee; Also » Kansas State
TOP 25 GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 UConn at No. 7 Pittsburgh, Monday, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Five of the nation’s top-10 teams are from the Big East. Two of them meet on “Big Monday” as Pitt (11-1) tries to counter the nation’s leading scorer, Kemba Walker (28.1 ppg), with the backcourt duo of Ashton Gibbs (17 ppg) and Brad Wanamaker (12.4 ppg, 6 apg). UConn (8-0) is the second-biggest story this week in Storrs as the Huskies’ women try to break the NCAA record for consecutive wins. Pitt has won the last three meetings.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Phil Pressey, Missouri, G
Former NBA player Paul Pressey sent two of his sons to Missouri to play for his former Tulsa teammate, Mike Anderson. Matt Pressey (6.1 ppg), a 6-2 junior, is a JUCO transfer, while highly touted Phil (5.2 ppg, 4.1 apg), a 5-10 freshman, plays the point. After a slow start, Phil has had 28 points and 27 assists in his last three games, hitting 12-of-18 shots. On Wednesday, the Presseys and Missouri take on Illinois. (Wed., 9 p.m., ESPN2)
STORYLINES
1. Selby cleared, clutch » At games this season at Allen Fieldhouse, fans of the Kansas Jayhawks chanted “Free Selby,” urging the NCAA to clear freshman Josh Selby. Their wishes were granted last week and on Saturday the 6-foot-2 Baltimore native hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 26 seconds left, delivering No. 3 Kansas a 70-68 victory over USC. Selby, ranked as the top high school player last year by some services, scored 21 points in his debut. He was ordered to pay a fine in excess of $4,000 for receiving improper benefits, not from Kansas, but from his association with Carmelo Anthony associate Bay Frazier.
2. That’s Jared » With Duke’s Kyrie Irving (big toe) down, Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger has emerged as the nation’s top impact freshman. The 6-foot-9, 280-pound forward is averaging 18.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for the No. 2 Buckeyes. In a 79-57 rout of South Carolina on Saturday, Sullinger scored 30 points, grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds and even hit the first 3-pointer of his career — a 30-foot bank shot at the first-half buzzer. Sullinger, a native of Columbus, is likely to enter his name into the NBA Draft, but for now he has people in his hometown talking national championship.
3. Upsets » This season had been largely devoid of big upsets. But last week, two happened on the same night (Tuesday) as Drexel of the CAA handed Louisville its first loss, 52-46, and Oakland of the Summit League toppled Tennessee, 89-82. Three days later, the Volunteers were stunned again, this time at Charlotte, 49-48. Making the defeat that much more amazing was that it came after Charlotte (5-6) kicked top scorer Shamari Spears off the team and had only eight scholarship players available. The losses for Tennessee were perplexing as they came after an 83-76 victory at previously undefeated Pittsburgh.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
After nine days off for exams, the Terps (7-4) return to the floor for what should be a cakewalk against New Jersey Institute of Technology (2-6), which is winless in six games against Division I teams this year as it continues to struggle with a transition to D-I. None of the top seven scorers for NJIT is taller than 6-foot-4.
Next » NJIT, Wed., 8 p.m.
GEORGETOWN
The No. 8 Hoyas (10-1) play at No. 15 Memphis (8-1) on Thursday, their last non-conference game of the regular season. After rolling through the first month with a vaunted recruiting class, the Tigers have shown their youth, losing to No. 3 Kansas and having to go to overtime to subdue Austin Peay and Arkansas State.
Next » at No. 15 Memphis, Thurs., 8 p.m. (ESPN2).
VIRGINIA TECH
After three straight losses, Seth Greenberg’s Hokies (6-4) have rebounded with consecutive victories over Penn State, 79-69, and Mississippi State, 88-57. Saturday’s victory over the formidable Bulldogs in the Bahamas came via balanced scoring, a 39-24 rebounding advantage and 50 percent shooting from the floor.
Next » vs. St. Bonaventure (Rochester, N.Y.), Thurs., 7 p.m.
GEORGE MASON
After 10 days off, the Patriots (8-2) look to continue their six-game winning streak Wednesday at Duquesne (5-4). GMU leads the CAA in scoring margin (14.6 points per game) and field goal shooting (49.2 percent). Ryan Pearson (12.3 ppg, 59 percent FG) and Luke Hancock (13.0 ppg, 57.7 percent FG) have been leaders.
Next » at Duquesne, Wed., 8 p.m.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Tony Taylor (19 points, 11 assists) and Nemanja Mikic (19 points, 6 three-pointers) helped make a long trip across country worthwhile, leading the Colonials (4-5) to their second straight victory, 87-79, at Oregon State. The best sign was GW’s season-high field goal (54.5 percent) and 3-point (47.8 percent) shooting.
Next » East Carolina, Wed. 7 p.m..
