Here’s my AP top 25 ballot.
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1. Syracuse
Can Tulane (11-1) can hang with them on Thursday.
2. Louisville
College of Charleston (9-1) next up on Tuesday.
3. Ohio State
Interesting New Year’s Eve game at Indiana.
4. Kentucky
Wildcats have the nation’s best field goal defense (33.7 percent).
5. UNC
Don’t play on the road until Jan. 14 at FSU.
6. Duke
Tough schedule has Duke No. 1 in RPI.
7. U-Conn
Six Big East teams are ranked but U-Conn won’t play one until Feb. 1.
8. Baylor
86-83 win at BYU on Saturday was first time Bears have not won by double digits.
9. Kansas
First-year starter Thomas Robinson (17.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg) doing a nice impersonation of the Morris twins.
10. Missouri
Tigers are nation’s runaway leader in points per possession (1.28).
11. Florida
Nice matchup, hosting Florida State on Thursday.
12. Marquette
Teams in the Big East are 90 games over .500, tops in the nation.
13. Georgetown
On Thursday, try to beat Memphis for a second time this year.
14. Wisconsin
Defense ranks No. 1 in points per game (44.7) and points per possession (.75).
15. Mississippi State
Mark Dec. 28 on your calendar – Indiana at Michigan State, 7:30; Baylor at Mississippi State, 9.
16. Pittsburgh
Yes, Pitt does this every year. Here are their starts for the last 11 seasons — 14-0 (01-02), 15-1 (02-03), 18-0 (03-04); 10-0 (04-05); 15-0 (05-06); 10-0 (06-07), 11-0 (07-08), 16-0 (08-09), 15-2 (09-10), 19-1 (10-11), 10-1 (11-12).
17. Indiana
Hoosiers are the best 3-point shooting team in the nation (45.7 percent).
18. Xavier
Even with three starters out, expected better than that against Oral Roberts.
19. Michigan State
After losses to UNC, Duke, Spartans have won nine straight
20. UNLV
Every team in the Mountain West has a winning record.
21. Harvard
Were competitive in lone loss (to U-Conn).
22. Murray State
No. 8 in RPI with wins over Southern Miss and Dayton and at Memphis.
23. Virginia
Cavaliers have the nation’s second-best defense (.79 points per possession).
24. Michigan
Up year in the Big Ten? Conference is 80 games over .500.
25. Kansas State
With length and quickness they beat ‘Bama at their own game. Only loss is to West Virginia in OT.
