Kevin Dunleavy’s AP top 25

Published January 2, 2012 5:00am ET



My AP top 25 ballot (Kevin Dunleavy)

1. Syracuse

Last five opponents have a combined record of 52-17, but Orange has beaten them all by at least 16 points.

2. Kentucky

    Freshman Anthony Davis leads nation in blocks (4.4 per game).

    3. UNC

      Barnes’ field goal (48.3 percent) and 3-point (48.6 percent) shooting are way up last year  (42.3 percent and 34.4 percent respectively).

      4. Ohio State

        Matta hesitancy to develop bench players was costly when Buckeyes got in foul trouble at Indiana.  

        5. Duke

          Tough test Wednesday at Temple (9-3).

          6. U-Conn

            Lamb-Napier the best backcourt duo in Big East?

            7. Baylor

              Unimpressive in win over Mississippi State.

              8. Missouri

                Play Oklahoma (10-2) on Tuesday, at Kansas State (11-1) on Saturday.

                9. Georgetown

                  Graduation of talented but ball-dominating PG Wright – addition by subtraction.

                  10.  Michigan State

                  With 13 straight wins, the hottest team in the Big Ten.

                  11.  Indiana

                  DeMatha grad Oladipo had 15 points and the go-ahead basket in upset of Ohio State.

                  12.  Louisville

                  Rough week for Cardinals – two losses in state in four days.

                  13.  UNLV

                  Best FG shooting team (48.1 percent) and best FG defense (40.3 percent) in Mountain West.

                  14.  Florida

                  Quality losses (Syracuse by four, Ohio State by seven) say more about Florida than its quality wins (FSU, Texas A&M)

                  15.  Mississippi State

                  Impressive stuff from Sydney against Baylor, mixed with some expected knuckleheadedry (Is that a word?)

                  16.  Marquette

                  17.  Kansas

                  18.  Murray State

                  19.  Virginia

                  20.  Harvard

                  21.  Kansas State

                  22.  Michigan

                  23.  Gonzaga

                  24.  Wisconsin

                  25.  San Diego State

                   

                  And my Comcast top eight (District, Maryland, Virginia)

                  1.  Georgetown (12-1)

                  The most overachieving Hoyas team since Reggie (Williams) and the Miracles?

                  2.  Virginia (12-1)

                  No. 2 in the nation in points per game defense (50.4).

                  3.  Virginia Tech (11-3)

                  No. 2 in the nation in 3-point shooting defense (24.1 percent).

                  4.  VCU (10-3)

                  Seven straight wins and some good ones – USF, UAB, Richmond, and @ Akron.

                  5.  Maryland (9-3)

                  Addition of Len and Howard have made huge difference.

                  6.  Loyola (9-3)

                  After quality win over Bucknell, ready to challenge Iona in MAAC?

                  7.  George Mason (9-4)

                  Win at College of Charleston (10-3) was best this year for Patriots.

                  8.  Norfolk State (9-5)

                  No. 39 in the RPI, third best in the DMV.