WASHINGTON EXAMINER TOP 25
Duke a no-brainer at top spot
Off to a hot start, defending national champion Duke is the no-brainer top choice, especially after solidifying its claim with wins over two of the few teams (Kansas State and Michigan State) which could have made a legitimate case for the top slot at the start of the season. After that, throw a blanket over the teams ranked from No. 2 through No. 15. Most are perennial powers who were expected to be good and have started well. Teams that have inserted themselves into the top 25 with strong starts but remain suspect include UNLV, Central Florida, Louisville, Notre Dame, BYU and San Diego State.
| Team » Comment |
| 1. Duke (8-0) » Next win will be No. 877 for Coach K, passing Rupp |
| 2. Pittsburgh (9-0) » F Dante Taylor starting to throw his weight around |
| 3. Ohio State (6-0) » None of their last four foes have scored more than 45 |
| 4. Kansas (7-0) » Morris brothers averaging 30.5 points, 15.4 rebounds |
| 5. Kansas State (7-1) » Wildcats are one of five Big 12 teams in the rankings |
| 6. Georgetown (8-0) » Senior PG Wright named Big East player of the week |
| 7. Connecticut (7-0) » Kemba Walker leads the nation in scoring (29.1 ppg) |
| 8. Baylor (6-0) » Dunn wrecked ASU’s upset plan, was 6 of 6 from beyond arc |
| 9. Michigan St. (6-2) » Too much Irving (31 points) spelled doom at Duke |
| 10. Tennessee (6-0) » Is Tennessee to basketball what Auburn is to football? |
| 11. Syracuse (8-0) » Orange are one of seven Big East teams in rankings |
| 12. Missouri (6-1) » Interesting matchup, hosting Vanderbilt (7-1) Wed. |
| 13. Memphis (7-0) » Before holidays, play Kansas (Tue.) and Georgetown |
| 14. Villanova (6-1) » Beat St. Joe’s on Friday, next up Big 5 foes Penn, LaSalle |
| 15. Illinois (8-1) » PG McCamey is No. 4 in the nation in assists (7.7 pg) |
| 16. San Diego St. (7-0) » Only game vs. a Pac-10 team comes Wed. at Cal (5-2) |
| 17. BYU (8-0) » G Fredette is Cougars’ best player since Danny Ainge |
| 18. Notre Dame (8-0) » Are the Irish legit? Chance to see Wed. vs. Kentucky |
| 19. Kentucky (5-2) » Cats struggling as Drew Jr. can’t seem to get the point |
| 20. UNLV (8-0) » Runnin’ Rebels getting good shots (53.9 FG percent) |
| 21. Texas (6-2) » Defensive pressure unraveled the Longhorns at USC |
| 22. Washington (5-2) » Huskies have scored at least 98 points in all five wins |
| 23. Louisville (6-0) » Have intriguing game Saturday against No. 21 UNLV |
| 24. Central Fla. (7-0) » Kings of the state after beating Florida, South Florida? |
| 25. Purdue (7-1) » Alabama coach Grant called G Moore “silent assassin” |
HEATING UP
UConn; Also » Georgetown, Duke
COOLING DOWN
Kentucky; Also » Missouri, Michigan State
TOP 25 GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 11 Syracuse vs. No. 9 Michigan State, Tuesday, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
In the Coaches vs. Cancer doubleheader at Madison Square Garden, two of the game’s top coaches Jim Boeheim (Syracuse) and Tom Izzo (Michigan State) face off. While the Spartans (6-2) already have played three teams ranked in the top 15, this is the first big challenge for the Orange (8-0), led by blue-collar F Rick Jackson (13.1 ppg, 12.4 rpg). The opener pits No. 14 Memphis vs. No. 4 Kansas, both unbeaten, at 7 p.m. (Tues., 9 p.m., ESPN)
PLAYER TO WATCH
Tobias Harris, Tennessee, F
In the 1970s, Tennessee had “The Bernie and Ernie Show,” forwards Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld, both from New York, who led a basketball awakening in Rocky Top. A generation later, another forward from New York has taken his talents to Tennessee. The 6-foot-8 Harris (16.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) helped the Vols upset Villanova last month. Now they have a chance to take down another Big East power, No. 2 Pitt (9-0), in the SEC-Big East Invitational. (Sat., 3:15 p.m., ESPN)
STORY LINES
1. Duke solidifies ranking » There were some questions in the preseason about how defending champion Duke would fare as it incorporated talented freshman point guard Kyrie Irving into the lineup. So far, so good, as the Blue Devils have already beaten two of the top teams in the nation, Kansas State and Michigan State, in addition to Marquette and last year’s NCAA runner up, Butler. Senior Nolan Smith (17.8 ppg, 5 apg) and Irving (17.4 ppg, 5.1 apg) have been a terrific pair in the backcourt, sharing ball-handling duties, while 6-8 senior Kyle Singler (15.6 ppg) remains the top frontcourt option.
2. Walker lights-out » After sustaining heavy losses, UConn was not named in most preseason top 25 polls. But with junior guard Kemba Walker scoring prodigiously, the Huskies (7-0) have started quickly, with back-to-back wins in the Maui Invitational over Michigan State and Kentucky. After averaging 14.6 points per game last year, Walker is scoring at a 29.1 clip, leading the nation. His shooting percentages are vastly improved — from 40.3 to 53.3 percent on field goals and from 33.9 to 42.5 percent on 3-pointers. Sophomore Alex Oriakhi (12.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg) has also been a factor in the frontcourt for UConn.
3. Freshmen ups and downs » Some of the nation’s most highly touted incoming freshmen — such as Irving (Duke), Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Tobias Harris (Tennessee), Perry Jones (Baylor), and Brandon Harris (Kentucky) — have been quick studies. But others — such as Harrison Barnes (North Carolina), Fab Melo (Syracuse), and Shabazz Napier (UConn) — have struggled. The 6-foot-8 Barnes, widely considered the No. 1 prize from the Class of 2010, has hit just 34.4 percent from the floor and appeared hesitant, contributing to the slow start of UNC (5-3), which recovered Saturday with a 75-73 win at home over freshmen-laden Kentucky.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
Starters Dino Gregory, Sean Mosley, Adrian Bowie and Cliff Tucker combined for nine points in 90 listless minutes Sunday in a 64-61 loss to Temple in the BB&T Classic, prompting coach Gary Williams to consider changes as the Terps (6-3) prepare for UNC Greensboro (0-6), which played Furman on Monday night.
Up next » UNC Greensboro, Wed., 7:30 p.m. (CSN)
GEORGETOWN
Senior G Chris Wright scored 21 points each in wins over Missouri and Utah State. In the victory at Mizzou, Wright also hit the tying 3-pointer on a jumper at the end of regulation, sending the game to overtime. The No. 6 Hoyas (8-0) have another difficult test Thursday at long, defensive-minded Temple (5-2).
Up next » at Temple, Thurs., 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
VIRGINIA
The Cavaliers (5-3) beat one ranked team (Minnesota) and another that began the season ranked (Va. Tech), winning both on the road behind senior F Mike Scott (38 points, 25 rebounds) and freshman G Joe Harris (34 points). Virginia begins a stretch of eight straight games at home Tuesday against Radford (2-5).
Up next » vs. Radford, Tues., 7 p.m.
GEORGE MASON
During their current four-game winning streak (all home games), the Patriots (6-2) have shot 51 percent from the floor, and 44 from 3-point range, while holding opponents to 23 percent from beyond the arc. Reserves Isaiah Tate (16 points) and Vertrail Vaughns (14 points) both had their career high Saturday vs. UNCW.
Up next » vs. Loyola, Wed., 7 p.m. (MASN)
NAVY
After a rough start, the Midshipmen (4-6) have won three of their last four, including a 64-57 victory over George Washington in the BB&T Classic. Junior G Nate Sugars (lacerated hand) came off the bench after missing three games and hit 8-of-13 shots, scoring 20 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
Up next » at Coppin State, Tues. 7:30 p.m.
