EXAMINER TOP 25
Toughest test awaits Ohio State
No. 1 Ohio State, the nation’s only unbeaten, continued to roll with a 13-point win at Minnesota and will have six days off before facing its toughest Big Ten test Saturday at Wisconsin. Big East teams continue to thrive with seven in the top 14. Big jumps were registered by North Carolina (seven notches), Wisconsin (six), Syracuse (six), Arizona (five) and Florida, which went from unranked to No. 19 with quality wins over Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Also entering the poll for the first time are mid-majors Utah State and George Mason.
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| No. Team » Comment » Last week 1. Ohio St. (24-0) » Tough test Saturday at Kohl, where Wis. has won 16 in row » 1 2. Texas (20-3) » No one more consistent than F Hamilton (18.9 ppg) » 2 3. Kansas (23-1) » Was able to handle the fast pace of Missouri on Monday » 3 4. Pittsburgh (22-2) » Without Gibbs, Pitt finds a way to beat West Virginia » 4 5. Duke (21-2) » Mason Plumlee 13-for-15 last week, two double-doubles » 6 6. San Diego St. (23-1) » Gay saved the Aztecs at surprisingly tough Colorado St. » 5 7. BYU (22-2) » Fredette bobbleheads hottest selling item in BYU pro shop » 9 8. Notre Dame (19-4) » Brey pumping Hansbrough for Big East player of the year » 10 9. Georgetown (18-5) » Winning six straight in the brutal Big East is no small feat » 11 10. Villanova (19-4) » Best team in Pa.? Two of ’Nova’s last seven games vs. Pitt » 14 11. Syracuse (20-4) » In 33 of 35 seasons, Boeheim has won 20 or more games » 17 12. Wisconsin (17-5) » Cheeseheads’ Super Sunday included a romp over MSU » 18 13. Louisville (18-5) » Tough week — at Notre Dame, vs. Syracuse » 15 14. Connecticut (18-4) » Walker shooting 31.8 percent in Huskies’ last six games » 7 15. Purdue (18-5) » None of its wins has come over a team currently ranked » 13 16. Arizona (20-4) » NYC duo Jones, Parrom were clutch in 3OT thriller at Cal » 21 17. Missouri (18-6) » With Monday’s loss, Tigers have dropped three of four » 16 18. N. Carolina (17-5) » When Barnes scores at least 17 points, Tar Heels are 5-0 » 25 19. Florida (18-5) » Double-doubles for Parsons vs. Vanderbilt and Kentucky » NR 20. Texas A&M (17-5) » Aggies have lost four of their last five in rugged Big 12 » 12 21. Kentucky (16-6) » Wildcats have lost four of five on road in mediocre SEC » 8 22. Temple (17-5) » Junior F Randall averaging 20.0 over the last five games » 24 23. Utah State (22-2) » After loss to Georgetown on Dec. 4, have won 17 in row » NR 24. Vanderbilt (16-6) » Has pivotal SEC game against Kentucky on Saturday » NR 25. George Mason (19-5) » Hottest team in nation’s best mid-major conference (CAA) » NR * Results include Monday night’s games |
HEATING UP
Wisconsin; Also » North Carolina, Florida
COOLING DOWN
Kentucky; Also » Washington, Purdue
GAME OF THE WEEK
Georgetown at Syracuse, Wednesday, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Does it get any better than this ESPN doubleheader — Georgetown-Syracuse and North Carolina-Duke — the fiercest rivalries in the nation’s two most illustrious basketball conferences? The first game pits Georgetown, on a six-game wining streak behind Austin Freeman (18.7 ppg), against Syracuse, which halted a four-game losing streak with a 66-58 win over Connecticut on Wednesday as freshman Baye Moussa Keita (11 rebounds, six steals) emerged.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Kendall Marshall, North Carolina, G
When Larry Drew II abruptly left North Carolina on Friday, the point guard job was Marshall’s. Two days later in an 89-69 win over Florida State, the 6-foot-3 freshman dealt 16 assists as the starting lineup hit 29 of 47 shots (61.5 percent) against the nation’s best field goal percentage defense. Marshall, a graduate of Gonzaga, has a tough assignment Wednesday at Duke against Nolan Smith, who leads the ACC in scoring (21.0 ppg) and assists (5.6 pg). (Wed., 9 p.m., ESPN)
STORYLINES
1. MSU is MIA » What is the deal with Michigan State? Coming off a run to the Final Four and returning four starters, MSU was ranked second in the preseason. But that’s a distant memory as the Spartans (13-10) have lost five of their last six, including defeats at Iowa (by 20) and Wisconsin (by 26). The Spartans lost guard Chris Allen in the preseason, and coach Tom Izzo booted underachieving guard Korie Lucious two weeks ago, but those are hardly reasons for this free fall for a team that includes Kalin Lucas (15.8 ppg), Durrell Summers (13.4 ppg) and Draymond Green (13.2 ppg).
2. UNC is A-OK » Recently benched Larry Drew II quit North Carolina in a huff Friday without telling coach Roy Williams, who received a call from Drew’s father, Atlanta Hawks coach Larry Drew, informing him of his son’s decision to transfer. Drew’s departure comes after the often-criticized point guard had played well in a reserve role in four of the games in UNC’s current five-game winning streak, dealing 19 assists with just four turnovers. The move leaves the playmaking duties to freshman Kendall Marshall and sophomore Dexter Strickland.
3. Suspensions » Oklahoma State lost starting forward Darrell Williams after he was charged with rape, while Mississippi State suspended top scorer Ravern Johnson for tweeting. Williams (7.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg), a junior, was charged Monday with four felony counts after he allegedly touched two women at a party without their consent. Johnson (17.7 ppg) was suspended indefinitely for using Twitter to blast Mississippi State fans and question his diminished role in the offense after a recent loss to Alabama.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
Saturday was a celebration of the Williamses at Comcast Center as forward Jordan Williams scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and coach Gary Williams tied Hall of Fame coach John Wooden on the all-time wins list with 664. Maryland (15-8, 5-4) is in a four-way tie for fourth place in the ACC.
Next » Longwood, Wed., 8 p.m.
GEORGETOWN
The Hoyas survived Marshon Brooks’ 43 points in an 83-81 victory over Providence. Georgetown (18-5, 7-4) goes for its seventh straight win Wednesday at Syracuse (20-4, 7-4). The last time they met, the Hoyas beat the top-seeded Orange in the Big East tournament quarterfinals behind Chris Wright (27 points).
Next » at Syracuse, Wed., 7 p.m. (ESPN)
GEORGE MASON
The Patriots have won nine straight, including eight by 15 or more points. George Mason (19-5, 11-2) travels to UNC Wilmington (11-13, 5-8), which is coming off a 91-81 victory over William & Mary in which guards Keith Rendleman and Trevor Deloach each hit 10 of 15 shots. George Mason has beaten UNCW six straight times.
Next » at UNCW, Tue., 7 p.m. (MASN)
AMERICAN
After completing a sweep of defending Patriot League champion Lehigh on Sunday, winning 62-61 on a Vlad Moldoveanu free throw with two seconds left, AU (16-7, 6-2) faces league-leading Bucknell (16-8, 7-1). The Eagles hope for a reversal of their first meeting, a 75-60 loss in which Mike Muscala scored 33 points.
Next » at Bucknell, Wed., 7 p.m.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Junior guard Tony Taylor continues to be key for GW. On Saturday he had 25 points and nine assists in a 73-67 victory at Charlotte. GW (12-11, 5-4) continues its quest for a signature victory against Richmond (18-6, 7-2). All of the Colonials’ wins in the Atlantic 10 have come against teams with losing records.
Next » Richmond, Wed. 7 p.m.
