College Basketball Couch Power 10 (Conf. Champ Week)
I was going to have a picture of Duke losing, but then it reminded me that they also beat North Carolina last week. Congrats, Michigan, here's your time in the sun.
Welcome back to the College Basketball Power Rankings. Last week was Oscar week on The Couch, so the Power 10 took a quick backseat to films. Did that stop the madness from continuing? I'll let Georgina answer for me:
Seriously, we've mentioned every week that this season has been kind of crazy, right? Right. So, in keeping with the theme, the last week, we saw 6 different Top 10 teams lose, and 15 total ranked teams drop a decision.
Also fyi, some conference tournaments already happened! Like, they're done. Winners have been crowned. One was a B1G one: yes, the Big Ten tournament (held a week early so that they could pay the media millions of dollars to continually talk about it being in Madison Square GAHden) saw none other than Michigan take the title, for the second consecutive year!
Though I am not a mathematician nor scientist, often when there is chaos, I turn to numbers, which help soothe me. Once again, I filled out my Top 10 (Top 15, really) by consulting the AP Poll, the RPI ranking, the BPI ranking, and the schedule strength ranking. Weighing them all equally (because I didn't know what else to do), I generated a numbers-inspired ranking, with just a few 'eye test prerogative' swaps.
That being said, here's my increasingly futile attempt at a Top 10:
1. Virginia (28-2)
I was so prepared to once again keep the Cavaliers off the top perch. Then, they scored 5 points in the last 0.9 seconds to stun Louisville, and a few days later, Michigan State flubbed their lines in the Big Ten tournament. Still, though Virginia is the clear #1 team at this point, they're not the clear best team. Little will convince me otherwise.
2. Villanova (27-4)
They keep dropping these games they shouldn't, and it ultimately cost them the regular season Big East title. But then again, I suppose I should't expect Villanova to go 31-0. They're still #1 in the BPI, #2 in the RPI, and have 2 head-to-head wins over Big East champions Xavier.
3. Xavier (27-4)
See above. I haven't been a believer in Xavier all year, but was ready to move them into the Top 2 for winning the Big East and having a slightly tougher schedule than the two teams above. But I just can't justify them jumping ahead of a team that's likely more talented, and has absolutely owned them on the court. Still, good on the Musketeers for being a formidable foe for so many others!
4. Kansas (24-7)
Right as the Jayhawks were getting ready to head into the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country, they got absolutely walloped at Oklahoma State, making the Cowboys the first team to sweep Kansas in the Bill Self era. Still, I'm prone to forgive KU, given that they already had clinched the Big 12 regular-season title. Oh, and also, that whole Top 10 in BPI, RPI and Schedule Strength thing.
5. Duke (25-6)
I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
Ok, fine, I will. Yes, Duke beat North Carolina at home on Senior night after being down by double-digits. Hooray. They also lost to Virginia Tech last week!!!
But in all seriousness, if the 'Virginia Tech-and-1st half vs UNC' Duke shows up, it could be another early exit for Coach K and co. If '2nd half vs. UNC' Duke is the one that shows up in March, look out, field. No team's ceiling is higher.
6. Cincinnati (27-4)
The Bearcats have re-asserted themselves as a genuine contender, proving their mettle in a tough, close win at Wichita State (probably their 2nd-hardest game of the year, if not the hardest) that saw them clinch the American Conference title. They will head into conference tournament play in position for a 2 seed.
7. Michigan (28-7)
Unbelievable. John Beilein is quickly becoming the new King of March. It's an impressive enough feat to win back-to-back Big Ten titles, but to do it with a notably less talented squad this year is somethin'. And to, en route, get a 2nd win over the favored rival team, and blow out the most talented team in the conference in the championship? That's REALLY somethin'. Who knows how deep this streaky Michigan team can go in the Big Dance, but one thing's for sure: everyone would do well to stop counting them out.
8. Michigan State (29-4)
Their season-ending winning streak wasn't filled with the prettiest wins, but it was a lengthy winning streak all the same. The Spartans seemed to finally getting a hold on how good they really were. Then, with a chance to avenge an upset loss to their rivals, and play in the Big Ten Championship, they were outmuscled, outsmarted and outshot. They should still be a popular Final Four pick, but it's unacceptable for a team with this high of a ceiling to still be playing the way they're playing in March.
9. North Carolina (22-9)
The Heels' roller-coaster of a season took another turn downwards last week. You know it's bad when a 10-point loss at Duke isn't even the worst part of the week. No, that would be this. Still, despite all the soul-searching last week has caused for Carolina fans, they remain Top 10 in the BPI, Top 5 in the RPI, and those 9 losses came courtesy of the #1 most difficult schedule in the country. There's a lot of time left for this year's side to prove they're also a championship contender.
10. Auburn (25-6)
The Tigers are really running out of steam down the stretch, it feels like. But they pulled themselves together enough to beat South Carolina on Saturday, and earn the SEC regular-season title, their first since the 90s. That deserves a Top 10 ranking.
Just missed: Tennessee, Wichita State, Purdue, Ohio State, Nevada, Cam Johnson when he plays Duke
Bonus: Last #1 Seed Predictions before Selection Sunday!
SOUTH (Atlanta): Virginia
EAST (Boston): Villanova
MIDWEST (Omaha): Xavier
WEST (Los Angeles): Kansas