College Basketball Couch Power 10 (Mar. 11th)
Michigan State clinched its 2nd straight Big Ten title with a 2nd straight win over rivals Michigan.
The bad news? This is the last Power 10 (at least in its recognizable form) for the year. The good news? That's because Selection Sunday is 6 DAYS AWAY.
The madness carried us all the way to the very end of the regular season: Villanova somehow backed into another Big East regular season title, despite losing to Seton Hall the last day of the year, thanks to Marquette losing to that same team as well as Georgetown. Tennessee lost their chance to repeat as SEC co-champions, losing to Auburn on the final day of the season, and in turn handed the title to LSU, a team playing without its suspended coach and suspended star player. Kansas' streak of fourteen straight Big XII titles came to an end with a blowout loss to underdogs Oklahoma (and rivals Kansas State were the beneficiaries). Ja Morant and Murray State upset Belmont for the OVC title, and helped stake a claim that the Ohio Valley Conference, of all conferences, might be deserving of two bids. Michigan State completed a season sweep of in-state rivals Michigan to clinch to co-Big Ten title. And speaking of rivalry season sweeps, you didn't think I'd forget to remind you, did ya? Yes, North Carolina completed their own season sweep over archrivals Duke, adding a co-ACC title to their resume to go nicely with their 2-0 record over their opponents.
We're 8 days away from the start of March Madness, and I am less convinced than ever that there's a reliably great team this year. Yet, it still seems there are tiers that that developed, sides with varying levels of quality and legitimate chance to be a title contender. Here is my best attempt at who the true Top 10 currently is:
1. Virginia (28-2)
Virginia finished their season against Louisville in the same manner they won the ACC regular season title: waiting until about the 10-minute mark to tighten their stranglehold on the game. They're at the top of their form, and I'm yet to see a team that is as capable of taking over a game the way the Cavaliers are. It doesn't mean this is the year they are going to suddenly solve Tony Bennett's postseason problems, but it's hard to see anyone other than them being the #1 team.
2. Gonzaga (29-2)
Gonzaga took the week off in preparation for the West Coast Conference tournament. To be fair, they've earned their week off. It's been *checks watch* 3 straight months of playing unranked opponents!
I give the Zags a hard time, but they do appear to be one of the more balanced, experienced title contenders out there, and have earned the accolades and recognition they've gotten to date.
3. North Carolina (26-5)
Yes, the Heels were the beneficiaries of another unfortunate early Duke injury. Beyond that, they spent over half of the rivalry game being outplayed by the depleted Duke squad. But in crunch time, when it mattered most, Coby White and the Carolina Seniors took the game over. That's been the most positive sign of this stretch of 14 wins in 15 games for UNC: they've found ways to win in all kinds of ways, against all kinds of opponents.
4. Duke (26-5)
Duke lost their 3rd game out of 6 last weekend, and by and large seem to be trending downwards. So why do they not drop in our ranking? Because if Coach K's gossip is to be believed, they'll be getting one Zion Williamson back this week in the ACC tournament, and we've seen how good the Blue Devils can be with him in the lineup (cases in point: wins over Auburn, Texas Tech, and Virginia that are all appreciating in value). In addition, they really did play quite well for much of the game in the loss to Carolina, showing they have the potential to make a tournament run even if Zion isn't able to return at least to his pre-injury form.
5. LSU (26-5)
It was a wild week for LSU, who lost their coach and star player to suspension amidst an ongoing investigation into illegal payments to players. Still, unless the Tigers are being punished for said scandal, somebody is going to need to explain to me how a 5-loss, outright SEC champion is ranked at the bottom of the Top 10, while Kentucky and Tennessee, two teams they beat head-to-head and in the SEC standings, sit above them.
6. Kentucky (26-5)
Kentucky gritted out two tough wins against two likely tournament teams, Ole Miss and Florida last week. That wasn't enough to grab the SEC regular-season title, but should the Wildcats win the tournament, as they so often have under Calipari, they'll be positioned nicely for a 1-seed and a deep NCAA run.
7. Texas Tech (26-5)
Few teams finished the season better-- and with less fanfare --than Texas Tech. The Red Raiders won their last 9 games by an average margin of 19 points to clinch a share of their first-ever Big XII title. They may not be title favorites, but I guarantee Tech is a team nobody wants to see in their bracket.
8. Michigan State (25-6)
Two weeks ago, the Spartans were ranked here. Last week, Michigan supplanted them. This week, after a season sweep of their rivals, Michigan State reclaims their Top 10 spot. It's been a bizarre year for the Spartans, full of big wins, weird losses and big-name injuries, but through it all, they managed to win the Big Ten yet again. It will be tough for them to make a deep run in the NCAA tourney with the pieces they're missing, but at this point, would you really bet against them doing just that?
9. Tennessee (27-4)
Tennessee's marvelous season ended with a bit of a whimper. Despite leading the SEC nearly wire-to-wire, and spending several weeks as America's top-ranked team, the Volunteers managed to finish in a tie for 2nd in the conference, and ranked in the bottom half of the Top 10. All is not lost for Tennessee; far from it! They've still got a drool-inducing blend of size, athleticism, and experience. Which is what makes losses like the season finale to Auburn all the more baffling when they do occur.
10. Houston (29-2)
Welcome back, Houston! While other mid-majors (such as Buffalo and Nevada) have hurt their case with baffling losses, the Cougars' resume is fairly unblemished, and their recent win over Cincinnati clearly showed this group's mettle. Don't forget they own a win over LSU that has aged like the finest of wines.
Just missed: Florida State, Kansas State, Michigan, Wofford, Nevada, Coby Mother-Loving White
Bonus: #1 Seed Predictions!
EAST (Washington, D.C.): Virginia
WEST (Anaheim): Gonzaga
SOUTH (Louisville): North Carolina
MIDWEST (Kansas City): Kentucky