Faculty Basketball Rankings: Casey Jacobsen Has Michigan on Prime, Iowa Out

[ad_1] The faculty basketball season is a wild trip, and I’m right here to kind it out each Sunday.

With new coaches, new stars, deeper conferences and a switch portal that by no means stops spinning, attempting to make sense of the nationwide image isn’t straightforward. That’s why my Prime 25 rewards toughness, expertise and id — not preseason hype or model names. Anticipate daring calls. Anticipate surprises. Anticipate receipts.

Most of all, anticipate a rating constructed for the lengthy haul. Every week, I’ll reset the panorama, minimize by the noise and let you know what truly issues because the season evolves.

With that, right here’s the third version of my males's school basketball rankings, as of Dec. 14:

25. Georgia (9-1) Beforehand ranked: NR

The Bulldogs' numbers are nice; they're ranked twenty first total, in accordance with KenPom. Georgia beat Cincinnati by 18 factors on Saturday to enhance its report to 9-1, with its lone loss coming in opposition to Clemson in extra time final month. Bulldogs guard Blue Cain had 22 factors and 5 assists. They nonetheless have loads to show, however I’m giving them a shot.

24. Florida Gators (6-4) Beforehand ranked: No. 24

Florida beat George Washington by 10 factors on Saturday, and Gators guard Xavian Lee had 24 factors. The senior has been very inconsistent, nevertheless it’s confidence booster earlier than SEC play begins. The Gators have extra expertise than half the groups above them.

23. Virginia Cavaliers (9-1) Beforehand ranked: 20

Virginia beat Maryland Japanese Shore by double digits and scored 84 factors. Seven completely different Cavaliers contributed to 13 made 3-pointers. Virginia has the 14th-most environment friendly offense within the nation, per KenPom, however its total power of schedule is 264th. I wish to see this staff carry out in opposition to a top-20 opponent.

22. Texas Tech Purple Raiders (7-3) Beforehand ranked: No. 21

Texas Tech misplaced to Arkansas regardless of star ahead JT Toppin and guard Christian Anderson combining for 56 factors. The hole between these two and the remainder of this roster is important, however I nonetheless suppose the Purple Raiders are good. They’ll have an opportunity to redeem themselves subsequent Saturday in opposition to Duke.

21. St. John's Purple Storm (6-3) Beforehand ranked: No. 19

St. John's beat Iona, coach Rick Pitino's former program, by double digits on Saturday. It was probably the most balanced offensive efficiency the Johnnies have put collectively, with six completely different gamers reaching double figures in scoring. Guard Oziyah Sellers led the best way with 19 factors. Turnovers stay a problem, however the Purple Storm's potential is so clear. Subsequent Saturday they tackle Kentucky in Atlanta, which seems like a must-win for his or her résumé.

20. Arkansas Razorbacks (8-2) Beforehand ranked: 23

Arkansas defeated Texas Tech in a shootout, 93-86. Each groups shot over 50% from the sphere, however the Razorbacks had three gamers go for 20-plus factors, led by ahead Trevon Brazile’s 24-point, 10-rebound efficiency. The Razorbacks can rating with any staff in America.

19. Tennessee Volunteers (7-3) Beforehand ranked: No. 18

After per week off to lick their wounds, the Vols are getting ready for the large tilt in opposition to Louisville in Knoxville on Tuesday. Tennessee’s offense must discover a rhythm, averaging simply 66 factors per sport in its previous three video games (all losses).

18. Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-0) Beforehand ranked: No. 22

Nebraska received an enormous Large Ten highway sport vs Illinois, because of star ahead Pryce Sandford’s 32 factors and guard Jamarques Lawrence’s game-winning 3-pointer. The profitable streak for the Huskers is now 15 video games going again to the 2025 Faculty Basketball Crown championship.

17. Illinois Illini (8-3) Beforehand ranked: No. 13

Illinois misplaced at house to Nebraska on a last-second 3. Illini freshman Keaton Wagler (19 factors, 10 assists) is the true deal, however Illinois was largely overpowered. The Illini are laborious to protect, however their protection isn’t adequate proper now.

16. Auburn Tigers (8-3) Beforehand ranked: No. 17

Auburn beat Chattanooga of their lone sport of the week. Tigers ahead Keyshawn Corridor and guard Tahaad Pettiford mixed to attain 44 factors. Subsequent up is a date with Purdue on Saturday.

15. Kansas Jayhawks (8-3) Beforehand ranked: No. 16

Kansas took down NC State in extra time on the highway. Freshman star Darryn Peterson began however didn’t end the sport, exiting with a hamstring harm. Melvin Council Jr. took over the scoring position and dropped 36, together with 9 3s!

14. North Carolina Tar Heels (9-1) Beforehand ranked: No. 15

North Carolina beat Georgetown and USC Upstate this week by a mixed 38 factors. Freshman star Caleb Wilson had back-to-back 20-point outings and fellow large Henri Veesaar averaged 16 factors and 12 rebounds this week.

13. Vanderbilt Commodores (10-0) Beforehand ranked: No. 14

The Commodores boast a top-five offense within the nation, in accordance with Ken Pom. They beat Central Arkansas by 11 factors, thanks principally to ahead Tyler Nickel’s 30 factors (8-for-15 from deep). I believe Vanderbilt depends an excessive amount of on the 3-ball typically, however its 10-0 report is tough to argue with.

12. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-3) Beforehand ranked: No. 11

Alabama's schedule has been completely brutal. The Crimson Tide obtained humbled by Arizona, however I nonetheless like their roster, with guard Lebaron Philon main the best way. The Wildcats uncovered some flaws, however not many groups within the nation can do to Alabama what Arizona did.

11. Louisville Cardinals (9-1) Beforehand ranked: No. 12

The Cardinals flexed their offensive muscle groups in a 26-point win over Memphis. Six gamers reached double figures in scoring, led by guard Ryan Conwell (17 factors). Subsequent up is Tennessee on the highway this Tuesday.

10. Michigan State Spartans (9-1) Beforehand ranked: No. 10

Michigan State overcame 17 turnovers to beat Penn State on the highway, 76-72. Spartans guard Divine Ugochukwu was the star of the present. Don’t really feel unhealthy for those who do not acknowledge that title. The budding sophomore star was averaging simply 4.0 factors per sport coming in however dropped 23 in opposition to the Nittany Lions, together with 5 buckets from deep.

Michigan State vs. Penn State Highlights | FOX Faculty Hoops 9. Houston Cougars (10-1) Beforehand ranked: No. 9

Houston beat Jackson State and New Orleans by a mixed 84 factors. Subsequent Saturday’s incredible matchup with Arkansas will likely be loads nearer — I promise.

8. BYU Cougars (9-1) Beforehand ranked: No. 8

After trailing Clemson by 22 within the second half, BYU accomplished the most important comeback in class historical past in fashion. Cougars star ahead AJ Dabantsa was sensational, scoring or helping on 35 of BYU’s 45 second-half factors and establishing guard Rob Wright’s buzzer-beating 3. The Cougars are so enjoyable to observe.

7. Purdue Boilermakers (10-1) Beforehand ranked: No. 7

The Boilermakers took their frustrations from final week out on Minnesota and Marquette, beating them by a mixed 48 factors. Purdue's frontcourt trio of Trey Kauffman-Renn, Oscar Cluff and Daniel Jacobsen simply hold getting higher.

6. Gonzaga Bulldogs (10-1) Beforehand ranked: No. 6

We might always remember that Gonzaga misplaced to Michigan by 40 factors final month, nevertheless it's an excellent staff and beat UCLA in Seattle on Saturday evening. Zags ahead Graham Ike completed with 25 factors. Excluding Michigan, Gonzaga has beat each different staff it has performed by double digits.

5. Iowa State Cyclones (11-0) Beforehand ranked: No. 5

Iowa State hosted in-state rival Iowa and obtained punched within the face early by the Hawkeyes. The Cyclones responded like a top-five staff, although. Led by Josh Jefferson’s 24 factors, Iowa State held on down the stretch to get the win, 66-62.

Iowa vs. No. 4 Iowa State Highlights | FOX Faculty Hoops 4. Duke Blue Devils (10-0) Beforehand ranked: No. 4

Duke did not play this week. The Blue Devils' subsequent video games are in opposition to Lipscomb on Wednesday and Texas Tech on Saturday. That stated, the query nonetheless stays: offensively, who will develop into a dependable second and third choice to help star ahead Cameron Boozer?

3. UConn Huskies (10-1) Beforehand ranked: No. 3

It was one other uneven efficiency for UConn however one other high quality win at house. Huskies guard Solo Ball’s desperation heave from 40 ft with 3:39 to go stopped Texas' momentum. Ahead Alex Karaban adopted with one other clutch shot moments later. I nonetheless really feel like UConn has a lot extra room to develop, and that’s scary.

2. Arizona Wildcats (9-0) Beforehand ranked: No. 2

Arizona was superior within the second half in opposition to Alabama, turning protection into offense. The Wildcats took benefit of the Crimson Tide's greatest weak point on the glass and outrebounded them by 20. Freshman guard Brayden Burries is coming into his personal, averaging 19.8 factors per sport for Arizona over the previous 4 video games. The Wildcats have the perfect résumé within the sport by a big margin, however I nonetheless consider there's one different staff that is higher.

1. Michigan Wolverines (10-0) Beforehand ranked: No. 1

I now anticipate the Wolverines to dominate each staff they play. That’s unrealistic, although, and Michigan needed to battle a struggling Maryland squad for the primary half-hour of an eventual 18-point win on the highway. Wolverines ahead Yaxel Lendeborg was sensational with 29 factors, eight rebounds and 9 assists.

Yaxel Lendeborg Places on a Primetime Efficiency in No. 2 Michigan’s Robust Win Over Maryland Casey Jacobsen is a nationwide school basketball reporter and analyst for FOX Sports activities. He was a three-time All-Pac-10 choice at Stanford and a First-Crew All-American as a sophomore. Observe him at @cjacobsen23.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised e-newsletter day by day!