Males's School Basketball Rankings: Florida amongst High 5; MSU, Nebraska Bounce

[ad_1] The highest convention races are coming to a transparent finish: Duke flexed its muscle on Virginia, Michigan dominated Illinois in Champaign, Florida beat Arkansas by one million factors, and Arizona blew out Kansas to just about seal regular-season titles. The Massive East and West Coast Convention are nonetheless up for grabs, although! And there's a Miami college within the high 25 for the primary time this yr!

Right here’s the most recent version of my males's faculty basketball rankings as of March 1.

IMPORTANT NOTE on Miami (Ohio): The Redhawks proceed to win and are actually 29-0 (26-0 vs. Division I opponents), however they're nonetheless not near being ranked in my high 25. Miami has performed the 320th ranked schedule within the nation. It ranks 51st within the NET and 87 at KenPom. I don't consider they're a top-25 crew, however they're a beautiful story and I wish to see them within the NCAA Event.

(Picture by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)

The Cardinals have misplaced three of 4 video games, however they nonetheless rank within the high 30 on offense and protection. This crew is means too proficient to have seven losses in ACC play. That is Louisville's final likelihood in my high 25 to indicate me that it deserves to be right here.

The Hurricanes have gained six of their final seven video games, together with wins over North Carolina and NC State. The combo of level guard Tre Donaldson and large man Malik Reneau works properly.

I do know the Wildcats have 10 losses (and people matter!), however none of them are unhealthy losses. And when this crew is correct, it may well beat most groups within the land. Guards Otega Oweh and Collin Chandler each had 23 factors in an enormous win over Vanderbilt.

At 27-4, I’ve had my eye on the Gaels for some time, however I wanted to see them beat Gonzaga to lastly welcome them into the fold. This crew is younger — it solely begins one senior — and might be a top-15 crew subsequent season.

The Commodores received smacked at Kentucky on Saturday and shot simply 7-of-28 from past the arc. However they nonetheless rank 14th in KenPom and nonetheless are a pleasure to look at.

The Vols went 0-2 this week at Mizzou and residential in opposition to Alabama. The extra regarding concern was the knee harm to ahead Nate Ament. He’s been their finest participant this month as a freshman, and we’ll maintain our eye on that.

The blowout loss at Florida on Saturday didn’t look good, nevertheless it shouldn’t erase the strong progress this crew has made. Ahead Billy Richmond has been taking part in nice basketball currently.

Nonetheless taking part in with out ahead Caleb Wilson, the Tar Heels picked up an enormous win earlier within the week over Louisville. They adopted that with a win in opposition to a strong Virginia Tech squad. Clemson and Duke this week shall be an actual problem.

After getting embarrassed in opposition to UConn, the Johnnies took out their frustrations on a strong Villanova squad. Massive man Zuby Ejiofor received a triple-double (with assists).

The Jayhawks beat Houston early within the week after which received blown out by Arizona. I believe each crew within the nation would take that 1-1 cut up. Guard Darryn Peterson wasn’t very environment friendly, however he completed each video games and performed greater than half-hour in every. Let’s rejoice that.

The Zags misplaced to Saint Mary’s on Saturday night time and are actually tied within the WCC standings. It was the final ever WCC regular-season sport between the groups, as Gonzaga shall be becoming a member of the brand new/outdated Pac-12. Perhaps a rematch within the convention tourney in Vegas? I hope.

[MEN'S NCAA SEED PROJECTIONS: Illinois, Florida Move Up; Gonzaga Stumbles]

An 0-2 week for the Boilermakers has them falling down the rankings, however this offense nonetheless ranks No. 2 within the nation, in keeping with KenPom.

(Picture by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Pictures)

This was a horrible week for the Illini with a loss at UCLA, adopted by a house loss to Michigan. However I refuse to surrender on this crew as a result of I’ve seen what it is able to with wins over Texas Tech, at Purdue, at Tennessee and at Nebraska.

I’m so impressed with the Pink Raiders, who are actually 3-0 because the JT Toppin harm and with a win at Iowa State. Six gamers reached double figures in scoring, and middle Luke Bamgboye had 13 factors down low.

Duke humbled the Cavaliers on Saturday, however Virginia didn’t drop that far as a result of I consider most groups ranked decrease in my rankings would have been dominated as properly. Keep it up.

One of many quickest risers in my high 25, the Crimson Tide have gained eight straight, together with an in depth one at Tennessee on Saturday since dropping to Florida on February 1. Guard Lebaron Philon Jr. got here off the bench (sickness) however nonetheless scored 23 factors and hit the game-winner.

The Cyclones appeared pedestrian of their first residence lack of the season to Texas Tech on Saturday. The Massive 3 of guard Tamin Lipsey and forwards Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic was good… however received little from anybody else.

The Cornhuskers have quietly gained three straight and are tied with Michigan State for second within the Massive Ten. And so they have an attention-grabbing matchup at UCLA on Tuesday. The Bruins NEED it to really feel secure, and Nebraska needs a 2-seed.

Tom Izzo's squad beat Purdue and Indiana this week to stake its declare as second finest within the Massive Ten. Ahead Jaxon Kohler led the Spartans with a career-high 21 factors at Indiana. I used to be shocked he hadn’t scored greater than that, given how good he’s been this season.

I not view the Cougars as one of many favorites to win the title after dropping three of their final 4 video games, however I additionally do not consider they need to drop any decrease than this.

Whereas there are higher groups than Florida, no crew is taking part in higher proper now. 9 wins in a row, together with a 34-point victory over a proficient Arkansas crew.

The Huskies' demolition of St John’s earlier this week was one of many higher defensive performances of the yr, forcing the Johnnies to overlook their final 24 photographs of the sport! An unsightly win in opposition to Villanova was additionally good to maintain their 1-seed hopes alive.

The Wildcats just about locked down the No. 1 seed within the West by crushing Kansas at residence. Freshman ahead Koa Peat got here again after lacking three video games and was glorious, whereas freshman guard Braden Burries led the way in which in scoring.

The Wolverines' destruction of Illinois in Champaign was spectacular and confirmed what they're able to. Dropping guard L.J. Cason to an ACL harm was a bummer, as he was taking part in his finest basketball this month.

It took me your complete season to lastly undergo the Blue Devils' protection. It’s the true deal, holding Michigan to 63 final week and Virginia to 51 on Saturday.