2017-18 National Rankings

[shocktheheart]

Stay at #5 on Rich Bozich ballot

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Last week I turned my Associated Press college basketball Top 25 ballot upside down. Seemed as if everybody lost.

This week I put my Sharpie away. Everybody won.

On to my ballot:

1. Villanova (16-1) — Nova plays Georgetown and UConn this week. That used to be Must See TV. Even John Thompson and Jim Calhoun don’t live there any more.

2. Purdue (17-2) — I was one of two voters who had the Boilermakers ranked second last week. I doubt it’s that way today.

3. Virginia (16-1) — The Cavaliers should not be in danger until they visit Duke Jan. 27.

4. West Virginia (15-2) — Nothing terrible about a one-point loss at Texas Tech — and Bob Huggins’ team goes prime-time with Kansas tonight.

5. Wichita State (15-2) — The move from the Missouri Valley to the American Athletic Conference has not shaken the Shockers.

[shocktheheart]

Move up one from last week on Justin Ferguson's ballot

• Villanova
• Virginia
• Purdue
• West Virginia
• Oklahoma
• Texas Tech
• Duke
• Wichita State
• Kansas
• Michigan State

[shocktheheart]

Chris Murray moves us up two spots from the week before

Chris Murray’s AP Top 25

1. Villanova (1)

2. Virginia (3)

3. Oklahoma (8)

4. Duke (4)

5. Texas Tech (9)

6. West Virginia (2)

7. Purdue (11)

8. Wichita State (10)

9. Kansas (13)

10. Cincinnati (15)

[WuShock Reaper]

"Justin Ferguson: Where I voted Auburn basketball in my AP Top 25 ballot" - SEC Country

By Justin Ferguson
Posted: 01/15/18, 10:05am cst

https://www.seccountry.com/auburn/auburn-basketball-ap-top-25-poll-ballot

"1. Villanova
2. Virginia
3. Purdue
4. West Virginia
5. Oklahoma
6. Texas Tech
7. Duke
8. Wichita State
9. Kansas
10. Michigan State

Others:
15. Cincinnati..."

[WheatShock]

Will WSU be ranked? Undoubtedly.
Will the number be completely meaningless? Undoubtedly.

It is NOT meaningless. Being ranked, especially in the top 10 means WSU is being talked about and followed on a national basis. Its free publicity and good for both the team and school.

[WuShock Reaper]

"College hoops Power Rankings: ..." - ESPN

Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer
Posted: 01/15/18, 7:00 AM CT

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22099138/college-basketball-power-rankings-big-12-depth-downright-scary

"1. Villanova Wildcats Record: 16-1 Last week: 1
2. Purdue Boilermakers Record: 17-2 Last week: 3
3. Virginia Cavaliers Record: 16-1 Last week: 5
4. Oklahoma Sooners Record: 14-2 Last week: 7
5. West Virginia Mountaineers Record: 15-2 Last week: 2
6. Duke Blue Devils Record: 15-2 Last week: 8
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders Record: 15-2 Last week: 6
8. Wichita State Shockers Record: 15-2 Last week: 11
9. Xavier Musketeers Record: 16-3 Last week: 10
10. Kansas Jayhawks Record: 14-3 Last week: 12

Others:
18. Cincinnati Bearcats Record: 15-2 Last week: 21..."

[ShockerFever]

Will WSU be ranked? Undoubtedly.
Will the number be completely meaningless? Undoubtedly.

Here’s some free advice:

If you aren’t a big rankings guy, then stay off of an annual 78-page and counting thread entitled “2017-18 National Poll Rankings”.

[WuShock Reaper]

My AP top-25 basketball ballot:..." - Mercury News

By JON WILNER
PUBLISHED: January 15, 2018 at 8:18 am

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/15/my-ap-top-25-basketball-ballot-villanova-remains-no-1-followed-by-oklahoma-arizona-state-tumbles-texas-tech-climbs/

"...To the ballot …

1. Villanova
2. Oklahoma
3. Duke
4. Wichita State
5. Purdue
6. Virginia
7. Xavier
8. West Virginia
9. Texas Tech
10. Cincinnati..."

[ShockerPhi]

My prediction: We sit tight at #5, but no longer tied with anyone.

[martymoose]

Looking pretty likely we should jump up a spot or two. The exciting times continue!

[Play Angry]

Raw vote total looking good for decent aggregate gains.

Relative slotting still TBD. Sticking with prediction of #5.

[WuShock Reaper]

"2018 NCAA Basketball Top 25 (1/15/18)" - The Grueling Truth

By Mike Goodpaster
January 15, 2018

http://thegruelingtruth.net/basketba...op-25-1-15-18/

"1) Villanova Wildcats – The Wildcats continue to roll and this week included a big blowout win over Xavier.

2) Virginia Cavaliers – The Cavaliers only loss was to highly-rated West Virginia.

3) Oklahoma Sooners – Oklahoma has beaten four teams in the top 25.

4) Texas Tech Red Raiders – The Raiders come-from-behind win over West Virginia has convinced us that they are for real.

5) Purdue Boilermakers – Purdue has now won thirteen-straight games.

6) Duke Blue Devils – Both losses are on the road in the ACC.

7) West Virginia Mountaineers – The Mountaineers lost a close one at Texas Tech on Saturday, but my guess is they won’t lose many more.

8) Wichita State Shockers – The Shockers have won seven-straight and look to be back on track since their lost to Oklahoma.

9) Kansas Jayhawks – The Jayhawks are now in a four way tie for first place in the Big 12.

10) Clemson Tigers – The Tigers are one of the most disrespected teams in the country but with wins over Ohio State, Florida, Louisville and Miami they shouldn’t be.

Others:
16) Cincinnati Bearcats – The Bearcats look like the biggest competition to Wichita State in the AAC...."

[LoneStar48]

Anywhere from 4-8 is great as far as I'm concerned. Top 10 living is fantastic!

[WuShock Reaper]

"Pflugradt: Trae Young delivers, Oklahoma jumps to No. 2 in latest poll" - The Sunflower (WSU Student Press)

Evan Pflugradt, Opinion Editor
January 15, 2018

https://thesunflower.com/23568/opinion/pflugradt-trae-young-delivers-oklahoma-jumps-to-no-2-in-latest-poll/

"Rankings — (Jan. 15)
1. Villanova jumps West Virginia after the Mountaineers drop with a loss on the road to a solid Texas Tech team. Jay Wright’s team stayed clean while hosting Xavier, and then again at Madison Square Gardens against St. John’s. Villanova owns wins against ranked opponents, Tennessee and Gonzaga, both on neutral court.

2. Oklahoma point guard Trae Young is the first player in Division I basketball to lead in both points and assists since assists were officially recorded. Saturday he finished a 43-point performance off with a 3-pointer in overtime to hold off TCU, claiming the regular-season sweep over the Horned Frogs. The Sooners are on the road this week after claiming back-to-back wins at home against ranked opponents. Their only losses is a road loss at West Virginia and a neutral court loss to Arkansas.

3. Virginia stays at three after wins against Syracuse and NC State. Virginia hasn’t lost since the first week of December when they faltered on the road at West Virginia. The Cavaliers are on the road this week for two AAC road games. ‘

4. Purdue beat Michigan on the road by one point — no small feat after Michigan took down the nation’s top team, Michigan State, a week prior. Purdue ended the week trouncing Minnesota by more than 30 points in a game that was never close. They take a 12-game winning streak to Iowa on Saturday after hosting Wisconsin.

5. Wichita State traveled into unchartered territory playing at East Carolina for the first time before extending their two-game road trip to Tulsa where they were each victorious. The Shockers return home after five days on the road with a half-game lead in The American. They host Southern Methodist on Wednesday.

6. Texas Tech defended home court, taking down one of the nation’s toughest teams, West Virginia. Texas Tech lost on the road by 10 points to Trae Young and the Oklahoma Sooners, but it’s hard to fault a team for losing to the most premier player in college basketball. Texas Tech travels on the road for a two-game stretch with games against Iowa State and Texas.

7. West Virginia’s 15-game winning streak — the longest in college basketball — was snapped on Saturday on the road at Texas Tech. West Virginia fell by just a single point to a team that could end up winning the Big 12. West Virginia, who is in a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12 hosts Kansas on Monday.

8. Kansas rebounded with wins against Iowa State and a one-point win against a hungry Kansas State team. Their 4-1 conference record puts them in conversation for another Big 12 title, sitting in a four-way tie for first place. They’re on the road at West Virginia Monday, where a win could put them ahead in contention for their 14th consecutive conference title.

9. Cincinnati shook off a sluggish start against South Florida on the road, and ended up winning by more than 20. They’re a half-game behind Wichita State, still undefeated in The American. The Bearcats are riding an eight-game winning streak after dropping back-to-back games in early December.

10. Duke won two easy games this week, still in recovery following their loss to NC State a week ago. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski sat out Saturday’s game due to illness, and the Blue Devils continued to impress. Their schedule picks up strength Monday when they travel to face Miami (Fl)...."

[shocks02]

AP poll is out: https://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll