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Zooming away from Iowa State for the moment, what a week in college basketball. Big Monday had 4 consecutive games in that included a UConn buzzer beater over 'Nova, Kansas' winning streak gets snapped by Texas on Saturday, and others. Heck, Alabama figured out how to beat Kentucky.... in basketball. Now, let's zoom back into Iowa State for a sec:
Iowa State Recap:
This was a tough week for the Cyclones. They lost in heartbreak fashion at Oklahoma State in overtime, and because of bad weather, had to stay on the road for 5 days instead of coming home for a couple days and heading to Columbia. I am not going to rehash everything, but I just hope that the team hasn't hit a breaking point or anything like that. It has been such a fun 2.5 months, and I hope the guys can regroup and get a couple wins this week when they face Texas Tech and Oklahoma at home this week. Even though the losses stink, I do not know if anybody had this team pegged for 14 wins in the entire season, let alone at this point.
Ken Pomeroy Ratings;
This week: #45, projected to go 20-11 (7-9).
Last week: #32, projected to go 21-10 (8-8).
With as rough of a week it was, the model's outcome did not change much. The sky is not falling, and a couple wins this week will put the Cyclones in good position for the second half of Big 12 play.
Big 12 Power Ratings, Top 16, and TV Picks After The Jump!
1. Texas (2-0 this week, 16-3 overall, 4-0 in Big 12, #3 last week): Texas had the best week ever, blowing out rival A&M by 21, and ending KU's home win streak. Who knows if they can get past the 2nd round of the NCAA tournment, but I know right now, they are the best team in the conference.
2. Kansas (1-1 this week, 18-1 overall, 3-1 in Big 12, #1 last week): KU has been living dangerously, so it isn't a shocker they lost here. If anybody was going to beat them in their house, it would have been Texas.
3. Texas A&M (1-1 this week, 17-2 overall, 4-1 in Big 12, #2 last week): Did I overrate this team, or did they just stink against Texas? Or was it a combination of both? I suppose we will find out a week from today in the rematch.
4. Missouri (2-0 this week, 17-3 overall, 3-2 in Big 12, #5 last week): I know they lost to CU, but I'm putting them higher. Missouri looked impressive against K-State and Iowa State, and while those aren't world-beater teams, looking good and building confidence is going to help when you have a full week to prepare for a roadtrip to Austin.
5. Nebraska (1-1 this week, 14-5 overall, 2-3 in Big 12, #6 last week): They beat Colorado at home which was impressive, then they went to Texas Tech and lost, in one of the "WTF" moments of the week in the Big 12.
6. Colorado (0-2 this week, 14-6 overall, 3-2 in Big 12, #4 last week): The Buffs lost two road games in the conference, but one of them was to OU... After seeing both CU and Nebraska lose on the road to the bottom two teams, I am glad Iowa State is playing both of these teams at home.
7. Baylor (1-1 this week, 13-5 overall, 3-2 in Big 12, #8 last week): Bears move up after getting a big win over Oklahoma Staate. After getting blown out two games in a row, had Baylor not done anything against OSU, their season was pretty much over.
8. Oklahoma State (1-1 this week, 14-5 overall, 2-3 in Big 12, #9 last week): They get the nod in the 9 spot having beat Iowa State and K-State this year. Getting blown out by Baylor was a head scratcher, but then again, so was their win over us....
9. Iowa State (0-2 this week, 14-6 overall, 1-4 in Big 12, #7 last week): A big opportunity for Iowa State to get back into the NIT mix.
10. Kansas State (0-2 this week, 13-7 overall, 1-4 in Big 12, #10 last week): One could argue for them to be ranked ahead of ISU on the basis they played closer to Missouri than Iowa State did... At the same time, K-State also has way more talent on paper including a preseason All-American in Pullen. With the expectations what is the difference between 9th and 10th anyhow? This team is not going to make the NCAA tournament unless they reel off 5 of their next 6 games as wins.
11. Oklahoma (2-0 this week, 10-9 overall, 2-3 in Big 12, #12 last week): Wins over Texas Tech and Colorado. Definitely not the worst team in the conference right now.
12. Texas Tech (1-1 this week, 9-11 overall, 1-4 in Big 12, #11 last week): There will not be a winless team in the Big 12 folks!
Top 16:
1. Ohio State (2-0 this week, 7-0 in Big 10, 20-0 overall, #1 last week): Ohio State has been getting it done, but will be tested by Purdue this week.
2. Duke (2-0 this week, 5-1 in ACC, #4 last week): SDSU is undefeated, but I think Duke is the best team in America. Only reason I do not have them #1 is that Ohio State's run has been impressive and with the Big 10 being so tough, they are bound to lose anyhow.
3. San Diego State (2-0 this week, 5-0 in MWC, 20-0 overall, #5 last week): Good team? Yes. Great team? I do not know. I guess we will found out on Wednesday when they take on BYU.
4. Pittsburgh (2-0 this week, 7-0 in Big East, 19-1 overall, #6 last week): Impressive win over 'Cuse a week ago, and have another bigtime Monday game against Notre Dame tonight.
5. BYU (2-0 this week, 5-0 in MWC, 19-1 overall, #7 last week): A team that is just not getting challenged night in and night out. They have a big one on Wednesday night, however against SDSU.
6. Texas (2-0 this week, 4-0 in Big 12, 17-3 overall, #16 last week): Huge week for the Longhorns, but can they stay up for Oklahoma State and Missouri?
7. UConn (2-0 this week, 4-2 in Big East, 16-2 overall, #10 last week): Walker with another magical shot to win the game when they played 'Nova in what was a tremendous game. Face a tough test when they travel to Marquette.
8. Villanova (1-1 this week, 5-1 in Big East, 17-1 overall, #8 last week): Made up for tough loss at UConn, but getting a tough win at Syracuse.
9. Syracuse (0-2 this week, 5-2 in Big East, 18-2 overall, #2 last week): Rough week for the Orange, but they had a hard schedule, having to go to Pittsburgh and facing a surging Villanova team that was hungry coming off a tough loss.
10. Kansas (1-1 this week, 3-1 in Big 12, 18-1 overall, #3 last week): With the close games they had played thus far, it wasn't a surprise they would get knocked off at home. They are a talented team, but are much more vulnerable than they have been the past couple of years.
11. Purdue (2-0 this week, 6-1 in Big 10, 17-3 overall, #12 last week): Bounced back from two close road losses, by beating up on Penn State and beating a "WTF" Michigan State team that will go into the NCAA tournament as an 7th seed and put in work. This is a big week for the Boilermakers, as they go to Columbus to face Ohio State and have a shot at revenge against the Gophers.
12. Wisconsin (2-0 this week, 5-2 in Big 10, 15-4 overall, #14 last week): Good teams take care of the teams below them, and that's what Wisconsin did. They are a good team. Hard-hitting I know.
13. Notre Dame (2-0 this week, 5-3 in Big East, 16-4 overall, NR last week): Don't call it a comeback, they've been here before! In fact, they get on my list every other week. Having to go to Pitt this week, chances of them staying on here for another week are in jeopardy already.
14. Washington (2-0 this week, 7-1 in Pac 10, 15-4 overall, NR last week): Washington has been on my radar all year, but they have failed to impress me. I know they are the best team in the Pac 10, but the Pac 10 isn't all that good. After blowing out the second best Pac 10 team (Arizona), along with seeing other teams now losing games, it is clear they are a Top 20 team for sure. Hopefully I'm not overrating them by having them on this list.
15. Kentucky (1-1 this week, 3-2 in SEC, 15-4 overall, #9 last week): Kentucky lost to Alabama... What is going on? This team has lost to UConn, UNC, Georgia, and now Alabama. It was time to move them down. Come on!
16. Vanderbilt (2-0 this week, 2-2 in SEC, 14-4 overall, NR last week): Picked up a big win over St. Mary's this week. They are on here because they are a quality team, and are 5-3 against Sagarin Top 50 teams, which is better than some of the other teams I was considering.
Dropped Out: Texas A&M, St. Mary's, Louisville,
Also Considered: Georgetown, Texas A&M, Louisville, St. Mary's
TV Picks:
Monday: ESPN doubleheader: Notre Dame vs. Pitt at 6pm CST and Baylor vs. K-State at 8pm CST
Tuesday: ESPN doubleheader: 6pm CST, Florida vs. Georgia and 8pm CST Purdue vs. Ohio State
Wednesday: Iowa State takes on Texas Tech at Hilton at 8pm, so hopefully you can watch that, but if you get CBS College Sports, and are at home, put that on at the same time and watch BYU vs. San Diego State
Thursday: If you want to stay up late, at 10pm there is St Mary's and Gonzaga on ESPN2
Friday: There's hardly every anything on Friday
Saturday: Many games. I will be watching two games: Minnesota vs. Purdue on CBS at Noon CST and Syracuse vs. Marquette on ESPNU at 2pm CST. Iowa State plays OU at 8pm that night.
Sunday: Duke vs. St. John's at Noon CST on CBS, and if you really want to watch hoops, FSN has a tripleheader starting at 4:30pm CST (Miami vs. VA Tech; Maryland vs. GA Tech; Washington vs. Washington St).