The non-league tournament season is in full swing, with some surprising results. From North Carolina toppling Louisville to Florida State hammering VCU and Michigan losing to Charlotte, it was an unpredictable week.
The next seven days could be even better, particularly if expected Arizona-Duke and Syracuse-Gonzaga showdowns materialize.
(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)
1. Kansas (1): It was a ho-hum week for the best team in the country: Two blowout victories in advance of this week’s Battle 4 Atlantis in The Bahamas, which starts with a matchup against Wake Forest and could include a showdown against impressive Iowa in the championship game.
2. Michigan State (2): We got an up-close look at the Spartans on Saturday night in Brooklyn, and while their 87-76 victory over Oklahoma State wasn’t a classic Michigan State performance, this may be one of Tom Izzo’s most talented teams, a scary notion considering the longtime coach can win without elite talent.
3. Kentucky (3): After wrapping up a cupcake of a four-game homestand, Kentucky’s heralded freshmen class will get put to the test in December, starting with a trip to Brooklyn on Sunday against improving Providence and matchups with ranked foes Baylor, in-state rival Louisville and North Carolina.
4. Duke (4): For all the hype surrounding super freshman Jabari Parker’s start, not enough attention has been paid to Duke’s so-so early-season results. The Blue Devils needed a phantom foul call to pull out a one-point win over Vermont on Sunday night, and that was just five days after struggling to knock off East Carolina.
5. Arizona (6): The best team in the country nobody talks about will hit New York City this week for the Preseason NIT Tip-Off. Our hunch: By Friday night, after knocking off Duke, Sean Miller’s Wildcats won’t be overlooked any longer.
6. Oklahoma State (7):Â Marcus Smart sent a clear message to the nation last week with his brilliant 39-point, five-steal, four-assist tour de force in a 101-80 rout of Memphis: Maybe the best player in the country isn’t a freshman.
7. Ohio State (8): Maybe it’s the relatively nondescript non-league schedule or the lack of eye-catching stars, but there really isn’t much of a buzz about Ohio State. We won’t know a lot about the Buckeyes until Jan. 7, when they visit top-ranked Michigan State.
8. Wisconsin (12): Who says the Badgers are dull? Junior 7-footer Frank Kaminsky scored a school-record 43 points last week as Wisconsin routed North Dakota, 103-85. The victory drew nationwide headlines, a rarity for Bo Ryan’s program, because the scoring output was such a surprise.
9. Louisville (5): The Cardinals backcourt of Russ Smith and Chris Jones combined for 42 shot attempts and three assists in Sunday’s 93-84 loss to North Carolina at Mohegan Sun. Rick Pitino may mention the word “pass” one or two hundred times to his guards in Louisville’s next practice.
10. Syracuse (10): There must be a scheduling mishap, because Syracuse is actually playing a few major conference teams this week — beginning Monday against Minnesota in the Maui Invitational — outside of the state of New York, and the calendar hasn’t hit January yet.
11. Connecticut (14):Â Shabazz Napier is off to a fine start, and he is one of the best point guards in the nation, but the Kemba Walker comparisons are beginning way too fast. Napier has a long way to go to do even a percentage of what Walker accomplished in 2010-11, when The Bronx product carried UConn to a national title.
12. Gonzaga (15): We’re crossing our fingers Gonzaga and Syracuse each win their first two games of the Maui Invitation, setting up a must-see final Wednesday and a fine point-guard matchup between Orange freshman Tyler Ennis and Zags junior Kevin Pangos.
13. North Carolina (24):Â College basketball sure is a fickle sport. Two days ago, North Carolina was headed to the NIT; now the Tar Heels are yet again a team that can do damage in March.
14. Wichita State (16):Â After five blowout victories by at least 14 points, the Shockers will get a few tests this week in the Hall of Fame Classic. Thought DePaul and either BYU or Texas are unranked, Wichita State will at least be challenged.
15. Creighton (17): A bunch of NBA scouts will receive holiday pay Thanksgiving night with Creighton matching up against Arizona State in the Wooden Classic, a sneaky good game featuring a pair of possible lottery picks in Creighton’s Doug McDermott and dynamic Arizona State point guard Jahii Carson.
16. Oregon (18)
17. Iowa State (22)
18. Florida (19)
19. Massachusetts (NR)
20. Virginia (23)
21. Iowa (NR)
22. Memphis (13)
23. Colorado (NR)
24. UCLA (21)
25. New Mexico (20)
Stock Watch —Â Up
Marcus Paige, North Carolina
What has gotten into the sophomore guard? After an underwhelming freshman year, Paige is averaging 20 points per game and is suddenly one of the nation’s elite 3-point shooters, sinking nearly 52 percent of his attempts. The Iowa native went for 32 in Sunday’s upset of Louisville after scoring 26 and hitting six 3s against Richmond the day before.
Jameel Warney, Stony Brook
One of the nation’s elite big men, the ever-improving sophomore went for 32 points — on 13-of-14 shooting — and 21 rebounds in Stony Brook’s 104-102 triple overtime victory at Detroit, the Seawolves’ third game in as many nights.
Stock Watch —Â Down
Locals
Between Rutgers losing at home to William & Mary, Seton Hall blowing a six-point lead with 32 seconds left to Oklahoma, St. John’s nearly losing to MAAC also-ran Monmouth in Queens and suspending star freshman Rysheed Jordan, it was a tough weekend for the area’s top programs. MAAC powers Manhattan and Iona could be the best programs in the metropolitan area.
Havoc
VCU’s stay in our Top 25 didn’t last long. With a bull’s-eye on their chest, the Rams were hammered by Florida State, pushed by Long Beach State and edged by Georgetown. Shaka Smart will use this week to make his team better, and the schedule eases up over the next month.