The Bat Cave

TOP 25:

1. North Carolina (2-0)
Key Wins: (n)MSU
Key Losses:
Last Week: #1
Comments: The Tarheels didn’t exactly destroy their opponents this week, but they did cruise to two relatively easy wins. Their four biggest stars also all managed to post eye-popping single game numbers: Tyler Zeller (27 points), Kendall Marshall (15 assists), John Henson (9 blocks), and Harrison Barnes (17 points in both games).

2. Kentucky (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #2
Comments: Kentucky has looked dominant so far. After winning two exhibition games by 124 total points, UK crushed Marist by 50 in the season opener. All four of the Wildcats’ stud freshmen had strong performances, with Anthony Davis leading the way with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Kentucky faces Kansas on Tuesday, a game that could help define how good both teams really are.

3. Ohio State (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #3
Comments: Jared Sullinger picked up right where he left off with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks in the season opener. OSU faces a tough challenge against Florida on Tuesday.

4. Connecticut (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #4
Comments: Jeremy Lamb exploded for 30 points and Shabazz Napier added 21 and 8 assists, answering the question of who will fill the scoring void left by Kemba Walker. Super freshman Andre Drummond had a disappointing debut with 0 points in 12 minutes and Alex Oriakhi also struggled.

5. Syracuse (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #5
Comments: Nothing too illuminating in the opener for Syracuse. Kris Joseph had the kind of game you’d expect (16 points, 5 rebounds), but the two big freshman, Michael Carter-Williams and Rakeem Christmas had underwhelming debuts.

6. Florida (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #8
Comments: All four of Florida’s star guards scored in double figures and X-Factor Patric Young pitched in with a monster game in the Gators’ 40 point stomping of Jackson State. If this is a sign of things to come, Florida has been underrated coming into the season.

7. Duke (2-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #6
Comments: Duke struggled to beat Belmont, at home, in the season opener, but still managed to get Coach K his 902nd career win a few days later, tying him with Bob Knight for the most division I wins of all-time. Not many teams can come to Cameron Indoor Stadium and give Duke a game, let alone a team—even a good one—from a low major conference like Belmont. Austin Rivers is off to a solid start for the Blue Devils and it looks like Ryan Kelly might emerge as its third go-to scorer off the bench.

8. Memphis (0-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #9

9. Baylor (2-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #10
Note: Perry Jones suspended five games.
Comments: Freshman Quincy Miller has got off to a sizzling start, scoring 34 points total in Baylor’s first two games.

10. Pittsburgh (2-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #11
Comments: After averaging 6.4 points a game last year, Travon Woodall has averaged 21 points, 10 assists, and 6.5 rebounds in Pitt’s first two games. Nasir Robinson added 22 on 9 of 10 shooting from the field today and it looks like opposing teams are not going to be able to hone in on star Ashton Gibbs.

11. Louisville (2-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #12
Note: Wayne Blackshear ineligible for the year.
Comments: Freshman Chane Behanan already has two double-doubles under his belt.

12. Xavier (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #13
Comments: Xavier posted a win without their superstar Tu Holloway, who was suspended for one game.

13. Kansas (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #18
Comments: Kansas destroyed Towson in the opener and look like they might have powerhouse potential. I was a little skeptical about their roster, but they showed some depth with 7 players scoring at least 8 points. Thomas Robinson showed off his All American talent with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

14. Vanderbilt (1-1)
Key Wins: (n)Oregon
Key Loses: Cleveland State
Last Week: #7
Note: Sr. C Festus Ezili suspended six games
Comments: Wow, even with one of its key players out (listed above), Vanderbilt shouldn’t be losing to a Cleveland State team that lost its best player to the NBA earlier this year. One of the most shocking upsets of the early season.

15. Alabama (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses
Last Week: #15

16. Wisconsin (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #16

17. Washington (2-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #19
Comments: Washington narrowly edged Florida Atlantic tonight, but had some promising performances from their players in the first two games. C.J. Wilcox averaged 20.5 points and knocked down 8 3-pointers; Aziz N’Diaye notched 20 boards and 8 blocks; Tony Wroten and Abdul Gaddy had solid numbers but also combined for 8 turnovers a game; and it’s only a matter of time before Terrence Ross explodes.

18. Marquette (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #20

19. Michigan (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #21

20. Michigan State (0-1)
Key Wins:
Key Losses: (n)UNC
Last Week: #14
Comments: An optimistic ranking from me in the preseason, it didn’t take long for MSU to lose their first game. They played #1 North Carolina pretty tough for the first ten minutes or so, but UNC took control of the game from that point on and survived a late run by the Spartans. A loss to the top team in the country isn’t bad, but a #14 ranking would have looked a lot better if they played a closer game. On the bright side, Draymond Green had 13 points and 18 rebounds and freshman Branden Dawson had a good debut with 10 points and 7 boards to go along with 2 blocks and 2 steals.

21. Arizona (3-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #22
Comments: The Wildcats posted three wins last week but haven’t looked all that dominant. The return of Kevin Parrom helps, but freshman Josiah Turner, a preseason favorite for PAC-12 Rookie Of The Year has been a non-factor so far.

22. Temple (0-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #23

23. Texas A&M (2-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #24
Comments: The Aggies posted two wins with star Khris Middleton sidelined. Junior Ray Turner dropped 20 points in both games after averaging 4 points a game last season.

24. Gonzaga (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Last Week: #25

25. California (2-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Comments: Cal moves into the top 25 after strong starts from sophomore Allen Crabbe (22.5 ppg), Jorge Gutierrez (13 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 6 apg), Justin Cobbs (10 ppg, 4.5 apg), and Harper Kamp (8.5 ppg, 8 rpg).

DROPPED OUT:

17. UCLA (0-1)
Key Wins:
Key Losses: Loyola Marymount
Last Week: #17
Comments: That’s a pretty gross loss to Loyola Marymount and makes all the questions about the Bruins in the preseason all the more accurate. Josh Smith managed only 5 points in 16 minutes and point guard Lazeric Jones shot 1 of 11 from the field.

NEXT FIVE:

BUBBLE:

Cincinnati (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:

Florida State (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:

Creighton (2-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:

New Mexico (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:

UNLV (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:

Missouri (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:
Note: Laurence Bowers out for season.

Purdue (1-0)
Key Wins:
Key Losses:

Mississippi State (2-1)
Key Wins:
Key Losses: Akron