CHAPEL HILL — And the latest AP top 25 poll came out earlier today. Indiana remained No. 1, while Miami moved up to No. 2. The Hurricanes, though, are still atop my ballot. Which brings me to the sponsor of my ballot this week: Bob Seger’s “Still the Same.” Because, for once, the top of my ballot stayed the same from last week.
First time that could be said in a while. My ballot (with where I had that team ranked last week), followed by some thoughts:
1. Miami, 1
2. Indiana, 2
3. Gonzaga, 3
4. Michigan State, 7
5. Florida, 8
6. Duke, 4
7. Michigan, 5
8. Syracuse, 6
9. Kansas, 12
10. Louisville, 15
11. Kansas State, 9
12. Georgetown, 20
13. Arizona, 11
14. Butler, 10
15. New Mexico, 17
16. Oklahoma State, 18
17. Wisconsin, 19
18. Oregon, 21
19. Ohio State, 13
20. Marquette, 23
21. Pittsburgh, 16
22. Notre Dame, 14
23. Memphis, NR
24. VCU, 24
25. Saint Louis, 25
And some thoughts:
--None of the top three teams on my ballot lost last week, so they all remained the same this week. Miami is still No. 1, Indiana still No. 2 and Gonzaga still No. 3. The Hurricanes had a close call in an ugly, ugly game at Clemson. But, as Miami coach Jim Larranaga said afterward, style is irrelevant. The Hurricanes won. That’s also a sign of a good team: Being able to win ugly, when you’re not near your best.
--Michigan State jumped into my top five thanks to its 23-point victory against Michigan. Other teams that made some decent jumps: Florida, from eighth to fifth; Kansas, from 12th to ninth; Louisville, from 15th to 10th; and Georgetown, from 12th to 20th. Only one team moved into my poll this week: Memphis. To make room for the Tigers, I dropped St. Mary’s, which lost by 17 at home to Gonzaga.
Until next week …
