| 09 January 2011
Every Sunday (except for the two week holiday hiatus we just had) The Hoops Manifesto and Bloguin's NCAA hoops writers come together to vote on the four best teams in the country, our Fabulous Four, plus the best team from a non-BCS conference. We present to you the Fab Four Plus One - because who has time to read a list of 25 teams.
Voters: Jeff Fox from The Hoops Manifesto, Flounder from Leftover Hot Dog, Philip from Rise Northwestern, tallguy from The Beadlemaniacs and Jamie D. Gilkey from Suns Stuff't.
Fabulous Four
1) (Last week - 1) Duke - 24 (out of possible 25) points
Record: 14-0
Games this week: Today vs Maryland, Wed @ Florida State, Sat vs Viriginia
"Halfway through the season the question has to be asked - can Duke be beat? Considering they are the only ranked team in the ACC (as shocking as that fact is) they conceivably could enter the NCAA tournament undefeated." - Jeff Fox
"No explaining here because if you need reasons then you don't watch college basketball." - Flounder
"Duke sure is a smooth running team but the Blue Devils are starting to show some stress cracks in the armor by shooting just 43% from the floor against the Miami Hurricanes and letting UAB hit nearly 41% of their three-pointers. And let's not forget that the Blue Devils couldn't box out UAB's Cameron Moore as he snagged 15 boards right out from under their nose in that contest." - Jamie D. Gilkey
"This team will lose eventually, won't they? The ACC is not what it once was. If this team stays focused and can stick together, even the loss of Kyrie Irving will not stop the Blue Devils. It is Duke and everyone else at this point." - Philip
2) (2) Ohio State - 20 points
Record: 15-0
Games this week: Today vs Minnesota, Wed @ Michigan, Sat vs Penn State
"The Buckeyes have played an easy schedule so far, with only four away games and one ranked opponent. They'll get a good test this afternoon as the ranked Gophers come to town." - Jeff Fox
"Led by the Jared Sullinger's double-doubles (18.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg) and the incredible game-stopping shot blocking of the unheralded Dallas Lauderdale (he averages 2.5 bpg including four blocks against a shell-shocked Iowa offense) Ohio State remains our pick to go undefeated all the way." - Jamie D. Gilkey
"The Buckeyes young center Jared Sullinger should finally get a test in the Big Ten. Just not from Iowa." - Philip
3) (NR) Syracuse - 9 points
Record: 16-0
Games this week: Wed @ St. John's, Sat vs Cincinnati
"The Orange make their first appearance in our rankings, but they'll have to fight to stay there - starting with Cincinnati on Saturday, they will playing three straight ranked opponents. Such is life in the Big East." - Jeff Fox
"Seton Hall just about got the best of them but they lived to see their upcoming Bearcats game be worthy of the hype." - Flounder
"This young Orange team has played extremely well. But the Big East is not easy. And a tough road game against Pittsburgh is looming." - Philip
Record: 14-0
Games this week: Today @ Michigan, Wed @ Iowa State, Sat vs Nebraska
"I said from the starting of the year that they were the best team in state of Kansas, let alone the Big 12. Now with Josh Selby on board, and Kansas State foundering, they are proving it." - Jeff Fox
"Making winning a habit and it seems no real test until the Texas game on 1/22, unless they fall victim to a upset along the way." - Flounder
"The Jayhawks have faced few road bumps on their way to an undefeated record so far. The Big 12 should have some challenging contests looming. Otherwise, we may not know what this team is until they are in the Tournament." - Philip
Top Non-BCS Team
San Diego State - four votes (out of a possible four)
Record: 17-0
Games this week: Wed vs UNLV, Sat @ New Mexico
"Forget the top non-BCS team stuff - the Aztecs are making a push to be including in our Fab Four." - Jeff Fox
"Raise your hand if you thought the Aztecs would be sitting at 17-0. Exactly, no one did. Who is this team? Is BYU the only threat they have this season?" - Flounder
"When are these guys going to finally get knocked off their pedestal?!?" - Jamie D. Gilkey
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