| 01 January 2012
Every other Sunday The Hoops Manifesto and our esteemed voting panel come together to vote on the four teams with the inside track to play in the building pictured above next March, 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, Perry Missner from College Fantasy Hoops Insider, Jamie D. Gilkey of Suns Stuff't, and Ray Bala who writes The Can Ball Report on Raptors HQ.
Fabulous Four
1) (Last ranking: 2) Kentucky - 14 (out of a possible 20) points
Record: 13-1
Games the next two weeks: Tues vs Arkansas-Little Rock, Sat vs South Carolina, Jan 11 @ Auburn, Jan 14th @ Tennessee
"With only three ranked opponents left on their schedule, conference play could be smooth sailing for the Wildcats." - Jeff Fox
"The Wildcats' loss to Indiana seemed a bit flukier than the Buckeye loss. Of the top teams, Kentucky has the two best wins. Granted, both were at Rupp, but beating North Carolina and Louisville is fairly impressive (even if the Cardinals' balloon was burst against Georgetown earlier this week). Kentucky has crazy talent in that Terrence Jones can basically be MIA for three weeks and the team keeps churning out wins." - Perry Missner
"Terrence Jones coming off the bench, and the win against Louisville, shows how good they are right now." - Ray Bala
2) (1) Ohio State - 13 points
Record: 13-2
Games the next two weeks: Tues vs Nebraska, Sat @ Iowa, Jan 10th @ Illinois
"Losing to Indiana looks a lot better now than it would have entering the season. Still, they've got a gauntlet of tough opponents (six games against ranked opponents coming up) to go through in the very tough Big Ten the rest of the way." - Jeff Fox
"I didn't watch the game, but my guess is the analysis will be that Jared Sullinger "has to take more than five shots." Sully (does he have a better nickname?) may still not be 100%. The Hoosiers had the good fortune of getting Sully and Deshaun Thomas in foul trouble and coach Thad Matta has never been known for his teams' depth." - Perry Missner
"The Ohio State Buckeyes stumbled in a contentious Big Ten contest against Indiana on New Year's Eve but we're still looking at that roster and expecting at least a Final Four appearance." - Jamie D. Gilkey
3) (4) North Carolina - 8 points
Record: 12-2
Games the next two weeks: Today vs Monmouth, Sat vs Boston College, Jan 10th vs Miami, Jan 14th @ Florida State
"Not many challenges for North Carolina in conference play, with the ACC appearing to be having a down year. We probably won't see who the "real" Tar Heels are until tournament time. " - Jeff Fox
"Took it pretty easy over the second half of December. They coasted against Texas and hosted a bunch of lower tier teams. I think they'll be ready for ACC play where there could be some bumps in the road. No matter, I'll keep them in my Fab Four." - Perry Missner
"Six straight blowout wins means that they could mean a rocket into the number 1 spot soon." - Ray Bala
4) (NR) Missouri - 5 points
Record: 13-0
Games the next two weeks: Tues vs Oklahoma, Sat @ Kansas State, Jan 11th @ Iowa State, Jan 14th vs Texas
"The Tigers are a deep, experienced team that really could make some noise in March. In fact, they are already making noise, blowing through their first 13 opponents." - Jeff Fox
"We never thought it could happen but the insanely good Missouri Tigers just won't be denied. With the third highest scoring offense in college basketball and a defense that routinely smothers opponents with speed and toughness, we're looking for Mizzou to continue impressing throughout the regular season. We expect the Oklahoma Sooners (our sentimental favs) to face a tough test when they face the Tigers on Jan. 3rd." - Jamie D. Gilkey
Others receiving votes: Syracuse, Baylor, Georgetown, Connecticut, Indiana
Top Non-BCS Team
UNLV - 1 vote (out of a possible three)
Record: 15-2
Games the next two weeks: Thurs @ Cal State Bakersfield, Jan 14th @ San Diego State
"The followed up on their upset of top-ranked North Carolina but knocking off Wisconsin and Illinois in December." - Jeff Fox
Others receiving votes: Murray State, Harvard
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