| 22 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 & Ryan Curi from College Fantasy Hoops Insider, Adam Francis from Raptors HQ, Raphielle Johnson from CollegeHoops.net, Cub Buenning from SLAM and Ray Bala who writes The Can Ball Report on Raptors HQ.
Fabulous Four
1) (Last ranking: 1) Kentucky - 34 (out of a possible 35) points
Record: 19-1
Games the next two weeks: Tues @ Georgia, Sat @ LSU, Jan 31st vs Tennessee, Feb 4th @ South Carolina
"I wrote in our last poll that conference play could be smooth sailing for the Wildcats, and so far, so good." - Jeff Fox
"Took care of business at home against Alabama today even though Fat Tony had a tough shooting game. Unlike in past seasons, their freshman (Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) are defensively oriented. The team won't be really tested on the road until the end of the season when they make the Vandy, Mississippi State, and Florida gauntlet in the last three weeks." - Perry Missner
"I think this is the week they takeover the top spot from Syracuse. The team is still playing great and the fact that Terrence Jones isn't the star anymore indicates just how the freshmen have come along." - Ray Bala
"Not sure they're the best team in the country but they get the nod this week." - Raphielle Johnson
"Not just because I've got a man-crush on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Team gritted out a win over Alabama on Saturday and still looks like they're just scratching the surface of how good they can be." - Adam Francis
"UK was able to do something that none of the other three teams in the top four could do on Saturday: Win. Although Alabama gave them all they could handle, this youthful squad has been very impressive since their lone loss at Indiana." - Ryan Curi
"The best “work-in-progress” team possibly ever. The ‘Cats are still just one Indiana last-second three-pointer away from being undefeated and they have won 11 straight. Once Terrence Jones figures out his role with this team, they might be the most dangerous team come March." - Cub Buenning
Record: 20-1
Games the next two weeks: Mon @ Cincinnati, Sat vs West Virginia, Feb 4th @ St. John's
"Almost right on cue, just as I was ready to start giving Syracuse some respect they lose their first game." - Jeff Fox
"Tough not to have the 'Cuse as the number one - they are playing good ball right now (save for last night). Is there trouble on the horizon with Fab Melo not playing last night's game and Mookie Jones's transfer?" - Ray Bala
"Rebounding is a concern but losing at ND just a day after finding out your starting center won't play isn't something they should be killed over." - Raphielle Johnson
"ND felt like a trap game but this team is too talented to slip out of top 4...even minus Melo." - Adam Francis
"Despite shooting horribly on Saturday, the Orange are still the team to beat in the Big East. 'Cuse plays 10 players on their roster at least 12 minutes per contest, making them as well-balanced a team as anyone. Jim Boeheim would certainly like to have Fab Melo back soon." - Ryan Curi
"Even with their loss yesterday at Notre Dame, the Orange still make this list. Big man, Feb Melo is going to miss at least another game, so the team’s depth should be tested again. The team is not out of the woods yet, though as the tough road weekend continues on Monday when they face a very surprising Cincinnati team." - Cub Buenning
3) (4) Missouri - 16 points
Record: 18-1
Games the next two weeks: Wed @ Oklahoma State, Sat vs Texas Tech, Jan 30th @ Texas, Feb 4th vs Kansas
"An extremely talented and experienced squad has really put it together this year. An impressive win at Baylor yesterday." - Jeff Fox
"They had a very eye-opening win today at Baylor. Ricardo Ratliffe was unstoppable around the basket and Phil Pressey controlled the game from the point. Despite their height, Baylor is not a power team and the Tigers took advantage of their flaccid play. February 4th will be a big day in college hoops. Kansas comes to Lawrence that day as well." - Perry Missner
"The Tigers knocked off Baylor, have been playing inspired small ball and are only playing seven deep with a four-guard lineup. How do you not have then in the top four?" - Ray Bala
"For them to do what they did on the boards at Baylor highlights their tenacity and exposes the Bears' lack of rebounding fundamentals." - Raphielle Johnson
"I believe. Thoroughly beat up on Baylor on Saturday, relentlessly attacking the rim. Other voting options like Duke, UNC and aforementioned Bears don't cut it for me." - Adam Francis
"Who says that height matters in basketball? The Tigers' four-guard lineup was enough to get past Baylor, in a huge road win. Phil Pressey can do it all on both ends of the court, while Ricardo Ratliffe looked better than any of Baylor's highly rated bigs." - Ryan Curi
"I doubted this team due to their lack of size and depth, but then the Tigers go ahead and produce the impressive Saturday win in Waco over Baylor. Road games in conference are always tough. Road games against the league’s elite are damn near impossible. Which to me, makes Mizzou’s victory the best win in college basketball all year long. Period." - Cub Buenning
4) (2) Ohio State - 12 points
Record: 17-3
Games the next two weeks: Wed vs Penn State, Jan 29th vs Michigan, Feb 4th @ Wisconsin
"Ohio State continues their slide down the Fab Four charts (#1 two polls ago, #2 last poll), but they remain undefeated at home and still have the most dominate player in the game on their side."- Jeff Fox
"Tough loss at Brandon Paul, but this is the class of the Big Ten. They are not as good as last year and their freshmen haven't been as good as touted, but it is easy to overemphasize the negatives. Sully is still on the short list for Player of the Year and William Buford is one of the best two-way guards. They have an interesting game in two weeks at Wisconsin." - Perry Missner
"Buckeyes back in a tie for first place - they'll end up winning the Big Ten." - Raphielle Johnson
"Beat Indiana and crushed Nebraska and looking back in their groove." - Adam Francis
"The Buckeyes beat down Nebraska by 34 points in Lincoln on Saturday thanks to their three-headed scoring monster of William Buford, Jared Sullinger, and Deshaun Thomas. OSU plays four of their next five games at home, possibly paving the way to a third straight Big Ten crown." - Ryan Curi
Others receiving votes: Kansas, North Carolina
Top Non-BCS Team
Murray State - 5 votes (out of a possible five)
Record: 20-0
Games the next two weeks: Sat vs Eastern Illinois, Feb 2nd vs Southeast Missouri State, Feb 4th @ Tennessee-Martin
"20-0? Ok, you've got my attention." - Jeff Fox
"Still undefeated and they don't look like they are stopping for anyone. They could even crack the top ten on the AP poll this week and make Popeye Jones grin from big ear to big ear." - Ray Bala
"Murray State may be the Syracuse of the mid-majors, but they are the last undefeated team and that deserves some credit." - Perry Missner
"Nation's lone undefeated team, still getting it done with Ivan Aska out injured." - Raphielle Johnson
"The Racers improved to 20-0 Saturday night by defeating SIU-Edwardsville. This makes them the nation's only unbeaten squad. The most impressive part about this is that Murray State has done this without their top rebounder and third leading scorer, Ivan Aska." - Ryan Curi
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
