Feast Week is over, and the calendar has turned to December.
Where do things stand in College Basketball one month into the season?
Conference Quick Hits
ACC – The ACC has 3 ranked teams in the current AP Top 25 (Duke 9th, Pittsburgh 18th, and UNC 20th). Clemson and Florida State are both 7-1. California is 6-1. Big week coming up for the Conference as Duke has Auburn, and UNC has Alabama in the ACC / SEC Challenge. In the KenPom rankings, Duke is 4th, Pittsburgh 13th, UNC 16th, Clemson 25th, and Louisville 39th. In the CBS Sports 25+1 Power Rankings, Duke is 8th, UNC 16th, and Pittsburgh is 18th.
Big 12 – The Big 12 has 5 teams in the AP Top 25, each all Top 17 (Kansas 1st, Iowa State 6th, Cincinnati 14th, Baylor 15th, Houston 17th). Arizona State is 7-1. BYU, Texas Tech, and Utah are each 6-1. In KenPom, Houston is 5th, Iowa State 6th, Kansas 7th, Cincinnati 9th, Texas Tech 20th, Baylor 23rd, Arizona 30th, BYU 34th. In the CBS Sports Power Rankings, Kansas is 1st, Iowa State 3rd, Baylor 13th, Texas 20th, Houston 26th.
Big East – Marquette is up #5 Nationally, while 2x Defending National Champion UConn has fallen to #25 in the AP Top 25. DePaul is 7-0, Xavier is 7-1, Butler is 6-1, Georgetown is 6-1. Marquette is 11th in KenPom, St. John’s is 21st, and UConn is 24th. Creighton is the next highest at 51. In the CBS Sports Power Rankings, Marquette is 4th.
Big Ten – There are 4 ranked teams in the AP Top 25 (Purdue 8th, Wisconsin 11th, Oregon 12th, Illinois 19th). Maryland and Penn State are both 7-1. Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, UCLA, and Washington are each 6-1. In the KenPom Rankings, Purdue is 14th, Illinois is 15th, UCLA 17th, Ohio State 18th, Oregon 19th, Michigan 22nd, Wisconsin 29th, Maryland 32nd, Michigan State 37th, and Penn State 38th. In the CBS Sports Power Rankings, Purdue is 7th, Wisconsin 9th, Michigan State 15th, Illinois 17th, Ohio State 19th.
SEC – The SEC reigns with 8 teams in the AP Top 25 (Auburn 2nd, Tennessee 3rd, Kentucky 4th, Alabama 10th, Florida 13th, Oklahoma 21st, Texas A&M 22nd, Ole Miss 23rd). Georgia and Vanderbilt are 7-1. LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Texas are each 6-1. In the KenPom Rankings, Auburn is 1st, Tennessee 2nd, Florida 8th, Alabama 10th, Kentucky 12th, Texas A&M 27th, Mississippi State 28th, Texas 35th. In the CBS Sports Power Rankings, Auburn is 2nd, Tennessee 5th, Kentucky 6th, Texas 20th, Florida 21st, and Ole Miss is 23rd.
Others Of Note
Gonzaga – The Zags are 7th Nationally. Their 3rd overall in KenPom (2nd in Offensive Rating, 15th in Defensive Rating). In the CBS Sports Power Rankings Gonzaga is 10th. Gonzaga is 1st in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25.
Memphis – The Tigers are 16th Nationally. 31st overall in KenPom (21st in Offensive Rating, 59th in Defensive Rating). In the CBS Sports Power Rankings Memphis is 14th.
Dayton – The Flyers are 6-2 overall, and 26th overall in KenPom (17th in Offensive Rating, 51st in Defensive Rating). In the CBS Sports Power Rankings Dayton is 24th.
Saint Mary’s – The Gaels are 7-1, and 33rd overall in KenPom (35th in Offensive Rating, 35th in Defensive Rating). Saint Mary’s is 2nd in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25.
Nevada – The Wolf Pack is 36th overall in KenPom (30th in Offensive Rating, 57th in Defensive Rating).
San Diego State – The Aztecs are 40th overall in KenPom (72nd in Offensive Rating, 12th in Defensive Rating). In the CBS Sports Power Rankings San Diego State is 25th.
Bracketology
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s bracket as of Nov. 26th.
Scheduled Games Of Note This Week
All Percentages Are From ESPN’s Match-Up Predictor.
Cincinnati at Villanova – Big 12 / Big East battle. The Bearcats a 61.1% favorite to beat the Wildcats in Philadelphia.
Syracuse at Tennessee – ACC / SEC challenge. The Volunteers a 94.3% favorite at home.
Michigan at Wisconsin – 8-0 Wisconsin hosts 6-1 Michigan. The Wolverines are given a 35% chance to upset the Badgers.
Wake Forest at Texas A&M – ACC / SEC challenge. The Aggies (6-2 overall, 4-0 at home) welcome Hunter Sallis and the Demon Deacons. Wake is 7-2 overall, and given a 13.9% chance of winning.
Ole Miss at Louisville – ACC / SEC Challenge. The 6-1 Rebels visit the 5-2 Cardinals. Louisville a 57.3% favorite to win at home.
Kentucky at Clemson – ACC / SEC Challenge. The Tigers are a 50.6% favorite against the highly ranked Wildcats.
Baylor at UConn – Big 12 / Big East battle. UConn is coming off a win vs. Maryland Eastern-Shore after losing 3 straight to Memphis, Colorado, and Dayton. The Huskies are a 63.3% favorite vs. Baylor.
Ohio State at Maryland – The Big Ten season begins for the Terps, with MD a 58.3% favorite vs. the Buckeyes.
Alabama at UNC – ACC / SEC Challenge. The Tar Heels are 57.7% favorites at home.
Marquette at Iowa State – Big 12 / Big East battle. Iowa State a 67.4% favorite to beat Kam Jones and undefeated Marquette.
Auburn at Duke – ACC / SEC Challenge. Duke a 66.4% favorite to beat undefeated Auburn.
Wisconsin at Marquette – In-state rivalry game. Will be the second challenge for each team this week. The Golden Eagles a 72.8% favorite.
Kentucky vs. Gonzaga – The Wildcats vs. the Zags in Seattle. Gonzaga a 58.5% favorite.
Maryland at Purdue – Road test for MD against the Big Ten favorite. The Boilermakers a 70.2% favorite at home.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.