The 2020-21 men’s college basketball season has been a unusual one, especially for fans of the usual contenders. Kentucky and Florida were long the class of SEC basketball, but it looks like Alabama is, at least for now, taking that mantle. In the ACC, it’s odd indeed to read about Florida State and Virginia leading the way while such schools as Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse toil down the standings.
For your college basketball betting consideration, take a look at our latest college basketball power rankings.
NCAA News: Updated Men’s College Basketball Power Rankings
#1 Gonzaga (20-0) An interesting fact about the Bulldogs’ stroll through their West Coast Conference schedule is the fact that they have played five straight road games. The last #1 team to have to play five true road games was UCLA, back in 1972-73, and their schedule did not feature five straight conference games. Gonzaga has two more WCC games, with Saint Mary’s and San Diego coming up, but they could have two of their postponed games added back in. For now, though, it’s smooth sailing to the Big Dance. Right?
#2 Baylor (17-0) has not played since February 2 due to COVID-19 protocols. They should play Oklahoma State at home on Saturday, assuming no more cases flare up. The Bears have a talented and resilient team, but if they have to stack up a bunch of conference games before the Big 12 tournament, rust and/or injuries could conspire to knock them down the rankings.
#3 Ohio State (17-4) is 9-1 in their last ten games, scoring 78.8 points per game. They have averaged 1.16 points per possession in that stretch and have not averaged fewer than 1.06 points per possession in any contest in that stretch. They finish at Penn State and at home against Michigan.
#4 Michigan (14-1) came back nicely in the second half against Wisconsin in their return from a two-week athletic program shutdown. The matchup with Ohio State on Sunday will determine the best team in the Big Ten, no matter what happens in the tournament.
#5 USC (17-3) has won 12 of their last 13, and with a sweep of Washington and Washington State, they have an 11-2 Pac-12 record, their best conference record in 19 years. They finish at home against Arizona and Arizona State.
#6 Houston (17-2) has been a terrific place for Quentin Grimes, who transferred in from Kansas two seasons ago. He has 16.9 points, 6.5 boards, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game, and he is a terrific defender. Combine his performance and a relatively easy AAC schedule and you understand why Houston keeps winning.
#7 Alabama (17-5) got 21 points from Herb Jones in a win over Georgia. Interestingly, he broke the 20-point barrier for the first time in 118 games as a player for the Crimson Tide, a team with the second-ranked defense in NCAA basketball.
#8 Florida State (12-3) demolished Virginia on Monday to send shock waves through the ACC, the first time the Seminoles broke 69 points against the Cavaliers in 12 years. Now the two teams are tied atop the ACC standings. Remember that Florida State needed overtime to beat a dreadful Wake Forest team last week, and then you see just how much parity there is in this sport right now.
#9 Virginia Tech (14-4) has not played since February 6, when they won at Miami in overtime. They play at Florida State on Saturday, assuming they clear COVID-19 protocols. With a win over Virginia, this is a team that could sneak into the Sweet 16, or even further.
#10 Virginia (15-4) is all about that ironclad defense, right? So how did they permit a 17-0 run against Florida State? The Cavaliers have still won 11 of 13 and did have to play three games in seven days, but the pandemic is compressing just about everyone’s schedule.
#11 Illinois (14-5) needed overtime to beat Nebraska on Friday, and Ayo Dosunu delivered by putting up 15 consecutive points to save the Illini. So they have five straight wins and nine in their last 11 (and their losses came against Maryland and Ohio State by nine points combined), but this is still a team that needs consistency. They play at least four away games ahead of the Big Ten Tournament due to prior postponements.
#12 Villanova (13-3) has dropped two of their last four and have not beaten an elite team since December 6, when they beat Texas. They get another shot at Creighton, who rained down on threes on them all night over the weekend. Yes, the Wildcats did sweep Seton Hall, a 12-8 team, but their desire to be considered equal to Gonzaga and Baylor took a big hit the past two weeks.
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