BT's Weekly Fab 15

BT's Weekly Fab 15

Two weeks in and already a change at the top ...


If nothing else, the season's first two weeks reminded us that nearly everyone is vulnerable.
Kansas, the consensus No. 1 team, beat a rebuilding Memphis by two points.
Michigan State, the consensus No. 2, beat a rebuilding Gonzaga by four.
Kentucky needed a last-second shot by freshman John Wall to beat Miami (Ohio).
Villanova needed Isaiah Armwood's first career basket to beat George Mason.
Mid-major darling Butler trailed a Stephen Curry-less Davidson with fewer than 10 minutes remaining.
North Carolina struggled with Valparaiso and lost in the 2K Sports Classic to a Syracuse team that lost an exhibition game to Le Moyne College.
So for Basketball Times' second results-based Fab 15, we are elevating our one preseason top-10 team that has at least beaten another of substance. Villanova, with six players averaging 10 points or more, gets the nod over the preseason No. 1 Jayhawks despite the George Mason performance and because of victories over solid Dayton and Mississippi teams in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
We suspect that it won't be the last time that we make a change at No. 1. Tonight’s Purdue-Tennessee outcome could become the next result to sway these reankings.
Also, check out our Two-Week All-Americans: Manny Harris, G-F, Michigan (20.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 6.5 apg); Damion James, G-F, Texas, (19.5, 11.0); Quincy Pondexter, G-F, Washington (24.0, 12.0); Nolan Smith, G, Duke (22.0, 6.0 apg); Evan Turner, G-F, Ohio State (21.8, 14.8, 6.0 apg, despite 10 turnovers against North Carolina). 
Two-Week Player of the Year – Turner.

BT's Fab 15 (Through Nov. 22)

1. Villanova (5-0)
2. Kansas (3-0)
3. Texas (2-0)
4. Purdue (2-0)
5. Kentucky (4-0)
6. Michigan State (4-0)
7. Duke (4-0)
8. Butler (3-0)
9. West Virginia (1-0)
10. Syracuse (4-0)
11. North Carolina (4-1)
12. Tennessee (3-0)
13. Ohio State (3-1)
14. Connecticut (3-0)
15. Michigan (2-0)

- John Akers
Editor, Basketball Times