BT's Weekly Fab 15

BT's Weekly Fab 15

In contrast to the nature of the college-basketball rankings this season - whether it be Basketball Times' Fab 15 or the AP's or USA Today's Top 25 - there is mostly status quo this week.

Texas rises to No. 1 on the strength of its victory over North Carolina on Saturday. Duke moves from No. 13 to No. 5 following the Blue Devils' lopsided win against Gonzaga. And Georgetown, Florida and Texas Tech drop out following upset losses.

But that's it. All in all, that's a very stable market following a light week of action during what was finals week at most schools.

That's not at all representative of the season. From the preseason ranking to week No. 5, there were more changes to the AP rankings that an any time since they were changed from a Top 20 to a Top 25 by AP for the 1989-90 season. Nine teams that began the season among the Top 25 were no longer there by Week 5. UNLV, Texas Tech, New Mexico and Mississippi weren't even getting votes when the season began. On the flip side of that, preseason Top 25 teams California, Michigan, Oklahoma and Louisville were no longer getting votes by Week 5.

In a week with few games, there were few changes to make in a results-based ranking. Kansas State, St. John's and Charlotte join the Fab 15, and for the first time, the early, early All-Americans remain the same as the week before.

 

The Dec. 21 All-Americans: Ed Davis, F, North Carolina; Wes Johnson, F, Syracuse; Quincy Pondexter, F, Washington; Evan Turner, G-F, Ohio State; John Wall, G, Kentucky. 

POY - Turner.

 

Fab 15 (Through Dec. 21)

1. Texas (10-0)

2. Kentucky (11-0)

3. Purdue (10-0)

4. Kansas (10-0)

5. Duke (9-1)

6. Syracuse (11-0)

7. Villanova (10-1)

8. West Virginia (8-0)

9. North Carolina (8-3)

10. Michigan State (9-2)

11. New Mexico (12-0)

12. Mississippi (10-1)

13. Kansas State (10-1)

14. St. John's (9-1)

15. Charlotte (8-1)

 

 

-John Akers

Editor, Basketball Times