North Carolina lost four of its top five scorers from last season's team that won the NCAA Tournament, didn't add a single five-star recruit and hasn't had its most impactful transfer available because of an injury. Regardless, the Tar Heels are 10-1 with victories over Tennessee, Arkansas and Michigan; the lone loss is a neutral-court loss to Michigan State. And this really is turning into one of the best stories in college basketball -- the fact that the reigning national champions are good again (despite the departures) and being led by a former walk-on named Luke Maye.
Credit Roy Williams.
I didn't expect to spend the middle of December thinking the Hall of Fame coach would have a reasonable chance to make a third straight Final Four and maybe win his fourth national title, but here we are. The Tar Heels have a top-10 offense, a top-15 defense and are, as usual, punishing opponents on the offensive glass. They remain No. 4 in the CBS Sports Top 25 (and one) thanks to Sunday's 78-73 victory at Tennessee that featured UNC closing on an 11-3 run in the final minute. And they'll have a chance to add a fourth top-50 KenPom win Saturday when they play Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic.
Monday's updated Top 25 (and one)
Rk | Teams | Chg | Rcrd | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Villanova
| The Wildcats own wins over Gonzaga, Tennessee and Temple. Eight of their 11 wins have come by double-digits. | -- | 8-5 |
2 |
Arizona St.
| The Sun Devils' perfect record features four top-50 KenPom wins -- among them victories over Kansas and Xavier. ASU will open Pac-12 play Dec. 30 at Arizona. | -- | 9-2 |
3 |
Michigan St.
| The Spartans have won nine straight games since losing to Duke. KenPom doesn't project them to be an underdog again this regular season. | -- | 10-2 |
4 |
N. Carolina
| The Tar Heels have won five straight since losing to Michigan State. They own wins over Tennessee, Arkansas and Michigan. | -- | 7-5 |
5 |
Kentucky
| The Wildcats have won seven straight since losing to Kansas. UK's remaining non-league games are against UCLA, Louisville and West Virginia. | -- | 10-2 |
6 |
Miami
| The Hurricanes' perfect record features just one top-50 KenPom win. They won't play another top-50 team until they host Florida State on Jan. 7. | -- | 4-8 |
7 |
Texas A&M
| The Aggies' lone loss is a single-digit loss to Arizona. They have four top-55 KenPom victories - among them a 23-point win over West Virginia. | -- | 10-2 |
8 |
West Virginia
| The Mountaineers have won 10 straight games since their season-opening loss to Texas A&M. They own victories over Virginia, Missouri and UCF. | -- | 9-2 |
9 |
Virginia
| The Cavaliers' lone loss is a single-digit loss at West Virginia. They have the nation's best defensive-efficiency rating. | -- | 7-5 |
10 |
Duke
| The Blue Devils are the only school in the top 15 of the Top 25 (and one) with a loss to a sub-75 KenPom team. On the flip side, Duke has three top-35 KenPom wins. | -- | 10-2 |
11 |
TCU
| The Horned Frogs have won 15 straight games dating back to last season. Kenrich Williams is averaging 14.2 points and 10.1 rebounds in 33.6 minutes per game. | -- | 7-4 |
12 |
Xavier
| The Musketeers have won five straight games since losing to Arizona State. They'll play at Northern Iowa on Friday. | -- | 8-5 |
13 |
Oklahoma
| The Sooners have beaten Wichita State, USC and Oregon. Trae Young is averaging 28.8 points and 8.9 assists in 32.7 minutes per game. | -- | 12-0 |
14 |
Wichita St.
| The Shockers' two losses are to Oklahoma and Notre Dame. They own wins over Baylor, Oklahoma State and Marquette. | -- | 9-3 |
15 |
Gonzaga
| The Zags' two losses are to Villanova and Florida. They've beaten Creighton, Texas and Ohio State. | -- | 9-3 |
16 |
Tennessee
| The Vols' two losses are single-digit losses to Villanova and North Carolina. Their best win is an OT victory over Purdue. | -- | 12-0 |
17 |
Purdue
| The Boilermakers have won seven straight games since losing to Western Kentucky. The have six top-60 KenPom victories. | -- | 8-4 |
18 |
Kansas
| The Jayhawks snapped a two-game losing streak Saturday night at Nebraska. Their resume features wins over Kentucky and Syracuse. | -- | 9-2 |
19 |
Arizona
| The Wildcats have won five straight since going 0-3 at the Battle 4 Atlantis. They own wins over Texas A&M, Alabama and UNLV. | -- | 6-5 |
20 |
Florida St.
| The Seminoles took their first loss Saturday in a semi-home game against Oklahoma State. They open ACC play Dec. 30 at Duke. | -- | 9-4 |
21 |
Baylor
| The Bears have beaten Creighton and Wisconsin. Their two losses are to teams (Xavier, Wichita State) ranked ahead of them in the Top 25 (and one). | -- | 7-3 |
22 |
Creighton
| The Bluejays' two losses are to teams ranked ahead of them in the Top 25 (and one) -- specifically Gonzaga and Baylor. Creighton owns wins over Northwestern and UCLA. | -- | 8-5 |
23 |
Texas Tech
| The Red Raiders' only loss is a loss to Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden. They've beaten Nevada and Northwestern. | -- | 9-2 |
24 |
Cincinnati
| The Bearcats recorded their first top-60 KenPom win Saturday at UCLA. Their two losses are to Xavier and Florida. | -- | 10-1 |
25 |
Arkansas
| The Razorbacks own wins over Oklahoma and Minnesota. They've won three straight games since losing at Houston. | -- | 10-2 |
26 |
Seton Hall
| The Pirates' five-game winning streak was snapped Saturday at Rutgers. Their resume features wins over Texas Tech and at Louisville. | -- | 5-8 |