College Basketball Power Rankings #10-6 (week 16 - February 20th)

By Author: Andrea Melendez
Total Articles: 8
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We're getting to the meat and potatoes of my Top 25 college basketball Power Rankings - and it's a perfect time with conference tournaments and march madness approaching. You must remain extremely mindful that these are to act as a guide when making your basketball picks, and not the end all say all. Meaning: Just because we have Team X rated two spots higher than Team Y, it doesn't ...
... mean you blindly take Team X. You absolutely can not neglect pertinent elements like price point, line value, perception, motivation, situation, match up styles and the many other facets you must consider when sports betting.

Without further ado...

#10 - WISCONSIN BADGERS (20-8) BIG 10 AP Poll: 16, Coaches Poll: 15
Despite a half-dozen players auditioning for a role in the upcoming 2012 movie; Rocky VI "The Return of Drago," Wisconsin has managed to gear their secondary focus on "breaking" the Big 10. Bo Ryan is like a robot, wash, rinse, dry, repeat, as he continues to recruit the same style of player and hasn't veered away from a game plan he created pre-shot clock. Jokes aside, this Badgers team plays great team ball and is one of the top 3 defenses in the entire country. There's no quit in this team, they're tough, extremely physical - and that style of play translates well when you get outside the Big 10. No question the Badgers lack playmakers, but regardless of the talent deficiency Wisconsin has been in just about every big game they've had racking up 4 wins against my top 50 including; 2 wins against my top 25. For the players and coaches battling out on the court it's all about wins and losses, but when sharp guys dissect teams we factor in "quality loses." They fell short at North Carolina by 3 points. Lost a heart breaker at home in overtime to Michigan State. Lost by two buckets to Ohio State. At the end of the day a few bounces here or there throughout the course of a 40-minute contest could have turned the tide in Wisconsin's favor. The Badgers have a big test Sunday at the Schottenstein Center against Ohio State, and follow that up with tough home games versus Minnesota and Illinois, so keep an eye on those 3 games and see how this team trends heading into March. This is by far the worst team of my top 10, and is on the verge of slipping out.
Next Big Game: 2/26 @ Ohio State Buckeyes

#9 - DUKE BLUE DEVILS (24-4) ACC AP Poll: 5, Coaches

Poll: 4
It's unfortunate we live in a society today where everyone is so prone to hate - and in the hoops world Duke tops the hate list. The Blue Devils are the official dead horse that everyone likes to beat. Rumor has it, mascot changes are being mulled over as I type. We spoke previously about the volatility of teams with impact freshman, and Duke is a perfect example. Their very best player is freshman point guard Austin Rivers, and boy did he have his fair share of mental lapses early on. In fact, people "in the know" were told the coaching staff was seriously concerned about his ability to play the point and contemplated moving him to off guard. Nearly 30-games later, Austin's the savior of the Blue Devils and the unquestioned leader. He's improved drastically on defense, became a floor leader whose cut down the mistakes, and his range from the point guard spot makes him unguardable because his unique blow by ability. Duke's tallied 24 wins playing top rated strength of schedule in the country, and they've managed to pick up 8 wins against my top 50 including; 5 wins against my top 25. The Blue Devils resume is as good as anybody in the country, and for the first time in a while they will have earned whatever seed the selection committee appoints them.
Next Big Game: 3/3 Vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

#8 - WICHITA STATE SHOCKERS (25-4) MISSOURI VALLEY AP Poll: 19, Coaches Poll: 19
Do not adjust your computer screen this is for real - and the Shockers are for real, too! Wichita State is far and away the most underrated team in the country, and it's not close! This might not look that dramatic compared to the AP and Coaches poll, but this is the first week all year they've cracked both polls top 25. Meanwhile, the Shockers have been a resident of my top 15 for the last 8 weeks. Don't let the smaller Missouri Valley conference fool you, Wichita State has still played a top 60 schedule. They hang 78 points per game off 49% shooting, share the ball well, and for a smaller team are absolute glass eaters - they do everything extremely well. Wichita State is equally good on the road (10 wins) as they are in the comfy confines of the Charles Koch Arena - and that's key come tournament time. The shockers have 3 big wins against my top 50, and they've made some really quality opponents look pathetic beating UNLV by 19, Creighton by 21, and Davidson by 17. Wichita State was snubbed from the big dance last season, and instead of sulking and getting bounced early in the NIT they decided to man up and crush the competition on their way to cutting the nets - So they're no stranger to making a tournament run. If this team can make it to the elite 8 the sharp guys are going to yell; "Yahtzee" as we have futures on the Shockers as high as 250-1.
Next Big Game: N/A

#7 - MISSOURI TIGERS (25-3) BIG 12 AP Poll: 3, Coaches

Poll: 3
I was never a fan of Frank Haith during his tenure at Miami, so to say I'm surprised at how well Missouri is doing would be an understatement. His Tigers are an offensive machine that can do it all on that end of the court - one of the best passing teams in the country and that's led to lights out shooting with Missouri draining nearly 50% of its shots. The Tigers are far and away the most efficient offense in all of college basketball, but the question every sharp bettor has about Missouri is; "at what point does this team wear down?" They play a frenetic style of basketball on both ends of the floor and only 6-guys are seeing major minutes. Most thought the tread would wear off the tires after a loss to Oklahoma State in late January, but Missouri has rebounded winning 7 of 8 since that time including; wins against Texas, Baylor, and Kansas. I continue to look for "chinks in the armor," when talking Tigers hoops, but as you dig deeper and deeper they keep on impressing with a perfect 4-0 record against my top 25, and 8 total victories against my top 50. Missouri is a match up nightmare as they have 4 guys on the court at all times that can dribble, drive, and shoot. You do not want to see these guys in March.
Next Big Game: 2/25 @ Kansas Jay hawks

#6 - NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (24-4) ACC AP Poll: 7, Coaches Poll: 7
I don't know about you, but I've been waiting for the Carolina team from the end of last season to appear before me. I originally thought this Tar Heels group was simply going through the motions knowing what the ultimate goal at the end of the road was, but something's missing. Despite my leeriness, North Carolina has made tremendous strides on the defensive end - and is one of the more balanced teams in the country ranking top 15 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They catapulted those accomplishments into 5 wins against my top 50 including; 2 big time wins against my top 10. In addition, they have a "quality loss" by 1-point against Kentucky at Rupp Arena where the Wildcats currently hold a 50-game win streak, the longest in the nation. North Carolina closes out the season at Duke, and I feel like if either of these teams can parlay an regular season ACC championship with ACC tournament championship they can land a #1 seed overall from the selection committee come March.
Next Big Game: 3/3 @ Duke Blue Devils

Sunday I will reveal the best 5 teams in the land!

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