2012 College Basketball Power Rankings: Top 5 National Title Contenders: Exams have brought the college basketball season to a crawling pace this past week, but even though the schedule hasn’t been packed, the games that have been played have shook up the power rankings. The top team remained intact from the last batch of rankings, but the rest of the spots in the top five all changed hands. The great part is that this time of the year is actually the clam before the storm. The rankings should only shuffle more in the coming weeks as conference play begins and the top teams begin to play a lot more games away from home. With that in mind, here is a look at the latest installment of college basketball power rankings.
2012 College Basketball Power Rankings: Top 5 National Title Contenders
1. Duke Blue Devils (9-0)
Duke remains at the top spot in the rankings, and until they lose a game, the Blue Devils are going to be tough to dethrone. Duke has already knocked off three Final Four teams from last season in Kentucky, Louisville and Ohio State, and the Blue Devils have also notched victories over Temple, VCU and a Minnesota team that is 10-1 and on the verge of cracking the top 10. The emergence of Mason Plumlee as a dominant big man has added a new dimension to an offense that is loaded with perimeter firepower. Throw in the leadership of Seth Curry and the explosiveness of freshman Rasheed Sulaimon, and Duke has all the elements of a championship team.
2. Michigan Wolverines (11-0)
Michigan’s numbers don’t explode off the page, but the Wolverines’ resume thus far is one of the best in the country. Their early victims include Pittsburgh, Kansas State, North Carolina State, Arkansas and West Virginia so Michigan hasn’t piled up its 11-0 record against cream puffs. Point guard Trey Burke is the engine that makes this team go, and while his 18.0 points per game and 7.0 assists are impressive, his real impact can be seen in Michigan’s 51.1 field goal percentage. Meanwhile, Burke’s backcourt mates Tim Hardaway Jr. and Nick Stauskas are providing plenty of perimeter firepower, and freshman forward Glenn Robinson III has been a much-needed presence in the paint. As long as Burke is healthy, the Wolverines are going to be a championship-caliber team.
3. Syracuse Orange (9-0)
There isn’t a team in the country that looks better on paper right now than Syracuse. The Orange are currently third in the country in scoring, third in rebounding and third in assists per game. On the flip side, the Orange haven’t really played a quality opponent since knocking off San Diego State in the season opener. Still, Syracuse’s balanced scoring attack led by Brandon Triche and James Southerland and its patented 2-3 zone defense bode well for this team’s chances long term. Not to mention the fact that Point guard Michael Carter-Williams is an early contender for Player of the Year honors. He is averaging 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 3.7 steals on the young season, and if he keeps up the all-around impact, he could be the playmaker that the Orange have been missing in big games in recent years. Coach Jim Boeheim has himself another strong contender.
4. Indiana Hoosiers (9-1)
The overtime loss to Butler drops Indiana down to the No. 4 spot, and raises some questions about the Hoosiers’ ability to play on the road. Indiana has been unstoppable at Assembly Hall the last two years but has had some shaky performances away from home. The lack of defensive intensity against the Bulldogs wasn’t the best sign, but the incredible amount offensive firepower the Hoosiers have was evident even in the loss. Indiana is the top scoring team in the country, and the Hoosiers rank in the top 10 in field goal percentage, as well. With the likes of Cody Zeller, Christian Watford and Victor Oladipo leading the way, Indiana is going to outscore any other issues that rise more often than not. Don’t be surprised if there are a few more blips on the radar when the Hoosiers go on the road this year, but on a neutral site come tournament time, opponents are going to have serious issues keeping pace with this team.
5. Arizona Wildcats (8-0)
Fresh off a late rally over the fifth-ranked Florida Gators, the undefeated Wildcats round out the top five this week. Thanks to an overall weak schedule, the jury is still out on Arizona’s chances long term, but after getting by a tough Gators’ team in a game that was played at Florida’s pace, the Wildcats have passed their biggest test to date. Xavier transfer Mark Lyons has immediately emerged as a clutch closer and an excellent counterpunch to backcourt mate Nick Johnson. Meanwhile, freshmen Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski are leading the team in rebounding and have provided some much needed size and athleticism to a frontcourt that already featured senior Solomon Hill. Arizona definitely has some intriguing pieces in place, and the Wildcats have the speed and firepower to put a lot of points on the board. If the freshmen keep improving, Arizona will be a dangerous team when March rolls around.
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