2014 College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 11

2014 College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 11: The college basketball season keeps on rolling, and ever since the calendar flipped to 2014, it seems like top teams have been dropping like flies. Ohio State, Duke, North Carolina, Louisville and Kansas are among the powerhouse teams that have dropped games in recent weeks in which they were favored, reaffirming the fact that the grind of conference play always seems to separate the contenders from the pretenders. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the teams that have continued to get the job done on the court in recent weeks and look like the frontrunners to contend for a title heading into Week 11 of the college basketball season.

1.      Arizona Wildcats (17-0, 4-0 Pac-12)

Arizona’s victory against Duke earlier in the year remains the team’s signature win, but the Wildcats’ hard-fought road win against a talented UCLA team this past week was nothing to sneeze at. Superstar freshman Aaron Gordon is a freakish athlete and a one-man highlight reel, but the overall athleticism of this team is what really stands out. The Wildcats get after opponents on defense, and they are currently allowing the third-fewest points in the country. Arizona also has size inside, and a floor-general in point guard Nick Johnson who can not only create his own shot but also knows how to run an offense that ranks in the top 25 nationally in field goal percentage. If Arizona’s starting five stays healthy, the Wildcats have to be considered a frontrunner for the title.

2.      Syracuse Orange (16-0, 3-0 ACC)

While victories over ranked opponents Baylor and Villanova are impressive, the strength of the Syracuse defense was on full display last week as the Orange held North Carolina to just 45 points. Jim Boeheim has the long, athletic big men he needs to make his 2-3 zone downright nasty, and the Orange are currently allowing the sixth-fewest points in the country. What makes this year’s team even more dangerous is that it has some firepower on offense, as well. C.J. Fair has thrived as the team’s go-to scorer, and Trevor Cooney has emerged as one of the better 3-point shooters in the nation. The X-factor is freshman point guard Tyler Ennis, and if he can continue his solid play into March, Syracuse is going to be tough to handle.

3.      Michigan State Spartans (15-1, 4-0 Big Ten)

The Spartans added another statement win to their resume, outlasting an Ohio State team ranked third in the country at the time in overtime. Earlier in the year, Michigan State also beat then-No. 1 Kentucky so this team has done pretty well against top competition. You have to love the balance the Spartans bring to the table with Keith Appling and Gary Harris providing a ton of scoring in the backcourt and Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson providing size and scoring up front. Overall, Michigan State currently ranks in the top 25 nationally in scoring, rebounding and assists. It has been a long time since Tom Izzo has had this much talent to work with, and history says he will make the most of it come March.

4.      Villanova Wildcats (15-1, 4-0 Big East)

Villanova’s neutral site victories over Kansas and Iowa are looking more impressive by the week, and although they lost at Syracuse, the Wildcats actually gave away a big lead in that game. Villanova has been strong on offense and has a nice scoring combination working with forward JayVaughn Pinkston doing damage inside and guard Darrun Hilliard Jr. attacking from the perimeter. Overall, the Wildcats rank 28th in the country scoring, and they have six players that can knock down shots from beyond the arc. Villanova has been blowing out lesser competition, and while the Wildcats have some tough Big East games remaining, they have a chance to pile up a lot of wins and secure an excellent seed in the NCAA Tournament.

5.      Wisconsin Badgers (16-0, 3-0 Big Ten)

The Badgers don’t play a pretty brand of basketball, but Bo Ryan’s team has yet to lose a game this year. More importantly, Wisconsin is 3-0 against ranked opponents, including a victory over a Florida team ranked in the top 10. Forwards Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky are both averaging 14 points per game and shooting over 50 percent from the field for a Wisconsin offense that has been much more efficient than in recent years. Meanwhile, guard Ben Brust has knocked down 46 3-pointers while shooting an impressive 44.2 percent from beyond the arc. If there is a knock on Wisconsin thus far is that all three of the team’s big wins have come at home where the Badgers are always tough. They will certainly be tested at home and on the road thanks to a loaded Big Ten schedule, but for now, the Badgers look like a legit contender.

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