2015 College Basketball Picks and Predictions: Power Rankings – Week 11

2015 College Basketball Picks and Predictions: Power Rankings – Week 11: Conference play is in full swing, and the top teams in college basketball are slowly starting to emerge. After all, conference play is often the first team that many powerhouse teams play quality competition on the road, or play on the road at all for that matter. Granted, there is still plenty of basketball yet to be played, but in the meantime, here is closer look at the teams that are showing signs of being legit title contenders.

1. Kentucky Wildcats (18-0, 5-0 SEC)

Sure, the Wildcats have had a couple of close calls in conference play, but they are still undefeated and boast a resume that no team can match. Kentucky has defeated four top 25 teams, including three teams ranked in the top six. Plus, the Wildcats won all four of those games by at least eight points. The Wildcats’ ridiculous size and depth has them playing record-setting defense, which also allows them to compete and even dominate games when they aren’t hitting shots. As a team, Kentucky is averaging eight blocks and eight steals per game, and the Wildcats should only develop more chemistry on the offensive end. Maybe Kentucky doesn’t go undefeated, but there is little doubt this is the most talented team in the country.

2. Virginia Cavaliers (18-0, 6-0 ACC)

Virginia is more than the defensive juggernaut that made a deep run in March last season. Yes, the same core of players is back and the defense remains stifling, but it seems like just about every starter for the Cavaliers has improved their offensive game since last year. In fact, Virginia is ranked 27th in the country in field goal percentage. Justin Anderson, Malcolm Brogdon and Anthony Gill can all carry the offensive load at times, and Anderson in particular has emerged as a go-to scorer that can create a shot in crunch time. The suddenly balanced Cavaliers are looking like a serious title threat.

3. Gonzaga Bulldogs (19-1, 8-0 WCC)

Sure, the Bulldogs don’t play the toughest schedule, but they did beat up on Georgia, SMU and UCLA out of conference, and their lone loss of the year came by three in overtime on the road to Arizona. Plus, Gonzaga does one thing that few teams in the country can do anymore – score the basketball at a high level. The Bulldogs currently rank 14th in the country in scoring, and they lead the country in field goal percentage. Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer has emerged as a dynamic scorer, and point guard Kevin Pangos is one of the best players at his position. Throw in a solid rotation that features seven players averaging more than 20 minutes, and the Bulldogs have the firepower to give any opponent fits.

4. Duke Blue Devils (16-2, 4-2 ACC)

Despite a surprise two-game skid to unranked teams, Duke’s body of work still speaks for itself. The Blue Devils beat Michigan State earlier in the year, and road wins over Wisconsin and Louisville speak volumes for this team’s potential. Duke has been tough to handle on the offensive end, ranking 11th in scoring and sixth in field goal percentage as a team. Freshmen are leading the way with Jahlil Okafor has been flat out dominating in the paint, Justise Winslow providing an explosive athlete on the wing and Tyus Jones providing great depth at the point guard spot. With such a young core, there is a good chance that the Blue Devils best basketball is still to come, and they probably rank second only to Kentucky in overall talent.

5. Arizona Wildcats (17-2, 5-1 Pac-12)

The Wildcats have a couple of bad losses on their resume, but both came on the road by four points or less. Meanwhile, Arizona has defeated three teams ranked in the top 15, including a pair of top 10 teams in Gonzaga and Utah. The Wildcats have a lot more offensive firepower this year with the return of Brandon Ashley and the addition for freshman Stanley Johnson. They also have plenty of size inside. Arizona seems to be going through a bit of a transition period as it figures out how to balance its newfound offensive weapons with its trademark defense, but the end results should be a championship-caliber team.

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