The Confidential

The Confidential’s College Basketball Top 25 & Bottom 5: December 4, 2012

Each week, the Confidential will provide its ranking of the top 25 teams in College Basketball, as well as the Bottom 5 major conference teams.  Here is the December 4, 2012, update, with analysis of the top 10 and bottom 5:

1. Duke (8-0): The Blue Devils have beaten Kentucky, Louisville, and Ohio State.  Who has beaten better teams?  Nobody.
2. Indiana (8-0): Tough call between Syracuse and Indiana, but the edge goes to the Hoosiers.  Indiana has convincing wins over Georgetown and North Carolina already.
3. Syracuse (6-0): The Orange have beaten San Diego State in San Diego and Arkansas in Fayetteville.  Looking very good as the calendar hits December.
4. Michigan (7-0): With wins over Pitt and NC State, the Wolverines are off to a perfect start.  The most talented Michigan team in a long, long time.  Well, outside East Lansing anyway.
5. Florida (6-0): Gator-mania is back.  Florida has already beaten Wisconsin and Marquette.  Struggling Seminoles are up next.
6. Louisville (6-1):  The Cardinals are not coping well with the injury to Gorgui Dieng.  Still, only loss of the season is to Duke.
7. Gonzaga (8-0): After a few quiet years, Gonzaga hopes to return to national prominence.  Hmmmm…does the Big East need a team in Washington?
8. Ohio State (5-1).  Like Louisville, Ohio State has only lost to Duke.  The Buckeyes are part of a strong upper tier of the Big Ten.
9. Cincinnati (7-0): Lack of elite opponents makes this ranking a bit high.  But the Bearcats are at least beating some major conference opponents (Oregon, Alabama, Iowa State).
10. Arizona (5-0).  The Wildcats have not really played anyone yet.  So the undefeated start is not all that impressive.  Yet.
11. Missouri (6-1).
12. Illinois (8-0).
13. New Mexico (8-0).
14. San Diego State (5-1).
15. Creighton (7-1).
16. Georgetown (5-1).
17. Notre Dame (7-1).
18. Minnesota (8-1).
19. Wichita State (8-0).
20. North Carolina State (4-2).
21. Oklahoma (6-1).
22. UNLV (5-1).
23. Kansas State (6-1).
24. North Carolina (6-2).
25. Michigan State (6-2).

* * *

300. West Virginia (2-3).  A lot of teams with 3 wins knocking on the door here, but the Mountaineers and their 2 wins earn the spot.  Not likely to last though.

301.  Vanderbilt (2-4).  Vanderbilt has lost to Oregon, Villanova, Marist, Davidson.  Yikes.

302.  Georgia (2-5).  The Bulldogs losses to Youngstown State, UCLA, Southern Mississippi, and South Florida are perplexing.  Indiana is understandable.

303.  Mississippi State (2-5).  No shame to losing to North Carolina, Marquette or Texas.  Providence was a disappointment.  Troy an embarrassment.

304.  Auburn (2-5).  Is Auburn the worst athletic department in the country?  Football team faces more scandal and was terrible this year.  The hoops team has now lost to Murray State, Rhode Island, Boston College, DePaul, and Dayton.

These rankings are early and will certainly shake up as the season progresses.  Still, if you feel like debating, share your comments…