Jesus' NCAA Breakdown

Sure, my sons, it is me at a football game, but I do like Purdue's basketball team...a lot. In fact, they're my darkhorse to take a #1 seed away from whoever slips-up in the final weeks, most likely either Syracuse or Villanova. Kansas and Kentucky are virtual locks at this point.
I give to you now, my break-down of the rest of the field. Enjoy and be merry. Don't forget to pray to me if you're hoping for a little extra something for your favorite team this spring.

AP TOP 25 (#1 votes, record, points accumulated and previous ranking)
1. Kansas (62) 24-1 1,622 1
Two easy wins last week, and the toughest part of their conference season is behind them, with only a March 3rd game against K-State remaining as a real challenge.
This Week: 2/15 at Texas A&M (18-6), 2/20 vs. Colorado (11-13)

2. Kentucky (3) 24-1 1,557 3
Big game later this week at Vandy. Could be an upset, but likely a close, entertaining match-up.
This Week: 2/16 at Mississippi State (18-7), 2/20 at Vanderbilt (19-5)

3. Villanova 22-2 1,482 4
Playing well, but will need to finish strong in Big East to shore up that #1 seed in March. Tough test at Pittsburgh this coming Sunday.
This Week: 2/15 vs. Connecticut (14-11), 2/21 at Pittsburgh (19-6)

4. Purdue 21-3 1,403 6
If the Big East doesn't get two #1 seeds it will be because Purdue sneaks in and steals one. I was very dubious of this team in November, but they've since grown on me. Very athletic and JaJuan Johnson is one of the best players in the country, and has that NBA body and skill set scouts will be drooling over after this season.
This Week: 2/17 at Ohio State (20-6), 2/20 vs. Illinois (17-9)

5. Syracuse 24-2 1,389 2
Upset of the week was 'Cuse falling at home to Louisville. I definitely didn't see that one coming, but it is another testament to the toughness of the Big East conference. A strong finish and a good run in the conf. tourney and Syracuse should still get a #1 seed. At G'Town this week should be a great match-up.
This Week: 2/18 at Georgetown (18-6)

6. Duke 21-4 1,278 8
I hate Duke! But...they're pretty good. This is probably the best Dukie team in recent years. I still won't pick 'em to go far in March.
This Week: 2/17 at Miami (FL) (17-8), 2/21 vs. Virginia Tech (20-4)

7. Kansas State 20-4 1,239 9
This is another team that some analysts like to steal a #1 seed. To do that they'll have to win out, including an upset in the late-season match-up against in-state rival, Kansas. (How many more hyphens can I get in this analysis? None.)
This Week: 2/17 vs. Nebraska (13-12), 2/20 at Oklahoma (13-11)

8. West Virginia 19-5 1,101 5
Tough week last week with two losses, caused a drop of three spots. The Mountaineers need to get it together this week and take it out on some lowly Big East foes.
This Week: 2/17 at Providence (12-13), 2/20 vs. Seton Hall (14-9)

9. Ohio State 20-6 1,068 13
Like their football team...they're pretty good, but I don't really care. That said, they could easily lose two games this week.
This Week: 2/17 vs. Purdue (21-3), 2/21 at Michigan State (20-6)

10. Georgetown 18-6 966 7
Loss to Rutgers is inexcusable. That will not look good come tourney time and cost them a seed or two depending on how they finish. Only one game this week, so they need to bring it against Syracuse.
This Week: 2/18 vs. Syracuse (24-2)

11. Michigan State 20-6 906 10
Kalin Lucas played last week but didn't have the same bounce in his step. Hope fully for Sparty's sake he's fully recovered. They'll need him against THE OSU.
This Week: 2/16 at Indiana (9-15), 2/21 vs. Ohio State (20-6)

12. New Mexico 23-3 888 15
Wow. There is no way that New Mexico is this good. Top 12? Yea right. Looks like an easy week for them. We shall see.
This Week: 2/17 vs. Wyoming (9-16), 2/20 vs. Air Force (9-15)

13. Gonzaga 21-4 830 16
Zags are rolling and the white-boy is ballin'! Matt Bouldin looks like he should be playin' hacky-sack out on the campus square, not leading a top 15 team in scoring.
This Week: 2/18 at Loyola Marymount (13-13), 2/20 at Pepperdine (7-19)

14. Wisconsin 19-6 697 11
Underrated sports story of the week: The Fighting Illinis snapped Wisconsin's 18 game home winning streak, and 51 game home win streak against unranked conference opponents! Of course it was Illinois...they're the first team to beat Bo Ryan's Badgers 3 times in Madison during his tenure at Wisconsin. Two cupcakes this week, though Illinois should have been a cupcake.
This Week: 2/18 at Minnesota (14-10), 2/21 vs. Northwestern (17-8)

15. Texas 20-5 674 14
Showed signs of life by beating Nebraska by 40 points. Need to keep it going as they head toward the Big 12 tourney.
This Week: 2/17 at Missouri (18-7), 2/20 at Texas Tech (16-8)

16. Brigham Young 23-3 669 17
Not much competition for the stormin' Mormons in the Mountain West. Should get two W's this week.
This Week: 2/17 at Colorado State (15-9), 2/20 at Wyoming (9-16)

17. Vanderbilt 19-5 529 22
Beat Tennessee last week, and looking better as season progresses. Kind of like Purdue, they're growing on me. I still hate that court though.
This Week: 2/18 at Mississippi (17-7), 2/20 vs. Kentucky (24-1)

18. Butler 23-4 527 18
Ooh! Three crappy wins in the Horizon league and they're in the Top 20! No way, they're better than Pittsburgh and Temple. Whatever.
This Week: 2/17 vs. Illinois-Chicago (6-19), 2/20 vs. Siena (22-5)

19. Pittsburgh 19-6 398 25
Playing well of late, looking for a big win vs their in-state Big East foe, Villanova. Should be a great game this Sunday! It would behoove them though, to not overlook Marquette.
This Week: 2/18 at Marquette (16-8), 2/21 vs. Villanova (22-2)

20. Tennessee 18-6 381 12
Need to rebound from two losses last week. I hope they don't. Bruce Pearl rubs me the wrong way, and I don't think they're that good.
This Week: 2/17 vs. Georgia (11-12), 2/20 at South Carolina (14-10)

21. Temple 20-5 347 21
Freakin' stomped on Rhode Island from the tip-off. It was ugly the whole way for the Rams, and Temple is trying to prove they're the class of the A-10 while everyone else will fight for 2nd place. Need to keep the mojo going with two easy wins this week.
This Week: 2/17 at St. Bonaventure (10-13), 2/20 at Saint Joseph's (9-16)

22. Baylor 19-5 316 24
Two wins last week and two more this week will do wonders for the Bears from Baylor. Personally, I hope OK State kills 'em so that URI win keeps looking better and better.
This Week: 2/16 vs. Texas Tech (16-8), 2/20 at Oklahoma State (17-7)

23. Wake Forest 18-5 286 NR
Wake Forest takes on VaTech who is the sleeper in the ACC this year, and don't be surprised if they make a little run and upset some teams in the conference tournament. Wake will want to try and squash those hopes this week before moving on to the Tar Heels.
This Week: 2/16 at Virginia Tech (20-4), 2/20 at North Carolina State (14-12)

24. Texas A&M 18-6 231 NR
An underappreciated Big 12 team, this team could make some noise as the Big 12 winds down. A HUGE win over Kansas could do a lot to get that started. (But don't count on it.)
This Week: 2/15 vs. Kansas (24-1), 2/20 at Iowa State (13-12)

25. Richmond 20-6 101 NR
A little love for the Richmond Spiders who have probably the most quality wins in the A-10. Fordham sucks. Can we get them out of the A-10 please? And G-Dub is struggling this year, so Richmond should have a nice week.
This Week: 2/17 vs. Fordham (2-21), 2/20 vs. George Washington (13-10)

Others Receiving Votes
Northern Iowa 74, Virginia Tech 59, UTEP 46, Illinois 29, Marquette 12, Mississippi State 5, UNLV 5, Old Dominion 4, Cornell 2, Georgia Tech 1, Maryland 1, San Diego State 1, Xavier 1.

Dropped From Rankings
Northern Iowa 19, Georgia Tech 20, UNLV 23.