Top 25 Sees More Upsets; Wednesday Preview
After 13 AP-ranked sides lost to non-ranked opposition last week, Sunday and Monday’s AP Top 25 schedule looked to have quieted down. All six ranked sides facing non-ranked opponents came out victorious across the two days, as you’d expect.
Of course, this college basketball season is proving that what you expect doesn’t always come to fruition. Cue Tuesday’s trifecta of poll-busters.
More Ranked Teams Fall
Having wrestled a win away from LSU on Saturday, Nerlens Noel and the Kentucky Wildcats handed No. 16 Ole Miss a surprise loss on Tuesday night.
Tuesday proved to be a good day for only two of the five ranked sides taking to the hardwood, and both those sides reside within the Big Ten.
No. 11 Ohio State (16-4, 6-2 Big Ten) handed Wisconsin (14-7, 5-3 Big Ten) a 58-49 loss, while No. 23 Minnesota (16-5, 4-4 Big Ten) – barely hanging on to its AP-ranked status after four straight losses – picked up a much needed win over Nebraska (11-11, 2-7 Big Ten).
Elsewhere, it was the underdog doing the smiling.
Indiana State (14-7, 7-3 MVC) overcame a 12.5-point disadvantage on the spread to defeat No. 15 Wichita State (19-3, 8-2 MVC) by 13 points. The loss put a halter on the Shockers’ four-game winning streak, and ended the school’s home winning streak at 17. The Sycamores now move to within one-game of Wichita State, who remains at the top of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Over in the SEC, disappointing all too often this season, Kentucky (14-6, 5-2 SEC) may have just thrown its hat into the ring. Behind a school-record 12 blocks from Nerlens Noel, the Wildcats handed No. 16 Ole Miss (14-6, 6-1 SEC) an 87-74 loss. The opening line had the spread even, but bettors sent Kentucky towards underdog status ahead of this one.
Finally, having scored a huge victory over the Tar Heels on Saturday night, No. 19 North Carolina State (15-5, 5-2 ACC) fell to Virginia (15-5, 5-2 ACC) on Tuesday night. The Wolfpack – favorites heading into the game – have now flip-flopped wins and losses over the last six games. The Cavaliers meanwhile have leapfrogged NC State into second place in the ACC.
With upsets squarely back on the menu, Wednesday will see a number of teams look to avoid joining Tuesday’s trio of beaten ranked sides.
Wednesday Preview
Having scored a No. 1 AP ranking for the first time in more than 20 years, Trey Burke and the Michigan Wolverines will now look to maintain top spot in college basketball.
The first of those sides looking to avoid an upset is No. 1 Michigan (19-1, 6-1 Big Ten). Top-ranked for the first time since the “Fab Five†days, the Wolverines’ top spot is tentative to say the least.
Plenty – including the Coach’s Poll – picked Kansas as the top-ranked side this week, but the AP had Michigan edging out the Jayhawks. Kansas picked up a scrappy win over West Virginia on Monday, so Michigan knows it needs to win. With Indiana ranked No. 3, the Wolverines also have to be careful within the conference.
Michigan hosts Northwestern (12-9, 3-5 Big Ten) on Wednesday night. The Wildcats have gone 6-9 since starting the year 6-0, and has flip-flopped wins and losses over the last seven games. For what it’s worth, if that trend continues we’d see an upset here.
Michigan is a heavy favorite, with the spread at 19.5.
If Michigan does come up short, No. 3 Indiana (18-2, 6-1 Big Ten) will be there to leapfrog its way to top spot in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers travel to Purdue (11-9, 4-3 Big Ten) on Wednesday night looking for a fourth straight win. Bookmakers expect the Bloomington side to do just that, making the team favorites with the spread at 8.
After Ole Miss’ Tuesday night defeat, No. 4 Florida (16-2, 6-0 SEC) can put move one game ahead of the Rebels with a home win over South Carolina (12-7, 2-4 SEC). The Gators have fallen under the radar somewhat this season, as the focus has been on the likes of Michigan, Kansas, and Duke, but a No. 4 ranking ensures that all will be keeping an eye on Billy Donovan’s side.
Florida will be a huge favorite going into Wednesday’s game in the O’Dome. The spread opened at 24. A win for the Gators would mark a ninth straight, while the Gamecocks are looking to build on Saturday’s win over Arkansas.
Out west, No. 10 Oregon (18-2, 7-0 Pac-12) will look to remain unbeaten in Pac-12 play, whilst also continuing its assault on the AP rankings. The Ducks face a tough trip to Stanford (12-8, 3-4 Pac-12) on Wednesday night, where bookmakers have made the Cardinal a 2.5-point favorite.
No. 14 Miami (FL) (15-3, 6-0 ACC) – another team in the ascendancy – will also look to remain undefeated in conference play, and potentially improve its standing in the polls. The Hurricanes head to Virginia Tech (11-8, 2-4 ACC) on Wednesday, where they are favored by 9.5 points.
Meanwhile, Miami’s ACC counterparts No. 5 Duke (17-2, 4-2 ACC) will look to make up some ground in the conference with a visit a visit to Wake Forest (10-9, 3-4 ACC). The Blue Devils are 12.5-point favorites.
Tuesday’s AP Top 25 Results
Wisconsin 49, No. 11 Ohio State 58
Indiana State 68, No. 15 Wichita State 55
Kentucky 87, No. 16 Ole Miss 74
No. 19 North Carolina State 55, Virginia 58
Nebraska 65, No. 23 Minnesota 84
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Wednesday’s AP Top 25 Schedule (in full)
Northwestern (12-9, 3-5 Big Ten) at No. 1 Michigan (19-1, 6-1 Big Ten)
- Favorite: Michigan Spread: 19.5 Total: 130
No. 3 Indiana (18-2, 6-1 Big Ten) at Purdue (11-9, 4-3 Big Ten)
- Favorite: Indiana Spread: 8 Total: 136
South Carolina (12-7, 2-4 SEC) at No. 4 Florida (16-2, 6-0 SEC)
- Favorite: Florida Spread: 24 Total: –
No. 5 Duke (17-2, 4-2 ACC) at Wake Forest (10-9, 3-4 ACC)
- Favorite: Duke Spread: 12.5 Total: –
No. 10 Oregon (18-2, 7-0 Pac-12) at Stanford (12-8, 3-4 Pac-12)
- Favorite: Stanford Spread: 2.5 Total: 137
No. 14 Miami (FL) (15-3, 6-0 ACC) at Virginia Tech (11-8, 2-4 ACC)
- Favorite: Miami (FL) Spread: 9.5 Total: –
No. 17 Missouri (15-4, 4-2 SEC) at LSU (10-7, 1-5 SEC)
- Favorite: Missouri Spread: 4.5 Total: –
Texas (9-10, 1-5 Big 12) at No. 18 Kansas State (15-4, 4-2 Big 12)
- Favorite: Kansas State Spread: 9 Total: 120.5
No. 20 New Mexico (17-3, 4-1 MWC) at Wyoming (15-4, 2-4 MWC)
- Favorite: New Mexico Spread: 1 Total: –
Missouri State (6-15, 4-5 MVC) at No. 21 Creighton (18-3, 7-2 MVC)
- Favorite: Creighton Spread: 21.5 Total: 130
Rutgers (12-7, 3-5 Big East) at No. 24 Cincinnati (16-4, 4-3 Big East)
- Favorite: Cincinnati Spread: 13.5 Total: –
