The NCAA top 20 teams continue to beat up on each other, turning the most polls into chaos. Meanwhile, UCLA is still undefeated and heads our first Suite 16 Poll.
While defending NCAA National Champion Florida struggles, the top spot in NCAA top 20 polls is up for grabs each week. National runner-up UCLA has several solid wins, is unbeaten and heads Suite101’s initial Suite 16 Poll.
- UCLA – The Bruins are 8-0 with an impressive win over previously sixth-ranked Texas A&M.
- North Carolina – The 7-1 Tar Heels have been very impressive, since a late-November loss.
- Ohio State – The only blemish on the Buckeyes 8-1 season is a tough loss to North Carolina, in which super freshman center Greg Oden didn’t play. With Oden now patrolling the paint, the Buckeyes look very good.
- Wichita State – The unbeaten Shockers have impressive wins over LSU, George Mason and Syracuse. They’re balanced, and they’re for real.
- Duke – The Blue Devils are 9-1 and have very nice wins over Indiana, Geogetown and an extremely underrated Air Force team.
- Pittsburgh – The Panthers still don’t have a top 20 victory, but they are 10-0. Wisconsin looms, so it won’t be long before we know if this ranking is legit.
- Wisconsin – The Badgers are 9-1. They await a real test, but they did beat Florida State, which beat Florida.
- Arizona – The Wildcats have reeled off seven straight wins, since losing their opener. That streak includes victories over Illinois and Louisville.
- Oklahoma State – The Cowboys are unbeaten and have nice wins at Auburn and at Syracuse.
- Notre Dame – The Irish’ only loss is to a very good Butler team. Plus, Notre Dame just beat Alabama to go to 7-1.
- Butler – The Bulldogs were upset by Indiana State, but they are still 10-1 and knocked off plenty of good teams in winning the pre-season NIT.
- Oregon – The Ducks are undefeated and have wins over Georgetown and Nebraska.
- Air Force – Why not? It’s the year of the mid-major; the Falcons are 10-1, and they’ve beaten Texas Tech and Stanford. Plus, they were up 50-6 at halftime in one game.
- Clemson – The Tigers are here only because they’re undefeated. They haven’t beaten anyone yet, but they’ve beaten everyone they’ve played so, for now, they get the benefit of the doubt.
- Purdue – At 8-1, the Boilermakers have several solid wins on their schedule. A good test against Butler is on the horizon.
- Gonzaga – Sure the Bulldogs lost to Butler, but they’ve beaten North Carolina, Texas and Washington in going 9-2. Not a bad resume.
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