The next team offered the number one ranking might want to defer; this season, the top spot in the polls has been more curse than honor.
The Kentucky Wildcats were the latest team to fall victim, losing at South Carolina last night. Gamecocks’ dynamo guard Devan Downey — the leading scorer in the SEC — hit an array of floaters, leaners and bank-shots and racked up a game-high 30 points.
Kentucky was the last remaining unbeaten team in Division I.
Tough Times for Top Teams
Kansas held the number one ranking from the preseason until early January, when the Jayhawks were knocked off their perch by a shorthanded Tennessee squad. The Texas Longhorns took over the top spot in the polls on January 11 and won two Big 12 games in the first week of their reign. But just hours after they were announced as number one for the second straight week, they lost to conference rival Kansas State and followed that up with another loss at Connecticut.
Who’s Next?
With no undefeated teams in the mix, the “who’s number one?” conversation becomes a lot more interesting. In theory, the four one-loss teams — Kentucky, Kansas, Villanova and Syracuse — have more or less equal claim to next week’s top ranking. But the Wildcats are sure to drop out of the top spot after last night’s loss, leaving the Jayhawks, the Orange, and ‘Nova in the mix.
Kansas is currently number two and best-positioned to re-take the top spot. But they also face the stiffest competition — a game with 11th-ranked Kansas State on Saturday. Syracuse, on the other hand, has the easiest schedule this week — a date with Big East bottom-dweller DePaul. Villanova faces Notre Dame tonight at the Wachovia Center in Philly.
Kentucky Loses First Game originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 10:54:26.
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