The Faculty Soccer Playoff and late-season NFL soccer might have stolen the weekend’s consideration, however there was loads to entertain school basketball followers as effectively with the New Yr across the nook. Make amends for every little thing that went on school hoops sensible, and every little thing it’s essential to know as you get pleasure from your vacation season.
Merry Christmas and Completely happy Holidays to all the faculty basketball followers on the market!
1. Tennessee (11-0)
It’s laborious to argue with Tennessee atop this checklist particularly after one other dominant victory on Tuesday when it held Western Carolina to only 36 factors. There’s so much to like in Knoxville with the top-ranked Vols.
2. Auburn (11-1)
The Tigers averted a scare with a possible harm to Johni Broome and dominated with him again within the lineup in opposition to Purdue on Saturday. The star senior scored 23 and pulled down 11 rebounds in opposition to the Boilermakers as Auburn improved to 11-1 with yet one more ranked win.
3. Iowa State (10-1)
They had been basically idle this week with only one sport in opposition to Morgan State on Sunday and the Cyclones picked up a simple win to remain within the prime three of our rankings. It’s a spot they’ll seemingly stick with an precise idle week developing round Christmas.
4. Kansas (9-2)
The Jayhawks have seemed sharp since a two-loss week within the Midwest to start December. With quite a few large wins to start out the 12 months, Kansas remains to be one of many groups to keep watch over as March approaches.
5. Duke (10-2)
Two tight losses to 2 blue bloods are the one blemishes on Duke’s resume and the younger staff is simply getting higher and extra skilled because the season goes on. Look out for the Blue Devils because the clear favourite within the ACC.
6. Florida (12-0)
Nobody can appear to cease the Gators who will nearly actually enter 2025 with an ideal file after knocking off UNC in a thriller on Tuesday evening in Charlotte. The brand new 12 months will carry new challenges although, together with Kentucky and Tennessee as the primary convention opponents on the schedule.
7. Alabama (10-2)
The Crimson Tide acquired a well-deserved break from prime competitors this week, or so that they thought, earlier than North Dakota gave all of them they might deal with Wednesday evening. Alabama survived and are all the higher for dealing with such a tricky problem in a novel highway surroundings.
8. Oklahoma (12-0)
An unbelievable comeback, spearheaded by Jeremiah Fears’ 4-point play, extended Oklahoma’s undefeated season for at the very least one other week because the Sooners knocked off Michigan. Porter Moser has some Loyola-Chicago magic on full show in Norman this 12 months and a stud freshman in Fears to paved the way.
9. Marquette (11-2)
Successful on the highway within the Massive East isn’t simple, however Marquette was in a position to get it finished Saturday afternoon in opposition to a gifted Xavier squad. That’s the make-up of an awesome staff and the Golden Eagles are actually one in every of them heading into Christmas.
10. Oregon (11-1)
The early season wins for the Geese proceed to look higher and higher as Texas A&M, San Diego State and Alabama maintain successful. Dana Altman has turned issues round as soon as once more and has Oregon wanting like a harmful Massive Ten contender in its first season.
11. Michigan State (10-2)
The Spartans may problem these Geese within the convention and look like nearly as good of a staff as any to take the Massive Ten crown. Tom Izzo shook issues up this offseason and it appears to be working along with his staff at 10 wins already after defeating FAU over the weekend.
12. Kentucky (10-2)
A stunning blowout loss to Ohio State was the primary disappointment of the season underneath Mark Pope, excluding an comprehensible highway loss to Clemson a number of weeks in the past. Kentucky could have little time to shake it off with undefeated Florida coming to city following its remaining non-conference sport of the 12 months in opposition to Brown on Tuesday.
13. San Diego State (8-2)
A mid-major dismantling a Energy 4 opponent would usually be an enormous deal, however San Diego State has confirmed itself to be rather more than a traditional mid-major. The Aztecs crushed Cal on Saturday and can take an 8-2 file into the guts of convention play developing.
14. Houston (8-3)
The Cougars are quietly beginning to determine issues out and could have every week off to relaxation and enhance some extra after two extra wins this week. We’ll study much more with Massive 12 play opening up simply earlier than the brand new 12 months, however till then, Houston can get pleasure from its vacation with a number of optimism.
15. UConn (10-3)
A nightmare in Maui is effectively within the rearview as UConn has received its final six video games in opposition to some spectacular opponents. The newest had been two thrillers in Massive East play because the Huskies took down Xavier and Butler to maintain issues rolling heading into 2025.
16. Texas A&M (10-2)
One other staff quietly turning issues round is Texas A&M who’re 10-1 with a loss to No. 10 Oregon since a gap evening heartbreaker at UCF. The Aggies are yet one more true contender within the SEC that needs to be charming race to comply with because the convention schedule heats up.
Subsequent 5: Ole Miss, Gonzaga, Mississippi State, Maryland, UCLA
Gamers of the Week:
Ian Jackson, North Carolina
The Tar Heels stormed again, probably to save lots of their season, in opposition to UCLA behind one other breakout efficiency from their five-star freshman. Jackson is getting extra comfy in Carolina blue and proved it with a career-high 24 factors in opposition to the Bruins. We must always solely see extra of the sensational athlete and spectacular perimeter shooter because the 12 months goes on in Chapel Hill.
Jordan Pope, Texas
Pope’s switch to Texas hasn’t precisely gone in response to plan, however that modified this week as the previous Oregon State standout erupted for 42 factors in opposition to New Orleans on ridiculous effectivity (15-21 FG, 8-12 3-PT). He’s now tied for the second-best output of the season, behind solely Ryan Kalkbrenner’s 49-point sport to open the season.
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
The CFP first spherical sport wasn’t the one SEC whooping that Ohio State delivered on Saturday because the Buckeyes upset No. 4 Kentucky because of Thornton’s terrific play. The junior scored 30 on the Wildcats with large performs in large moments to assist ship one of many shockers of the season only a week after a humiliating 38-point loss to Auburn.
Treysen Eaglestaff, North Dakota
What a narrative it was to comply with on Wednesday evening as North Dakota pushed No. 6 Alabama to the brink in an unimaginable sport from begin to end. Eaglestaff drilled eight triples and dropped 40 factors on the Crimson Tide to introduce himself in exhilarating vogue. Return and watch the highlights when you’re in search of some leisure this week.
Jeremiah Fears, No. 14 Oklahoma
We talked about Fears earlier and he deserves much more consideration for a dominant show in opposition to the Wolverines. One of many prime freshmen within the nation completed with 30 factors and 4 assists, together with his game-winning four-point play within the remaining 11 seconds to protect Oklahoma’s undefeated season. It’s additionally our…
Play of the Week
It was a simple selection for the play of the week because it’s not every single day, or week, that you just see a four-point play, nonetheless one which retains an undefeated season alive in a top-25 matchup. Jeremiah Fears is without doubt one of the sensations of the season and is looking legendary standing in Norman already with performs and performances like this.
Video Credit score: ESPN
