The Heels look like they will remain #7 this week. As far as upcoming games, UNC should have no trouble over the next week with inferior teams coming to the Hill. Look for the Heels to be ranked 6 when the first 2016 poll comes out. As far as the teams above UNC....
1. Mich State - Should remain number one for the foreseeable future with a big test coming up at Iowa on 12/29. Could an upset be brewing? They follow up Iowa with a trip to Minnisota on 1/2/16. Get past Iowa, and MSU could be there a while.
2. Kansas - Kansas to me, is the most proven team towards the top as far as schedule. They have played some tough teams in tough environments. It gets no easier for them after a warmup with California Irvine on12/29. This is followed by two tough games, in a four day stretch...but both at Rupp. They play a ranked Baylor team on 1/2/16, followed by #3 Oklahoma on 1/4. They win these games impressively, and they will be getting a lot of first place votes.
3. Oklahoma - This is the team that could easily disappear from the top ten. They have a brutal schedule coming up facing 5 ranked teams in their next 8 games. Including a trip to KU on 1/4....if they survive Iowa State on 1/2. Those unranked teams are Harvard (could easily lose this game), Kansas State, and Oklahoma State.....so you can see, the Sooners will earn their keep over the next three weeks and could easily lose three times. I see UNC overtaking the Sooners.
4. Maryland - The Terps have had a soft schedule it would seem on the surface, the Heels have given them their only loss. This is a great team, but untested in my opinion. They are no going anywhere in the rankings based on their upcoming schedule of Marshall 12/27, Penn State 12/30, Northwestern 1/2/16, and Rutgers 1/6/14. No real test for Maryland until they meet MSU on 1/23. They're here to stay based on their schedule.
5. Virginia - The Cavs have proven themselves against some tough teams. Bennett is a machine of a coach. Anybody who thinks the Virginia program is going to disappear anytime soon is mistaken. Bennett is an elite and future hall of fame coach - Mark it down. He will be a god at Virginia when he leaves at a ripe old age. Many think he will be the biggest benefactor of Coach K and Roy retiring. The Cavs schedule over the next few weeks lends them to a chance at number 1. The Cavs have Oakland on 12/30, followed by what should be a great game with Notre Dame on 1/2/16. I don't think Virginia has any slip ups. They face VT and GT after the above listed games. No challenge until mid January when they face Miami. May be number 1 by late January.
6. Xavier - I don't know what to make of this team. It's hard to guess because of their resume to this point. They have beaten all in front of them, but it's unimpressive. This could be short lived and UNC should over take them as they face two ranked teams - at Villanova, and #9 Butler in their next two games.
1. Mich State - Should remain number one for the foreseeable future with a big test coming up at Iowa on 12/29. Could an upset be brewing? They follow up Iowa with a trip to Minnisota on 1/2/16. Get past Iowa, and MSU could be there a while.
2. Kansas - Kansas to me, is the most proven team towards the top as far as schedule. They have played some tough teams in tough environments. It gets no easier for them after a warmup with California Irvine on12/29. This is followed by two tough games, in a four day stretch...but both at Rupp. They play a ranked Baylor team on 1/2/16, followed by #3 Oklahoma on 1/4. They win these games impressively, and they will be getting a lot of first place votes.
3. Oklahoma - This is the team that could easily disappear from the top ten. They have a brutal schedule coming up facing 5 ranked teams in their next 8 games. Including a trip to KU on 1/4....if they survive Iowa State on 1/2. Those unranked teams are Harvard (could easily lose this game), Kansas State, and Oklahoma State.....so you can see, the Sooners will earn their keep over the next three weeks and could easily lose three times. I see UNC overtaking the Sooners.
4. Maryland - The Terps have had a soft schedule it would seem on the surface, the Heels have given them their only loss. This is a great team, but untested in my opinion. They are no going anywhere in the rankings based on their upcoming schedule of Marshall 12/27, Penn State 12/30, Northwestern 1/2/16, and Rutgers 1/6/14. No real test for Maryland until they meet MSU on 1/23. They're here to stay based on their schedule.
5. Virginia - The Cavs have proven themselves against some tough teams. Bennett is a machine of a coach. Anybody who thinks the Virginia program is going to disappear anytime soon is mistaken. Bennett is an elite and future hall of fame coach - Mark it down. He will be a god at Virginia when he leaves at a ripe old age. Many think he will be the biggest benefactor of Coach K and Roy retiring. The Cavs schedule over the next few weeks lends them to a chance at number 1. The Cavs have Oakland on 12/30, followed by what should be a great game with Notre Dame on 1/2/16. I don't think Virginia has any slip ups. They face VT and GT after the above listed games. No challenge until mid January when they face Miami. May be number 1 by late January.
6. Xavier - I don't know what to make of this team. It's hard to guess because of their resume to this point. They have beaten all in front of them, but it's unimpressive. This could be short lived and UNC should over take them as they face two ranked teams - at Villanova, and #9 Butler in their next two games.
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