NFL
By: Kristen Ashly
This season of college basketball has been anything but typical.
The latest AP rankings, as well as my own, has the Villanova Wildcats sitting high on top, marking the first time in the history of the program this has happened. The team ranked second, Maryland, also has never been No. 1. So it’s possible we’ll be facing another history-marking poll in seven days, if Maryland wins and Nova doesn’t.
VU’s jump was made possible because of losses by Oklahoma and UNC, on Saturday. The Sooners and Heels fell to unranked teams, marking the first time in a decade No. 1 and No. 2 fell on the same day to programs outside the top 25.
Villanova’s next game comes on Tuesday at DePaul. Maryland is home to Bowie State on Tuesday, but Bowie State is not a Division I school. The Terps’ next game in Big Ten play is on Saturday at home, against Wisconsin.
Here’s my full rankings. Return next week to see where your school falls:
1. Villanova (20-3)
2. Maryland (21-3)
3. Oklahoma (19-3)
4. Iowa (19-4)
5. Xavier (21-2)
6. Kansas (19-4)
7. Virginia (19-4)
8. Michigan State (20-4)
9. North Carolina (19-4)
10. West Virginia (19-4)
11. Oregon (20-4)
12. Miami (18-4)
13. Louisville (19-4)
14. Iowa State (17-6)
15. Texas A&M (18-5)
16. SMU (20-2)
17. Arizona (19-5)
18. Purdue (19-5)
19. Dayton (19-3)
20. Providence (18-6)
21. Baylor (17-6)
22. Kentucky (17-6)
23. USC (18-5)
24. Texas (16-7)
25. Wichita State (17-6)
Dropped out: Indiana, South Carolina
Jumped in: USC, Texas
Kristen Ashly is an editor and contributor for Nuts & Bolts Sports. You can shoot the basketball breeze with her on Twitter @KristenAshly. Follow @nutsandboltssp for sports updates, analysis, and commentary.
