Matt Norlander of CBS Sports has released his College Hoops Power Rankings and Kentucky isn’t on the list.
Duke, which suffered the biggest upset loss in the last 15 years in college basketball, makes this list at No. 6.
Here’s a look at Norlander’s top 19 teams:
1 Louisville
It can be nobody but Louisville in the spot. The 8-0 Cardinals are No. 1 atop not just both the major polls, but almost every predictive metric as well. They’re holding on to the No. 1 ranking for the first time in six seasons. They’re the only team at KenPom ranking in the top-10 in offensive and defensive efficiency. With the 58-43 smothering of a Michigan team Tuesday night that came in averaging 80-plus, Louisville became the second team ever in a top-five matchup to hold the other top-five team under 45 points. Chris Mack, you’re the front-runner for now for national coach of the year.
2 Ohio St.
Well, well. The Buckeyes are the best team in college basketball according to Bart Torvik’s rankings (which are like a cousin to KenPom). An easy call in light of Ohio State logging its second 25-point victory over a team ranked in the top 10. In November, Chris Holtmann’s crew wiped up Villanova by 25, then made an even more impressive statement but sprinting away from a shorthanded North Carolina team in Chapel Hill. According to ESPN’s stats and information department, only three times before has a team knocked of two top-10-level squads by at least 25 points in the same season. All those teams went on to claim the national championship.
3 Maryland
At 9-0, Maryland is off to its best start since 1998-99. The Terps flung Notre Dame around and won by 21 on Wednesday, cementing their status in the top three of the debut of this year’s power rankings. Mark Turgeon’s got a strong core four: Anthony Cowan, Jalen Smith, Aaron Wiggins and Eric Ayala. I even like what Darryl Morsell can do as a glue-guy type. While college hoops has had a lot of noise near the top of the polls through the first five weeks, Maryland’s one of just a few teams projected top 15 in the preseason to take care of its business each game so far.
4 Kansas
The Jayhawks’ only loss came by two points in the season opener on a neutral court against Duke. And that game featured the freaky: 28 Kansas turnovers, the most ever for a Bill Self-coached Jayhawks squad. Since then, KU’s found its stride, highlighted by a hard-fought Maui Invitational championship with a 90-84 title-game win over a Dayton team that was under strong consideration to crack these power rankings. Intriguing game awaits Saturday: Kansas will host undefeated Colorado, which could have its best team in 20-plus years.
5 Butler
Hey! Don’t be shocked. Butler is 8-0 and has four wins over top-75 KenPom teams, which is more than almost anyone else on this list. Here’s an encouraging sign for BU fans: the past two times Butler started a season 8-0, Chris Hotlmann coached the team to the Sweet 16 in 2016-17, and Brad Stevens coached the Bulldogs to a title-game loss against Duke in 2009-10. Florida comes to town Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Nice game, that.
