NCAA rankings - Feb 21

Wow, quite an awful week for the teams in my top 10. SEVEN of them took a loss this week, though none of them were utterly shocking or terrible losses and several of them were to each other. What happened is that there was so much attrition at the top but still such a big gap to the next tier that no one really moved up or down all that much. Let's get to it...

1. Pittsburgh (1) - Of all the teams that took a loss, Pitt's loss was the best - by 1 questionable point at St Johns, a top ten team. Realistically, that's a coin toss game anyway. This team still remains staunchly my #1 squad.
2. Ohio St (3) - Funny that the Buckeyes lose a second straight Sunday and raise to the highest spot I've given them all year. Definitely a bit concerned that they haven't got that one huge win.
3. Kansas (3) - That early neutral win over Arizona is starting to look pretty sweet, but they still need to do SOMEthing in conference. Ain't gonna happen this week.
4. Texas (2) - The loss at Nebraska was the worst of the week for top 10 squads.
5. BYU (5) - Starting to believe a 1 seed is a legit possibility. They'll need to beat San Diego St twice more though, and I don't see that happening.

6. San Diego St (8) - This Saturday. 1pm. BYU. Let's do this.
7. Duke (10) - Teams 6-8 are squads with 0 or 1 bad losses but who we still don't know enough about. So why is SDSt a 2 seed, Duke a 1, and the following team not even being mentioned?
8. Arizona (14) - Derrick Williams is a super duper mega stud. Timberwolves please? Excited for the game at UCLA this weekend.
9. Notre Dame (5) - Tough break for the Irish. No shame in a loss at West Va, but they weren't even close and look a lot like one of those teams that's sick at home and incredibly anywhere else. Which by the way, reminds me of...
10. St John's (11) - As bad a week as most teams had, the Johnnies went out and won at Marquette and then beat my #1 Pitt. An unreal 12 of their last 13 games have come against teams in my top 25, and in the last three weeks they've beaten #7 Duke, #12 UConn, #19 Cincy, #21 Marquette, and #1 Pitt. I got me some scarlet fever.

11. Georgetown (7) - Big week ahead for the Hoyas, who have a chance to add home victories over Cincy and Cuse and lock up a first round bye in the Big East tourney.
12. UConn (9) - Still slipping and no easy breath of air any time soon. Kemba has to be wearing down. This team peaked too early.
13. Purdue (25) - No team had a bigger week than the Boilers who just took care of business at home against Wisky and Ohio St and finally earned my respect. Robbie Hummel or not.
14. Wisconsin (12) - I basically could not separate the resumes of Purdue and Wisconsin. Almost completely identical.

15. Syracuse (16)
16. Villanova (13)
17. Louisville (15) - Yes we have reached the portion of good but not great Big East squads that I don't entirely believe in but are too hard to ignore.
18. Florida (17) - No question this has been the best in the SEC but we'll see just how good they can be with back to back road weekends in UK and Vandy.
19. Cincinnati (NR) - I hope the Bearcats have enjoyed their complimentary stay in my top 25. Up next? Georgetown, UConn, Marquette, and Georgetown again. Far from a March lock here.
20. West Va (23) - Suddenly we are looking at a quintet of wins over Vandy, Gtown, Purdue, Cincy, and Notre Dame that look pretty darn good. Brawl @Pitt Thursday is a game with nothing to lose and everything to win.

21. Marquette (18) - No team in the nation has a better resume of losses than the Eagles. They still don't have a bad loss. The only thing even close is a neutral game against Gonzaga. But at what point is 16-11 and only .500 in conference not enough? They could really use a win at UConn on Thursday night.
22. UNC (24) - Still hanging tough and I definitely have my eye on this team.
23. Kentucky (19) - Continuing a slow slide into oblivion...
24. Vanderbilt (21) - Insert useful comment here.
25. UCLA (20) - Tough loss at Cal but still a solid #2 in the Pac 10 and that win over BYU is still on the resume.

Feeling lonely - St. Mary's (22), the only team to fall from the rankings this week and boy did they ever

Upcoming games this week, my picks in bold...
M - 15 Syr @ 16 Nova
W - 19 Cin @ 11 Gtown, Tem @ 7 Duke
R - 21 Marq @ 12 UConn, 20 WVa @ 1 Pitt, Gonz @ StMary
S - 5 BYU @ 6 SDSt, 15 Syr @ 11 Gtown, 8 Ari @ 25 UCLA, 10 StJn @ 16 Nova, 18 Fla @ 23 UK, 7 Duke @ VT
S - 1 Pitt @ 17 Lville, 12 UConn @ 19 Cin, 13 Pur @ MiSt