Luke DeCock’s AP Top 25 basketball poll ballot: Week 18
I wrote last week about Duke’s inconsistency, which certainly came home to roost in the losses to Wake Forest and Virginia — less the latter, on the road, against a fringe top-25 team, but still — and in running the numbers for that column, there was an interesting conclusion to be drawn about Kansas. Not only is Kansas the best team in just about every metric at the moment (every non-fringe metric other than Sagarin pure points, which somehow has Duke 1 and Kansas 2) but Kansas has been the most consistent team in its performances over the course of the season. Not just of the top 50 or even the top 10. Out of all 353 Division I teams.
And before you say, well, of course Kansas is, good teams are consistent: Delaware State is No. 2. Chicago State is No. 3. (And Baylor was No. 4, to come full circle.) A salute to the Jayhawks, who I fully expect to be lifting the trophy in Atlanta, much to the NCAA’s enduring irritation. Jim Nantz should prepare his bon mot now. “From Snoop Dogg to top dog, the Kansas Jayhawks are your national champions!”
Really wanted to squeeze Northern Iowa onto the ballot this week but couldn’t make the case over Houston, Oregon or Illinois.
THIS SEASON’S BALLOTS
Week 1 (Preseason) Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17
THIS WEEK’S TOP 25 BASKETBALL BALLOT
1. Kansas (Last week: 1)
2. Gonzaga (3)
3. San Diego State (4)
4. Baylor (2)
5. Dayton (7)
6. Seton Hall (12)
7. Maryland (6)
8. Duke (5)
9. Creighton (8)
10. BYU (14)
11. Louisville (9)
12. Florida State (10)
13. Villanova (11)
14. Kentucky (16)
15. Michigan State (19)
16. Iowa (13)
17. Wisconsin (22)
18. Ohio State (24)
19. Penn State (17)
20. Michigan (18)
21. West Virginia (15)
22. East Tennessee State (25)
23. Houston (NR)
24. Oregon (NR)
25. Illinois (NR)
OUT Colorado (20), Texas Tech (21), Arizona State (23).
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 9:23 AM.
