THE TIMES’ RANKING

ROBYN NORWOOD’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS

*--* Rk School (record) Comments 1 STANFORD (14-0) Cardinal has it all: Offense, defense, rebounding, depth. 2 DUKE (15-1) J.J. Redick is one phenomenal shooter. 3 CONNECTICUT (15-2) UNC, Pitt games both made excellent viewing. 4 LOUISVILLE (14-1) Looks as if Rick Pitino is doing it again. 5 ST. JOSEPH’S (16-0) So far, Jameer Nelson is Emeka Okafor’s competition for player of year. 6 CINCINNATI (13-1) Louisville ended the Bearcats’ unbeaten run emphatically. 7 NORTH CAROLINA (11-3) Rashad McCants might be out of Roy Williams’ doghouse about now. 8 GEORGIA TECH (15-2) Transfer Will Bynum is making a difference. 9 PITTSBURGH (18-1) Pitt scored points even by losing close game to UConn. 10 ARIZONA (11-3) On a good day -- like Saturday -- it will be hard for anyone to beat Arizona. 11 KENTUCKY (12-2) Not a great team, but probably the SEC champion. 12 TEXAS (12-2) Longhorns held off a off a Missouri team desperate to win. 13 WAKE FOREST (11-3) It’s a very tough year to make a name in the ACC. 14 GONZAGA (14-2) Zags won’t make much news until March unless they lose. 15 KANSAS (11-2) Here’s betting Roy Williams is alive longer in March than Kansas. 16 SYRACUSE (13-2) Seton Hall loss wasn’t a disgrace. 17 TEXAS TECH (15-2) Check out Bob Knight, the human billboard. 18 VANDERBILT (13-2) Commodores having mixed results in SEC. 19 MISSISSIPPI STATE (15-1) Baylor transfer Lawrence Roberts continues to thrive. 20 FLORIDA (11-4) Gators appear to be in a familiar funk. 21 OKLAHOMA STATE (13-2) Cowboys are generally one of the Big 12’s best shooting teams. 22 OKLAHOMA (10-4) Four losses? Make that Boomer Swooner. 23 PURDUE (13-4) Big Ten race is going to be a scramble. 24 WISCONSIN (12-3) Badgers deal fading Michigan another blow. 25 SOUTH CAROLINA (16-2) Gamecocks play LSU to keep spot Saturday.

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