ROBYN NORWOOD’S RANKINGS AND COMMENTS

*--* Rk. Team (Rec.) Comment (last week’s rank) 1 KANSAS Offense, defense and balance: -- (18-0) We’ll take the Jayhawks (2) 2 MEMPHIS Tigers might be No. 1 in the polls -- (17-0) for a while with C-USA schedule. (3) 3 DUKE The only loss is by one point -- (15-1) in overtime against Pittsburgh. (5) 4 UCLA (16-2) It was a rivalry game, and face it, USC has talent. (4) 5 N. CAROLINA (18-1) The Tar Heels need more defense and depth to win NCAA title. (1) 6 INDIANA (16-1) Eric Gordon could become highest- scoring freshman in IU history. (8) 7 WASH. STATE (16-1) Beating Oregon was big. Next up: Arizona and ASU. (10) 8 TENN. (16-2) Gardner Webb and San Diego won at Rupp, but not Volunteers. (7) 9 GEORGETOWN That Syracuse heave at the overtime (15-2) buzzer had a chance. (9) 10 MICH. STATE (16-2) Indiana and Wisconsin have the lead in the Big Ten. (12) 11 WISCONSIN (16-2) The Badgers were giving up 52.1 points a game, No. 2 in nation. (17) 12 PITTSBURGH (15-3) Freshman DeJuan Blair leads the Big East in offensive rebounds. (15) 13 MISSISSIPPI (15-2) Freshman point guard Chris Warren is the leading scorer. (16) 14 TEXAS (15-3) The Longhorns are no longer the only team to beat the Bruins. (18) 15 TEXAS A&M (15-3) Big problem for bad road teams: No home games in NCAA tourney. (6) 16 DAYTON (14-2) The Atlantic 10 is a solid seventh of 31 conferences in the RPI rankings. (14) 17 BUTLER (17-2) First-year Bulldogs Coach Brad Stevens is only 31. (13) 18 VILLANOVA (13-3) The Wildcats are only 3-2 in the Big East. (25) 19 MARQUETTE (13-4) Consecutive losses to Louisville and Connecticut weren’t close. (11) 20 STANFORD (15-3) With sweep of the Arizona schools, Cardinal is still standing tall. (21) 21 CLEMSON (15-4) James Mays playing on despite broken bone in his non-shooting hand. (19) 22 VANDERBILT (17-2) Commodores had 22 turnovers in 20-point loss to Tennessee. (20) 23 ARIZ. STATE (14-3) Groin injury leaves James Harden’s status day-to-day. (22) 24 BAYLOR (15-2) Back from a tragic scandal, the Bears are 3-0 in the Big 12. (Unranked) 25 DRAKE (17-1) Add Keno Davis to list of coaches giving nepotism a good name. (Unranked) *--*