LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — This is my weekly story sharing my vote in the men’s Associated Press college basketball poll.
I advanced Kentucky 10 spots for beating Duke on a neutral court.
I kept Indiana at 17 even though the Hoosiers handled South Carolina with ease.
But today I want to praise Alabama coach Nate Oats.
I took another look at Oats’ schedule, and there is nobody in America who is scheduling as boldly as Oats. His schedule would make Denny Crum blush.
Last Friday, Bama visited Purdue and lost by 9.
Here are Alabama’s next six games, including the Ken Pomeroy computer rating of each opponent.
No. 25 Illinois in Birmingham.
No. 2 Houston in Las Vegas.
No. 65 Rutgers in Las Vegas.
No. 53 Notre Dame in Las Vegas.
No. 13 North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.
No. 18 Creighton in Tuscaloosa.
Nobody ranked lower than No. 65, with five opponents (including Purdue) in the Ken Pom Top 25.
No LeMoyne. No App State. No UMBC. No Eastern Illinois. No Texas A&M Commerce. No Bryant. No Nonsense.
Alabama figures to lose a few of those games. Alabama also figures to be ready for Southeastern Conference play.
Hat tip to you, Nate Oats.
1. Kansas (4-0) — Hunter Dickinson is making better than 57% of his shots and has cut his turnover percentage in half. He looks like a guy who has been in college basketball before Nov. 25, 2000. I think he once played against Ralph Sampson.
2. Auburn (3-0) — After playing North Alabama this week, the Tigers get Iowa State and Duke.
3. Gonzaga (3-0) — Warning: The winner of the Louisville-Indiana game in The Bahamas next week figures to play the Zags in the second round.
4. UConn (3-0) — On Tuesday, Texas A&M Commerce will be the Huskies’ fourth straight opponent with a sub-300 Ken Pomeroy ranking. Didn’t this program win the last two national titles?
5. North Carolina (2-1) — On their journey to the Maui Invitational, the Tar Heels will play the University of Hawaii Friday night. And the good news is that the Maui Invitational is back in Lahaina this season.
6. Tennessee (4-0) — Four wins by at least 16 points without playing any sub-300 ranked opponents.
7. Houston (2-1) — The sample size is small, but the Cougars have six guys making 40% or more of their shots from distance.
8. Purdue (4-0) — After beating Alabama in Mackey Arena, the Boilermakers get Marquette in Milwaukee Tuesday night.
9. Alabama (3-1) — Another salute to Nate Oats for scheduling like a boss.
10. Kentucky (3-0) — After handling Duke, the Wildcats figure to be 7-0 when they head to Clemson Dec. 3.
11. Iowa State (2-0) — Another ferocious test against IU Indy Monday night. Nate Oats did not make this schedule.
12. Duke (3-1) — Cooper Flagg was terrific against Kentucky — for the first 39 minutes and 40 seconds.
13. Creighton (4-0) — Center Ryan Kalkbrenner has made 38 of 42 shots. That’s better than 90%.
14. Cincinnati (3-0) — The Bearcats are traveling across the bridge to play Northern Kentucky and Darrin Horn in Truist Arena Tuesday night.
15. Illinois (3-0) — The Illini get Alabama in Birmingham Wednesday night. I wish Birmingham was closer.
16. Marquette (4-0) — That was a solid win at Maryland Friday night by the Golden Eagles.
17. Indiana (3-0) — Mackenzie Mgbako has made 90% of his free throws, 75 percent of his 2-point field goal attempts and 64% of his threes.
18. Florida (4-0) — It’s going to be fascinating to watch this Florida basketball season unfold.
19. Baylor (3-1) — VJ Edgecomb is one of the best freshmen in the nation but he’s missed 14 of 17 shots from distance.
20. St. John’s (4-0) — The Red Storm are headed to The Bahamas this week, where they’ll play Baylor and then Tennessee or Virginia.
21. Rutgers (3-0) — Ace Bailey returned for the win over Monmouth and gave the Scarlet Knights 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and a blocked shot.
22. Arkansas (2-1) — DJ Wagner played 37 minutes without scoring against Troy last week. Somebody explain that one.
23. Texas Tech (3-0) — The Red Raiders’ top player is JT Toppin, who bolted from Richard Pitino and New Mexico after last season. He’s not the brother of Jacob Toppin, who played for Kentucky.
24. Wisconsin (4-0) — The Badgers blasted Arizona, 103-88, and have scored better than 79 points in all four wins. Don’t tell Bo Ryan.
25. Arizona (2-1) — The Wildcats gave up 103 points to Wisconsin. Wisconsin?
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