Busting Brackets Power 32: Kentucky Keeps Cruising
By Jamal Murphy
A new week brings a new Busting Brackets’ Power 32. Let’s get right to it:
1.Kentucky (23-1) LW: 1 – The Wildcats haven’t faced tough SEC competition as of yet, but that will change this week with Florida at home and then Vanderbilt on the road.
2.Syracuse (23-1) LW: 2 – The Cuse will be tested this week, as well, w/visits coming from Georgetown and Connecticut.
3.Ohio State (20-3) LW: 3 – The Buckeyes keep trucking along against the formidable Big Ten. They’ll be at home for their two contests this week.
4.Missouri (21-2) LW: 4 – Mizzou picked up a big win over rival Kansas over the weekend. They get Baylor at home this Saturday.
5.Baylor (20-2) LW: 5 – Speaking of the Bears, they haven’t looked as impressive lately and they’ll have their toughest week of the season, with dates versus Kansas and at Missouri.
6.North Carolina (20-3) LW: 7 – Big week for the Tar Heels. They will see if they can flex their muscles versus Duke and Virginia.
7.Kansas (18-5) LW: 8 – Tough loss for the Jayhawks at Missouri on Saturday. They will be tested again right away, Wednesday at Baylor for the rematch.
8.Murray State (20-0) LW: 12 – The Racers remain division I’s lone undefeated squad and should remain so, at least until they face St. Mary’s in a couple weeks in a Bracket Busters match-up.
9.Florida (19-4) LW: 15 – The Gators have won seven straight to shoot up the rankings, but face perhaps their biggest test tomorrow at Kentucky.
10. Georgetown (17-4) LW: 13 – The Hoyas got two Ws at home last week, but face their toughest foe to date Wednesday night at the Carrier Dome.
11. Michigan State (17-5) LW: 10 – After losing an ugly game in Champaign, the Spartans bounced back with a thorough beating of hated Michigan (yes, they hate them). They’ll be at Ohio State this Saturday.
12. Duke (19-4) LW: 9 – Duke has looked quite vulnerable lately, especially after a home loss to a shocked Miami squad yesterday. They’ll look to turn things around up the road in Chapel Hill on Wednesday.
13. UNLV (20-3) LW: 6 – The Rebels found out over the weekend that Wyoming is a tough place to play in this season. They’ll look for payback against San Diego State this Saturday.
14. Creighton (21-3) LW: 11 – After winning eleven straight, the Bluejays were tripped up at Northern Iowa Saturday. Wichita State comes for a visit this Saturday.
15. Wisconsin (18-6) LW: 16 – The Badgers had their 6-game winning streak snapped by Ohio State last week. They’re on the road at Minnesota this week.
16. San Diego State (18-3) LW: 19 – After two home wins last week, the Aztecs will be at UNLV this weekend.
17. Florida State (16-6) LW: 18 – It looks like FSU staked their claim to at least the third best team in the ACC, with their win versus Virginia on Saturday.
18. Marquette (19-5) LW: 14 – The Golden Eagles ran into the Notre Dame/Mike Brey buzzsaw over the weekend.
19. Mississippi State (18-5) LW: 17 – The Bulldogs survived a surprising and uncalled for scare against Auburn on Saturday. They get a rematch with Ole Miss Thursday.
20. Michigan (16-7) LW: 21 – The Blue & Maze continued to struggle on the road with a loss at Michigan State yesterday.
21. Indiana (18-6) LW: 20 – The Hoosiers followed a tough loss at Michigan with an impressive win at Purdue.
22. St. Mary’s (20-2) LW: 22 – The Gaels will head to Gonzaga Thursday with a 2-game WCC lead.
22.Virginia (18-4) LW: 26 – The Cavs hung tough in a loss at Florida State. They’ll try their luck at UNC this Saturday.
24.Wichita State (19-4) LW: 23 – The Shockers have a big game at Creighton this weekend.
25. Temple (17-5) LW: 29 – The Owls, winners of six straight, host struggling Xavier on Saturday night.
26. Southern Miss (18-3) LW: NR – The southern Golden Eagles make their Power 32 debut after winning five straight and taking sole possession of Conference USA’s top spot.
27.Louisville (18-5) LW: 28 – The Cardinals seem to have quietly gotten their act together, but this week will be a real test versus UConn and then at West Virginia.
28. Iowa State (17-6) LW: NR – The Cyclones make their debut in the rankings after consecutive wins versus Kansas and Kansas State.
29. Harvard (19-2) LW: 32 – The Crimson struggled at bit in a win over Columbia. They travel to Penn and Princeton Friday and Saturday.
30.Kansas State (16-6) LW: 25 – The Wildcats have lost two of three and have a big game at Texas this weekend.
31.Connecticut (15-7) LW: 31 – The Huskies looked as good as they’ve looked in a while versus Herb Pope-less Seton Hall squad, but we will know much more this week as UConn travels to Louisville and Syracuse, likely without Jim Calhoun.
32. Gonzaga (18-4) LW: 27 – The Zags lost at BYU last week. They’ll get another crack at first place St. Mary’s on Thursday.
IN: Southern Miss; Iowa State.
OUT: Illinois; Vanderbilt.
What are your thoughts on this week’s rankings?