Busting Brackets
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NCAA basketball: 3 thoughts on the latest AP Top 25

By Holden Walter-Warner

DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 27: Cameron Crazies and fans of the Duke Blue Devils taunt Devon Hall
DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 27: Cameron Crazies and fans of the Duke Blue Devils taunt Devon Hall /
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DURHAM, NC – JANUARY 27: Guy
DURHAM, NC – JANUARY 27: Guy /

1. Nothing new at No. 1

Once again, the Virginia Cavaliers find themselves atop the AP Top 25 this week. This time around, they earned 42 of the 65 first-place votes.

Last week, they earned just 30 first-place votes, suggesting their spot on top of the college basketball pyramid is strengthening.

Their status is slightly misleading, though. While most teams play two games a week, the Cavaliers only played once last week, winning at Miami. Fewer games means fewer opportunities to strengthen a resume.

But it also means fewer opportunities to blow up a prime opportunity.

There’s a good chance that Virginia will reign supreme for the rest of the season. They return to a two-game week over the next seven days, facing ACC laughingstocks in Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh. The Cavs should have little problem running through those opponents.

Their final two games are slightly more tricky, but not entirely intimidating: at Louisville and home against Notre Dame. Virginia should enter the ACC Tournament on a five-game winning streak; anything else could cost them the top ranking.

Virginia qualified as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in both 2014 and 2016, but failed to make the Final Four each time. Holding the overall No. 1 seed could go a long way in finally pushing through to the Final Four.