NCAA Basketball: Virginia, Michigan lead top one-loss teams in 2018-19

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - DECEMBER 09: Kyle Guy #5 and Ty Jerome #11 hug beside Braxton Key #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers at the end of a game against the VCU Rams at John Paul Jones Arena on December 9, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

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BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Montell McRae #1 of the Buffalo Bulls reacts during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

4. Buffalo (17-1)

Look for the Bulls–who haven’t lost since December 21–to fly up in the next AP poll. But it’s not because Buffalo earned a huge win this week, nor did it overwhelmingly blow out its competition. Rather, two of the Bulls’ road wins from earlier in the season aged extremely well.

C.J. Massinburg‘s incredible 43-point performance helped secure an upset win over then-No. 13 West Virginia, who defeated No. 7 Kansas on Saturday. The Bulls suddenly entered the top-25 the following week.

It didn’t stop there. The Bulls knocked off Syracuse by 12 in the Carrier Dome en route to their fourth road victory of the season. Massinburg had a game-high 25 points as his team out-scored the Orange by 16 in the second half. Obviously, Jim Boeheim’s team upset No. 1 Duke in overtime on Monday, making Buffalo’s win look that much better.

Nate Oats’ group was met with reality in its next contest against former No. 20 Marquette in Milwaukee. Despite being down by a point after one half, the Golden Eagles scored an unbelievable 64 points in the last 20 minutes to defeat the Bulls by 18.

While Buffalo’s 7-1 record on the road and excellent non-conference resume may be impressive, there was no chance the Bulls could be ranked above the next three teams, who have all established themselves as top-tier programs in college basketball this season.

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