NCAA Basketball top 25 rankings: Gonzaga, Providence rise, Alabama falls

8. Iowa State (10-0)

There’s no reason to be upset with ten straight wins to open the season, especially for a Cyclones program that won just twice all of last year. T. J. Otzelberger has done a fantastic job with this program, with that defense playing some pretty fantastic basketball. With recent wins over Memphis, Creighton, and Iowa, the Cyclones got a bit of a break this past week, getting a bizarre 47-37 win over Jackson State, with their defense allowing them to survive another abhorrent offensive performance.

The Cyclones aren’t some mid-major that’s played a weak schedule; they are undefeated and with a number of very solid wins, especially those double-digit neutral-site wins over Xavier and Memphis. We’re not really sure how Iowa State is going to hold up in Big 12 play, but their first conference game is against Baylor on New Year’s Day, so we won’t have to wait long to find out. Before then, there’s two more nonconference games on the docket next week, with easy home dates with Southeastern Louisiana and Chicago State.

7. Kansas (9-1)

In nearly two decades running the Jayhawks, Bill Self has just a single championship, but could this be the year he adds to that total? Kansas has been in fantastic shape these last few seasons and has a pretty talented roster again this season. That loss to Dayton remains a headscratcher, but the Jayhawks have taken care of the rest of their business, even in a surprise game this week. On Saturday evening, the Jayhawks survived a tough battle from Stephen F. Austin, grinding out an 80-72 win, getting 21 points from Christian Braun in the victory.

The Jayhawks aren’t exactly loaded with impressive wins this season, but their offense has shown up in a major way to this point, with one of the best interior offenses in the nation. They might not be as dynamic as in years past, but Ochai Agbaji looks like a star and the Jayhawks should do some damage in Big 12 play. Next week, they get the challenge of a road game against former conference rival Colorado; it’s a game they should win, but it gives them an opportunity to play in a hostile environment, something they’ll be doing a lot of in conference play.