2. Auburn (9-1)
Each passing week seems to show us a little bit more of why Auburn is one of the best teams in the nation this season. They were coming off a tough loss at Duke last week in a game where the defense underperformed against that young Blue Devils lineup, but you just knew that Bruce Pearl would have his team ready to go again in response.
The Tigers were on the court back last Sunday and eased their way to a 98-54 home win over Richmond. Basically everything went right in a game where the starters got some rest, with Miles Kelly leading the charge with 15 points and 5 rebounds. They were in Atlanta this weekend and the result was surprisingly similar, as Auburn won 91-53 in a blowout against Ohio State as part of Holiday Hoopsgiving. In making quick work of the Buckeyes, Johni Broome had another standout performance with 21 points and 20 rebounds.
There might not be another team in the nation that can really compare to what Auburn has accomplished through ten games. They won the Maui Invitational, won in Houston, and took Ohio State to the woodshed this weekend, with their offense quite literally firing on all cylinders. Even before the rigors of SEC play begin, the Tigers have another big test against Purdue next weekend but will certainly be favored to get another prominent win.