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What a week of college hoops. All of the top four teams lost last Tuesday, giving UConn its first #1 ranking since 2009 and a very blue-blood-heavy top-10. Take a look.
Kansas, UNC, Duke, and Kentucky have a spot of their own. All we're missing is UCLA and Villanova, but unfortunately for those programs, they aren't sniffing the top 10 this season. Five teams dropped from the rankings this week -- Colorado State, San Diego State, Clemson, Gonzaga, and Texas -- with five more joining the poll: Texas Tech (25), Iowa State (24), Ole Miss (22), Dayton (21), and TCU (19).
It's time for the next article of a year-long series: Overrated and Underrated College Basketball Teams after the release of the weekly Associated Press Poll. All rankings listed are based on the Week 11 AP Poll.
Overrated College Basketball Teams For Week 11
Illinois Fighting Illini: #10 to #14
I liked this Illinois team quite a bit coming into the season, and the primary reason for that was because of their star wing Terrance Shannon Jr., who is one of the best players in college basketball. If you haven't been following the news in the past few weeks, Shannon was suspended from all team activities on December 28 due to a rape charge. He submitted a request for a temporary restraining order and immediate reinstatement, but a federal judge recently delayed the ruling of this request. So, it is still unknown if Shannon will see the court again this season.
The Illini have been able to tread water somewhat since the suspension. After blowing out the 2023 tournament darlings in Fairleigh Dickinson, Illinois has been able to split their first four conference games. It started with a 30-point drubbing of a good Northwestern team, and then easily covering an extremely tough road game vs. Purdue (albeit a five-point loss). Senior transfer shooting guard Marcus Domask has stepped up in a major way during conference play, averaging 25 per game over those four games.
While Illinois has done an admirable job since losing their star, I do think Brad Underwood's team is in trouble to a degree. It started with a recent nine-point home loss to Maryland (+9.5), where Domask hit 26 points but couldn't get nearly enough help from the supporting cast. I think it's safe to say that Coleman Hawkins is not going to live up to his expectations at this point, and that is a problem if Shannon doesn't return. This squad shouldn't be in any danger of missing the Big Dance, but their B1G hopes are all but dashed.
Wisconsin Badgers: #15 to #11
I laid out several reasons why I'm off the Badgers a few weeks ago, and while they did make me eat my words by starting 4-0 in conference play, I still don't believe in this team. Because of the Terrance Shannon Jr. suspension, Wisconsin is all that stands in Purdue's way of repeating as conference champions, but I don't see that happening. They currently possess a sixth-ranked offense per KenPom, their highest ranking since they took the first overall spot in that category back in 2015.
KenPom also has Wisky going 13-2 the rest of the way. I would put large sums of cash that this team loses at least three more games at minimum over the rest of the season. With the Badgers only really going six-deep as well, I'm skeptical that they can sustain this level of offense. If Wisconsin can take down Purdue at home on Saturday, then I may start to come around, but right now I am not buying them as a fringe top-10 team.
Underrated College Basketball Teams For Week 11
Nebraska Cornhuskers: Unranked
The column this week is quite Big Ten-heavy, isn't it? While this team might be the single most volatile in all of college basketball, one thing is for sure: they are fun as hell. Picked to finish 13th in the Big Ten, Nebraska has jumped out to a 13-4 start with a recent win over top-ranked Purdue, their first W vs. an AP #1 since 1982. The Cornhuskers hit a season-high in threes (14) and percentage (60.9) against Purdue, which ended with an electric court storming in Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Fred Hoiberg's squad is led by a dynamic score-first guard in Keisei Tominaga, a three-year program player from Japan who is not afraid of any shot. Nebraska is currently in the Last Four Byes category in Joe Lunardi's most recent bracketology, which would be the first time they have made the tournament in the past decade. Although they have several questionable losses, some huge wins are keeping them afloat in their quest to return to March Madness. Take a look at some of their notable results.
Losses: Creighton (89-60), at Wisconsin (88-72), at Iowa (94-76), at Minnesota (76-65)
Wins: #1 Purdue (88-72), Indiana (86-70), at Kansas State (62-46), Michigan State (77-70)
I think this team is going to either win the Big Ten tournament or lose in the first round. They do have a little Cinderella feel to them, so if they do make the tournament, keep them in mind for a potential surprise run. I'll be pulling for the Huskers the rest of the way.
New Mexico Lobos: Unranked (Others Receiving Votes)
Nebraska was outed in their win against Purdue, but the Lobos remain one of the better-kept secrets in college basketball. Well, the real fiends know what this team can do, but they are flying under the radar in the general media coverage of the sport. That's just how it is for the mid-majors.
This team finally got a signature win this past week, dropping San Diego State by 18 points at home after having lost their previous two big tests this season against St. Mary's and Colorado State. Lightning-quick floor general Donovan Dent may be the most improved player in the country this season and is one of the best guards regardless of conference.
The Lobos are also incredibly deep, with seven guys averaging at least 20 minutes per game, and three others in double-digit minutes. Jamal Mashburn Jr., the son of the former NBA All-Star, joins Dent in the backcourt to form a lethal duo that can score with the best of them. Free throws have been a problem, but besides that, this team has no real glaring weaknesses to go with a ton of upside given their high-level guard play and top-30 defense. Look no further for your 2024 March Madness darling, because the Lobos check a lot of the boxes.
