RADIO
The Super Bowl has concluded, and with it, the 2024-25 NFL season. For many sports fans, that means retiring until the NCAA tournament tips off, but that would be the incorrect way of approaching the sports calendar. College basketball is in full swing and is just starting to heat up. Less than a month away from conference championship games, races are going to tighten, and real contenders will emerge from the woodwork. It's best to tune in now.
Once again, we had a very confusing week of results, which seems to be the norm at this point. That caused a decent shake-up in the recent national rankings, with six teams experiencing a four-or-more spot displacement. Florida shot their way into the top five, checking in at No. 3 after taking down No. 1 Auburn on the road. The Gators look the part of a national championship contender after getting embarrassed by Tennessee a week earlier. That gives the SEC 4/5 top slots in the poll. Go figure.
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 15 AP Poll released Monday.
Overrated College Basketball Teams For Week 15
Texas A&M: No. 10 to No. 8
This team has more than stayed afloat in the super-SEC, which is not a small feat. They are 7-5 in quad 1 games but have lost all their toughest games - neutral vs. No. 11 Purdue, home against No. 5 Alabama, away at No. 8 Kentucky and No. 16 Ole Miss.
They were a Wade Taylor buzzer-beater away from potentially losing to Missouri on the road, which would not have been a bad loss by any means, but it does feel like this team has been scraping by and punching a bit above their weight class.
Make no mistake. This is one of the toughest teams in the country, and if they read the above, they would probably come looking for me. The Aggies remind me of the Mick Cronin Cincinnati teams of old. Just absolute menaces on the boards and wear you down on the defensive end. Those teams were as tough as they come but only reached the Sweet 16 once. The same fate lies ahead for this Aggies squad.
WADE TAYLOR WINS IT FOR THE AGGIES 🤯
(via @espn)
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 8, 2025
St. John's Red Storm: No. 12 to No. 9
St. John's "stormed" into Gampel Pavilion this past weekend and took care of an upstart UConn team on the road on $2 beer night while UConn had one of its best players return. As much as you can blame the Huskies for committing a number of unforced turnovers, those never feel completely unforced because of how much the Johnnies speed you up.
While the recipe is working for Pitino and Co., shooting below 30% in league play is bad. This team ranks No. 346 in the country in three-point percentage. It hasn't mattered much since they have lost one game in conference, but the Big East, like the SEC, is much weaker relative to normal.
This is still a very good team that is uniquely built to succeed, even with their long-range woes. Their disruptive defense and ability to finish around the basket are top-tier, but they do not deserve a top-10 ranking. This one is splitting hairs, but No. 12 to 15 is more appropriate.
Our @jerseymikes Naismith Men’s College Player of the Week is RJ Luis Jr. 🏀
The @StJohnsBBall guard led the Red Storm to a 2-0 record last week, defeating ranked @BIGEAST rivals No. 11 Marquette and No. 19 UConn ⚡️
Luis averaged 19 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and… pic.twitter.com/IZqZFUk3Co
— Naismith Awards (@NaismithTrophy) February 10, 2025
Kentucky Wildcats: No. 14 to No. 15
The Wildcats have made an appearance in both sections of this column throughout the year, and the third appearance gives them the most of any team. First, it was a bit of an overreaction to the excitement around the program with a new coach and roster full of transfers from all over.
Then, it was a come-down-to-earth moment when they found themselves with a top-5 ranking. Now, it's all about defense. Or the lack-there-of.
This is the worst defensive team in the top 25 BY A MILE. Kentucky ranks No. 90 in adjusted defense, the second lowest team in the poll is Memphis at 46.
With an anchor rim protector like Amari Williams down low, this is an absolute travesty, in all honesty. Mark Pope did come in as an offensive-minded guy, but his worst defensive team in his five-year run as BYU's head coach was No. 70, with an average of about 54. The offense is a thing of beauty most of the time, but this might be the most unbalanced team I can remember.
Kentucky's offense is up to No. 2 in KenPom adjusted efficiency. Defense all the way down to No. 90!!
Ranking of the last six offenses that Tennessee's faced:
No. 19 (MSU), No. 1 (AU), No. 2 (UK), No. 4 (UF), No. 13 (MU), No. 24 (OU) and now No. 2 againhttps://t.co/haj5gjr6mr
— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) February 10, 2025
Underrated College Basketball Teams For Week 15
Texas Tech: No. 13 to No. 12
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the season, Texas Tech continues to ascend in the rankings slowly but surely, and it's still not enough. This is a top-10 team in the country.
Grant McCasland needs more praise. He's done a phenomenal job in his second year as head coach of the Red Raiders, with a tournament appearance last season and sights set on top-three seed this coming March.
Unlike Kentucky, this is an extremely balanced team that can beat you in a variety of ways. They crash the offensive glass, which allows them to kick out and convert from long range at a high clip - 38%, 21st in the country. This is a team that likes to wear you down with slow, grinding possessions and then kick it into gear when you're reeling.
It's a wonderful strategy that has caught most of the Big 12 teams off guard, especially Houston, who Texas Tech beat in overtime on the road back on February 1. That was McCasland's best win as a head coach and maybe the best overall win of the season thus far.
This team had some questionable losses early but has found its identity and solidified itself as a legit Final Four contender. A Big 12 title could be in their future.
He didn’t even have to look 😮💨@ChanceMcMillian | @primitivemktg pic.twitter.com/JkO7noEGN9
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) February 6, 2025
Gonzaga: Unranked (Last in 'Others Receiving Votes')
It really is going to be unfair when a No. 1 or No. 2 seed has to face Gonzaga in the second round. You know it's coming. Current bracketology has them at No. 8. in the East Region.
I'm not here to say this team deserves a top-25 ranking right now. Losses to Oregon State and Santa Clara, where they gave up 200 total points in those matchups, have this team in their rightful place of Others Receiving Votes.
However, they still have top-5 talent, are laden with veteran guards - lead by the nation's best passer in Ryan Nemhard- have a dominant post player, depth, and also one of the best coaches in the sport. They can still win out and get on that fifth to sixth seed line, but right now, it's not looking good for those top seeds.
The only squads I would have the utmost confidence in in a tournament setting with that matchup are Auburn and Duke. After that, no one is safe. Don't be surprised when that line is within four points or so.
My g👀dness Ryan Nembhard pic.twitter.com/MIyg8UDyWz
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) February 7, 2025
