RADIO
The 2024-25 college basketball season officially tipped off last week, and while the majority of you still likely have your heads stuck in the fantasy football world, this is just a weekly reminder that another phenomenal sport is also underway.
The first week didn't feature too much chaos, but we got a few top-15 matchups between Baylor and Gonzaga, as well as Kansas and UNC. While the Bears were 40-peiced in Spokane, they bounced back with a huge win over Cal's #16 Arkansas Razorbacks. Mark Few was looking like he maybe had his best team yet, but then the Zags narrowly eked one out over Arizona State. UNC almost pulled off a historic stunner in Lawrence but Kansas survived with the skin of their teeth. College hoops is all the way back!
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 2 AP Poll released yesterday.
Overrated College Basketball Teams For Week 2
Ole Miss Rebels: #23 to #24
I was a fan of the Rebels coming into the year, with a proven coach in Chris Beard entering his second season as the head man in Oxford along with a talented, offensive-minded roster. Beard made a name for himself on the other end of the floor during his time at Texas Tech but seems to have shifted focus with this team.
The Rebels return four starters from a team that was undefeated heading into conference play, which featured an All-SEC second-team shooting guard in Matthew Murrell (16.2 PPG, 40% 3PT). Beard was able to pick up one of the more sought-after players in the portal in Sean Pedulla, a heady All-ACC point guard from Virginia Tech (16.4 PPG, 4.6 assists), who along with returning guards Allen Flanigan (14.8 PPG) and Jaylen Murray (13.8 PPG) gives the Rebels one of the best backcourts in the county on paper.
I am still a believer in this team long-term, especially in the tournament with their talent on the perimeter, but it's evident that this group is going to take a little while to gel. The Rebels are 2-0, so it hasn't been a disastrous start to the year by any means, but one of those wins came by only two points to the #224th (KenPom) ranked Grambling State at home. Ole Miss was a -23.5 favorite in that one, and barely squeaking out a win against that bad of an opponent deserves more than a one-spot drop in the rankings. That spot belongs to a program like Texas Tech which has easily taken care of both their buy-games opponents thus far and was already on the poll bubble.
Another scorer that makes you go hmm…
Grambling State 31, OLE MISS 20
4 mins left in the first half.
— Sean Paul (@SeanPaulCBB) November 9, 2024
Marquette Golden Eagles: #18 to #15
Early signs from the Big East are that it might be a down year for the league. A number of the middle-tier teams either almost lost or did lose to vastly inferior opponents (Yes, I'm starting directly at you, Villanova). While the Golden Eagles were able to avoid an upset, they had a relatively close call at home at Central Michigan (an eight-point win against a 26.5-point spread).
Because of how poor other teams across the league have looked besides UConn, the Golden Eagles can definitely compete but the depth really worries me with this team. Their starting lineup can match up against most and Kam Jones is a legitimate All-American candidate, but after that, this team has a steep drop-off. Their first real test comes this Friday at Maryland. If they can win that, then I will believe this team is top-20 good.
Ben Gold with a BiG 3⃣#MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/N6LqMZGSj4
— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) November 12, 2024
Underrated College Basketball Teams For Week 2
Cincinnati Bearcats: #20 to #17
The Bearcats are back. Wes Miller has done an incredible job of rebuilding this program after Mick Cronin departed for UCLA and has the the Bearcats in a great position to compete for a Big 12 title. This is a complete team on both ends of the floor, ranking top 20 in offensive and defensive efficiency per KenPom. They rarely turn the ball over and shoot high percentages at nearly all spots on the floor (besides free throws, which is oddly their Achilles' heel).
Cincy has blown through their first two buy-games and likely won't have a competitive game until they visit Georgia Tech on the 23rd, so expect them to shoot even higher up the ranks in the coming weeks. While this team is very balanced, they did take a massive hit today when it was revealed that their second-highest scorer and on-court leader, Dan Skillings Jr, underwent a "minor procedure on his knee" and is considered week-to-week with no timetable for return at the moment.
It will be interesting to see how this changes the dynamic of the team and also how Wes Miller decides to handle this huge hole moving forward. I am still a big believer in this team given their depth and coaching to stay afloat until Skillings hopefully returns and is able to help the Bearcats challenge for a conference title, something they haven't done in five years.
It hasn't happened overnight, but Wes Miller has done a phenomenal job rebuilding Cincinnati as they transition into the Big 12.
I fully expect the Bearcats to be a single digit seed this year in the NCAA Tournament, likely somewhere in the 5-6 seed range (think 2023-24 BYU or… pic.twitter.com/eAcyyZRVhJ
— JBR Bracketology (@JBRBracketology) November 11, 2024
Kentucky Wildcats: #23 to #19
Kentucky fans should be feeling pretty good right about now. I know some are probably still skeptical of the Mark Pope hire, but wow does this offense look fluid through the first two games of the season. The Wildcats have one of the most transfer-heavy lineups in all of college basketball, but Pope already has them in mid-season form, meshing incredibly well thus far.
I don't want to overreact too much. While Kentucky has broken 100 points in back-to-back contests, it was against the likes of Wright State and Bucknell. The true test is tonight against #6 Duke, a team that I am also extremely high on. If the Wildcats can pull that off, it should leave zero doubts across this entire fan base about the hiring of Pope. Real hoopheads know that it was a great hire regardless, but this game would put that debate to bed.
This team is also just so fun to watch. They have it all. Koby Brea - elite shooter, maybe the best in college basketball. Amari Williams - giant big man who is a monster on the glass. Jaxon Robinson - a versatile forward who can guard any position and also score from anywhere. Kerr Kriisa - polarizing point guard who wears his heart on his sleeve. Check check check! There's more that I didn't cover, but I urge anyone to go watch this team play and see for yourself They are a delight, and should be a borderline top-15 team nationally this season.
Mark Pope basketball pic.twitter.com/8yCmvIuPLR
— Barstool Kentucky (@BarstoolUK) November 10, 2024
