NCAA BASKETBALL TOP 20+1 POLL: WEEK 3

by Jacob, Vegas Watch

Some interesting results in this weeks poll; UNC gets 75% of the first place votes, but only comes in second, because they were ninth on one of the ballots submitted (behind Pitt!). Meanwhile, Memphis was second on every ballot but one (and they were first on that one), so they're back at #1 after a one week absence.

1. Memphis, 161 (1) (LW: 2)
2. North Carolina, 158 (6) (LW: 1)
3. Kansas, 149 (1) (LW: 3)
4. Texas, 144 (LW: 4)
5. Georgetown, 138 (LW: 5)

Very few games over the past couple days, because of finals, so this poll isn't that much different than last week's. I still think Duke is underrated (for once); they were as low as 15th on one ballot. Sure, they don't have much of an inside presence, but if they were any other team we'd ignore that and focus on their wins over Marquette, Wisconsin, and Davidson.

6. Washington St., 127 (LW: 7)
7. UCLA, 118 (LW: 6)
8. Duke, 114 (LW: 8)

There is a large dropoff after the top eight. I would like to point out how incredibly consistent Tennessee is; they are tied for 10th for the second straight week, and were between 11th and 13th on each ballot this week.

9. Michigan St., 91 (LW: 9)
t10. Tennessee, 84 (LW: t10)
t10. Pittsburgh, 84 (LW: 14)
12. Marquette, 81 (LW: 16)

Indiana, on the other hand, is all over the place, all the way up at 6th on one ballot, but left off another entirely. They land at 13th, which seems right (read: they were 13th on my ballot). The 15-point loss to Xavier hurt them, but the Musketeers are pretty good themselves, and the Hoosiers have beaten both Kentucky and Southern Illinois handily.

13. Indiana, 75 (LW: t10)
14. Texas A&M, 72 (LW: 10)
15. Oregon, 52 (LW: 17)
16. Xavier, 40 (LW: 20)
17. Clemson, 35 (LW: 19)

Vanderbilt is interesting. They were nowhere to be found in preseason polls, but are 10-0 after last night's big comeback against Depaul. But they really don't have a marquee win yet, and they won't get the opportunity for awhile, as their next four games are against Tennessee State, Tennessee-Martin, Iona, and Rice.

18. Butler, 25 (LW: 17)
19. Vanderbilt, 23 (LW: NR)
20. Arizona, 16 (LW: NR)
t Plus one. Gonzaga, 9 (LW: 17)
t Plus one. St. Mary's, 9 (LW: NR)