2016-17 RTC Top 25: Week Five
Posted by Walker Carey on December 19th, 2016As we approach the end of the non-conference portion of the regular season, three RTC25 teams over the weekend earned noteworthy resume-enhancing wins over three other RTC25 teams. First, #14 Purdue used great interior play from sophomore forward Caleb Swanigan to overcome a 14-point halftime deficit in an 86-81 victory over #22 Notre Dame. In the follow-up game at the Crossroads Classic, #13 Butler used a dynamic performance from junior Kelan Martin to beat #14 Indiana by five points. In Saturday’s – and likely the season’s – best game, #6 Kentucky rode freshman guard Malik Monk’s insane 47-point game to a hard fought 103-100 triumph over #8 North Carolina. Conference play is just around the corner, but there is still a little time for some teams to notch a few more non-conference wins that will matter on Selection Sunday. This week’s Quick N’ Dirty Analysis of the RTC25 is after the jump.
Quick N’ Dirty Analysis.
- Villanova remains #1. While teams like #3 UCLA and #6 Kentucky have garnered a lot of national attention through its exciting young players, the other Wildcats remain the nation’s top team. In its only game last week, Villanova showcased why it is #1 in the RTC25 with a thorough dismantling of Big 5 foe Temple by 21 points. Jay Wright’s squad will play its final non-conference tune-up later this week when it hosts American. In all likelihood, the Wildcats will be 12-o at the start of Big East play.
- UCLA continues its sizzling start. No one really knew what to expect from UCLA this preseason. Steve Alford brought in a very strong recruiting class highlighted by guard Lonzo Ball and forward T.J. Leaf, but there were considerable lingering doubts related to last season’s subpar 15-17 record. The Bruins have answered those doubts so far, currently holding an unblemished 12-0 record following last week’s 40-point win over UC Santa Barbara and a 12-point win over Ohio State. UCLA is a dynamic offensive unit that no team has been able to slow down yet. With enough firepower to pull away from an opponent every time it takes the floor, it will be interesting to see how long UCLA can maintain its perfect record.
- Oklahoma State enters the RTC25. The Cowboys have experienced some very lean times over the last couple seasons, but first-year head coach Brad Underwood has already led his team to an impressive 9-2 record following a convincing weekend win at Wichita State. Oklahoma State has been able to elevate its performance this season mostly because of sophomore guard Jawun Evans’ corresponding rise to stardom. Evans is averaging 21.6 points per game on a ridiculous 56 percent shooting from three-point range. Time will tell if the Cowboys should also be considered a legitimate Big 12 contender, but they definitely have the look of a team that should garner an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
Game of the Week. #6 Kentucky vs. #9 Louisville. Two of college basketball’s most bitter rivals will do battle Wednesday night at the KFC Yum! Center, and perhaps unsurprisingly, both squads are already off to a great start. Each team will enter the game with a 10-1 record but they have reached that mark in fairly different ways. While Kentucky is using a dynamic scoring attack focused on its backcourt, Louisville is using stalwart defensive pressure and highly-efficient offense. The item to keep an eye on here will be how Kentucky’s outstanding backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk handle Louisville’s defensive intensity in their first true road game. This is a can’t miss game that should be entertaining from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
Keep Tabs On. #19 Arizona vs. New Mexico; #8 North Carolina vs. Northern Iowa; #22 South Carolina vs. Clemson; #10 Virginia vs. California; #4 Kansas vs. UNLV.
Conference Call: ACC (6), Pac-12 (4), Big East (4), Big 12 (4), Big Ten (3), SEC (2), WCC (2).
