The MLK Day Marquette matinee on Monday has really thrown me off my normal schedule so here is the better late than never review of the new top 25 rankings.
Home victories over St. John’s and Pittsburgh propelled Marquette up to #21 and #22 in the AP and USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll respectively. Marquette joins 4 other Big East teams who show up on this week’s rankings. Full rankings and analysis after the jump!
Syracuse: Easy victories over Villanova and Providence improved Syracuse to 19-0 and the Orange remain ranked #1 in both polls and received all 31 first place votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.
Georgetown: A home loss to Cincinnati and a road win in the Garden against St. John’s resulted in rising 1 spot to #10 in the AP poll, while falling one spot to #12 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.
Connecticut: UConn rebounded this week with victories at home against West Virginia and at Notre Dame to see their ranking rise to #13 and #11.
Louisville: The Cardinals fall in the rankings continued this week with a loss at Providence. A victory over DePaul in the Yum Center couldn’t help them from falling from #14 and #15 to #23 and #21 in this week's rankings. Louisville’s days in the top 25 may be coming to an end with their loss to Marquette on Monday and a trip to Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Other Notables:
Seton Hall: The Pirate’s return to the top 25 rankings was short lived as they lost at South Florida to fall out of the rankings.
Wisconsin: Despite victories over Purdue and Nebraska, Wisconsin remained in the “Others Receiving Votes” category.
Big East “Others Receiving Votes”: Seton Hall, Cincinnati, and West Virginia
Indiana: Back to back losses for the Hooisers to Minnesota and Ohio State saw their ranking fall to #11 and #13.
Vanderbilt: Having won 7 in a row, including a victory over Marquette in the Bradley Center, the Commodores are knocking on the door of the top 25 rankings as the highest vote total outside the top 25.