TSL5_CBB's Week 2 Ballot
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | My preseason #1 did not disappoint in week 1, delivering a solid win against my #11 ranked Miami, their starting lineup is so good...we'll see if Klavzar will be enough of a bench though |
| 2 | Duke | Duke had one of the most dominant weeks, but given it was against your average Patriot and Sun Belt teams, it won't be enough for #1, but they'll have an opportunity for that spot if they get past MSU |
| 3 | UConn | Demary looked like a player of the year for stretches in that game Friday night against the defending champs, and the Huskies seem to thrive in emotionally charged games. |
| 4 | Illinois | Also dominant, but more impressive might have been the fact that they beat a good Penn team by 42 without Mirk and Jake Davis. |
| 5 | Michigan State | Similar-lite to Duke and Illinois, but we know Fears is Fears, and they've had lots of different guys with production, so promising at this point going into that huge Duke game. |
| 6 | Tennessee | DeWayne Brown seemed to be an absolute monster, and Lundblade was solid as well. Ames-Harris-Haralson will have better games, but not a truly ideal debut in orange... |
| 7 | Virginia | Oh boy was this a TEAM effort on Sunday, it was like every starter was dangerous on both ends...Adekunle surprised me most however |
| 8 | Gonzaga | Outside of the deflating nature and power of the Purdue win, the additions of Lee and Bennett are A+ so far, and the Fogle breakout is awesome to see unfolding. |
| 9 | Houston | Houston no longer concerns me whatsoever, and at this point, I'm shocked I even was in the slightest. Their defensive identity always makes it happen. |
| 10 | UCLA | Kusturica > Stokes, and the Perry-Petty backcourt was (maybe still is) underrated as hell, but now UCLA might be conf co-favs alongside Illinois and Mich St...is that right??? |
| 11 | Texas | Texas prob puts another beating on Grambling, but then they have a key matchup against Baylor in San Antonio...that could get them in the top 10 for me |
| 12 | Louisville | Flory man...and the way Wooley has started the year...and Knox off the bench...PK instilling hope early |
| 13 | Miami (FL) | No shame in competing with the number 1 team in the land, but man Henderson and Gaskins gotta continue finding their offense against these lower-level opponents |
| 14 | Arizona | the two sides of "damn": 1. Damn Ivan Kharchenkov is that guy 2. Damn how the hell are y'all starting Bryce James and expect to be great |
| 15 | Kansas | The TKR addition will continue to show why Kansas would've been cooked without him, esp if Stokes doesn't turn it around against UK... |
| 16 | St. John's | Quinn Ellis is actually a goated PG...and Keyshawn Hall and Yessoufou are absolutely CARRYING the scoring and I'm here for it |
| 17 | Michigan | McKenney started too late and Cadeau was getting trampled...but excluding Estrella is Michigan's frontcourt ironically the biggest ISSUE this season? |
| 18 | Texas Tech | Darrion Williams might be washed...but the Cruz Davis pickup is great and Atwell should be able to get it going soon |
| 19 | Arkansas | As with any Cal team that has freshmen scattered like lost sheep, it didn't help that they went up against one of the more tight-knit units in the country...but this team is talented they'll be back. |
| 20 | Alabama | I heard the Amari Allen to Yaxel comparison...and I have to believe that Oats has got a guy that can lead them back to the Final 4 given they have solid supporting players. |
| 21 | Nebraska | Pryce Sandfort is already a top 5 contender for national player of the year...and the worst part for opponents is that Frager and Leonhardt haven't gotten going yet |
| 22 | USC | Rodney Rice is back...and the Ratliff bros are top-tier freshmen in the country right now |
| 23 | Kentucky | I had a feeling the JMU game would be close...and it's a little worrying..but I really want to find out how much of a test this Kentucky squad can give Kansas...both have lots to prove |
| 24 | Vanderbilt | Tanner-Glass backcourt is amazing...and Chandler Bing is actually going to be a solid SEC wing this season...some might find that unexpected |
| 25 | BYU | Rob Wright wow...also Tyler Betsey elite role player out the gate early...and Kohler has been a great fit as well |
Overall Rationale
Some teams unfortunately did get dropped throughout the ranking that I wish didn't happen, mostly near the bottom, biggest thing of Week 1 was that the Big 10 was great in chaos, as UCLA and Nebraska picked up big non-con wins, while Michigan and Purdue (or Purdon't) let the conference down Just outside: Baylor, Saint Louis, Indiana, Virginia Tech, TCU