When Jared Sullinger and the rest of his Ohio State Buckeyes lost to Ja’Juan Johnson and company of Purdue over the weekend, it marked the first time since 2003 that the top four teams in the AP Polls lost in the same week.
The No. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks lost to arch-rival Kansas State, Jacob Pullen – and his beard – 84-68 while the No. 2 Texas Longhorns lost a shocker to Nebraska.
The Boilermakers handled business against the No. 3 Buckeyes as E’Tuwan Moore played out of his mind for Purdue. He scored half of his team’s points in the 76-63 win.
Finally, the No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers lost a thriller in the Garden to St. John’s, 60-59. As a side, the win helped propel the Red Storm back into the Top 25 for the first time in over a decade.
So, as a result of those losses, the Duke Blue Devils have slipped back into the top spot in the land. The move marks the biggest jump since November 2003, when sixth-ranked Kansas moved up to number one.
In fact, early that year, Syracuse won their lone National Championship with Carmelo Anthony. Something my editor pointed out, even though it is completely irrelevant.
What isn’t irrelevant, the parity of college basketball. Prior to this week’s series of upsets Duke was crowned by many to win it all in March. Duke has a ton of talent both starting and riding the pine and everyone was confident they’d hoist the trophy. However with the loss of freshman phenom Kyrie Irving and a couple of losses, those who once crowned Duke were caught saying Duke who?
But that’s why teams play the game. Hello? (Insert famous Herm Edwards quote here)
To see teams like San Diego St. and BYU in the Top 10 landscape is refreshing for college basketball. To see last year’s runner-up in the national championship game, Butler, among the last four teams OUT of the tournament is also refreshing.
The beauty of college basketball can be found in embracing the passion and fervor of fresh teams and faces. Who wants to see Duke win it all year-in and year-out?
Besides a Duke fan…
People would probably rather see the Justin Bieber movie or watch Cameron Diaz feed Alex Rodriguez popcorn before they’d be lulled to sleep by the predictability of college basketball.
This year March Madness will allow people to see a 68-team field. More teams with the potential for more upsets. Selection Sunday is roughly three weeks away.
The Top 5 teams determined to frustrate brackets:
1. St John’s Red Storm
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
3. Arizona Wildcats
4. Coastal Carolina
5. Kansas State
Regardless of who’s in and who’s out come selection Sunday, the parity that is college basketball this season should only serve to heighten anticipation leading up to the tourney, and result in occasional salivation while watching it.
Just wait til Selection Sunday when there will be four number 1 spots! Oh the horror!
Just wait til Selection Sunday when there will be four number 1 spots! Oh the horror!