Males’s Energy Rankings: Why Iowa State deserves its top-10 rating

Iowa State, top-10 staff?

It would look a bit off at first look, however the Cyclones are enjoying in addition to anybody in males’s school basketball outdoors the highest three or 4 groups within the nation — they usually’re rapidly constructing the kind of résumé to again that up.

Everyone knows about Hilton Magic and Iowa State’s means on its house court docket. The Cyclones personal wins over Houston and Kansas in Ames this season, after Saturday’s 79-75 victory over the Jayhawks. However in addition they beat TCU by one on the Horned Frogs’ ground earlier this month. They now have three Quadrant 1 wins, and 6 total towards Quadrants 1 and a couple of. And within the three weeks since their loss at Oklahoma within the Large 12 opener, they’re fourth within the nation in adjusted effectivity margin at BartTorvik.com.

Their metrics are additionally deserving of top-10 buzz. Iowa State is as much as No. 10 within the NET, No. 12 at KenPom, No. 7 at BPI and No. 14 in ESPN’s power of file.

And the way about this nugget? Iowa State’s win over Kansas was its eighth AP top-10 win prior to now two years; in line with ESPN Stats & Data, that is essentially the most of any staff within the nation throughout that span.

Might all of it come crashing down with highway video games at Baylor, Texas, Cincinnati and Houston within the subsequent three weeks? Positive, however Iowa State has vastly exceeded expectations to this point, and its top-10 spot on this week’s Energy Rankings is indicative of the Cyclones’ efficiency.

On to this week’s awards and rankings …

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Lamont Paris could be the favourite for Coach of the Yr nationally. He is taken a South Carolina staff picked 14th within the SEC preseason ballot to the brink of the highest 25 after this week’s two wins improved the Gamecocks to 17-3 total and 5-2 in league play. The stunner was the staff’s 79-62 blowout win over Kentucky, which was ranked within the prime 5 getting into the week and appeared each bit like a real Last 4 contender. However South Carolina ended the primary half on a 17-4 run after which rolled within the second half. Ta’Lon Cooper led the best way with 20 factors. The Gamecocks adopted that up with a 72-64 win over Missouri, sealing the sport late with free throws. B.J. Mack paced the staff with 21 factors.

Bear in mind, this can be a staff that went 11-21 final season (4-14 within the SEC) after which misplaced freshman star G.G. Jackson to the NBA. Paris has labored wonders this marketing campaign and has South Carolina in place to make the NCAA event for the primary time since 2017.

It has been an extended three seasons for Oregon State, however the Beavers simply had their greatest week of that interval, beating Arizona and Arizona State — and it was Pope who led the best way for Wayne Tinkle. The sophomore guard went for 31 factors and 5 assists towards Arizona, together with the game-winning 3-pointer on the buzzer. He wasn’t fairly as prolific towards ASU, however nonetheless had an environment friendly 19 factors and 6 dimes.

JORDAN POPE AT THE BUZZER!

Oregon State takes down No. 9 Arizona in thrilling style!pic.twitter.com/CgrXQsVji5

— Warmth Verify CBB (@HeatCheckCBB) January 26, 2024

Boo Buie, in the meantime, has established himself as top-of-the-line big-game gamers within the nation, particularly down the stretch, and he did it once more towards Illinois on Wednesday. Buie completed with 29 factors — eight of which got here in additional time — and 7 assists. He adopted that up with 19 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a simple win over Ohio State on Saturday. The Wildcats are actually 15-5 total and 6-3 in Large Ten play, and Buie is enjoying like one of many elite guards within the nation.

Dayton entered the weekend with the longest successful streak in males’s school basketball, a possible All-America ahead in DaRon Holmes II and appeared just like the clear favourite within the Atlantic 10. It exited Saturday in second place after struggling its first loss since Nov. 19. In defeating the Flyers, Richmond gained its tenth recreation in a row to stay unbeaten within the league. This was a battle between the league’s greatest offense and the league’s greatest protection. The Spiders held the Flyers to 33.9% taking pictures from the sector and their fewest factors per possession of the marketing campaign. Coach Chris Mooney’s protection additionally restricted Holmes to 9 factors on 2-for-12 taking pictures.

Richmond was picked eleventh within the preseason Atlantic 10 ballot, however the Spiders — behind East Tennessee State switch Jordan King, who’s averaging higher than 19 factors per recreation and had 17 towards Dayton — are atop the league.

In a season with a number of first-year head coaches doing outstanding jobs, Huss is close to the highest of the record. Excessive Level was picked seventh within the nine-team Large South preseason ballot after ending beneath .500 in league play in every of the previous 4 seasons. Nonetheless, the Panthers improved to 18-4 on the season after erasing a 17-point second-half deficit on the highway at Winthrop on Saturday. They’re 7-0 in convention play and are tied for the nation’s second-longest successful streak (10).

Huss spent the previous six seasons as an assistant coach below Greg McDermott at Creighton, so the Panthers’ offensive prowess should not come as a shock. Whereas we’re speaking Excessive Level, it will be negligent to not point out guard Kezza Giffa, who has emerged as top-of-the-line mid-major scorers within the nation for the reason that calendar flipped to 2024. He had 37 factors within the win over Winthrop on Saturday and is averaging 29.7 factors in three video games as a starter.

Three groups with questions

Villanova Wildcats: After successful 4 in a row across the flip of the brand new yr, Villanova has now misplaced 5 of its final six video games to drop to 11-9 total and 4-5 within the Large East. Tuesday’s house recreation towards Marquette has now basically became a must-win scenario for Kyle Neptune’s staff.

Ohio State Buckeyes: The Buckeyes are in disarray. They had been steamrolled this previous week by Nebraska and Northwestern, falling to 3-6 in Large Ten play, with defeats in 5 of their final six video games. OSU has additionally now misplaced 14 consecutive highway video games courting again to final season.

Utah Utes: The house/highway splits for Utah in Pac-12 play are alarming. The Utes are 5-0 at house however are actually 0-5 on the highway after getting drilled by Washington State and Washington by a mixed 47 factors this previous week. They’ve misplaced 5 of their previous eight video games total getting into an important two-game stretch towards Colorado and Arizona.

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Energy Rankings

1. UConn Huskies (18-2)
Earlier rating: 1
This week: vs. Windfall (Wednesday), at St. John’s (Saturday)

One space wherein the Huskies hadn’t been fairly as dominant this season as a yr in the past was the defensive finish. However once they lock in, like they did towards Creighton and Xavier prior to now couple of weeks, they will completely suffocate groups with measurement, size and strain. They held the Bluejays to 0.78 factors per possession on Jan. 17, and the Musketeers scored simply seven factors by the primary 14-plus minutes Sunday and completed with simply 56 in a 43-point loss. It was probably the most dominant performances of UConn’s total Large East tenure.

2. Purdue Boilermakers (19-2)
Earlier rating: 2
This week: vs. Northwestern (Wednesday), at Wisconsin (Sunday)

If there was every week to indicate the influence of Southern Illinois switch Lance Jones, it was this one. Towards Michigan, Jones made 5 3-pointers and led the staff with 24 factors. Towards Rutgers 5 days later, he actually struggled to shoot the ball, scoring 4 factors on 1-for-10 taking pictures — however nonetheless grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out eight assists and racked up 5 steals. He makes a distinction at each ends of the ground and gives a dimension the Boilermakers have not had the final couple of seasons.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels (17-3)
Earlier rating: 3
This week: at Georgia Tech (Tuesday), vs. Duke (Saturday)

RJ Davis has clearly established himself as the perfect guard within the nation — and his 36 factors towards Wake Forest on Monday affirmed it — nevertheless it’s been the latest play of Elliot Cadeau that might take the Tar Heels to a different degree. The five-star freshman is enjoying his greatest basketball of the season. He had 14 factors and three assists within the win over the Demon Deacons, then adopted it up with a career-high 16 factors and 6 assists within the win over Florida State. Cadeau sparked the early second-half run that turned the sport round for Carolina.

4. Tennessee Volunteers (15-4)
Earlier rating: 4
This week: vs. South Carolina (Tuesday), at Kentucky (Saturday)

Dalton Knecht’s All-America case will get stronger with each recreation, and there is additionally a case to be made that he is a prime two or three Wood Award candidate. Sadly for Knecht, Zach Edey exists and goes to be the runaway participant of the yr, however that should not diminish what the Northern Colorado switch has executed. He is averaging 32.0 factors and 5.6 rebounds in his previous 5 video games, taking pictures 47.2% from 3. Knecht had one other 32 towards Vanderbilt on Saturday.

5. Houston Cougars (18-2)
Earlier rating: 6
This week: at Texas (Monday), at Kansas (Saturday)

Houston has shaken off its two-game dropping streak to seize 4 wins in a row, together with a powerful highway victory at BYU on Tuesday. Jamal Shead has been one of many premier guards within the nation all season, however he wasn’t at his greatest through the losses, totaling eight assists and 6 turnovers and taking pictures 2-for-11 from 3. Shead has bounced again, nevertheless, averaging 18.0 factors, 5.5 assists and simply 1.5 turnovers since. He is additionally taking pictures 43.8% from 3 over the previous 4 video games.

6. Wisconsin Badgers (16-4)
Earlier rating: 12
This week: at Nebraska (Thursday), vs. Purdue (Sunday)

When AJ Storr transferred to Wisconsin from St. John’s final spring, there was some query as as to whether he would be capable to break right into a lineup that returned all 5 starters. Connor Essegian’s early struggles made it simpler than anticipated, however Storr has been a starter since day one and has supplied a dimension Greg Gard’s offense has lacked for a number of years. He is solely gotten higher because the season has progressed, capped this previous week by 15 factors and 12 boards towards Minnesota after which a 28-point efficiency towards Michigan State.

7. Marquette Golden Eagles (15-5)
Earlier rating: 10
This week: at Villanova (Tuesday), at Georgetown (Saturday)

Tyler Kolek’s struggles of early January — when he totaled seven factors and shot 2-for-19 in two losses — look like a lifetime in the past. Throughout Marquette’s four-game successful streak for the reason that house loss to Butler, Kolek has totaled 40 assists to simply 12 turnovers, whereas averaging 15.5 factors, regardless of Saturday’s four-point effort towards Seton Corridor. The emergence of David Joplin has additionally helped overcome the accidents to Chase Ross and Sean Jones. In his final three video games, Joplin is averaging 18.0 factors and taking pictures 12-for-23 from 3-point vary.

8. Kentucky Wildcats (15-4)
Earlier rating: 5
This week: vs. Florida (Wednesday), vs. Tennessee (Saturday)

Kentucky had its two worst offensive performances since early December this previous week, scoring 62 factors in a 17-point loss at South Carolina after which going for 63 factors in a six-point win over Arkansas. The Gamecocks did a superb job of protecting the Wildcats out of transition, forcing them to make performs within the half court docket, and Kentucky taking pictures 4-for-13 from 3-point vary could not make up for it. Rob Dillingham’s absence damage on Saturday towards Arkansas, however the Wildcats had their greatest defensive displaying for the reason that season opener, holding the Razorbacks to 0.81 factors per possession.

9. Duke Blue Devils (15-4)
Earlier rating: 15
This week: at Virginia Tech (Monday), at North Carolina (Saturday)

Whereas Duke is 3-1 in its previous 4 video games, the Blue Devils throughout that stretch haven’t appeared like a staff able to making a deep run in March. They needed to come again to beat Georgia Tech, misplaced at house to Pitt, appeared underwhelming towards a dreadful Louisville staff after which escaped after a late foul name towards Clemson. Defensively, there have been actual points. They’ve allowed at the very least 1.03 factors per possession in every of these video games they usually’re struggling to place strain on the ball. Pitt, Louisville and Clemson mixed for simply 27 turnovers.

10. Iowa State Cyclones (16-4)
Earlier rating: Within the ready room
This week: at Baylor (Saturday)

Iowa State did not beat Kansas with its protection or its means to power turnovers. The Cyclones uncharacteristically made 14 3-pointers, together with 9 after halftime. It was essentially the most 3s they’ve made since pulling down 16 in a loss at Oklahoma within the 2020-21 season. Even when it does not come within the type of trifectas, coach T.J. Otzelberger is beginning to get constant manufacturing from his backcourt. Curtis Jones is averaging 16.7 factors in his previous three video games, whereas Keshon Gilbert has scored at the very least 15 factors in 4 straight after scoring 10 or fewer in six straight.

11. Arizona Wildcats (15-5)
Earlier rating: 8
This week: vs. Cal (Thursday), vs. Stanford (Sunday)

The significance of Arizona’s win at Oregon on Saturday cannot be overstated. The Wildcats had been coming off a loss on the buzzer at Oregon State, had been simply 6-5 of their previous 11 video games and would have risked falling out of first place within the Pac-12. However Caleb Love’s career-high 36 factors carried Arizona to a win. Their defensive performances on the highway are nonetheless troubling: they’re eighth in adjusted defensive effectivity in Pac-12 play away from house, in line with BartTorvik.com.

12. Kansas Jayhawks (16-4)
Earlier rating: 9
This week: vs. Oklahoma State (Tuesday), vs. Houston (Saturday)

Kansas has now misplaced three of its previous six video games, dropping to 4-3 within the Large 12 — tied for the Jayhawks’ worst begin in league play below Invoice Self. For the primary half of the season, it was simple to level to their lack of a constant fifth choice once they had been struggling. However the latest downturn in type has occurred as Johnny Furphy was thrust into the beginning lineup and have become a constant perimeter shooter. Kansas’ protection has been inconsistent in league play, and it has additionally fallen sufferer to variance in sure circumstances, with West Virginia and Iowa State combining to make 26 3-pointers.

13. Creighton Bluejays (16-5)
Earlier rating: Within the ready room
This week: vs. Butler (Friday)

Since beginning 0-2 in Large East play and dropping three of 4 to finish December, CU has gained seven of its previous eight, with the lone loss coming at UConn. The Bluejays’ 3-point taking pictures has gotten again on observe prior to now three video games, with them making 12 every within the wins over Seton Corridor, Xavier and DePaul. Earlier than these, they had been held to eight or fewer 3s in seven of the earlier 9 video games. Trey Alexander has additionally returned to his early-season type, averaging 24.3 factors in his previous three outings, to go along with 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists.

14. Auburn Tigers (16-4)
Earlier rating: 7
This week: vs. Vanderbilt (Wednesday), at Ole Miss (Saturday)

This week was all the time going to be an illuminating one for the Tigers, who had gained 11 straight video games however hadn’t actually been examined on the highway towards a tournament-caliber staff. They usually responded with two shut losses to Alabama and Mississippi State. It was Auburn’s offense that struggled each instances. The Tigers shot simply 11-for-49 from 3-point vary and actually struggled to complete on the rim towards Mississippi State, lacking 9 layups.

15. Illinois Preventing Illini (15-5)
Earlier rating: 11
This week: at Ohio State (Tuesday), vs. Nebraska (Sunday)

Terrence Shannon Jr.’s return from his six-game suspension was anticipated to shake Illinois out of its up-and-down few weeks and get the Preventing Illini enjoying the best way they had been for the primary two months of the season. However Shannon hasn’t been fairly as efficient offensively. He is nonetheless averaging 13.3 factors in his three video games again, however he is actually struggling to shoot the ball, going simply 1-for-14 from 3.

16. Utah State Aggies (18-2)
Earlier rating: Within the ready room
This week: vs. San José State (Tuesday), at San Diego State (Saturday)

Utah State ends the week atop the Mountain West after happening the highway and beating Boise State in additional time. The Aggies are actually 7-2 towards Quadrants 1 and a couple of; solely six groups have extra wins towards the highest two quadrants than Danny Sprinkle’s staff. They’re working at an extremely excessive price on the offensive finish, scoring at the very least 1.09 factors per possession in each Mountain West recreation to this point, scoring 1.19 factors per possession by seven league video games.

Dropped out: Oklahoma Sooners (No. 13), Dayton Flyers (No. 14), Baylor Bears (No. 16)

Within the ready room

Texas Tech Purple Raiders: Grant McCasland is doing a implausible job in Yr 1 in Lubbock, guiding the Purple Raiders to the highest of the Large 12 after Saturday’s highway win at Oklahoma. They’ve misplaced only one recreation since November — and that was a highway tilt at Houston. Likelihood McMillian, who led the best way with 27 factors Saturday, has hit double figures in seven of his final 10 video games.

Alabama Crimson Tide: Nate Oats’ staff picked up its greatest win of the season on Wednesday, holding off Auburn down the stretch for a four-point victory. The Tide have now gained eight of their previous 9 video games and have a file extra in keeping with their lofty metrics. They’ve additionally made at the very least 10 3s in all eight of these wins, with the lone loss coming once they shot 4-for-21 from 3 towards Tennessee Volunteers.

Baylor Bears: It has been powerful loss after powerful loss for the Bears over the previous two weeks, with three defeats by a mixed 9 factors in 4 overtimes. The most recent was a triple-overtime loss at house to TCU, the place the Bears’ downturn in 3-point taking pictures continued with a 5-for-22 displaying. They’re down to simply 29.2% in league play regardless of taking pictures it at 41% for the season.