Of the seven Kansas gamers who noticed greater than 5 minutes within the 2022 nationwide championship win over North Carolina, solely two returned for the 2022-23 season. Out the door went first-round picks Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun and three different veterans.

So it is pretty exceptional that Invoice Self has the Jayhawks again within the prime 5 — and, after their demolition of Indiana, again on the shortlist of groups that may lower down the nets in a number of months.

Kansas has seemed as spectacular as any staff within the nation since shedding to Tennessee within the Bahamas on the day after Thanksgiving. The Jayhawks are 4-0 since that defeat, profitable these 4 video games by a median of 27 factors.

They’ve two bonafide studs in Jalen Wilson, one of many nation’s greatest breakout stars, and Gradey Dick, one of many nation’s finest freshmen. Kevin McCullar Jr. is a flexible, two-way participant. Dajuan Harris Jr. is an extremely underrated level guard at each ends of the ground: he has 35 assists to only seven turnovers in his final 4 video games. And Okay.J. Adams Jr.’s toughness, together with 4 straight double-figure scoring video games, has allowed Self to make the most of his small-ball lineup to such success.

Can Kansas repeat? Males’s school basketball hasn’t seen back-to-back champions since Florida in 2006 and 2007, and Kansas will not be favored to take action. However the Jayhawks appear like they are going to be an element come late March and early April as soon as once more.

Onto this week’s awards and rankings.

Given the loaded nature of Saturday’s schedule, there have been a number of viable choices for this class, however just one candidate had two résumé-boosting wins this week, each away from dwelling. UCLA has quietly gone about its enterprise since shedding back-to-back video games in Las Vegas earlier than Thanksgiving to Illinois and Baylor, however the Bruins hadn’t actually been examined since. That modified this previous week, as Mick Cronin’s staff traveled throughout the nation to face Maryland and Kentucky.

UCLA completely battered the Terrapins in School Park, going up 49-20 at halftime and main by as many as 38 factors within the second half. Jaylen Clark and David Singleton led the way in which offensively, however it was the Bruins’ protection, each limiting clear seems and forcing turnovers, that helped with the large early lead. Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Wildcats was nearer, however UCLA led for the ultimate 38 minutes and pulled away late for a 10-point win. Jaime Jaquez Jr., was the catalyst in opposition to the Wildcats, however the protection compelled 18 turnovers and did not let Kentucky get something contained in the arc.

It is one thing of a cop-out, however it’s onerous to interrupt the tie between Timme and Miller — Timme’s staff gained the sport, however Miller’s efficiency was the speaking level all through. Till the final couple of weeks, Timme had been struggling this season, by his requirements no less than. He was averaging 18.6 factors and seven.1 rebounds via the primary eight video games, however he has turned it round with 26.5 factors, 10.0 rebounds and three.8 assists during the last 4 video games. That stretch was capped Saturday in opposition to Alabama, when Timme completed with 29 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, taking pictures 12-for-18 and simply proving an excessive amount of to deal with for the Crimson Tide.

In the meantime, Miller placed on a present. The nation’s finest freshman has been improbable all season, however he turned it up final week. It began with 24 factors, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a 91-88 win over Memphis. Twenty-one of these 24 got here within the second half. He carried that momentum over to Saturday, when he went for 36 factors, 6 rebounds and 6 3-pointers in opposition to the Zags. Miller has already demonstrated he is among the finest catch-and-shoot gamers within the nation regardless of standing 6-foot-9, however in opposition to the Zags, he confirmed off a complicated offensive package deal, going off the dribble, making pull-up jumpers, displaying the whole arsenal.

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Marcus Sasser drops 19 as Houston wins its third in a row to begin the season.

There have been plenty of choices for this one, too. However of the handful of marquee wins Saturday, just one got here in opposition to the AP No. 2 staff, and just one got here in opposition to a ranked unbeaten staff. Virginia jumped out to an early 9-0 lead — after which Houston managed many of the closing 36 minutes. In a recreation between two groups that pleasure themselves on protection, toughness and controlling the tempo, the Cougars gained these battles.

Additionally they had extra firepower. Marcus Sasser struggled taking pictures the ball, however J’Wan Roberts stored them within the recreation early, and freshman Jarace Walker had his finest recreation to date. After shedding at dwelling to Alabama Crimson Tide final weekend, Houston needed to make a press release that it was nonetheless on the shortlist of nationwide championship contenders. Saturday was precisely that.

Hurley entered this season with a seat as scorching as anybody’s in school basketball. His athletic director, Ray Anderson, gave Hurley a vote of confidence towards the top of final season, a dreaded signal of what is to return the next 12 months. However after Sunday’s win over San Diego, Arizona State is off to an 11-1 begin — with the lone blemish a stunning one-point loss at Texas Southern on Nov. 13. The Solar Devils beat Michigan in New York, Creighton in Las Vegas and defeated Colorado and Stanford to open Pac-12 play. They’re the third-ranked staff within the Pac-12, in accordance with ESPN’s BPI — and might make a press release on New 12 months’s Eve, when Arizona involves Tempe for an in-state showdown.

Three groups with questions

Creighton Bluejays: Since beating Arkansas within the semifinals of the Maui Invitational to enhance to 6-0, the Bluejays have misplaced six in a row — together with a house recreation in opposition to Nebraska and neutral-site affairs in opposition to BYU and Arizona State . Ryan Kalkbrenner’s absence is a big a part of their struggles, however nothing goes properly for the Bluejays proper now.

Indiana Hoosiers: Mike Woodson’s crew has now misplaced three of its final 4, with the defeats coming by 15 factors (Rutgers), 14 (Arizona) and 22 (Kansas). Jalen Hood-Schifino was out for 3 video games, and when he returned Saturday Xavier Johnson suffered a foot damage that seemed prefer it might hold him out some time. The Hoosiers have been outscored 92-46 within the paint of their final two video games in opposition to Arizona and Kansas.

South Carolina Gamecocks: The expectations weren’t overly excessive for the Gamecocks in Lamont Paris’ first season, however shedding to East Carolina (lower than three weeks after shedding to George Washington by 24) remains to be disappointing. They’re simply 5-6 with two dwelling video games remaining earlier than SEC play begins. It does not look promising for what’s going to possible be G.G. Jackson’s lone season in school.

Energy Rankings

1. UConn Huskies (12-0)
Earlier rating: 1
This week: vs. Georgetown (Tuesday)

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Adama Sanogo will get fouled whereas taking pictures for the Huskies.

UConn had been essentially the most persistently dominant staff all through nonconference play, however would issues change in any respect as soon as Huge East play began and the Huskies needed to hit the street to battle acquainted faces? Primarily based on Saturday’s proof, not a lot. UConn beat Butler by 22 factors, occurring a 13-0 run late within the second half after the Bulldogs lower the result in six factors. After a lot publicity was given to Donovan Clingan’s eye-opening effectivity final week, it was Adama Sanogo’s flip to take again the eye on the inside. Sanogo had 27 and 14 in opposition to Butler, and is now averaging 20.0 factors and seven.8 rebounds on 60% taking pictures in his final 4 video games.

2. Purdue Boilermakers (11-0)
Earlier rating: 2
This week: vs. New Orleans (Wednesday)

After beginning the primary 12 video games final season and exhibiting flashes of talent and inside-outside capacity, Caleb Furst moved to the bench and performed an inconsistent position the remainder of 2021-22. This season, he got here off the bench for the primary seven video games, and was then inserted into the beginning lineup with Mason Gillis coping with a again situation — and he has responded. Furst had 12 factors and 13 boards in opposition to Davidson on Saturday and has scored in double figures in three of his 4 video games as a starter. And don’t be concerned, I wasn’t going to go away with no Zach Edey replace: the Wood Award front-runner had 29 and 16 Saturday.

3. Arizona Wildcats (10-1)
Earlier rating: 5
This week: vs. Montana State (Tuesday), vs. Morgan State (Thursday)

In beating Tennessee on Saturday night time, Arizona confirmed an actual toughness some have questioned since its loss to Houston in final season’s NCAA event. The Wildcats gained the battle within the paint, getting 13 extra second-chance factors than the Vols and going plus-16 from the free throw line. Coming into Saturday, Tennessee did most of its injury offensively on the offensive glass and on the charity stripe. However the Vols had simply two second-chance factors and took solely 10 free throws. Arizona scoring 75 factors in opposition to the nation’s finest protection, particularly when the Wildcats’ 3-pointers weren’t falling, is extra spectacular than it sounds.

4. Houston Cougars (11-1)
Earlier rating: 7
This week: vs. McNeese State (Wednesday)

When Jarace Walker arrived on campus, he got here with appreciable hype. A top-10 recruit within the 2022 class, Walker had established himself as some of the troublesome matchups within the nation as a consequence of his bodily energy and expert offensive recreation. However via six weeks of the season, he had solely proven flashes of his capacity — and never persistently. In truth, coming into Saturday, he had scored in single digits in 5 of six video games.

However in opposition to Virginia, Walker confirmed off the total arsenal. A season-high 17 factors, a season-high 4 assists, in addition to seven rebounds and two 3s, which matched a season-high. There are merely not many gamers in males’s school basketball able to dealing with somebody who’s 6-foot-8, 240 kilos and might make performs off the bounce or shoot from 3.

5. Kansas Jayhawks (10-1)
Earlier rating: 9
This week: vs. Harvard (Thursday)

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Gradey Dick has 20 factors, 5 steals and 6 rebounds within the Jayhawks’ win.

Kansas’ victory over Indiana on Saturday was an entire efficiency: Six gamers scored in double figures, the Jayhawks shot 53.8% from 2, 43.8% from 3, made all seven free-throw makes an attempt. Then, they locked Indiana down defensively, holding the Hoosiers to 0.82 factors per possession. Regardless of all of the current blowouts, Invoice Self has primarily trimmed his rotation right down to seven gamers recording double-figure minutes per night time. It is the 5 starters, then Bobby Pettiford Jr., plus yet one more: Zuby Ejiofor in opposition to Indiana, Joseph Yesufu in opposition to Missouri, and MJ Rice and Ernest Udeh Jr. additionally seeing time not too long ago.

6. Virginia Cavaliers (8-1)
Earlier rating: 3
This week: at Miami (Tuesday)

Virginia seemed stagnant in its half-court offense in opposition to Houston for lengthy stretches Saturday, and whereas that is commonplace given the Cougars’ defensive prowess, Tony Bennett’s staff might want to get extra from its perimeter group transferring ahead. Kihei Clark was simply 2-for-8 (with eight assists, to be honest), whereas Reece Beekman struggled en path to 4 factors and Armaan Franklin had 10. The Cavaliers additionally made simply six 3s — the sixth straight recreation through which they’ve made six or fewer 3s. Throughout that span, they’re taking pictures 29.4% from behind the arc. It is a stark change from the opening three video games of the season, when Virginia made 11 3s a recreation and shot 51.6% from 3.

7. Texas Longhorns (9-1)
Earlier rating: 6
This week: vs. Louisiana (Wednesday)

Beneath performing head coach Rodney Terry for the foreseeable future as a consequence of Chris Beard’s indefinite suspension following his felony arrest, the Longhorns wanted additional time to beat Rice on Monday earlier than knocking off Stanford on Sunday. After Marcus Carr struggled mightily within the loss to Illinois earlier this month, the previous Minnesota switch has turned issues round offensively. He had 28 factors in opposition to Rice, then adopted it up with 17 factors in opposition to the Cardinal. Importantly, he shot 6-for-13 from 3-point vary in these two video games and in addition had 5 assists to only one turnover Sunday.

8. Gonzaga Bulldogs (9-3)
Earlier rating: 13
This week: vs. Montana (Tuesday)

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Brandon Miller tallies 36 factors with a .545 taking pictures share and 6 3-pointers, however the No. 4 Tide lose the offensive battle to the No. 15 Bulldogs, 100-90.

Gonzaga’s second-half efficiency in opposition to Alabama on Saturday was merely exceptional. It was the primary time in a very long time the Zags seemed just like the Zags. That they had 53 factors within the closing 20 minutes, shot 74.1% from the sector, 66.7% from 3 and scored 1.43 factors per possession. That is unimaginable effectivity from Mark Few’s ballclub. We talked about how good Drew Timme was Saturday, however Nolan Hickman (13 factors, 4 assists, zero turnovers) was regular and Anton Watson had among the finest video games of his school profession, ending with 17 factors and actually offering a spark.

9. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-2)
Earlier rating: 4
This week: vs. Jackson State (Tuesday)

After permitting a couple of level per possession simply as soon as in its first 9 video games of the season, Alabama gave up 88 factors to Memphis on Tuesday after which bought torched within the second half Saturday in opposition to Gonzaga. In opposition to the Tigers, Nate Oats’ squad gave up 16 offensive rebounds and 54 factors within the paint. In opposition to Gonzaga, it was 50 factors within the paint and 57% taking pictures. Nimari Burnett lacking each video games with a wrist damage, which can hold him out indefinitely, actually made an influence; he had performed so properly at that finish of the ground in opposition to Marcus Sasser in Alabama’s win over Houston final weekend.

10. Tennessee Volunteers (9-2)
Earlier rating: 8
This week: vs. Austin Peay (Wednesday)

Arizona was the primary staff to attain a couple of level per possession in opposition to Tennessee all season, and it was largely because of the Wildcats’ energy within the paint. The Vols allowed Arizona to shoot 60% contained in the arc whereas dominating the offensive glass and drawing fouls persistently. There aren’t many groups with Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo on the inside, although, so the defeat is unlikely to begin a development. Extra regarding is Josiah-Jordan James lacking his sixth recreation with knee soreness. He is solely performed twice within the final month, scoring a complete of three factors. In his three wholesome video games this season, James was the Volunteers’ main scorer.

11. Arkansas Razorbacks (10-1)
Earlier rating: 10
This week: vs. UNC Asheville (Wednesday)

It might need taken the damage to Trevon Brazile for Jordan Walsh to hit his stride as a freshman. The five-star recruit was off to a sluggish begin via one month, hitting double figures in two of his first 9 video games of the season. However he has picked up the slack with out Brazile. He had 12 factors in opposition to Oklahoma final weekend, then backed it up with 18 factors and 4 steals in Saturday’s win over Bradley. He did not miss a single shot from the sector in opposition to the Braves, and is now taking pictures 61.5% contained in the arc this season. If his exterior shot continues to return alongside, he will be a key piece for Arkansas transferring ahead.

12. Baylor Bears (8-2)
Earlier rating: 11
This week: vs. Northwestern State (Tuesday)

Coming into the season, how the pecking order in Baylor’s perimeter group would in the end play out was unclear. Keyonte George was the five-star freshman, however Adam Flagler was a veteran school scorer and LJ Cryer was totally wholesome and one other confirmed level producer on the school degree. With Huge 12 play across the nook, George appears to be staking his declare because the staff’s go-to man. With Flagler and Cryer out in opposition to Tarleton earlier this month, George had 22 factors, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. And in opposition to Washington State on Sunday night time, he adopted that up with a team-high 19 factors – together with 12 factors and three assists after halftime.

13. UCLA Bruins (10-2)
Earlier rating: Within the ready room
This week: vs. UC Davis (Wednesday)

It feels as if he is flown beneath the radar for many of this season, however Jaime Jaquez Jr. is taking part in the most effective basketball of his profession and appears like among the finest wings within the nation. He is averaging a career-high 17.1 factors, taking pictures a career-best 56.3% from the sector and appears totally wholesome after coping with ankle accidents for many of final season. Kentucky did not actually have a solution for him Saturday as he completed with 19 factors, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals — and seemed like he might get a shot within the paint any time he needed. He is is nice sufficient to hold this staff on the offensive finish.

14. Duke Blue Devils (10-2)
Earlier rating: 12
This week: at Wake Forest (Tuesday)

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Jeremy Roach goes coast to coast for and-1 bucket

Duke had the week off after ending the nonconference portion of its season 10-2. Maybe the most important revelation of the primary six weeks of the season — moreover Kyle Filipowski cementing himself as among the finest freshmen within the nation — has been Jeremy Roach exhibiting he will be the go-to man for the Blue Devils. He had essentially the most expertise in this system coming into 2022-23, which inherently gave him a management position. And he is risen to the event in huge video games: 16 factors in opposition to Kansas, 21 factors in opposition to Xavier, 22 factors in opposition to Iowa. Roach’s efficiency in opposition to the Hawkeyes on the Jimmy V Basic gives some actual promise transferring ahead.

15. Illinois Combating Illini (8-3)
Earlier rating: 16
This week: vs. Missouri in St. Louis (Thursday)

Illinois beat Alabama A&M by 21 Saturday: Matthew Mayer had 21 factors, Terrence Shannon Jr. went for 18. Nothing to see right here, proper? Effectively, not precisely. After the sport, Mayer mentioned the staff has “so much to determine internally between the gamers and coaches” and that he is “simply upset.” Shannon added, “It is simply one thing we bought to determine as a staff. As soon as we determine it out, we’ll be prepared to speak about it.” It might have raised eyebrows no matter when these quotes have been mentioned, however coming after a 21-point win is actually one thing to notice.

#illini Matthew Mayer: “We bought so much to determine internally between the gamers and coaches.”

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) December 18, 2022

#illini Matthew Mayer: “I feel the staff will likely be nice. I am simply upset.”

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) December 18, 2022

16. Mississippi State Bulldogs (11-0)
Earlier rating: Within the ready room
This week: vs. Drake in Nebraska (Tuesday)

Mississippi State rises into the highest 16 virtually by default, with Maryland shedding its third straight recreation, Indiana shedding for the third time in 4 video games and Kentucky disappointing in a giant recreation once more this season. However Chris Jans and the Bulldogs are off to an 11-0 begin, one recreation away from coming into SEC play unbeaten. (They begin league play with Alabama and Tennessee, by the way in which. Actually an opportunity to make a press release.) They don’t seem to be coming off their finest week of the season, nevertheless, struggling in wins over Jackson State and Nicholls State, the latter coming by two factors. Their protection is elite and has but to permit a staff to attain one level per possession all season, however the perimeter taking pictures wants to enhance. The Bulldogs shot 2-for-14 from 3 in opposition to Nicholls and rank within the 300s nationally in 3-point share.

Dropped out: Maryland Terrapins (No. 14), Indiana Hoosiers (No. 15)

Within the ready room

Wisconsin Badgers: Wisconsin has simply two losses this season, by one in additional time to Kansas and by three at dwelling to Wake Forest. And the Badgers quietly have six wins in opposition to groups ranked inside the highest 75 at KenPom — together with street victories at Marquette and Iowa and a house win over Maryland.

TCU Horned Frogs: After being primarily written off after two weeks of the season following a few shut wins and a house loss to Northwestern State, the Horned Frogs are beginning to appear like the top-25 staff they have been projected to be within the preseason. They’re 4-0 since Damion Baugh returned to the courtroom.

Marquette Golden Eagles: Marquette’s 26-point blowout win over Baylor again in late November will nonetheless go down as one of many extra shocking nonconference performances of the season, merely primarily based on the margin of victory. The Golden Eagles solely have three losses: to Purdue, Mississippi State and Wisconsin, by a mixed 11 factors.