2012 NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Top 10 Teams in the Country: With conference play in full swing, the battle for league titles is heating up. For the top teams in the country, the battle for top seeds in the NCAA tournament is heating up as well. Statement victories are crucial for earning top seeds, but avoiding bad losses, especially at home, are important as well. In other words, the selection committee looks at more than just wins and losses when handing out seeds in March. There are still plenty of games to be played, but there are definitely some frontrunners for the No. 1 seeds.
1. Kentucky Wildcats (20-1): With victories against Kansas, North Carolina and Louisville, the Wildcats have three wins against teams that have been ranked in the top five at one point in the year. Kentucky has plenty of depth on offense, ranking in the top 20 in both points per game and field goal percentage. The Wildcats also have the ultimate X-factor in center Anthony Davis. He is the ultimate defensive presence in the middle of a solid Kentucky defense. This isn’t the most experienced team by any means, but the Wildcats have NBA-caliber talent up and down their roster.
2. Missouri Tigers (18-1): The Tigers answered any questions about their status as title contenders with a big road win against then No. 3 Baylor. Missouri has an absolutely backcourt, and while the Tigers are still searching for a consistent scorer in the post, they have been getting enough out of their big men to get by. Missouri plays fast and forces opponents to play at its tempo. They have the talent at guard to make up for their lack of size on the interior.
3. Syracuse Orange (21-1): A road loss to Notre Dame ended their undefeated season, but Syracuse is still having an impressive season. The Orange knocked off Florida early in the year and has compiled an 8-1 record in the deepest conference in the country. Syracuse’s depth and length has the team’s patented 2-3 zone stifling opponents, but an unexpected suspension to forward Fab Melo could pose problems if he is out for an extended period of time.
4. Kansas Jayhawks (17-3): After losing to Duke and Kentucky early in the year, the Jayhawks have been on a tear. During its hot streak, Kansas’ victims include Georgetown, Ohio State, Kansas State and Baylor. Forward Thomas Robinson has been a double-double machine, and the team has adopted his physical style. With a lot of teams drifting to more of a finesse, perimeter-oriented offense, Robinson and company have been bullying opponents from the inside out.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes (17-3): All three losses for the Buckeyes have come on the road this season, and two have come to ranked opponents Kansas and Indiana with center Jared Sullinger sidelined or hobbled by injuries. With Sullinger healthy, Ohio State rolled over Duke and avenged the earlier loss to Indiana in dominating fashion. The Buckeyes are a little too dependent on Sullinger, but if he stays healthy, they can compete with any team in the country.
6. North Carolina Tar Heels (16-3): It has become obvious that North Carolina isn’t the most focused team. The Tar Heels are loaded with talent, including one of the best frontcourts in country. Unfortunately, they have serious lapses in intensity and focus on a regular basis. However, a one-point loss on the road to top-ranked Kentucky shows this team can compete with anyone when it wants to. Once the tournament starts, the Tar Heels should be plenty dangerous.
7. Michigan State Spartans (16-4): Tom Izzo loves to throw his teams into the fire, and this season was no exception. The Spartans opened the year with losses to North Carolina and Duke before winning 15 straight. During the stretch, Michigan State easily defeated Florida State and Indiana at home and went to Gonzaga and Wisconsin and came away with victories. The Spartans recently dropped two games during a two-week stretch that featured five out six on the road, but they are already battle tested and a lot better than they are getting credit for.
8. Duke Blue Devils (16-3): Impressive wins over Michigan State, Michigan and Kansas have been somewhat offset by losses to Temple on the road and Florida State at home. That being said, Austin Rivers, Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins form won of the more potent backcourts in the country, and the Plumlee brothers take care of the dirty work inside. The Blue Devils always seem to rely a little too much on the 3-point shot, but this is an experienced team that should only get better as their star freshman Rivers adjusts to the collegiate game.
9. Baylor Bears (18-2): After opening the year with 17 straight wins, the Bears have dropped two out of their last three, getting dismantled by Kansas on the road and falling by a point to Missouri at home. Losing to its two strongest opponents raises some serious questions about Baylor’s chances long-term. The bigger concern is the team’s inability to dominant opponents inside despite having forwards Perry Jones III and Quincy Acy. Jones in particular may be the biggest underachiever in the country, and unless he gets assertive and starts utilizing his athletic ability to its full potential, the Bears could continue to fall in the rankings.
10. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (18-3): All three of UNLV’s losses have come on the road, and two of those losses came to ranked opponents San Diego State and Wisconsin. However, the Runnin’ Rebels also have victories against North Carolina at home and a road win against Illinois. UNLV has a strong mix of inside and outside scoring with guard Chace Stanback and forward Mike Moser. The Runnin’ Rebels are also one of the best teams in the country at forcing turnovers. It is not fluke that this team ranks fifth in the RPI.
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