10. Xavier - Winners of 9 straight, their 3 losses are by a total of 13 points. UConn is the favorite in the Big East but X isn’t far behind. They need to tighten up the defense but the offense is second weekend good.
9. Virginia - This UVA team isn’t going to win a national championship but it’s setup to bore us into the second weekend. They don’t do anything great but in 2023, that’s ok.
8. Purdue - The best of the Big Ten started hot but has a home loss to a very good Rutgers team and a squeaker win at Ohio State. Elite offense, pretty good defense. Another team that screams losing to a 7 or 8 seed in March.
7. Texas - Have overcome the coaching shock and outside a blitzing at Kansas State, look like the team we all expected.
6. Tennessee - Not sold on the offensive side of the ball. Elite defenders, I mean clear cut best defensive team in the nation, but my Rick Barnes bias leaves me leery.
5. Alabama - Any big time program that makes a coaching change should target Nate Oats. Plays a fun style of basketball and wildly efficient. Final Four squad.
4. UCLA - If a tree falls in the forest and all that jazz, there best win is over a weird Kentucky squad. They check all the boxes. Clearly the best team in their league, feels like cruise control until March.
3. Kansas - Unlike UCLA, the Jayhawks will be tested in nearly every game on the schedule. The Big XII is an absolute joy to watch and a meat grinder for all the teams. Every team is in the KenPom top-40.
2. UConn - Two double digit losses are a concern but double digit wins over Alabama and Iowa State on a neutral Court are as impressive as any this year. The coach needs a longer fuse, though.
1. Houston - Good backcourt and an elite defense. Another team on cruise control until March. We may look back and say, yeah, we should have seen they’d win it all. I’m less certain at the moment, however.
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