Feb 7, 20173 min read

CBB: No. 5 U.N.C. at No. 16 Duke

Week 13 was hard on the favorites, as No. 19 Butler lost at home to No. 17 Creighton, No. 10 Virginia slipped up at Syracuse, No. 17 Creighton was up ended by No. 25 Xavier, and No. 9 Kentucky could not contain Florida, despite all being the odds on favorite. Week 14 is filled with five ranked-vs.-ranked matchups, including two of the biggest games we have yet to see this season in No. 5 North Carolina taking on their bitter rival No. 16 Duke, and No. 6 Oregon traveling to No. 10 UCLA, both taking place on Thursday night. Bosuntunde Aduroja and I present our composite top-25, game-by-game predictions, Wooden Award rankings, and an in-depth preview of the Tobacco Road Rivalry. Enjoy!

Composite Top-25:

1. Gonzaga (24-0)

2. Villanova (22-2)

3. Kansas (21-3)

4. Baylor (20-3)

5. North Carolina (21-4)

6. Oregon (21-3)

7. Arizona (21-3)

8. Louisville (19-5)

9. Wisconsin (20-3)

10. UCLA (21-3)

11. Virginia (18-5)

12. Florida State (20-4)

13. Kentucky (18-5)

14. West Virginia (18-5)

15. Purdue (19-5)

16. Duke (19-5)

17. Florida (18-5)

18. St. Mary's (21-2)

19. Maryland (20-3)

20. South Carolina (19-4)

21. Butler (18-5)

22. Creighton (20-4)

23. Xavier (17-6)

24. SMU (20-4)

25. Cincinnati (21-2)

On the Bubble:

26. USC (20-4)

27. Arkansas (17-6)

28. Notre Dame (17-7)

29. Kansas State (16-8)

30. Indiana (15-9)

Post:

No. 4 Baylor at Oklahoma State

No. 5 North Carolina at No. 16 Duke

No. 15 Purdue at Indiana

No. 6 Oregon at No. 10 UCLA

Kansas State at No. 14 West Virginia

Clemson at No. 16 Duke

Miami (FL) at No. 8 Louisville

No. 2 Villanova at No. 23 Xavier

No. 12 Florida State at Notre Dame

No. 1 Gonzaga at No. 18 St. Mary's

Week 13 Record: 6-4.

Overall Record: 101-39.

Winning Percentage: 72.1%.

Aduroja:

No. 4 Baylor at Oklahoma State

No. 5 North Carolina at No. 16 Duke

No. 15 Purdue at Indiana

No. 6 Oregon at No. 10 UCLA

Kansas State at No. 14 West Virginia

Clemson at No. 16 Duke

Miami (FL) at No. 8 Louisville

No. 2 Villanova at No. 23 Xavier

No. 12 Florida State at Notre Dame

No. 1 Gonzaga at No. 18 St. Mary's

Week 13 Record: N/A.

Overall Record: 0-0.

Winning Percentage: 0%.

Stoll:

Week 13 Record: N/A.

Overall Record: 78-42.

Winning Percentage: 65.0%.

No. 5 North Carolina (21-4, 9-2) at No. 16 Duke (18-5, 6-4)

Post: The Tar Heels are one of my favorite teams to watch because every player, from Justin Jackson (18.6 PPG) to Joel Berry II (4.0 APG), and everyone in between is extremely talented and unselfish, but I have to take the Blue Devils in this one. After going through a rough patch (2-3 record) during Coach K's absence, Duke has won three straight. Luke Kennard (19.8 PPG) has become the alpha dog, but if guys like Grayson Allen (4.0 APG) and Jayson Tatum play to their full potential, Duke will defeat North Carolina in a tight one.

Aduroja: The No. 16 Duke Blue Devils face a stiff test in Coach K's 2nd game back from his leave of absence. The North Carolina Tar Heels come to town. The eyes of the college basketball world will be in Durham for this Tobacco Road showdown. North Carolina will lean on junior guards Justin Jackson and Joel Berry II, while Duke features guards Luke Kennard and Grayson Allen. Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks will man the front court for the Tar Heels, while the Blue Devils will counter with swingman Jayson Tatum and forward Amile Jefferson. North Carolina wins this one against their ACC adversary.

Current No. 1 Seeds:

No. 1 Gonzaga (24-0, 11-0)

No. 2 Villanova (22-2, 9-2)

No. 3 Kansas (21-3, 9-2)

No. 4 Baylor (20-3, 7-3)

Final Four Picks: