Mar 3, 20185 min read

CBB: Sweet Sixteen Rankings Vol. 7

1. Virginia Cavaliers (27-2, +0, 99 Pts): The Cavaliers were 0.9 seconds away from losing their third game of the season, and subsequently dropping down a couple of spots in our power rankings. And then a miracle happened. One of the most unforeseen endings in college basketball history occurred, as Ty Jerome was fouled while shooting a three-pointer. He made the first two free throws, and then Virginia was called for a lane violation on the third attempt. Somehow that mistake helped the Cavs. Deng Adel traveled while attempting to inbound the ball, and on the ensuing inbounds, De'Andre Hunter drained a game-winning three at the buzzer. It was a great finish, and Virginia keeps their 27-2 record intact. Jerome finished with 21 points and two assists. Kyle Guy, the best player on the team, dropped 10 points and four rebounds. The Cavaliers end the regular season with a game against Notre Dame, and then head to the ACC Tournament, where they'll be the top seed.

2. Michigan State Spartans (29-3, +0, 97 Pts): The Spartans are coming off of a close win in the quarterfinal against Wisconsin, and the Spartans have continued to collect wins down the stretch of the season. Miles Bridges had another solid game, scoring 20 points and gathering nine rebounds. Cassius Winston was also apart of the big win, adding 17 points. The Spartans had a big game on the boards, out-rebounding the Badgers 41-27, and collecting double-digit offensive rebounds. Michigan State also had a great defensive presence this game, blocking seven shots in total. They take on their arch rival Michigan, who beat Nebraska today, in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, seeking revenge from their 82-72 loss to Michigan in January. The Spartans will look to bring a better defensive effort to time around. Tom Izzo's crew is two wins away from winning the conference tournament, and could be a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

3. Villanova Wildcats (26-4, +0, 92 Pts): The Wildcats have one game left on their schedule and they are fighting for the Big East regular season title with Xavier, who is 14-3 in the conference with one game left. However, the Wildcats beat Xavier twice so it's hard to say who is truly the best team in the league. Even if Villanova is the No. 2 seed in the Big East Tournament, I feel like they have a great chance to win the whole thing. Especially with their high powered offense which leads the nation in scoring. With their two top players, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, they seem poised to make a long run in the NCAA Tournament and possibly win it all like they did in 2016. Brunson struggled in their most recent game, shooting just 40 percent for 14 points, which is far beneath his usual standards. But Bridges stepped up and carried the team to an over time win at Seton Hall, scoring a team-high 23 points.

4. Xavier Musketeers (26-4, +0, 87 Pts): The Musketeers won their 26th game on Wednesday with an 84-74 victory against the Providence Friars. Trevon Bluiett had another big game, scoring 23 points on 50 percent shooting. Quentin Goodin also chipped in with 18 points with seven rebounds as well. With the Big East Tournament kicking off next week, the Musketeers look to keep their offensive firepower hitting on all cylinders. One improvement coach Mack and his team have to make is their defense. Having one of the worst defenses in the country, Xavier needs to improve if they want to avoid an upset. The Musketeers end their regular season with a road game against DePaul, who they beat 77-72 earlier in the year. It should be a warm up for the rest of the year as Mack's team is far superior than their upcoming opponent. After that, they'll get ready for the Big East Tournament where Xavier will look to solidify their impressive season.

5. Kansas Jayhawks (24-6, +3, 85 Pts): The Jayhawks are coming off winning their 14th straight Big 12th regular season title which shows their dominance with Bill Self at the helm. With one game left on their schedule against Oklahoma State, which looks like a win in my eyes, they look to finish the season 25-6 and a one seed in the Big 12 Tournament. I see them winning the tournament too, with their biggest challenges most likely coming from Texas Tech, West Virginia, TCU, and maybe Texas. If they continue to play how they been playing last five games they will have no problem winning the conference and could even be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, after an uncharacteristic slow start to the year. Despite looking shaky in games against Washington, Arizona State, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma earlier in the season, the Jayhawks have formed into one of the better teams in the nation. They're led by Devonte' Graham, who averages 17.7 points per game.

Sweet Sixteen Rankings:

6. Gonzaga Bulldogs (27-4, +0, 79 Pts)

7. Purdue Boilermakers (26-5, +3, 77 Pts)

8. Duke Blue Devils (24-6, -3, 70 Pts)

9. Cincinnati Bearcats (26-4, +2, 68 Pts)

10. Wichita State Shockers (24-5, -3, 64 Pts)

11. North Carolina (22-8, +1, 57 Pts)

12. Auburn Tigers (24-6, -3, 53 Pts)

13. Michigan Wolverines (26-7, +3, 51 Pts)

14. Ohio State Buckeyes (24-7, +1, 51 Pts)

15. Texas Tech Red Raiders (22-8, -2, 50 Pts)

16. Arizona Wildcats (22-6, -2, 31 Pts)