Kansas Takes Over The Top Spot In The AP Top 25 Poll, Week 7 After Louisville's Loss To Texas Tech
Preseason number one was Michigan State out of the Big Ten then they lost to Kentucky by a score of 69-62. After Michigan State’s loss Kentucky out of the Southeastern Conference became the new top ranked team in week two but that didn’t last long after their loss to the University Of Evansville inside Rupp Arena by a score of 67-64 and then Duke out of the Atlantic Coast Conference became number one for week three and four until they lost to Stephen F. Austin on their home court then Louisville who like Duke is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference became the new top ranked team in the country for week five as well as week six but that will change as we head into week seven of the season. Louisville drops to third while Kansas becomes the new top ranked team in the country.
Why did Louisville lose their top ranking? Because they lost to Texas Tech.
The Cardinals (9-1) easily played their worst game of the season, shooting an absymal 34 % from the floor and leading scorer Jordan Nwora had only 14 points. Coach Chris Mack let loose his frustration in the Jimmy V Classic game in the final 90 seconds and was whistled for a technical. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
Moretti hit a pair of free throws to seal the win and Texas Tech fans sitting behind the basket told security to ''move the rope, we're running on the floor!'' “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
There was no court storming at the Garden - but another AP No. 1 https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspxbit the dust in an upset. It's the third time an unranked team has beat an AP No. 1 this season. “according to
Texas Tech (6-3) played without leading scorer Jahmi'us Ramsey (17.3 points) for the third straight game because of a hamstring injury. The Red Raiders lost four of their top five scorers off the team that took Virginia to overtime before losing in the NCAA championship game last season.”according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
While fourth-year coach Chris Beard could have expected a bit of a transition season, three straight losses, including one at -- an albeit, improved and nationally ranked -- DePaul made for a rocky start. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
Moretti buried two straight 3s midway through the second half for an 11-point lead that gave the Red Raiders the space they needed. Chris Clarke hit another 3 for Texas Tech and it went into a timeout with a seven-point lead.”according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
Louisville could never make a run, and Nwora was held below his 21.4 scoring average. Louisville missed 3s, layups and generally looked lethargic on offense. Down eight, guard Darius Perry was whistled for a charge in the paint and the unraveling Cards were about out of chances.”according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
Terrance Shannon Jr. came down and made a 3 for Texas Tech that had a surprisingly strong turnout of fans going wild. Security did man the baseline to keep the wildly enthusiastic Red Raiders fans at bay.”according tohttps://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
Beard pointed toward the crowd as he walked toward the locker room and thrust his fist in the air at the friendly fans.”according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
The Cardinals missed 20 of 28 shots overall from the floor in the first half and were limited from 3-point range, the kind of shooting that gave a scuffling team like Texas Tech a chance. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
And who knew, the walk-on would lead them. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
Avery Benson, one of only three players back from last year's team, had the Red Raiders fans going wild with a pair of highlight-reel blocks that stunned the Cards. Benson stuffed Nowra, a player of the year candidate, and then finished the half with a monster rejection off a Lamarr Kimble shot at the horn to send the Red Raiders into halftime up 31-28. They led by as many as nine in the half and were in prime position to pull off the No. 1 stunner. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
The Garden saw its share of top teams since the season opened: Michigan State in the Champions Classic and Duke in the 2K Empire Classic also were No. 1 in the AP poll in games played at MSG. They aren't No. 1 anymore - and by Monday's poll, the Cardinals should be knocked off the perch. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/12/10/mens-basketball-cardinals-fall-to-texas-tech-70-57.aspx
Why is Kansas the top ranked team in the country?
Since their loss to Duke on opening night of the season Kansas has won nine straight games with their most recent win coming against Kansas City.
Sophomore forward David McCormack poured in a career-high 28 points to lead No. 2/3 Kansas to a convincing 98-57 win over the Kansas City Roos Saturday night inside Sprint Center. Devon Dotson and Marcus Garrett joined McCormack scoring in double-figure as the Jayhawks shot 58 percent from the field and forced the Roos into 22 turnovers. “according to https://kuathletics.com/mbb-gameday10-kansascity/
The victory marked the Jayhawks’ ninth-straight and improved KU to 9-1 on the year. Kansas City fell to 5-7 in its 2019-20 campaign. “according to https://kuathletics.com/mbb-gameday10-kansascity/
It wasn’t the fastest of starts for the Jayhawks, who managed only four field goals over the first eight minutes of action, allowing Kansas City to jump out to a 13-10 lead. KC’s Jordan Giles connected on a jumper at the 11:52 mark to give his squad the 3-point advantage, however, that would be the final highlight for the Roos on the night. “according to https://kuathletics.com/mbb-gameday10-kansascity/
Kansas sophomore guard Tristan Enaruna slashed to the rim less than 20 seconds later to kickstart a 33-11 KU run over the remainder of the first half. McCormack scored 14 of the Jayhawks’ final 20 points to close that half as KU headed to the locker room with a 43-24 advantage.”according to https://kuathletics.com/mbb-gameday10-kansascity/
It was more of the same after play resumed in the second stanza. Dotson connected on his first and only 3-pointer of the night 12 seconds after the restart to push the KU advantage to 22 points. The bucket was the first of a 24-9 run that saw the Jayhawks swell their lead to 39 points, 72-33, before the under-12 minute media timeout. KU’s defense also locked down the Roo shooters, keeping KC to only one field goal during a six-minute stretch during the Jayhawk run.”according to https://kuathletics.com/mbb-gameday10-kansascity/
McCormack was again the catalyst during KU’s quick start to the second half. The sophomore shot in 10 points in the first five minutes of the half to pull his total tally to 28 points, a new career high, on an efficient 11-of-14 from the field. McCormack did all of this in under 17 minutes of action. “according to https://kuathletics.com/mbb-gameday10-kansascity/
With the lead up to 40 points midway through the half, Bill Self emptied his bench with 11 of the 12 Jayhawks to enter the game able to enter the scoring column. KU hit 62.9 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes of action to finish the game with a 57.6 clip. It marked the fourth-straight game the Jayhahttps://kuathletics.com/mbb-gameday10-kansascity/wks were above 50 percent from the field and the seventh game this season. “according to
Dotson and Garrett were the other two Jayhawks to score in double-figures, with Dotson netting 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and Garrett adding 13 points, eight of which came in the first half. “according to https://kuathletics.com/mbb-gameday10-kansascity/
The KU defense closed out the night forcing 22 Kansas City turnovers, which the Jayhawks converted into 30 points. Kansas also limited the Roos to 42.3 percent shooting from the field, the ninth time in its first 10 outings of the season the Jayhawks have held their opponent to under 45 percent from the field. “according to https://kuathletics.com/mbb-gameday10-kansascity/
As for the rest of the AP Top 25 poll, It looks like this.
Kansas
Gonzaga
Louisville
Duke
Ohio State
Kentucky
Maryland
Oregon
Virginia
Baylor
Memphis
Auburn
Dayton
Michigan
Michigan State
Arizona
Butler
Villanova
Florida State
San Diego State
Tennessee
Washington
Penn State
Texas Tech
West Virginia