Kansas basketball: Latest AP poll good for Jayhawks
By Stan Unruh
The Kansas basketball team dropped in the latest Associated Press ranking. Six Big 12 teams are among listed among the nation’s best this week.
Kansas basketball fans did not appreciate Monday’s Associated Press college basketball poll. As a matter of fact, many fans are upset with the latest ranking of the best teams in the land. The Jayhawks won a tough road game against a good Big Ten team but dropped a spot from13 to 14. I don’t understand the drop it but there are some things I did like in this poll that are good for the Jayhawks.
The Big 12 is getting the recognition it deserves. The poll shows the Jayhawks play in the best conference in the country. There are 4 ACC teams in this week’s poll. It also includes 3 SEC teams and just two from the Big 10 and Bill Walton’s Pac 12 Conference of Champions.
The only other Kansas team in the Top-25 dropped out of the Top-10. Thanks to Lon Kruger and the Sooners win in Wichita, the Sooners are now ranked and deserve it. In addition to a 108-point performance against the Jayhawks’ Monday opponent Omaha, they a couple of other quality wins. They beat Oregon in Portland and edged Southern Cal in Los Angeles.
With their 9-1 record, Bob Huggins West Virginia guys are the only Big 12 team in the Top Ten. The Mountaineers dropped their season opener to a very good Texas A&M team. They are undefeated since.
The only remaining undefeated team in the Big 12 comes in just below Kansas basketball. TCU moved up a spot from last week. The Frogs scored 99 on Omaha in November. They have no remarkable wins thus far. They host the Jayhawks the first week of 2018.
Two more Big 12 teams round out the poll
Next: Kansas Jayhawk fans move up in 2017 Fandom 250
I’m glad Baylor and Texas Tech round out the top 21 in the current poll. The Bears knocked off Wisconsin in November but lost a close game to Wichita State. The Red Raiders may be better than anyone expected after wins over Northwestern and Boston College. Hall of Fame coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks will once again have a huge task ahead. Conference play begins next week.