By Adam Kiefaber

The regular season is almost over.

Most teams will play their last games next weekend before conference tournaments begin.

Here is a look at what should be my last regular season top 25.

1) UCLA 25-3 (13-2 PAC-10) (last week: No. 5)
The Bruins deserve more credit for playing in the nation’s toughest conference. Many so-called experts have UCLA as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but those same people say that when UCLA wins the conference tournament (and those people expect that to happen) than they should get a No. 1 seed. Why not give it to them now? I have Stanford as a No. 2 seed right now and UCLA seems to be at least a level above them. However, we shall see when the teams square off on Thursday (March 6). The other two games left are on Sunday at Arizona and versus California next Saturday (March 8).
2) Tennessee 25-3 (11-2 SEC) (last week: No. 2)
The Volunteers were briefly ranked No. 1 in both major polls after their win on the road against Memphis. UT played a great game, but Memphis’ weakness was exposed and that was the team’s inability to hit shots from the free-throw line. Despite this week’s loss to Vandy, if Tennessee wins out and wins the conference tournament, it should be a lock for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Vols play Kentucky on Sunday, are at Florida on Wednesday and face South Carolina on Sunday (March 9).
3) Memphis 27-1 (13-0 C-USA) (last week: No. 1)
No doubt that the Tigers have the most talent in college basketball, but because of their inability to make free-throw attempts and their lack of a tough schedule I don’t see them being able to win the NCAA Tournament. However, I do see them making the Final Four, but who knows I remember one time I picked the tournament’s play-in game winner to go to the Sweet Sixteen (if you know anything about the tournament’s history than you have to know that I was dead wrong). Memphis closes out its season with a road game at Southern Miss on Saturday, another road game at SMU on Wednesday and a home game against UAB next Saturday (March 8).
4) North Carolina 26-2 (11-2 ACC) (last week: No. 4)
UNC is in great position to grab a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. All the Tar Heels have to do is beat Duke. With point guard Ty Lawson back, their fans are confident. UNC finishes the season with a road game at BC this Saturday, a home game versus Florida St. on Tuesday and at Duke next Saturday (March 8). Look for a UNC/Duke re-match in the conference tournament.
5) Texas 24-4 (11-2 Big 12) (last week: No. 7)
The Longhorns are playing better than anyone in the country right now. They are playing so well that many bracket experts are giving UT a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. To get that No. 1 seed, Texas will need to win out and win the conference tournament. That probably means that the Longhorns will have to face Kansas again. Texas finishes out its regular season with a road game at Texas Tech on Saturday, a home game versus Nebraska and another home contest against Oklahoma St. next Sunday (March 9).
6) Kansas 25-3 (10-3 Big 12) (last week: No. 3)
The Jayhawks just haven’t been the same since their first loss of the season to Kansas St. on Jan. 30. Prior to that, Kansas looked unstoppable and have lost two more games since. Kansas will be looking for revenge in a home game against Kansas St. on Saturday, then they will have a home game versus Texas Tech on Monday and finish the year with a road game at Texas A&M next Saturday (March 8).
7) Stanford 23-4 (12-3 PAC 10) (last week: No. 8)
The Cardinal could have a tough time receiving a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The last three games include a home game against Washington State on Saturday, a road game at UCLA on Thursday and another road contest at USC next Saturday (March 8). If Stanford wins all three and the conference tournament than it should receive a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
8) Duke 24-3 (11-2 ACC) (last week: No. 6)
The Blue Devils bounced back from their unexpected collapse (losses against Wake Forest and Miami) with wins over St. John’s and Georgia Tech. Duke should continue to win with road contests against N.C. State (March 1) and against Virginia (March 5), but its last game of the season versus UNC should be interesting.
9) Georgetown 23-4 (13-3 Big East) (last week: No. 10)
I have the Hoyas getting a No. 2 seed (over Duke) in the NCAA Tournament right now because of the strength of their conference. To get that seed, GTOWN will need to win the conference tournament, however they need to win its two remaining regular season games first. The Hoyas will visit Marquette this Saturday and then will face Louisville next Saturday (March 8) at home for what could be for the regular season Big East title.
10) Vanderbilt 24-4 (9-4 SEC) (last week: No. 20)
The Commodores earned a lot of respect with their win over then-ranked (in both major polls) No. 1 Tennessee on Tuesday. The conference record is not great, but this team is on fire and needs to continue winning to hold this spot and a possible No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Vandy finishes out its season with a road game at Arkansas on Saturday, a home game against Mississippi State on Wednesday and on the road at Alabama next Saturday (March 8).
11) Wisconsin 24-4 (14-2 Big Ten) (last week: No. 11)
The Badgers should finish out the regular season with two more wins. They face Penn St. on Wednesday and will visit Northwestern on Saturday. This team is starting to play its best (which means ugly and boring wins) right now and should win the Big Ten title.
12) Indiana 24-4 (13-2 Big Ten) (last week: No. 12)
The Hooisers don’t look like the same team that they were under Kelvin Sampson, but I sense a turnaround is on the horizon. I just have a feeling that this team could catch fire and give Wisconsin a tough time (if Purdue doesn’t knock the Badgers out first) in the conference tournament. We should get a better idea of how IU will get through the Sampson saga when it visits Michigan St. on Sunday. The Hooisers finish the season with a home game against Minnesota on Wednesday and then will visit Penn St. next Sunday (March 9).
13) Xavier 24-4 (12-1 A-10) (last week: No. 9)
I think I’m starting to lose the A-10 love. Xavier is a great team and has beaten some solid non-conference opponents like Indiana, Kent St. and Kansas St., but I think the A-10 is overrated. Some bracket experts have XU getting a No. 2 seed - I have X getting a No. 3 - If it wins out and wins the conference tournament it will receive a favorable seed on Selection Sunday. X finishes the season with a home game against George Washington on Saturday, a road game at Saint Joseph’s on Thursday and then it ends with a home game versus Richmond next Saturday (March 8).
14) Louisville 23-6 (13-3 Big East) (last week: No. 15)
The Cardinals are currently tied with GTOWN for the Big East regular season title. Louisville didn’t start out the season that well, but they have turned it around. Right now, I have the Cardinals as a No. 4 seed. They finish out the year at home against Villanova on Sunday and at Georgetown next Saturday (March 8).
15) Connecticut 22-6 (11-4 Big East) (last week: No. 13)
The Huskies should be a contender to win the conference tournament. They finish the year with a home game against WVU, a road game at Providence on Thursday and a home game versus Cincinnati next Saturday (March 8).
16) Purdue 22-6 (13-2 Big Ten) (last week: No. 14)
The Boilermakers are one of the surprise teams of the year. Everyone knew that they had a bunch of young talent, but everyone thought it would take a season or two before they would be able to come up with results like this. Purdue finishes its season with a home game against Northwestern on Saturday, and two road games at Ohio State on Tuesday and at Michigan next Sunday (March 9)
17) Notre Dame 21-6 (11-4 Big East) (last week: No. 16)
The Irish just lost to Louisville last night. Notre Dame should finish out its last three games with wins - at DePaul (March 2), vs. St. John’s (March 5) and at South Florida (March 8).
18) Washington St. 22-6 (10-6 PAC 10) (last week: No. 17)
The Cougars are finally starting to play like the team that was ranked so high at the start of the season. WSU will visit Stanford on Saturday and will play Washington at home next Saturday (March 8).
19) Butler 26-3 (15-2 Horizon) (last week: No. 19)
I do have the Bulldogs receiving a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which looks a little off considering the No. 19 ranking, but the bid is because I’m predicting what the selection committee will do, not what I would do. Butler’s season ends this Saturday with a home game against Detroit. The Horizon League Tournament will begin on Tuesday (March 4).
20) Marquette 21-6 (11-5 Big East) (last week: No. 24)
The Golden Eagles are another team (like WSU) that I really liked in the preseason, but struggled during parts of this season just to turn it around now. Marquette plays GTOWN at home this Saturday, followed by a strange home game against Fla. Gulf Coast and a road game at Syracuse next Saturday (March 8).
21) Michigan St. 22-6 (10-5 Big Ten) (last week: No. 18)
I almost wanted to knock MSU out of the top 25 after its ugly loss to Wisconsin tonight. However, I had to remind myself that is what happens when you play Wisconsin, you usually lose in ugly fashion. Nonetheless, MSU has been a major disappointment this season, I expect them to dominate the Big Ten. MSU will finish the season with a home game against Indiana on Sunday, and two road games at Illinois on Thursday and at Ohio State next Sunday (March 9).
22) Kent St. 23-5 (11-2 MAC) (last week: not ranked)
Life in the MAC isn’t easy. Road games are tough and if you lose them than it is hard to have a chance of being ranked. The Golden Flashes finish out their season at Bowling Green on Saturday, at home against Miami (Oh.) on Tuesday and at rival Akron next Sunday (March 9).
23) St. Mary’s 24-4 (11-1 WAC) (last week: No. 21)
The Gaels have a big game at Gonzaga this Saturday. Their last game is at Portland on Monday. The WCC Tournament starts next Friday (March 7).
24) USC 18-9 (9-6 PAC 10) (last week: not ranked)
The Trojans looked impressive in their win over Arizona last night. USC finishes out the season at Arizona St. on Saturday, at home against CAL on Thursday and against Stanford at home next Saturday (March 8).
25) Kentucky 16-10 (10-3) (last week: not ranked)
Talk about a turnaround. I remember a segment on PTI earlier this season debating if UK would win 10 games all season. Guess what? UK not only did that, but they also have 10 conference wins with three games left. The Wildcats finish the season with road games against Tennessee on Sunday and at South Carolina on Wednesday. The last game of the year is at home against Florida. Kentucky needs to finish strong to convince the selection committee that it is deserving of a tournament bid.

Dropped Out: No. 22 Texas A&M, No. 23 Drake, No. 25 BYU

This entry was posted Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 9:45 am and is filed under CBR's Top 25 rankings. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.