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| Tyler Griffey's wide open layup at the buzzer took down top-ranked Indiana, the fifth straight week No. 1 has lost. |
Jan. 12: #20 NC State 84, #1 Duke 76
Jan. 19: #6 Syracuse 70, #1 Louisville 68
Jan. 23: #25 Miami 90, #1 Duke 63
Feb. 2: #3 Indiana 81, AP #1 Michigan 73
Feb. 2: Oklahoma State 85, Coaches' #1 Kansas 80
Feb. 7: Illinois 74, #1 Indiana 72
It has become a curse to be ranked number one in either poll. Five consecutive weeks the top team in the country has lost, including on week the top spot belonged to a different team in each poll, and in that week both suffered losses. Six teams in five weeks. Who wants to be at the top?
Duke has gone down twice, as has Indiana. Louisville's loss triggered a three game losing streak, and Kansas is now in the midst of a two game losing streak, the most recent coming to TCU, easily the most embarrassing loss by anyone this year.
Michigan lost on the road to a Final Four contender in Indiana, and they seem poised to reclaim the top spot this week provided they can take care of Wisconsin on the road tomorrow. Having said that, they're kind of the de facto number one after #2 Florida lost to Arkansas, so watch out!
I think that one of the things we are seeing this year is the great leveling of the playing field. Powerhouses are never safe, and mid- and low-majors are rising up to match the talent at the top. Greatness doesn't mean dominance, and mediocrity doesn't lead to the Big Dance.
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Speaking of mediocrity, how about BYU? I think they have officially played themselves out of any chance at an at-large bid with last night's loss to San Diego. It would take an undefeated remainder of the regular season, a trip to the WCC championship game, Gonzaga winning that championship game, and many bubble teams losing early in their conference tournaments to teams with losing records. And even then it will be pushing it. So instead the Cougars had better plan on winning the conference tourney if they plan on dancing this year.
