Editor's note: This edition is for games played from Monday, Jan. 11, through Sunday, Jan. 17.
Team Of The Week: Virginia
Last week: Beat Georgia Tech 82-75; Beat Miami 75-57
There's no way I thought UVa would nab this honor in mid-January.
I knew coach Tony Bennett could take a collection of players, mold them into his style and maximize the talent. But he's clearly exceeding the expectations for this squad.
Virginia was projected to finish with NC State at the bottom of the ACC. Three games into conference play, the Cavaliers are the only undefeated team in the league and looking as confident as any other squad in the conference.
Virginia isn't just squeezing out wins, either. This past week the Cavs beat Georgia Tech after the Yellow Jackets had beaten Duke. Tech then went on the road and beat North Carolina. Clearly, the Jackets are one of the most talented teams in the ACC. So taking out Georgia Tech, keeping the Yellow Jackets off the free-throw line (3-of-11) and playing an unselfish game, was no fluke.
Virginia is getting balanced scoring from Sylven Landesberg, Mike Scott, Sammy Zeglinski and Mustapha Farrakhan. But it's the defense down the stretch that is winning games.
In the win over Miami, Virginia blitzed the Hurricanes with a 33-21 halftime lead and never looked back.
That means the Cavaliers have won three games against teams that were ranked in the AP poll at one point (UAB, Georgia Tech and Miami).
Virginia is still fragile. The Cavs could easily lose to anyone remaining on their schedule. But if the home court continues to be a staple for them, then it's not unrealistic to think they can win at least six more ACC games. If they do, the Cavs would be 9-7 in conference play and right there to get an NCAA berth. That in itself was unthinkable two months ago, a credit to Bennett and to the players who believed in him like the ones who did at Washington State. The Bennett hire was questioned, only because he came from outside the region. It was never an issue about his coaching.
Other Contenders
Pitt: A road win at Connecticut and then a great comeback victory over Louisville at home, and the Panthers are the surprise team in the Big East at 5-0. They are a true contender to win the title.
Syracuse: The Orange, the original surprise team in the league, continue to roll since being clipped by Pitt. Syracuse had a solid win at West Virginia, holding on late to preserve a road victory that maybe no one else will get this season.
Michigan State: The Spartans are proving once again to be the class of the Big Ten. Michigan State easily dispatched Illinois and has already created some distance in the race with Purdue (three games).
Ohio State: The Buckeyes picked up one of the biggest road wins of the season in beating Purdue at Mackey Arena, where I thought the Boilermakers wouldn't lose. Ohio State then avenged a loss without Evan Turner at Wisconsin, taking down the Badgers in the second half to prove that the Buckeyes, maybe more than Purdue, will be Michigan State's biggest challenger.
Clemson: The Tigers pounded North Carolina to snap a 10-game losing streak to the Heels and enjoyed a worthy court-storming. But what the Tigers did at NC State, without Demontez Stitt for much of the second half (sprained foot making him questionable at Georgia Tech) was just as impressive. The Tigers didn't wilt at NC State on the road, getting off to a fantastic start to erase the issues of their being "paper Tigers" on the road.
Kentucky: The Wildcats are clearly the runaway favorite in the SEC. But holding on at Florida and at Auburn proves they can handle difficult road assignments. The Wildcats will get everyone's best shot, and Kentucky isn't being fazed in the final possessions.