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By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Basketball Author
The Massive Ten Convention had an astonishing 9 of its groups ranked within the High 25 within the newest ballot Monday.
Naturally, one of the best ranked of them would instantly lose to an unranked opponent.
Maryland’s victory over sixth-ranked Wisconsin on Monday night time — together with No. 21 Minnesota’s rout of No. 17 Michigan State — units the stage for what might be an epic begin to the brand new yr within the improbably deep Massive Ten.
Tenth-ranked Iowa, recent off its extra time loss to the Golden Gophers, takes on No. 19 Northwestern on Tuesday night time whereas No. 14 Purdue hosts Rutgers. Nebraska heads to No. 25 Ohio State on Wednesday, and Minnesota faces the Badgers and No. 16 Michigan tries to stay unbeaten in opposition to the Terps on New Yr’s Eve.
All earlier than the weekend even begins.
The Hawkeyes proceed their brutal schedule at Rutgers on Saturday, when Purdue heads to No. 15 Illinois and Michigan State visits the Cornhuskers. The weekend wraps up Sunday with Wisconsin visiting Penn State, Northwestern heading to Michigan and Ohio State touring to Minnesota in a pair of matchups involving ranked groups.
Prepare for a wild begin to 2021 within the Massive Ten.
After blowing out then-No. 16 Virginia, giving the Bulldogs a document 4 wins in opposition to High 25 groups within the first seven video games of a season, coach Mark Few’s workforce lastly will get a breather this week. Gonzaga ran roughshod over Northern Arizona on Monday night time within the make-up of a recreation canceled earlier in December as a result of COVID-19, then turns round to face Dixie State on Tuesday night time. The Bulldogs’ breezy week concludes Saturday in opposition to San Francisco.
“They’re one of the best we’ve performed to date,” Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett stated, “and look like well-deserving of that rating.”
Two groups which have navigated their first six video games and not using a loss meet Wednesday night time when seventh-ranked Tennessee visits No. 12 Missouri within the Southeastern Convention opener for each groups.
On Saturday, the Atlantic Coast Convention takes heart stage. No. 18 Florida State performs No. 20 Duke in solely the third recreation for the Blue Devils since Dec. 4, and No. 23 Virginia performs No. 24 Virginia Tech in a showdown of faculties separated by about 150 miles of Interstate 81. The Hokies have already got wins over groups that have been ranked in Villanova and Clemson.
The Massive Ten has essentially the most groups within the High 25 however the Massive 12 could have one of the best — the league has 5 groups ranked within the high 13. And two of one of the best meet at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday when No. eight Texas visits third-ranked Kansas.
Second-ranked Baylor added a late tune-up in opposition to Central Arkansas on Tuesday night time earlier than touring to Iowa State on Saturday. No. 9 West Virginia heads to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State visits No. 13 Texas Tech the identical afternoon.
Fifth-ranked Houston has navigated a schedule marked by a showdown with the Purple Raiders and three postponements as a result of COVID-19 and not using a loss. The Cougars needs to be heavy favorites in opposition to Tulsa on Tuesday night time earlier than a marque recreation within the American Athletic Convention in opposition to unbeaten SMU on Sunday.
No. 11 Creighton performs its first recreation since beating then-No. 22 Xavier on Dec. three when it visits Windfall on Saturday.
In the meantime, Villanova needs it may play anyone proper now. The fourth-ranked Wildcats paused their season Sunday when coach Jay Wright examined constructive for COVID-19. Their recreation in opposition to the Musketeers on Saturday has been postponed however no determination has been made for the following three Massive East video games in opposition to DePaul, Marquette and Connecticut.
“Our gamers have been very diligent and disciplined with all the COVID protocols,” Wright stated in a press release issued by the varsity. “Sadly, we’ve had two workers members check constructive. I’m considered one of them. My signs are gentle, and we stay related as a workforce and workers by telephone and Zoom.”
Extra AP school basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/School-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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