College basketball rankings can vary, depending on parameters, voters, opinions. What counts, ultimately are the games. The games are the things. The men’s college basketball March Madness will begin in early March with conference tournaments and conclude with the championship game Monday, April 4 in New Orleans.
Auburn University, with a big victory against Kentucky last weekend in the Southeastern Conference, was elevated to No. 1 by the Associated Press writer’s poll for its first residence as a No. 1 ranking. Auburn, 18-1, was seven points below Gonzaga, 15-2, in the coaches poll. Teams in both polls: Last season’s tournament champion Baylor, No. 4; Kansas, No. 5; Big Ten Conference teams Purdue, No. 6; Michigan State, No. 10; Wisconsin, No. 11; Ohio State, No. 16; in the coaches poll Illinois is No. 21 and in the writers poll, Illinois is No. 24.
There is a first-year poll, NCAA Men’s Net Rankings, which according to its site uses strength of schedule. It offers a third No. 1 team, Arizona, 16-1, which was No. 3 in each of the other two polls. Other Net rankings: No. 2, Gonzaga, No. 3; Houston; No. 4 Baylor; No. 5 Auburn; No. 6 Villanova; No. 7 Kansas; No. 8 Purdue; No. 9 Kentucky; No. 10 LSU. Illinois, even after two defeats is No. 14. Michigan State is No. 18, Iowa, 19, Wisconsin, 20. Let the tournaments begin!
• It is good to know that Roger Powell, Jr. is doing well. He is an assistant coach with Gonzaga, in his third year. See Bobby Narang’s piece on Powell’s scouting of Glenbard West’s 6-11 Braden Huff, who will matriculate at Gonzaga next school year. Powell, the former Joliet Central High School player, was a starter on the University of Illlinois team in 2005 that took second place in the tournament. He had tastes of the National Basketball Association with the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. He played professionally in Italy, Israel, Spain, France, and Germany. He started his coaching career June 2011 with Valparaiso as an assistant with Bryce Drew and went with Drew to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.. Powell is in his third season at Gonzaga under head coach Mark Few. Long-time high school basketball observers will recall Roger Powell, Sr. was a star player at Joliet Central. He was a three-year starter for Illinois State University. Today he is the commissioner of the Joliet Housing Authority. There is life after basketball.
• Starting out life in basketball are high school players. The Little Ten Conference will hold its boys basketball honored conference tournament, January 29 through February 4 at Somonauk High School. Strong Somonauk is seeded No. 1 and followed in seeding, in order, by Hinckley-Big Rock, Newark, Serena, Earlville, IMSA, Indian Creek, DePue, Hiawatha, LaMoille, Leland. Eleven teams are in the Little Ten following many years of eight and nine teams in the Little Ten Conference. There will be three games Saturday, Jan. 29.
• In the girls Little Ten Conference results at Serena High School, Serena defeated Somonauk-Leland Coop, 56-23 in the championship game, Newark took third place with a 58-30 victory against Earlville, and Indian Creek defeated Hinckley-Big Rock, 48-39, for the consolation championship.
• Excitement in the National Football League playoffs last weekend propels the League forward with captivating field goals in the waning seconds to decide three of the four games. Likely the most thrilling finish was Kansas City’s 42-36 victory in overtime against Buffalo when each team scored late repeatedly and each team faced dramatic defeat. Hearts stopped in Buffalo.