Now that Kentucky completely spit their number one bit against the South Carolina Gamecocks, who will be the new number one team in next Monday’s poll?  Currently, the Kansas Jayhawks are in the second position, and an impressive win against Missouri puts them in the driver’s seat.

However, their Saturday prime time game at Kansas State will go a long way in determining next week’s top team. Considering how K-State dispatched Texas in Manhattan, the Jayhawks certainly have a tough hill to climb.

Behind Kansas lies perhaps the two best teams in the Big East — Villanova and Syracuse.  Both teams have relatively easy weeks with Syracuse facing DePaul on Saturday and Villanova going against Notre Dame later on this evening.  All things being equal, I fully expect both the Orange and Philadelphia’s version of the Wildcats to enjoy commanding wins.  This, however, brings up a question:

Will either team leap frog the Jayhawks if they struggle with Kansas State?  Considering the quality wins on Syracuse’s schedule — West Virginia, Georgetown, at Notre Dame, at North Carolina, Florida — there’s already a substantial case for them to be the top team in land already, and now that the undefeated teams are no more, I’m not sure what’s going to stop them from getting a turn at the top, besides an unforeseen loss.

And, as of now, the Kansas Jayhawks.

Of course, if Kentucky beats Vanderbilt on Saturday, coupled with a Kansas loss and underwhelming performances by ‘Nova and the ‘Cuse,  John Calipari’s team might stay on top of the polls.

Meanwhile, Tom Izzo simply continues to win with  his Michigan State squad.  If the current top four aren’t careful, the Spartans could very well steal everybody’s thunder and find themselves on top of the college basketball polls.  Isn’t the revolving door of college basketball fun?

And just think, March is only a month and change away.