College Hoops

Sizing up college basketball’s 5 unbeaten teams

Andy Katz

The men’s college basketball season has been filled with surprises, but the remaining unbeaten teams were simply not on the preseason plan. All of them have been better than projected to this point.Β 

Of course, running the table is not to be expected, but getting to Christmas without a blemish is still a significant accomplishment.

Here’s the breakdown.

Purdue (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten)

Purdue proved it was the team to beat in the Big Ten and one of the best in the country by winning the PK Legacy in Portland. Purdue came off a win over what we now know is a quality Marquette squad and ran through the three most difficult games in Portland for the title. The Boilermakers beat West Virginia by 12 in a physical game and then easily dispatched Gonzaga and Drew Timme 84-66 and then Duke 75-56 in the title game.Β 

Playing at Florida State was a classic trap game loss after this title. Long travel and going to a team not normally known for struggling was the recipe for a defeat. But it didn’t happen. Purdue found a way to win by taking down the Seminoles in Tallahassee 76-69.Β 

The Big Ten slate wasn’t filled with the toughest duo (opening with Minnesota) but the Boilermakers dealt with adversity in winning at Nebraska in overtime before beating Davidson. The reason for all of this success has to do with a couple things:Β 

Purdue’s Zach Edey and Gonzaga’s Drew Timme lead Player of the Year tiers

  1. Zach Edey. He has been the most dominant big and the new favorite to be the national player of the year. The 7-4 Edey is in the best shape of his life, logging an average of 31 minutes a game and posting 22/13 numbers. He’s a lock for double figures every night. And while he blocks on average 2.2 a game, he probably alters even more.
  2. The biggest surprise the Boilermakers are still undefeated has to do with the freshmen guards and the role players. Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith don’t play like freshman at all. Loyer is a scorer and is averaging 13 a game while Smith is a rugged, tough playmaker who hasn’t gotten rattled. Caleb Furst, Brandon Newman, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Mason Giles and Ethan Morton all know their roles. This team may not be as talented as last season’s but the Boilers are clearly more aligned. A Final Four/title appearance is definitely within reach.

[College Basketball Power Rankings: UCLA, Pac-12 make statement]

UConn (12-0, 1-0 Big East)Β 

The Huskies clearly have shown that they are a title contender and not…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at FOX Sports Digital…