The Santa Clara men’s basketball team is in sole possession of first place in the WCC. The Broncos are 21-5 this season and 12-1 in the conference with a half-game lead over Gonzaga and 1.5 games ahead of Saint Mary’s. They moved up five spots in this week’s Other Top 25 from No. 10 to No. 5. This marks the first time this season they have cracked the top five.
Herb Sendek’s team is 35th in BartTorvik, 38th in KenPom and 41st in the NET. It has won eight in a row and sits 21st in Torvik during this streak.
Saint Louis remained as the top team in the ranking for a fourth straight week. The Billikens are 23-1 and winners of 17 in a row. Miami (OH), one of two undefeated teams in Division I, remained in second place. The RedHawks are 24-0.
Utah St. held steady at No. 3 as well. The Aggies are winners of five straight to improve to 20-3. They went to The Pit last week and dominated New Mexico by 20. Saint Mary’s moved up one spot to fourth. The Gaels are 21-4 on the season.
San Diego St. remained locked into No. 6. The Aztecs are tied with USU for first place in the Mountain West at 11-2. VCU moved up one spot and has won seven consecutive games. George Mason slid four spots after dropping its second game in the last five. The Patriots started Atlantic 10 play 6-0 but is now 9-2 and tied with the Rams for second place in the standings. Belmont stayed put in ninth this week. The Bruins have won nine in a row to move to 22-3.
Liberty cracked the top 10 and came in at No. 10. The Flames are a perfect 12-0 in Conference USA and are 20-3 overall. They have won 14 consecutive games. New Mexico followed at No. 11 after dropping four spots.
Here is the full ranking:
Winthrop 10; Charleston 8; Appalachian St. 7; Troy 4; UC Irvine 3; UNC Wilmington 2; East Tennessee St. 2; Navy 1; North Dakota St. 1
UNC Wilmington – 20; UC Irvine – 21; Portland St. – 22; Montana – T-23
