Overrated and Underrated College Basketball Teams - Reviewing the AP Poll For Week 6

December 12, 2023

Ryan's list of overrated and underrated CBB power rankings from AP, for 2023 NCAA college basketball teams for Week 6. Who are the most overvalued and undervalued college basketball teams after Week 5?

This season in college basketball has led us to believe that there may be no true goliaths. Only three of the top-10 teams remain undefeated, although two of those teams - No. 3 Houston & No. 6 Baylor - have yet to play a ranked opponent. Arizona has sure looked like a dominant team thus far but has an absolute gauntlet coming up with No. 3 Purdue, Alabama, and No. 15 Florida Atlantic on tap.

The rest of the top 25 experienced quite a shift, with four teams experiencing at least a seven-spot move. Two departed, and two more joined the party as we started to see some true colors shine before entering conference play in the next few weeks.

It's time for the next article of a year-long series: Overrated and Underrated College Basketball Teams after the release of the weekly Associated Press Poll. All rankings listed are based on the Week 6 AP Poll.

Overrated College Basketball Teams For Week 6

North Carolina Tar Heels: No Change (Remained at No. 9)

I didn't want to include the Tar Heels in this spot two weeks in a row but the fact they didn't receive a single bump after losing by 11 (+5.5) on a neutral court doesn't make much sense to me. People will argue that it was against a top-five team (UConn - No. 5) in their home away from home (Madison Square Garden), but the Huskies weren't even at full strength and UNC was lucky to even pull within 11 by the end.

I'm still not sure if Hubert Davis is the guy, but one thing that's for certain is that this team is already way better than last year's. Harrison Ingram is an absolute baller, Armando Bacot is a walking double-double yet again, and RJ Davis is an easy Cousy Award candidate. There are definitely some concerns defensively, but I haven't seen anything that makes me think this team can't compete for an ACC title. Even so, the double-digit loss to UConn definitely should bumped them down a couple spots.

Gonzaga Bulldogs: #7 -> #10

Another team that the AP seems to unfairly favor, Gonzaga took an L to the 5-3 Washington squad (KenPom No. 51) and only fell three spots. To give the Zags some credit it was a rockin' crowd in Alaska Airlines Arena and they were only favored by 3.5, but that game was handed to Washington. The execution by Gonzaga on both ends of the floor was atrocious at the end of the game and that allowed the Huskies to steal one.

Dusty Stromer did not look ready for the bright lights, and once again too much responsibility was placed on the shoulders of Hickman and Nembhard. Gonzaga turns the ball over at a rate of 17.9%, which ranks 179th in Division 1. That is incredibly out of character for a Mark Few-led team, who have not had a mark that bad in Few's 20+ year tenure at Gonzaga.  This team has talent, but lacks a go-to guy on offense and also doesn't have enough trusted ballhandlers.

After a buy-game against the last ranked team in D-1 basketball - Mississippi Valley State - Gonzaga then has to play the aforementioned UConn club, who look like an absolute juggernaut right now. That game will be a pro-Zags crowd with the game in Seattle, so the Bulldogs will have a decent shot to get back on track.

Underrated College Basketball Teams For Week 6

Colorado Buffaloes: Unranked (First in Others Receiving Votes)

I wrote about the Buffs as one of my most underrated teams coming into the year, and while they've had their fair share of speed bumps highlighted by a bad loss to Florida State, coach Tad Boyle and Co. seem to have hit their stride. Colorado just absolutely demolished No. 15 Miami at the Barclays Center 90-63, part of the 2023 NABC Brooklyn Showcase. Their two senior leaders - KJ Simpson and Tristan Da Silva - combined for 42 points, with the latter falling one assist short of a triple-double. All five starters hit double figures, with four-year program guy Luke O'Brien hitting three triples off the bench.

Miami has been on a downward trend of late after getting blitzed by Kentucky on the road, but they are still a very talented team and one that is extremely hard to hold to 63 points. This was one of the most impressive performances that I've seen this season, and it definitely deserved a spot in the top-25 for Week 6. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes still find themselves with a spot in the poll.

Marquette Golden Eagles: No. 8 -> No. 7

Losing at Wisconsin was tough, but the Kohl Center is one of the hardest places to play in the country. The 21-point drubbing of Texas mirrored the Kansas game in terms of how methodical and easy it was for the Golden Eagles. Just unstoppable on offense, attacking from anywhere and everywhere, always communicating on the opposite end. 14-30 from three, +7 on the boards against a bigger team, 17 assists on 30 made field goals. Another All-American from Tyler Kolek who dropped a line of 28-8-6 in this one. When this team is on, and it seldom is not, they are a scary bunch.

I do not believe there are five better teams than Marquette in the country. Their ceiling might be the highest out of anyone. The Big East is going to be filled with dogfights every single night of the week, and while Marquette may drop a bit as a result throughout the season, the competition will just get them more prepared for March.

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