biggest risers and fallers of 2023
The college hoops AP Poll looks quite a bit different than it did at the start of the season, with nine teams entering the final poll of 2023 that weren’t there to begin the season. So, let’s go over a few of the biggest risers and fallers of 2023.
Risers
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma entered the season picked 12th in the preseason Big 12 poll, and weren’t considered a tournament team coming off a 15-17 season. Now, Oklahoma sits at 12-1 and ranked #12 in the latest AP Poll, with its only loss coming to #9 North Carolina on a neutral court. The Sooners won its first 10 games of the season and picked up wins against USC and Providence. The backcourt of Javian McCollum and Otega Oweh has been the driver for this Sooners team, with both averaging 15 points a game and shooting 45% and 65% from the floor respectively. As one of the more balanced teams in the country, it is a solid 3-point shooting team and has only scored under 79 points in a game once. Its defense has also been a huge driver for its success. We’ll get a true taste on if Porter Moser’s squad is a legit contender when Big 12 play starts.
BYU Cougars
In its first season in the Big 12 coming over from the WCC, the Cougars were picked 13th in the Big 12 preseason poll and are proving to be another reason why the Big 12 is the best conference in the entire country. BYU sits at 12-1 and ranked #14 in the most recent AP Poll. It is ranked #7 in offensive efficiency and #8 in defensive efficiency at kenpom.com, but its prolific offense is proving to be close to unstoppable. With one of the highest effective field goal percentages in the country and six players averaging double figures, this team is going to be really tough to stop once conference play begins. It also shoots almost 40% as a team from beyond the arc, with 3 guys shooting over 40%. Jaxson Robinson has been playing like one of the best players in the country to lead this squad, averaging 16 points on 48% shooting from the field and 41% from 3.
Colorado State Rams
This Rams squad has been one of the most exciting teams to watch all season, led by potential All-American play from guard Isaiah Stevens. Stevens is averaging 17 points and almost 8 assists on 54% shooting from the field and 46% from three point range. Niko Medved has brought his team from being ranked 5th in the preseason Mountain West poll to #15 in the most recent AP Poll, with wins over Creighton, Colorado, and Washington. As one of the best scoring teams nationally, it has shown a struggle to keep up with opponents when shots aren’t falling. But in the grand scheme of things, with a potential All-American and one of the scariest offensive teams in the nation, it will be fun to watch throughout the second half of the season.
Fallers
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State entered the season ranked #4 in the entire country and now sits with an 8-5 record with losses to James Madison, Duke, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. I wrote about MSU after its opening loss at home to James Madison, and talked about the complete lack of an interior threat, and really no consistent scoring besides Tyson Walker. It was one of the best 3 point shooting teams in the country last year, and those numbers did not stick with it coming into this season, as it is currently shooting 34% from outside as a team. Over its last few games, the Spartans have looked so much better, though. It has now picked up four straight wins, including an 88-64 blowout win versus then #6 Baylor. We’ll see if Tom Izzo can turn things around and bring his team back to the NCAA Tournament for the 26th straight year.
Saint Mary’s Gaels
The Gaels entered the season ranked #23 in the preseason AP Poll and were expected to be one of the more intriguing teams to pay attention to throughout the season behind the expected sophomore breakout of Aidan Mahaney. Unfortunately, this hasn’t happened yet and Saint Mary’s has really struggled to find any rhythm on the offensive end of the floor. With one of the best defenses in the country, it has plenty of time to turn things around, but for now, it sits with a 9-6 record with some brutal losses, including to Weber State, to Xavier by 17, and to Missouri State. The way Aidan Mahaney played towards the end of last season and the fact that Saint Mary’s plays in a WCC that is looking weaker than ever this year, it’s not quite time to give up on the Gaels.
Illinois Fighting Illini
This one is more recent, and has a bit of a unique circumstance. All season, Illinois has looked awesome and has secured itself as that #2 team in the Big 10 behind Purdue. It started the season ranked #25 and has shot up to #11 behind a 10-2 record including a win against Florida Atlantic. It has a top 20 offense and defense nationally, and its length and athleticism has proved to be extremely difficult for any team to deal with. It has been led by All-American level play by Terrence Shannon Jr., who is averaging 22 points a game on 51% shooting from the field and 41% shooting from 3 point range. But, that’s why it's now falling. On December 27th, a warrant was issued for Shannon’s arrest after an alleged rape incident that occurred on September 8th came back up. It has been reported that Illinois was caught off guard by the severity of the charges and there is no conclusion on Shannon’s punishment. But, if he’s taken off this team, that is such a drastic hit that will plummet the Illini’s stock heading into conference play.
*all statistics taken from kenpom.com and espn.com* 