Originally Published: January 20, 2005

Power 16: Expert Lists

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The ESPN.com Power 16 is compiled each week by a panel of ESPN experts and ESPN.com's college basketball editor. These individual lists help create the final rankings each week.

Here is how ESPN.com's experts ranked the top teams in the country.

(Through games played on Wednesday, Jan. 26)

ESPN.com Experts' Top 16s
Andy Katz
My Power 16 reflects the teams that are hot right now -- not necessarily where they will finish in March. It's hard to argue against Arizona and Washington being moved deep into the top 10 as they face each other Thursday night. Charlotte and Utah deserve plenty of love for the way each team has mowed through their respective schedules of late. ESPN should consider getting out of the coaches' poll if Charlotte can't crack the poll this week. It has long been a joke and teams like Charlotte consistently get edged out for weeks. Bring back respect to the poll and put the 49ers in!

1. Illinois
2. Wake Forest
3. North Carolina
4. Syracuse
5. Boston College
6. Arizona
7. Washington
8. Oklahoma
9. Kentucky
10. Duke
11. Villanova
12. Kansas
13. Louisville
14. Oklahoma State
15. Charlotte
16. Utah


Joe Lunardi
I can't remember the last time so many No. 1 seeds have realistically been "in play" heading into February. As we approach Feb. 1 this year, only Illinois can be said to control its own destiny in that regard. Wake Forest, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke and Oklahoma State (twice) have all lost in the last 10 days or so. What does this mean? Syracuse, Boston College, Kentucky, the Washington-Arizona winner and maybe even Oklahoma can see their way to the top of a bracket. It should make for a great month and an even greater Championship Week.

1. Illinois
2. Wake Forest
3. Kansas
4. North Carolina
5. Duke
6. Syracuse
7. Boston College
8. Washington
9. Arizona
10. Kentucky
11. Oklahoma
12. Oklahoma State
13. Louisville
14. Wisconsin
15. Michigan State
16. Alabama


Pat Forde
I'm still not buying the Illinois-will-go-undefeated talk. But what the Illini did at Wisconsin is as impressive as it gets. Backed against the wall, they showed unbreakable will and executed like a veteran team should. Nobody else need apply for the No. 1 ranking right now.

1. Illinois
2. North Carolina
3. Wake Forest
4. Syracuse
5. Boston College
6. Duke
7. Kansas
8. Washington
9. Kentucky
10. Arizona
11. Louisville
12. Oklahoma
13. Alabama
14. Michigan State
15. Texas
16. Wisconsin


Doug Gottlieb
While many teams are struggling to find themselves, most of the top ten teams have come from behind on the road to win in the last week. Keep an eye on Kansas as it begins to recover from being blown out in Philly. Louisville seems to have hit its stride. Washington is finally healthy and the matchup with Arizona will test the pride of the Cats, especially considering the three losses the Huskies laid on them last year. Is it me or did Bruce Weber look calm as can be at Wisconsin? Is Syracuse that good in the second half or is Rutgers that bad? Same question for B.C. when they beat Providence ...

1. Illinois
2. Wake Forest
3. North Carolina
4. Kansas
5. Syracuse
6. Kentucky
7. Boston College
8. Duke
9. Louisville
10. Washington
11. Gonzaga
12. Oklahoma State
13. Oklahoma
14. Alabama
15. Arizona
16. UTEP


 Dick Vitale
After being upset this week, Duke and Kansas fall, with the perfect Illini taking over at No. 1. Other unbeaten Boston College moves up to No. 8 while surging Louisville cracks my top 10.

1. Illinois
2. North Carolina
3. Wake Forest
4. Kansas
5. Duke
6. Kentucky
7. Syracuse
8. Boston College
9. Washington
10. Louisville
11. Oklahoma
12. Oklahoma State
13. Alabama
14. Arizona
15. Texas
16. Michigan State


Jay Bilas
Illinois is the best team. It has become cliché to say that Bruce Weber's players make the extra pass -- they make the "right" pass. This team is the best advertisement you can have for making basketball stats more like hockey. These kids make the pass that leads to the assist better than anyone in college basketball. A joy to watch. Wake Forest has been almost as good, and only a tail-kicking at Illinois momentarily stunts your judgment on these guys. They are tougher and better as a result of the Illinois game, rather than letting it be a stumbling block. Watch for Syracuse. The Orange will take a few beatings, but by March, will be a very dangerous team. North Carolina is No. 3 right now, but still the most talented and explosive team in the country. I love watching that team play.

1. Illinois
2. Wake Forest
3. North Carolina
4. Duke
5. Syracuse
6. Kansas
7. Kentucky
8. Boston College
9. Oklahoma
10. Arizona
11. Oklahoma State
12. Washington
13. Michigan State
14. Alabama
15. Texas
16. Connecticut


Andy Glockner
The battle this week is for No. 2, which I'll give to the Deacons based on the head-to-head win over UNC. I was so disappointed with Duke's and Kansas' efforts that Syracuse sneaks ahead of both despite the near-debacle at Rutgers. Boston College would be higher if it could win a game convincingly. Watch out for Louisville -- last week's "sleeper outside the Top 10" is starting to make very loud noise.

1. Illinois
2. Wake Forest
3. North Carolina
4. Syracuse
5. Duke
6. Kansas
7. Boston College
8. Washington
9. Louisville
10. Arizona
11. Kentucky
12. Gonzaga
13. Alabama
14. Oklahoma
15. Oklahoma State
16. Texas


Fran Fraschilla
1. Illinois
2. Boston College
3. Syracuse
4. Wake Forest
5. North Carolina
6. Washington
7. Oklahoma
8. Duke
9. Kansas
10. Louisville
11. Kentucky
12. Michigan State
13. Oklahoma State
14. Arizona
15. Alabama
16. Texas

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