ESPN.com's Power 16: Repeat performance for Heels
Season: 2008 | 2009 | 2010
Week: 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18
Week: 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18
For the first time all season, we have a repeat No. 1. At 8-0, North Carolina earned six of the 10 first-place votes to run away with the top ranking this week.
But our voters are mirroring some of the uncertainty in hoops this season after the top teams. This week's poll ends with a three-way tie between Butler, Vanderbilt and Clemson.
Please note:
• The Power 16 is a composite vote of all the ballots from a panel of ESPN.com experts. It does not reflect any one individual's picks. Each voter's picks are here.
This week's Power 16 comments are written by Andy Glockner.
Power Rankings | Voters 1-5 | Voters 6-10
| Power Rankings | |||||
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | COMMENTS | |
 | 1 | North Carolina (6) | 8-0 | 154 | The Heels don't return to action until Sunday night at Rutgers, so we'll tip the cap to Roy Williams. UNC's playing just two of its first nine at the Dean Dome. Good for the RPI and a refreshing change from the typical elite team's nonconference schedule. |
 | 2 | Memphis (1) | 7-0 | 140 | The offense isn't consistent right now. No one has filled Jeremy Hunt's shoes from the arc and there isn't a consistent second scorer behind Chris Douglas-Roberts. Memphis is so talented, it can ride elite D and erratic O most nights, but it only takes one bad one in March. |
 | 3 | Texas (3) | 9-0 | 137 | The Horns have shown they can beat good teams fast (73 possessions vs. Tennessee) and slow (59 in two-point win at UCLA), a great sign for a still-maturing team. D.J. Augustin is on the (very) short list for the Naismith Award right now. |
 | 4 | Kansas | 9-0 | 127 | The next two Saturdays against quality MAC teams won't be easy. Like a couple others in this poll, KU is in a holding pattern. Once fully healthy, we'll have a clearer assessment of how close the Jayhawks are to the Final Four team many think they should be. |
 | 5 | Duke | 9-0 | 120 | The Blue Devils only play two games in four weeks. Fortunately, one of those is next Thursday against Pitt at Cameron Square Garden. That should be a good test, as the Devils will have to deal with an elite offensive rebounding team. |
 | 6 | Georgetown | 7-0 | 113 | Unbeaten and virtually untested. The schedule finally stiffens (in a big way) on Dec. 22 when the Hoyas visit Memphis. Think Roy Hibbert has a defensive impact? The Hoyas are third in the nation in FG percentage defense despite rarely turning opponents over. |
 | 7 | UCLA | 8-1 | 107 | Another team waiting to get healthy. Even shorthanded, the Bruins are a bucket away from being unbeaten against a credible slate. One thing to watch: UCLA's D has been statistically average against the three best teams it has faced. Product of injuries or hint of weakness? |
 | 8 | Washington State | 9-0 | 99 | The Cougars almost certainly will be perfect entering Pac-10 play, which they open at UW, USC and UCLA. Next Thursday's game against The Citadel, a team with 13 freshmen that plays horrid D, could be especially ugly. Kyle Weaver is the absolute goods. |
 | 9 | Pittsburgh | 9-0 | 67 | Like Texas, the Panthers are a "Ewing Theory" candidate, as the replacement of Aaron Gray with DeJuan Blair has made this a much more athletic and flexible team. We'll find out a lot more about the Panthers (and Duke) next Thursday at MSG. |
 | 10 | Michigan State | 8-1 | 60 | In wins over Mizzou, NC State, Bradley and BYU, Goran Suton averaged 12.8 ppg and 11.3 rpg. In a five-point loss to UCLA, Suton had 0 points and 4 rebounds. Get the picture? Also, lost in all the Drew Neitzel love is how good Raymar Morgan has become. |
 | 11 | Marquette | 6-1 | 51 | The offense has been very good, but the Warriors, er, Golden Eagles have had trouble stopping teams when the opponent is comparable. Nice step up for sophomore forward Lazar Hayward, who's helping Marquette stay competitive on the glass. |
 | 12 | Indiana | 8-1 | 47 | IU can beat Kentucky by 19 without its guards? Let's see them try that against Gardner-Webb. Mentioned on the podcast, but it's amazing how efficient a big-time scorer Eric Gordon is. Illini fans are going to be sick when they see him in person. |
 | 13 | Texas A&M | 8-1 | 32 | Intriguing team. Good balance inside and out. No one will be Acie Law, but Dominique Kirk has been more than adequate at the point. Would like to see a bit more consistency from Josh Carter. Schedule could lead to a very gaudy record by mid-January. |
 | 13 | Tennessee | 8-1 | 32 | Talented team that clearly isn't firing on all cylinders yet. Upside remains unclear for now, despite very nice contributions from Tyler Smith. Did you know he's Tennessee's top assist man? Now they have to get Chris Lofton on track. He's too good to be a non-factor any night. |
 | 15 | Xavier | 8-1 | 22 | Survived Crosstown Shootout with some timely D down the stretch. Hope Josh Duncan is OK after being helped off the court with a leg injury. Manhandling Indiana is a solid indicator of how good this team can be, but they need Duncan to reach that level. |
 | 16 | Vanderbilt | 10-0 | 12 | [No comments were entered for this team] |
 | 16 | Clemson | 8-0 | 12 | [No comments were entered for this team] |
 | 16 | Butler | 8-1 | 12 | Wrong place, Wright time as the Bulldogs lost their seventh straight at the Nutter Center. Pete Campbell's absence is a big reason for the Bulldogs' recent offensive struggles. The three-game field-goal fiesta in Alaska is better evidence of what they can do when healthy. |
| Others receiving votes: Oregon (6), Arizona (4), Miami (FL) (3), West Virginia (2), Villanova (1) |
