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Jay Bilas top 68
1. Villanova Wildcats
The Wildcats lost on the road to Butler. So what? The Bilas Index is about accuracy and achievement -- not knee-jerk reactions in the present. Villanova is allowing 63.5 points per game while opponents are shooting 29.2 percent from 3-point range, both best in the Big East. As solid as Villanova is on the defensive end, the Wildcats are a better offensive team. Josh Hart is one of four major-conference players averaging at least 19 points, five rebounds and three assists per game. Right now, Hart is the leading candidate for the Wooden Award.
2. UCLA Bruins
UCLA is a fabulous offensive team. The Bruins move the ball and have multiple scorers; they are averaging 22.8 assists per game, the most in Division I. TJ Leaf is one of two major-conference players currently averaging at least 15 points and five rebounds while shooting better than 60 percent from the field. UCLA is one of two major-conference teams to have six players averaging double figures (the other is Utah). It will take a great effort to beat this team.
3. Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats have scored at least 100 points five times this season. That's more than they recorded in the previous four seasons combined (four). Kentucky is averaging 94.2 points per game, second in the nation (Citadel leads at 97.2). That would be the third-highest scoring average in program history (96.8 in 1969-70 and 95.4 in 1970-71).
4. North Carolina Tar Heels
Joel Berry II is the heart and soul of this team, and when he plays well, North Carolina is difficult to beat. The Tar Heels are grabbing 43 percent of their missed shots while averaging 17.9 second-chance points per game, and both are most among major-conference teams. North Carolina has scored at least 100 points five times this season, which is tied for second in the nation. Those five such games are the most the Heels have had in a single season since 2008-09, when they won the national championship.
5. Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas is shooting 42.0 percent from 3-point range, the highest rate in the Big 12 and third among major-conference teams. Kansas averages 39.6 paint points per game, second in the Big 12 and seventh among major-conference teams. Frank Mason III is one of two major-conference players currently averaging 19 points, five assists and four rebounds per game. Mason has had nine games of 15 points and five assists, most in the Big 12. The key for Kansas will be improved defense. Right now, the Kansas defense is ranked in the bottom half of the Big 12 efficiency ratings.
6. West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia's 31.3 points per game off turnovers are on pace to be the highest among major-conference teams in the past five seasons. The Mountaineers press 45.1 percent of the time, most in the nation. West Virginia is outscoring its opponents by 28.7 points per game, the largest margin in Division I. Daxter Miles Jr. and Jevon Carter are among the best guard tandems in the country.
7. Baylor Bears
Baylor is No. 1 in the polls and in prime position to get a No. 1 seed at the conclusion of the regular season. Baylor is one of four teams in the nation ranked in the top 15 in both offensive and defensive efficiency (West Virginia, Duke and Gonzaga are the others). Baylor is 6-0 against the BPI Top 50, the most such wins in the nation. Johnathan Motley is on pace to become the third Baylor player in the past 20 seasons to average 15 points and nine rebounds per game (Brian Skinner and Lawrence Roberts are the others).
8. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Nigel Williams-Goss had 36 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in a win over San Francisco, which made him only the second player this season -- and the first Gonzaga player in the past 20 seasons -- to have a 30-point, 10-rebound, five-assist performance. Gonzaga is averaging 16.5 post-up points per game, the most in the nation.
9. Oregon Ducks
Oregon's defense leads the Pac-12 in turnover percentage, forcing an opponent turnover on 20.4 percent of possessions. Oregon leads the nation with an average of 7.35 blocked shots per game. Chris Boucher has had four games of at least 20 points, five rebounds and three blocks this season, tied for most in the nation.
10. Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles average 21.6 transition points per game, most in the ACC. Dwayne Bacon's 29 points against Virginia were the most by a major-conference opponent at Virginia in the past five seasons. The last time Florida State was ranked better than 10th was during the 1992-93 season.
11. Louisville Cardinals
Louisville's block percentage of 12.2 ranks first in the ACC and second in Division I (Oregon leads at 12.3). Louisville allows its opponents to shoot 27.5 percent from 3-point field goals, lowest in the ACC.
Jay Bilas top 68
1. Villanova Wildcats
The Wildcats lost on the road to Butler. So what? The Bilas Index is about accuracy and achievement -- not knee-jerk reactions in the present. Villanova is allowing 63.5 points per game while opponents are shooting 29.2 percent from 3-point range, both best in the Big East. As solid as Villanova is on the defensive end, the Wildcats are a better offensive team. Josh Hart is one of four major-conference players averaging at least 19 points, five rebounds and three assists per game. Right now, Hart is the leading candidate for the Wooden Award.
2. UCLA Bruins
UCLA is a fabulous offensive team. The Bruins move the ball and have multiple scorers; they are averaging 22.8 assists per game, the most in Division I. TJ Leaf is one of two major-conference players currently averaging at least 15 points and five rebounds while shooting better than 60 percent from the field. UCLA is one of two major-conference teams to have six players averaging double figures (the other is Utah). It will take a great effort to beat this team.
3. Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats have scored at least 100 points five times this season. That's more than they recorded in the previous four seasons combined (four). Kentucky is averaging 94.2 points per game, second in the nation (Citadel leads at 97.2). That would be the third-highest scoring average in program history (96.8 in 1969-70 and 95.4 in 1970-71).
4. North Carolina Tar Heels
Joel Berry II is the heart and soul of this team, and when he plays well, North Carolina is difficult to beat. The Tar Heels are grabbing 43 percent of their missed shots while averaging 17.9 second-chance points per game, and both are most among major-conference teams. North Carolina has scored at least 100 points five times this season, which is tied for second in the nation. Those five such games are the most the Heels have had in a single season since 2008-09, when they won the national championship.
5. Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas is shooting 42.0 percent from 3-point range, the highest rate in the Big 12 and third among major-conference teams. Kansas averages 39.6 paint points per game, second in the Big 12 and seventh among major-conference teams. Frank Mason III is one of two major-conference players currently averaging 19 points, five assists and four rebounds per game. Mason has had nine games of 15 points and five assists, most in the Big 12. The key for Kansas will be improved defense. Right now, the Kansas defense is ranked in the bottom half of the Big 12 efficiency ratings.
6. West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia's 31.3 points per game off turnovers are on pace to be the highest among major-conference teams in the past five seasons. The Mountaineers press 45.1 percent of the time, most in the nation. West Virginia is outscoring its opponents by 28.7 points per game, the largest margin in Division I. Daxter Miles Jr. and Jevon Carter are among the best guard tandems in the country.
7. Baylor Bears
Baylor is No. 1 in the polls and in prime position to get a No. 1 seed at the conclusion of the regular season. Baylor is one of four teams in the nation ranked in the top 15 in both offensive and defensive efficiency (West Virginia, Duke and Gonzaga are the others). Baylor is 6-0 against the BPI Top 50, the most such wins in the nation. Johnathan Motley is on pace to become the third Baylor player in the past 20 seasons to average 15 points and nine rebounds per game (Brian Skinner and Lawrence Roberts are the others).
8. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Nigel Williams-Goss had 36 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in a win over San Francisco, which made him only the second player this season -- and the first Gonzaga player in the past 20 seasons -- to have a 30-point, 10-rebound, five-assist performance. Gonzaga is averaging 16.5 post-up points per game, the most in the nation.
9. Oregon Ducks
Oregon's defense leads the Pac-12 in turnover percentage, forcing an opponent turnover on 20.4 percent of possessions. Oregon leads the nation with an average of 7.35 blocked shots per game. Chris Boucher has had four games of at least 20 points, five rebounds and three blocks this season, tied for most in the nation.
10. Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles average 21.6 transition points per game, most in the ACC. Dwayne Bacon's 29 points against Virginia were the most by a major-conference opponent at Virginia in the past five seasons. The last time Florida State was ranked better than 10th was during the 1992-93 season.
11. Louisville Cardinals
Louisville's block percentage of 12.2 ranks first in the ACC and second in Division I (Oregon leads at 12.3). Louisville allows its opponents to shoot 27.5 percent from 3-point field goals, lowest in the ACC.
