The Times’ top 25 college basketball rankings

TIMES’ TOP 25

CHRIS DUFRESNE’S RANKINGS AND COMMENTS:

Rk.; Team (Rec.); Comment

1 PITTSBURGH

16-0 Gambling update: Panthers plus 22 vs. South Florida and Steelers plus six vs. Baltimore.

2 WAKE FOREST

14-0 Beat North Carolina; what better way to start your ACC week?

3 DUKE

15-1 Rim-clanger Dookies shoot 39% and still beat Georgia Tech by 14 in Atlanta.

4 CONNECTICUT

14-1 Forward Adrien has scored double figures every game except those he hasn’t.

5 OKLAHOMA

16-1 Rankman predicts triple-triple for Blake Griffin before the season’s done.

6 NO. CAROLINA 14-2 Williams tells Wonder Co., “We’re not the greatest thing since sliced bread.”

7 UCLA

13-2 Howland is 6-2 against Floyd, which makes Floyd 2-6 against Howland.

8 GEORGETOWN

12-3 Takes break from brutal Big East by playing this weekend . . . at Duke!

9 CLEMSON

16-0 Unbeaten status at stake Saturday against Wake (just cut down Carolina) Forest

10 MICHIGAN ST. 14-2 The snow plows were working, so the game went on at Penn State.

11 SYRACUSE

16-2 Georgetown hits 12 three-pointers to beat Orangetown near downtown Washingtown.

12 LOUISVILLE

12-3 Terrence Williams was the best player on the court in OT win against Notre Dame.

13 MARQUETTE

15-2 NCAA committee says pay no attention to RPI (Rankman Percentage Index).

14 ARIZONA ST. 14-2 Seven straight losses in L.A. not counting football team vs. USC.

15 XAVIER

13-2 So good they’re going to rename the conference the Atlantic X.

16 MINNESOTA

15-1 Can’t wait to play at Wisconsin where the temperature outdoors is only minus-22.

17 TEXAS

12-4 Scribbled “45-35” on court after Monday night loss to Oklahoma in Norman.

18 BUTLER

14-1 Heads to Chicago this weekend to take two mid (major) term exams.

19 PURDUE

12-4 At Northwestern and home vs. Iowa all part of glamorous Big Ten weekend.

20 NOTRE DAME

12-4 How long can Harangody carry team until he pulls a back muscle?

21 BAYLOR

13-3 Rankman fined by coach for peeking ahead to next week’s game at Oklahoma.

22 CALIFORNIA

15-2 Monty returns to the Farm and the land of Google and honey.

23 VILLANOVA

13-3 Trying to find neutral corner after one-point, gut-punch loss to Louisville.

24 ILLINOIS

15-2Swipes Michigan’s No. 24 spot with win over Wolverines in Champaign.

25 ST. MARY’S

15-1 Rankman reminder: basketball rankings are for entertainment only.

*--* Rk. Team (Rec.) Comment 1 PITTSBURGH 16-0 Gambling update: Panthers plus 22 vs. South Florida and Steelers plus six vs. Baltimore. 2 WAKE FOREST 14-0 Beat North Carolina; what better way to start your ACC week? 3 DUKE 15-1 Rim-clanger Dookies shoot 39% and still beat Georgia Tech by 14 in Atlanta. 4 CONNECTICUT 14-1 Forward Adrien has scored double figures every game except those he hasn’t. 5 OKLAHOMA 16-1 Rankman predicts triple-triple for Blake Griffin before the season’s done. 6 NO. CAROLINA 14-2 Williams tells Wonder Co., “We’re not the greatest thing since sliced bread.” 7 UCLA 13-2 Howland is 6-2 against Floyd, which makes Floyd 2-6 against Howland. 8 GEORGETOWN 12-3 Takes break from brutal Big East by playing this weekend . . . at Duke! 9 CLEMSON 16-0 Unbeaten status at stake Saturday against Wake (just cut down Carolina) Forest 10 MICHIGAN ST. 14-2 The snow plows were working, so the game went on at Penn State. 11 SYRACUSE 16-2 Georgetown hits 12 three-pointers to beat Orangetown near downtown Washingtown. 12 LOUISVILLE 12-3 Terrence Williams was the best player on the court in OT win against Notre Dame. 13 MARQUETTE 15-2 NCAA committee says pay no attention to RPI (Rankman Percentage Index). 14 ARIZONA ST. 14-2 Seven straight losses in L.A. not counting football team vs. USC. 15 XAVIER 13-2 So good they’re going to rename the conference the Atlantic X. 16 MINNESOTA 15-1 Can’t wait to play at Wisconsin where the temperature outdoors is only minus-22. 17 TEXAS 12-4 Scribbled “45-35” on court after Monday night loss to Oklahoma in Norman. 18 BUTLER 14-1 Heads to Chicago this weekend to take two mid (major) term exams. 19 PURDUE 12-4 At Northwestern and home vs. Iowa all part of glamorous Big Ten weekend. 20 NOTRE DAME 12-4 How long can Harangody carry team until he pulls a back muscle? 21 BAYLOR 13-3 Rankman fined by coach for peeking ahead to next week’s game at Oklahoma. 22 CALIFORNIA 15-2 Monty returns to the Farm and the land of Google and honey. 23 VILLANOVA 13-3 Trying to find neutral corner after one-point, gut-punch loss to Louisville. 24 ILLINOIS 15-2 Swipes Michigan’s No. 24 spot with win over Wolverines in Champaign. 25 ST. MARY’S 15-1 Rankman reminder: basketball rankings are for entertainment only. *--*