Rank 'Em and File: Week 3

Saturday's hoopsnanza gave us a little bit of a clearer picture and lived up to its billing as a day of quality hoops. No. 19 Michigan State dropped No. 5 Texas, No. 2 UConn traveled almost 3,000 miles to Seattle and beat No. 8 Gonzaga in overtime, and Minnesota upset No. 9 Louisville in Glendale, Ariz. Not surprisingly, there's no movement at the very top.

1. North Carolina (11-0; next game: Rutgers 12/28) -- The Heels dropped Evansville and Valparaiso in an incredibly challenging pair of games (he said sarcastically) last week. There really is no reason to rank anyone else, but we do that so we can give out ribbons for runner-up.

2. Connecticut (10-0; next game: Fairfield 12/26) -- UConn crushed Miami (Fla.) and Wisconsin, both of whom were ranked at the time, and crossed the Lower 48 to take on a very good Gonzaga team ... and beat the Zags, too. If you need any more proof, you'll have to wait until Dec. 29, when the Huskies host Georgetown.

3. Pitt (12-0; next game: at Rutgers 12/31) -- It was a struggle at Florida State yesterday, but Pitt held on to stay unblemished. Shooting 33 percent as a team ... not good. Sam Young taking over at the game's most critical juncture ... great. And more proof that he's the man Pitt has always needed in the NCAA Tournament.

4. Oklahoma (11-0; next game: at Rice 12/22) -- The Sooners took care of business in OK City against VCU this weekend. Apparently it was the first time a home team had won in Oklahoma City in a few years ...

5. Duke (10-1; next game: Loyola (Md.) 12/31) -- Duke crushed Xavier. Crushed 'em. I think that's enough for the Dukies to replace Texas at No. 5.

6. Wake Forest (10-0; next game: at East Carolina 12/22) -- The Deacs won at Richmond this weekend. Not exactly riveting, but hey, if everyone else loses, there's a door opening.

7. Gonzaga (8-2; next game: Portland State 12/22) -- I know the Zags lost to UConn on their kind-of home floor. I know they have two losses. But I can't help but feel like they're still big-time. Which is why I ranked ...

8. Texas (9-2; next game: at Wisconsin 12/23) -- ... at No. 8. I know the Longhorns lost to Michigan State, a team with more identities than Larry Sinclair, but it's hard to find teams that are better than them.

9. Syracuse (11-1; next game: Coppin State 12/22) -- Must be nice to punch a girl in the face and get away with it. I guess Jim Boeheim is so desperate to get back to the NCAA Tournament that he checked his principles at the door.

10. Ohio State (8-0; next game: UNC-Asheville 12/22) -- Being undefeated before conference play will help this young Buckeyes team feel confident. Playing Michigan State and Purdue four times will hurt that confidence. But right now, Ohio State is playing better basketball than both of them.

11. Georgetown (8-1; next game: Fla. International 12/23) -- The Hoyas struggled with Mount St. Mary's, but that's OK. I'm still buying this club's darkhorse chances in the Big East. People will look up and see them with 11-14 wins in the conference and remember how good the coaching is in DC.

12. Purdue (9-2; next game: IPFW 12/22) -- The Boilermakers handled Davidson on Saturday. And I mean handled.

13. Baylor (9-1; next game: Hartford 12/22) -- Baylor didn't beat anyone good this week. In fact, Baylor beat UT-Arlington by three. But the Bears weren't embarrassed by anyone.

14. Arizona State (9-1; next game: Idaho State 12/23) -- The Sun Devils bounced back from a scary one-point win against IUPUI with a gritty win against a very good BYU team.

15. UCLA (8-2; next game: Wyoming 12/23) -- UCLA won two games by 58 combined points against Loyola Marymount and a decent Mercer team.

16. Tennessee (8-2; next game: La. Lafayette 12/29) -- Bruce Pearl's Vols dominated Marquette in every way imaginable and followed up with a nail-biter against Belmont. Is there a less predictable team than Tennessee this year?

17. Louisville (7-2; next game: UAB 12/27) -- After UAB on Saturday, the Ville gets UNLV, Kentucky, Villanova, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia all within a month. Those are a lot of chances to prove if the Cardinals are in or out of the title race.

18. Xavier (9-1; next game: Butler 12/23) -- The Musketeers were run out of the building by Duke on Saturday. How can you fall behind by 31 in the first half if you are a serious contender? Even Louisville or Tennessee would keep it close in the first half, right?

19. Notre Dame (8-2; next game: Savannah State 12/22) -- Absolutely demolished Delaware State. Still the most overrated team in America.

20. Clemson (12-0; next game: South Carolina 12/30) -- The Tigers are making their yearly run to 20-0, then we'll have to see if they make their yearly collapse to 21-10. But for now, handling teams like Miami (Fla.) help you in my rankings.