Florida’s No. 1 resume’s better than Indiana’s
by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports
Indiana is back to where it all began: On top
The Hoosiers have finally rekindled their preseason-projected top form and were voted as the best team in the country on Monday, in large part thanks to Saturday’s resume-lifting win against its top Big Ten challenger Michigan.
Of the seven two-loss teams in the top 10, Indiana’s recent victory against the surging Wolverines might be the most impressive. Plus, when the No. 3 team wins and the top two teams lose, well, voters don’t have to be mathematicians to pick the Hoosiers as No. 1 by default.
But what about the Florida Gators, a team that hasn’t lost since December and has been crushing Southeastern Conference opponents in historic fashion? Six voters picked Florida as the best team in the country. Perhaps that’s because Florida’s losses (No. 7 Arizona, No. 15 Kansas State) are much less eyebrow-raising than Indiana’s losses (No. 14 Butler and un-ranked Wisconsin).
Ah, yes, we have another debate for No.1. Here’s a look at both teams’ resumes:
Case for Indiana (20-2, 8-1) at No. 1: The Hoosiers are the best offensive team in the country, averaging 83.8 points per game (second most in the country) led by future NBA lottery pick Cody Zeller and the most improved player in the country, Victor Oladipo. Then factor in the fact that Indiana plays in the country’s toughest conference. Three other Big Ten teams make up this week’s top 10, with Indiana beating two of them — No. 3 Michigan and No. 8 Michigan State, both home wins.
Case for Florida (18-2, 8-0) at No. 1: The Gators don’t play in the best conference, but they are certainly dominating the one they’re playing in. Florida has flat out dominated the SEC through eight games, beating South Carolina by 39 points, Mississippi State by 35 points, Georgia by 33 points and Missouri by 31 points. With Saturday’s 16-point win against Ole Miss, the Gators surpassed Indiana for the nation’s top margin of victory. And while Florida’s offense doesn’t put up as many points as Indiana’s, the Gators don’t have … [For more on Top 25 Stock Watch: Florida's No. 1 resume's better than Indiana's, click here.]
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