FSU basketball in the new AP, Coaches Polls, with KenPom rankings update

Update: As predicted, FSU rose in both the AP and Coaches Polls, breaking back into the top 20 at No. 19 in each.

The No. 21 (in both polls) Florida State men’s hoops team had the last week off, but the rest of the country saw plenty of action. So how do we expect that to affect the Seminoles in national rankings? Let’s take a look.

The ’Noles may have been bye for the right week— there was some serious carnage afflicting ranked squads. Four of the AP’s top-five teams lost, and while FSU isn’t likely to pass any of them, it is worth noting that teams’ rankings are typically more volatile this early in the season, and those losses could definitely come into play later.

No. 1 Louisville lost to unranked Texas Tech, but the Big Ten’s premier teams really took it on the chin. No. 3 Ohio State lost to unranked Minnesota. No. 4 Maryland was defeated by unranked Penn State. And No. 5 Michigan went 0-2, dropping contests to unranked Illinois and No. 10 Oregon.

Expect No. 2 Kansas to takeover the nation’s top ranking after handling its business against a pair of lesser foes, as well as No. 6 Gonzaga to ascend following a victory over No. 15 Arizona.

Teams ranked 10-16 were perfect, excepting that ’Zona loss to the Zags, but there was some mayhem closer to Florida State that should bode well for the Seminoles. No. 17 North Carolina lost, at home, to unranked Wofford (yes, it’s Terrier season, y’all). The Tar Heels are now 6-4, and 3-2 at home, and deserve some time without a number in front of their name. Their KenPom ranking, as of now: No. 36.

No. 18 Butler dropped a road game at No. 11 Baylor. No. 19 Tennessee, a team FSU has already defeated, was bettered by No. 13 Memphis.

No. 20 Villanova may have held serve against Delaware, but expect the ’Noles to move up in the polls released later today, which, of course, we’ll post here when they become available. Especially since behind No. 21 FSU, No. 22 Seton Hall fell to unranked Rutgers (“unranked” and “Rutgers” just sound right together, don’t they?), No. 23 Xavier lost to unranked Wake Forest, and No. 24 Colorado lost to unranked Northern Iowa.

FSU slipped just a spot in KenPom’s rankings from this time last week, dipping from No. 15 to No. 16. But the offense improved modestly, up from 50th to 49th, while the defense remained the No. 6 unit in the country.