We're about a month into the season, and the schedule is pretty light with schools in final exams. So it's a good time to take stock of where the teams are at this point. I'm going to start at the top of the standings and work my way down.
Duke (9-0)
A lot of people weren't very high on Duke coming into the year, saying they didn't have any stars. That may be true, although Mason Plumlee is making the case that he is one. But Duke has a very good case to be the #1 team in the country. They have already beaten Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio State, VCU, Temple and Minnesota. That's a pretty good schedule. They are doing it with Plumlee averaging a double-double and a much improved Quinn Cook at the point. Hard to find much wrong with Duke right now.
Maryland (9-1)
A lot of people are high on the Terps, and for good reason. They have a lot of solid players on their team, especially Alex Len and Dez Wells. They have the potential to be a really good team. So far, there isn't a ton to point to in terms of results. Their one loss to Kentucky does not look as good now as it did at the time. Their best wins are on the road at Northwestern and at a neutral site against George Mason. Right now they are in the middle of an eight game homestand, so their record will continue to improve.
Virginia Tech (8-1)
The Hokies are probably the surprise team of the league right now, with an explosive start. Coach James Johnson's offense has been terrific, as the Hokies have topped 80 points in six of their first nine games. Their wins are a little more impressive than Maryland, although they both came at home (Iowa and Oklahoma State). They really missed a big opportunity losing to West Virginia on the road by one last week. But they should put together a few more wins before a tough road game at BYU.
Miami (5-1)
We haven't seen many games from Miami yet, because they are playing in the Diamond Head Classic the last week of December. They seem to be trending up, with recent wins against Michigan State and at UMass. Miami does have that ugly loss at Florida Gulf Coast that may haunt them come Selection Sunday. But other than that they have shown the promise that many people thought might come out this year.
Virginia (8-2)
Virginia has been an interesting team. They have two losses early in the season to teams from the CAA: George Mason and Delaware. They also have one of the most impressive wins of the year from a team not named Duke: a road win at Wisconsin. That's the only game most people have probably seen this year, as they haven't been on TV much. The Cavaliers do have a solid win at home over Tennessee, and the remaining non-conference schedule is not difficult.
North Carolina (7-2)
There is some unrest in Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels have not looked that sharp to start the season. Their two losses are by double digits, one to #1 Indiana on the road and the other a Maui loss to Butler. It's hard to find a good win on their resume, maybe on the road at Long Beach State. But we should find out more about these young Tar Heels soon. They have games against Texas and UNLV in the next two weeks.
N.C. State (6-2)
It's a little odd to see N.C. State seventh in the standings. And as frustrated as some people have been with the Wolfpack, they have only played one really bad game. That was on national TV to Oklahoma State. Their other loss was at Michigan, nothing to be ashamed of. And they have bounced back since for wins against UConn and Cleveland State. N.C. State has some terrific freshmen who will only get better as the season goes on. A home game against Stanford is the only real test in the next five.
Georgia Tech (6-2)
The Yellow Jackets have come along pretty well so far this year. They have a good win against St. Mary's and showed well on the road at Illinois until the final minutes. Their other loss was to Cal. They haven't exactly been an offensive powerhouse, only topping 65 points twice. But they are strong defensively. We won't find out much about Georgia Tech until they start conference play. Their next four games should pose no problems.
Clemson (5-3)
Clemson has been a mixed bag. They have had some bad performances, especially a blowout home loss to Purdue. But they have also played well, like in their win over rival South Carolina. This team is still trying to find their go-to player, and problems with Milton Jennings have not helped. Like Georgia Tech, we probably won't find out how good the Tigers are until conference play starts.
Florida State (5-4)
Now we start getting to the really disappointing teams. Florida State is right at the top. It's really shocking that they have already lost four home games, including to South Alabama and Mercer. The only time they have really played well was at the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament, where they beat BYU and St. Joseph's. Florida State still has to go to Charlotte and Auburn, so it's not inconceivable that they could have six non-conference losses.
Wake Forest (4-5)
Wake is just a mess. They had a terrible performance at home against Nebraska, and have lost to UConn, Iona, Richmond and Seton Hall. Their best win is against Mercer. I read today that Coach Jeff Bzdelik has stopped taking live questions on his call-in show, obviously wanting to avoid criticism. Wake has got to get more from players not named C.J. Harris or Travis McKie.
Boston College (4-5)
No one expected much of BC this year, and they are meeting those expectations. Their road win at Penn State appears to be something of a fluke. The Eagles have lost to Baylor, Dayton, Charleston, Bryant and Harvard. I don't see it getting much better any time soon. BC has four home games against teams they should beat (except maybe Providence), and they need wins.
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