Dick Jerardi: College Basketball Wrap

Stephen needed 30 shots to get 28 points in Davidson's 89-68 win at Georgia Southern.

STREAKING

Davidson has won 43 straight games against Southern Conference opponents. After beating UAB, 81-68, Memphis has now won 46 straight against Conference USA opponents. Tyreke Evans had 24 for the Tigers who are starting to play much better on offense.

IVY BEWARE

Cornell started defense of its Ivy League title with 71-59 win at Columbia. Cornell went unbeaten in the league last season and nobody should be surprised if it happens again.

UNDER THE RADAR

If you are looking for a first-round NCAA upset, keep this team in mind. Utah State, leading the country in field-goal accuracy, is 17-1 after beating Boise State, 79-65.

Stew Morrill is one of America's best coaches. He never gets top talent, but his teams never beat themselves. And, if some unsuspecting team from a BCS conference does not take them seriously in March, that team is in trouble.

DICK JERARDI'S TOP 15

1. Wake Forest (16-0): The last unbeaten controlled the pace of the game from the start and won, 78-68, at Clemson.

2. Pittsburgh (16-1): Led by 13 early and still led by eight with 9 minutes left, but got overrun late at Louisville and lost its first game, 69-63.

3. Duke (16-1): Held off several Georgetown second-half runs to win, 76-67, at Cameron Indoor. Gerald Henderson (23 points) is playing lights out.

4. Connecticut (16-1): Hasheem Thabeet had 15 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks yesterday as the Huskies hammered Seton Hall, 76-61.

5. North Carolina (16-2): Wayne Ellington hit seven consecutive treys in the second half as UNC beat Miami, 82-65.

6. Oklahoma (17-1): Had to hold off a late rally at rowdy Texas A&M to win, 69-63.

7. Butler (16-1): Scored just 17 points in the first half, trailed by 13 in the second half and coolly came back to win, 59-52, at Illinois-Chicago.

8. Clemson (16-1): Tigers seemed frantic all game, shot just 33.8 percent and never really gave themselves a chance against Wake.

9. Syracuse (17-2): Outscored Notre Dame, 54-24, in the lane and ran away late to win, 93-74, at the Carrier Dome in front of 30,021. Shot 55.2 percent and had 39 fastbreak points.

10. Michigan State (15-2): Overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to beat Illinois at Breslin Center. Spartans have won 11 straight and are just about unbeatable at home.

11. Marquette (16-2): Trailed by 13 points at Providence before rallying to win, 91-82. Lazar Hayward and Jerel McNeal each had 25 points.

12. Louisville (13-3): If their offense ever catches up with their defense, this is a national championship contender. Big win over Pittsburgh.

13. Florida (16-2): Nick Calathes had 28 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as Gators beat Arkansas, 80-65, for 10th consecutive win.

14. Saint Mary's (17-1): Has won 14 straight after blowing away Pepperdine, 96-46. Major threat to Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference.

15. Georgetown (12-4): Hoyas have already played seven ranked opponents. Going to be very dangerous in March.