Bilas Index:
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... basketball
1. Purdue Boilermakers: This is the nation's best team.
2. Houston Cougars: The Cougars are the best overall defense in college basketball, leading the nation in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense, and nothing is easy or given.
3. Arizona Wildcats: While everyone freaks out over Arizona's loss to Stanford, remember that the Wildcats have played a ridiculous schedule and boast a Top 5-rated offense and defense.
4. Kansas Jayhawks: The Jayhawks are simply amazing. From the jump, it has been clear that Kansas' title hopes rest with roster spots 5 through 8. Bill Self's top four players have been stellar, and Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar Jr. have both been first-team All-Americans. McCullar has been the best two-way player in the country over the first half of the season. Yet, when you watch Kansas play and practice, one cannot help but wonder if and when the heavy load carried by the Phog Four will catch up to Kansas. It hasn't yet, and it has wins over Kentucky, Tennessee, UConn and TCU, with the only blemish being the Marquette loss in Hawaii. Kansas will get clipped in a few Big 12 games, but if the Jayhawks stay healthy and get significant improvement from Elmarko Jackson, Johnny Furphy and Jamari McDowell, this team will hang another Big 12 banner.