I love college basketball. I love the passion. I love the fact that (most of) the players are playing for nothing for than love of the game. I love the cheerleaders. I love each and every game of the NC2A Tourney.

Each week, I'll post what I think are the top 8 teams in the country, with comments to back up my opinion. Feel free to agree or disagree.

1. Duke Blue Devils--As much as I hate to say it, the Dookies are rollin' right now. J.J. Redick continues to exhibit his flawless stroke, Shelden Williams is becoming a defensive force inside, as shown by his 10 block performance against arch rival Maryland, and their role players are giving them just enough. I could see them going undefeated in ACC regular-season play. Once DeMarcus Nelson comes back, look out.

2. Florida Gators--The Gators could go through the entire regular season without playing a ranked team. Talk about a down year for the SEC. They can only play who's on their schedule, though. Florida is exhibiting a balanced attack with five guys averaging at least 12 points a night, led by sophomore forward Corey Brewer's 13.7 ppg. We might not find out much about this squad until March, but, for now, to the undefeated go the spoils.

3. Memphis Tigers--Some might say, "why not UCONN or Villanova in this spot?" Well, Memphis' two L's are to No. 1 Duke on a neutral floor and to preseason No. 2 Texas. Tiger defenders held Adam Morrisson scoreless for the last nine minutes of their win over Gonzaga, and Memphis followed their losses with an eight-game win streak and three wins by an average of 18 ppg.

4. Villanova Wildcats-- The 'Cats stormed out of the gate with a 10-game win streak where they routed opponents by an average score of 81-58. That streak included a solid 11-point home win over then-No. 5 Oklahoma. Nova also won at Louisville in their Big East opener. That hiccup at Rutgers was nothing more than a speedbump. The 'Cats wing-heavy lineup is getting solid production out of Allen Ray, Mike Nardi and Kyle Lowry--averaging 19.2 ppg, 12.6 ppg and 11 ppg, respectively. Randy Foye is an All-American in waiting with his 21.3 ppg and 5 rpg. Foye and Nardi are hitting three's at 42 and 49 percent. This team is reminiscent of the 2005 MSU squad that was quard heavy and went all the way to the Final Four. If everyone remains in lockstep, the 'Cats will be in Indy, and Jay Wright could be National Coach of the Year.

5. Connecticut Huskies-- Jim Calhoun's boys are a Steve Novak classic performance away from being a few notches up on this list. The Huskies are a good team that can only get better now that point guard Marcus Williams is back following his "Cops" moment. Concensus number one draft pick Rudy Gay has been a bit inconsistent, but he still boasts averages of 15.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.3 spg and 1.8 bpg. Rashad Anderson and Hilton Armstrong are enjoying solid senior campaigns, posting 14.7 and 9.7 ppg, respectively. Armstrong is chipping in with 6.7 boards and 2.6 blocks each night, too.

6. Illinois Fighting Illini-- The Illini are doin' it with defense this season. Through their first 16 games this season, Illinois is giving up just 55 points a night. That included holding the Big Ten;s leading scorer, MSU's Maurice Ager, to just nine points and eight shots. The loss to Iowa may have exposed them a bit. Before that L, the Spartans were the only ranked team Illinois played all year. Dee Brown can't save them every night. If they don't get contributions from other guys, they might not get out of the first weekend of the tourney.

7. Wisconsin Badgers-- Bo Ryan must have cast a spell on Tom Izzo. Including their Jan. 8 win over the Spartans, the Badgers have taken seven out of eight from MSU. The Badgers only losses were at Wake Forest early, and at undefeated Pittsburgh. Alando Tucker and Chris Ro--Kammron Taylor continue to be the backbone of the team, netting 18.9 and 14.7 ppg. Wisconsin will be a tough out come March.

8. Michigan State Spartans-- Look at the Spartans losses: by three in triple OT to Gonzaga in Maui, by 10 at Illinois on a night where Bruce Bowen couldn't check Dee Brown, and by 19 at Wisconsin. I'm discounting the Hawaii loss, because that game should have never been played. Chaminade could have been a "tune-up" game. The Spartans get Illinois and Wisconsin at Breslin Center to close out Big Ten play, where those games could have different results than the first meeting. Izzo's team is made for March, not January. That'll come out in early Spring.

Other teams receiving consideration: Texas, Gonzaga, Louisville, West Virginia, Pittsburgh