FanHouse Leonard Hamilton

Ranking the rankings criticizes the critics when the polls come out.

Headlining: Connecticut tops the charts ... again. This isn't surprising, because they didn't lose. The fact that they didn't lose -- something that's happened to a lot of No. 1 teams -- is what's mildly shocking, especially considering they had a Monday headliner with Louisville, which they won easily behind the oh-so-strong play of Hasheem Thabeet. Good times, though, when we're not sure that anyone can really hold onto the top spot, no?

Lest you miss the reference in the title, coffee is for closers only. So says Alec Baldwin anyway. N.C. State and Sidney Lowe, at the moment, don't know much about the sweet, sweet joys of caffeine.

That's because, following a 78-65 loss to Florida State tonight (a classic "closer-than-the-box-score if there ever was one), State has lost a trio of heartbreaking games on the season. Marquette and Florida were the traditional kind; late buzzer beaters or tough shots by their opponents sunk the Wolfpack's chances.

This, on the other hand, was a total collapse on both ends by Lowe's team in the final five minutes. Courtney Fells' best play was tumbling over the scorer's table, Brandon Costner couldn't hit from outside, Ben McCauley was busy being overmatched on both ends of the floor and Julius Mays, bless his soul, was trying to fill a void that has haunted the Pack for a few years now.