Feb. 3
With Pittsburgh's close loss at Syracuse over the weekend, the scramble is on once again ... who's No. 1?

It has been a wild and wacky season. After Arizona blew out Kansas, rallying from a 20-point deficit, it seemed like the Wildcats had distanced themselves from the field. Then Stanford went into McKale Center and shocked coach Lute Olson's 'Cats (the third straight season the Cardinal won in Tucson). Coach Mike Montgomery's team has assembled an impressive NCAA resumé, with wins over Arizona, Florida, Xavier, Oregon, Gonzaga and Arizona State.

This year's NCAA Tournament has the potential to be one of the wildest ever.

Who's No. 1? I've been trying to figure it out. Texas lost a heartbreaker at Kansas, and Allen Field House is such a tough place to play. The Nick Collison show, with 24 points and 23 rebounds, was just too much. The Longhorns lost earlier in the season to Notre Dame and Arizona in close games -- no shame in that.

Plus, coach Rick Barnes' Longhorns scored a solid win over red-hot Oklahoma State on Saturday.

What about putting the Wildcats back up to No. 1 following a good win over a ranked California club? Olson's squad has been solid.

Maybe Louisville, at 16-1 and on a 15-game winning streak, deserves consideration. Coach Rick Pitino has done a great job, and the Cardinals have their longest win streak since the 1985-86 national championship team. Louisville came back from a 16-point, first-half deficit to dominate Indiana.

Well, I'm going with Florida as the No. 1 team in America this week, just ahead of Texas. Coach Billy Donovan's Gators are riding a 14-game win streak, and it isn't easy to keep that going in the SEC. In fact, the Gators have a real test on Tuesday, visiting Rupp Arena for a date with torrid Kentucky.

Florida has just two blemishes -- against Stanford at the Preseason NIT (and the Gators followed up with a win over Kansas) and against West Virginia. Coach John Beilein has done a great job in his first year with the Mountaineers, but that loss should have never happened for Florida.

What a way to go into a week as No. 1! Tuesday's contest should be a showdown of Florida's offense against Kentucky's defense. Can coach Tubby Smith's 'Cats shut down the 3-point shooting of the Gators? Florida has so many weapons. One day it's Anthony Roberson -- who hit seven trifectas, including the game-winner against Georgia -- or it could be Matt Bonner, Brett Nelson or Matt Walsh.

Will the Gators have enough to stop Marquis Estill inside? He's so tough physically in a one-on-one situation. You can be sure that Kentucky senior Keith Bogans and company will be ready for this matchup.

So this week, Florida has my vote for No. 1, with Texas at No. 2. The Longhorns have the nation's best point guard, T.J. Ford, and he's making a run for player of the year. He has been phenomenal in Big 12 action.

This year's NCAA Tournament has the potential to be one of the wildest ever. The Gators are No. 1 for now ... how long will it last?