Arizona's surge can be attributed to the performance of 6-8, 241-pound forward Derrick Williams. The sophomore is averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. The 15th-ranked Wildcats (20-4) have won their past five games. The Pacific-10 is struggling as a whole, but not Arizona.
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North Carolina has recovered from its sluggish start. But the Tar Heels will only fulfill their potential if they get more from preseason All-America Harrison Barnes in big games. During North Carolina's 79-73 loss at Duke on Wednesday, Barnes scored nine points. The freshman had eight points during a nonconference loss to Illinois. And every Gophers fan remembers his 0-for-12 performance against Minnesota during the Puerto Rico Tipoff. I wonder if he will show up when the Tar Heels need him most during the postseason.
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St. John's has suffered losses to a pair of sub-100 teams in the RPI (St. Bonaventure and Fordham). But Steve Lavin's squad has topped four teams ranked No. 11 or better in the latest Associated Press Top 25 (UConn, Notre Dame, Duke and Georgetown). Is there a more confusing team in the country?
