Why vote Virginia over Kentucky? Here's why

So … I voted Virginia No. 1 this week in my AP Top 25 ballot. Ahead of Kentucky.

Yes, that's right. Ahead of Kentucky. Apparently, I'm joined in this decision by John Feinstein, and John Feinstein alone.

First, let's clear this up: Polls do not move the world. They shouldn't.

They are a useful tool for gauging the landscape of college basketball each week, not a final statement.

I thought Virginia more deserving of the No. 1 spot this week than Kentucky. And for full disclosure, I'd have ranked Duke ahead of the Wildcats too, had they held serve instead of losing in Raleigh.

Kentucky is good. More than good. Kentucky might, pound for pound, wind up being the best college basketball team I've ever seen. It's up there with some of the best Duke, UNLV and North Carolina teams of my lifetime, and those are just the comparisons that come quickly to mind.

Combine this team's talent – easily the best collection anyone's had since … Kentucky three years ago – and its statistical progress thus far, and you'll scare anybody. This is the best team in the country.

But that doesn't mean it's playing the best basketball right now. In my opinion, that distinction should go to Virginia.

Kentucky has great wins – Louisville, Kansas, North Carolina. Virginia can counter that with Maryland, VCU and Notre Dame, not to mention the N.C. State team that just beat Duke.

Kentucky has an outstanding track record of success under John Calipari, winning a national title in 2012, reaching the national final last season and remaining as one of just two undefeated teams in the country right now. And Virginia, the nation's other remaining unbeaten, won the dual ACC title last season, an achievement that probably deserves more recognition than it's gotten.

Back to this week: While Kentucky needed three total overtimes to put away two teams – Ole Miss and Texas A&M –decidedly outside the NCAA tournament picture at the moment, Virginia went to Notre Dame, made the Irish play their way and won.

Virginia is playing better basketball right now. Virginia is, in my eyes, the better team right now.

That can change by Valentine's Day, given the Duke, at UNC, Louisville stretch the Wahoos have coming at the end of January and beginning of February. And should Kentucky dispatch of the three KenPom top 60 opponents it has coming in the next four games, the top of my ballot could change again.

Ultimately, none of this matters very much. Both of these teams are on track to be No. 1 seeds in the tournament, playing in the regional they'll prefer. And both are clear national title contenders.

The rest is just numbers.

Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.