Reputation plays a huge role in early-season college basketball polls. Before the conference slate starts, teams are ranked more on the perception of talent rather than the proof of talent. If a team is thought to be good in November, it can stay ranked through January even without showing much in the way of results. Conversely, teams that have to work their way into the rankings must demonstrate they belong.

Oftentimes, the perception can be correct. At this time last year, North Carolina was ranked No. 1 because voters assumed they had the most talented roster in the country. On the court, UNC hadn't played many teams that confirmed this, but voters still put them in the top spot anyway. The perception was validated during the rest of the season.

On the flip side, Oregon was ranked No. 19 in that same poll last year without having a single quality win on their schedule. The Ducks soon fell out of the rankings and struggled to reach .500 in the Pac 10. The perception of the quality of Oregon's basketball team was incorrect.

Today, The Dagger looks at the current AP Top 25 and decides whether each team is ranked by results or reputation. Teams that have been determined to have been ranked by results are slotted in a spot that reflects their schedule and results. If a team is listed in the rep column, they have yet to prove they're worthy of their ranking. (It doesn't mean they aren't good, by the way, just that they haven't demonstrated it yet.)

1) North Carolina -- Results

A stacked field that included Texas and Notre Dame couldn't touch UNC at the Maui Invitational. The Heels also wrecked Michigan State at Ford Field.

2) Connecticut -- Results

Won by double-digits in back-to-back games against ranked teams to win the Paradise Jam Tournament that you probably didn't see because it wasn't on ESPN. The Huskies barely beat Buffalo last week, but chalk that one up to looking ahead to the 11-day exam break.

3) Pittsburgh -- Rep

Jamie Dixon's Panthers are good, as usual, but wins over Texas Tech and Washington State aren't as impressive as some other team's early-season victories.

4) Gonzaga -- Results

Like, for instance, Gonzaga. Some are saying this is Mark Few's best team. The wins over Maryland and Tennessee support this notion.

5) Oklahoma -- Results

The win over Purdue may end up being one of those wins that's less impressive in retrospect, but if Davidson continues beating up on major conference foes, the Sooners victory over Stephen Curry and company will be remembered come March.

6) Texas -- Rep

Michigan also beat UCLA. The only difference is, that's the second best win on the Wolverines resume.

7) Duke -- Rep

The verdict is out on the merit of that Purdue victory. Splitting with Michigan, while nothing to be ashamed of, is hardly the stuff upon which a top 10 foundation is built.

8) Tennessee -- Results

A similar resume to Texas -- splitting the two big games on the early schedule -- except that Tennessee lost to an undefeated Gonzaga team and beat a previously undefeated Georgetown squad.

9) Louisville -- Rep

It's an insult to Pittsburgh, Texas and Duke to include them in the same category as Louisville. At least those teams have proven they can beat and/or play with anyone in the country. Louisville has lost to Western Kentucky and can't brag about any of its wins. (Unless that win against Indiana State came in 1979.)

10) Xavier -- Results

The Muskateers have beat all comers, something that can't be said for the team above them.

11) Wake Forest -- Rep

The Deacs were appropriately ranked in the low-teens. But number eleven might be a little high for a young team whose best win has come against Baylor.

12) Notre Dame -- Rep

The Irish have played three big games this season. They are 1-2 in those games.

13) Syracuse -- Results

Kansas and Florida aren't the Final Four contenders they have been in recent years, but they still stand as marquee wins for a Syracuse squad that used to have an aversion to early season tests.

14) Purdue -- Rep

The Boilermakers have no bad losses (cough, Louisville, cough), but their best win has come against a Boston College team that will fight to be in the top-half of the ACC.

15) Villanova -- Rep

Ignoring their result last night against Texas, Jay Wright's talented squad was ranked 15th based on wins over: Albany, Fordham, Niagara, Monmouth, Towson, Rhode Island, Penn and Houston Baptist. Oh, and all of those games were played in Philadelphia (which Wright himself self-deprecatingly pointed out last night when on set with Bobby Knight and Digger Phelps).

16) UCLA -- Rep

Best win: Miami (OH). The Redhawks, by the way, are 3-3 on the year, but those three losses have come to Pittsburgh, Xavier and UCLA.

17) Memphis -- Rep

We'll find out whether Memphis is for real this weekend when they face Georgetown.

18) Michigan State -- Rep

The blowout loss to North Carolina is understandable. The blowout loss to Maryland is less so.

19) Georgetown -- Results

The Hoyas hung tough with Tennessee and wiped the floor with Maryland. Number nineteen is a good spot.

20) Arizona State -- Rep

Arizona State and Baylor each have one loss. ASU's was to Baylor, Baylor's was to No. 11 Wake Forest. Who's ranking these teams, the BCS?

21) Ohio State -- Results

The Buckeyes are undefeated and beat Notre Dame. If anything, they could complain about how low expectations hurt their early-season ranking.

22) Baylor -- Results

(See: Arizona State)

23) Davidson -- Results

The loss to Oklahoma dropped Stephen Curry and company, but the Wildcats should see their ranking rise as they roll through the Southern Conference once again.

24) Marquette -- Results

Beat Wisconsin but lost to Dayton; No. 24 seems about right.

25) Kansas -- Results

But does it really matter? If this season doesn't pan out for the Jayhawks, fans can just cue up the DVR of Mario Chalmers hitting that three.