The With so many top teams getting upset, the top 3 is completely shaken up with Villanova (7), West Virginia (5) and Virginia (14), all sitting at 14-1, moving into the top 3.
Blue Bloods Arizona, Kentucky and North Carolina all fell out of the Power 16 this week with tough losses. College basketball is back in full swing following the holidays.
Rank (Last week’s rank) | Record | Comment |
1. Villanova (7) | 14-1 | Villanova bounced back from their loss against Butler with a win over Marquette. With Villanova back on track and so many teams losing, the Wildcats earn their spot back at the top of the rankings. Last week I said there was no reason for concern for Villanova and I still believe that to be true and Nova should stay atop the rankings for most of the year and earn a 1 seed on Selection Sunday. |
2. West Virginia (5) | 14-1 | West Virginia got their signature win of the season against Oklahoma and proved they’re still an elite defense by giving Trae Young fits all game long. The Mountaineers were able to frustrate one of the top players in the country despite having multiple starters in foul trouble. WVU has proven they are legit and might just take the Big 12 crown from Kansas. |
3. Virginia (14) | 14-1 | Virginia’s sole loss of the season was to West Virginia by just 7 points. With two wins this week over Virginia Tech and UNC, the Cavaliers have proven they are once again, legit. Their slow pace of play and tough half court defense have worked wonders for them this season as they held a UNC team to under 50 points. The ACC is loaded this year as always and Virginia plays a big part in the conference being so tough. |
4. Michigan St. (1) | 15-2 | After 14 straight wins, Michigan State faced a loss to Ohio State by a score of 80-64. The Spartans are loaded with talent including Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson but have played inconsistent at times this season. Nonetheless, this shouldn’t be much reason for concern for Michigan State as they are a dominant team. |
5. Duke (2) | 13-2 | After a comeback win against Florida State, Duke suffered a loss to NC State. Duke is debatably the most talented team with the dynamic freshmen and senior leader as their starting five. Although, the inconsistency has been troublesome. Coach K will need to make his team smooth over the rough spots in what could be a run for the title. |
6. Wichita St. (9) | 13-2 | After a loss to Oklahoma, Wichita State has rattled off five straight wins, including two straight blowouts. Wichita State is the beneficiary of multiple top ranked teams suffering losses which bumps them into the Top 5 of the power rankings. If the Shockers keep handling their business there will be no reason to drop them out of the top for the entirety of the season. |
7. Purdue (NR) | 15-2 | Purdue suffered back to back losses early on in the season but have responded with 11 straight wins. The Boilermakers have been winning, and winning big for most of their games. Big man Isaac Haas is a force to be reckoned with and could turn out to be a lethal weapon in tournament play. |
8. Texas Tech (NR) | 14-1 | Texas Tech is one of the hottest teams in the nation right now. Eight straight wins including wins over Nevada, Baylor, and Kansas. Keenan Evans has been their go-to scorer and playmaker and has anchored this Texas Tech team on a hot streak. |
9. Xavier (4) | 15-2 | Xavier beat a Butler team coming off of a win against Villanova and handled them, but lost to Providence the next game. The Big East in general is a tough conference to get a feel on. Villanova and Xavier should be the best teams and be the biggest contenders for March Madness. |
10. Arizona State (8) | 12-2 | After a miracle 12-0 start to the season for Arizona State, they have fallen back to Earth with two straight losses against Arizona and Colorado. Tra Holder is the leader of a team that despite falling twice in a row is still very talented and dangerous. The Sun Devils shouldn’t be taken lightly despite their recent struggles. |
11. Oklahoma (3) | 12-2 | Miami has just had an easy schedule this season. They did beat Minnesota but they’ve turned out to be less than advertised. After a loss to New Mexico State and a 3-point win against Middle Tennessee, Miami had to fall in the rankings. Don’t get me wrong, Miami is still dangerous but just haven’t had a chance to really show it. ACC conference play will be sure to change that. |
12. Kansas (10) | 12-3 | Kansas has been an up and down team this year. They started 7-0, lost two in a row, and now just lost to Texas Tech but beat TCU. The Jayhawks have been an elite three-point shooting team but have struggled when their shot is off. Billy Preston and Silvo De Sousa could provide the frontcourt depth they have been looking for and will make Kansas a very scary team. |
13. Gonzaga (NR) | 14-3 | Gonzaga has won 4 straight games since losing to San Diego State. Mark Few has been working with less talent than most powerhouses but has stayed competitive with most teams. Gonzaga will be the prime mid-major team. The Zags will be a reliable team and will be in peak condition as March rolls around. |
14. Auburn (NR) | 14-1 | Auburn has lowkey been one of the most consistent teams in the nation. At 14-1 and wins over Tennessee and Arkansas this week, it’s time Auburn gets some respect. Boasting a 12 game win streak, there is no reason Auburn shouldn’t be getting national recognition as a legit contender in the SEC. |
15. MIami (11) | 11-2 | Miami has lost to New Mexico State and Georgia Tech this season, which are not good losses by any means. However, their three-point shooting has improved as of late leading them to wins, including a win over Florida State. The Hurricanes will likely live and die by the three this season which could end up being the fall of Miami. |
16. Colorado (NR) | 10-6 | Colorado probably doesn’t have the talent to remain in these rankings for too long, nonetheless they deserve major credit. In a three-day span they were able to take down Arizona State and Arizona. They were coming off of 3 straight losses which makes these wins extra impressive. Like I said Colorado is 10-6 and probably will lose many times before the season ends, however they deserve a spot in the Power Rankings due to their unreal weekend. |
First Five Out
Arizona, Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas A&M, Arkansas
The Oklahoma comment appears
The Oklahoma comment appears to be about the Miami Hurricanes.