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Another crazy week in college basketball shakes up the rankings this week. Three top 10 teams suffered multiple losses, 13 AP Top-10 teams lost, and four teams from last weeks Power 16 fell out, including a Top 10 team.

In a season where top ranked teams have been losing at an unprecedented rate, this week was no different. A few non Power 5 teams climbed their way into the rankings as the madness continued in the major conferences.

Rank (Last week’s rank)
Record
Comment
1.  Villanova (1)
18-1
Villanova continues its dominance of the NCAA with easy wins over Georgetown and UConn. Jay Wright’s team once again seems to be one of the most disciplined and fundamentally sound teams in the nation. Mikal Bridges is one of the top prospects in the game and has, game in and game out helped prove Villanova is a top contender for the championship.
2. Virginia (2)
17-1
Debatably the best team in the nation, Virginia has looked as solid as any team out there. Their slow paced offense and stout half court defense has worked wonders for the Cavaliers. Virginia has solidified themselves as serious contenders for ACC crown and even the national championship.
3. Duke (3)
17-2
Duke was able to rally late and beat a tough Miami team and followed up by pummeling Pitt. Gary Trent has been somewhat the forgotten man on Duke due to the talent around him, but his 30 points were the driving force in the Miami win. All in all it was a successful week for Duke, especially after landing top recruit Zion Williamson.
4. Purdue (5)
19-2
The Boilermakers continued their Big Ten dominance with two more wins over Wisconsin and Iowa improving to 8-0 in conference play. Purdue has been winning by a large margin in many of their games this year which is a good sign considering their fans haven’t seen many tough opponents. There is however, no reason to think Purdue can’t make a serious run when March rolls around.
5. Kansas (10)
16-3
Kansas picked up a huge win over West Virginia in a tremendous late game come-back. Kansas has shown its ability to mount comebacks when it matters most which is promising. I’m sure Kansas fans would prefer not being worried through the final seconds but nonetheless, Kansas has proven it is a legit contender.
6. Michigan St. (9)
16-3
The Spartans bounced back from their loss with a 28-point victory over Indiana. Michigan State is the beneficiary of yet another week of madness where multiple top ranked teams suffered losses.
7. North Carlina (14)
16-4
North Carolina bested Clemson and Georgia Tech to improve their record to 16-4. UNC has finally started to look better despite Luke Maye cooling off from his hot start. Joel Berry has been coming into his own making UNC an increasingly intriguing team.
8.  West Virginia (4)
16-3
West Virginia suffered a crushing loss after blowing a big lead against Kansas late in the game. The Mountaineers looked like a dominant team for most of the game but went ice cold when it mattered most. Fortunately, they were able to bounce back with a 35-point win over Texas. WVU’s defense has remained elite but their offense has struggled at times this season.
9. Xavier (12)
18-3
Xavier has been impressive since their loss to Villanova. They’ve beaten Creighton, Seton Hall, along with St. John’s to further improve their resume. Xavier will most likely remain right behind Villanova in the Big East for the duration of the year.
10. Arizona State (15)
16-4
Led by Deandre Ayton, Arizona is as dangerous as they come. Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins fill out one of the most feared trios in the nation as Arizona keeps their lead in the Pac-12. Arizona is a team that seems to be a perfect fit for tournament play as they can score from all three levels in a variety of ways.
11. Cincinnati (NR)
17-2
Cincinnati is at the top of the American conference over Wichita State after an impressive start to the season. Being undefeated in conference play and having one of the best record in the NCAA earns the Bearcats a spot in this weeks Power 16. 
12. Ohio State (NR)
16-3
Ohio State is currently riding a 7-game win streak including a win over then-number one ranked Michigan State. The Buckeyes are 8-0 in conference play and are making an impressive run that could ultimately lead them to a Big Ten title.
13. Providence (NR)
16-3
On an impressive win streak, including wins over Creighton, Butler, and Xavier, Providence is becoming a more and more talented team. These upcoming games against Villanova and Seton Hall could turn this run into an even more impressive one.
14. Auburn (NR)
17-2
Auburn suffered a loss to Alabama but was able to respond with a win over Georgia. I believe Auburn is better than the the national perception of the Tigers. They have the beat overall record in the SEC and are 5-1 in conference play. They haven’t gotten the respect they’ve deserved but I believe it will be coming soon.
15. Oklahoma (6)
14-4
It was a rough week for Oklahoma. Losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma State don’t bode well for the Sooner’s resume. They’ve been extremely one dimensional playing through Trae Young every play he’s on the court. Don’t get me wrong, the kid can ball, but in terms of team success, they may benefit from changing up the game plan.
16.  Rhode Island (NR)
15-3
Rhode Island is undefeated in conference play and has a sizable lead over the rest of the Atlantic 10. Rhode Island is always a respectable team and this year is no different. They are in the midst of a big winning streak and have shown no signs of slowing down.

 

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