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Welcome back hoop fans! As another electrifying week of college basketball wraps up, it's time to shake up the power rankings. This week had a handful of top-ranked teams fall as AP No. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25 all lost to unranked opponents. My power rankings are updated and listed here at RotoBaller and updated weekly!
This is also going to show similarities and differences compared to traditional polls because I not only break down team wins but crucial losses as well. This past week included wild finishes, upsets, and strong victories.
Let's break it down, team by team, and see who's falling and rising in this week's power rankings.
(25) Iowa State (13-3) *
Last week: W 57-53 vs Houston and W 66-42 vs Oklahoma State
The Cyclones won both of their conference games this week including a win over No. 2 Houston which helps move Iowa State to 2-1 to start conference play. Iowa State has four of their five starting players averaging double-digits this season including Tamin Lipsey who is averaging 14.8 points per game this season.
(24) Alabama (11-5) *
Last week: W 74-47 vs South Carolina and W 82-74 at Mississippi State
Alabama started the season with a couple of losses that ultimately had them out of the Top 25, but I would like to welcome them back in after two strong wins this week against Mississippi State and South Carolina. Alabama lost to four very strong teams which is why I look at those losses as very little punishment. Mark Sears is one of the league's best and should be viewed as such by all. He is currently averaging 20.3 points and 4.2 assists per game this season.
(23) Texas Tech (14-2) *
Last week: W 90-72 vs Oklahoma State and W 60-59 vs Kansas State
New to the rankings this week, Texas Tech has improved its record to 14-2 and earned itself a Top 25 ranking after taking down both Oklahoma State and Kansas State. The Red Raiders have now improved to 3-0 in conference play including a win over Texas. Due to the hot conference start, Texas Tech finds itself as a new member of my Top 25.
(22) Clemson (12-4) -6
Last week: L 87-72 at Virginia Tech and W 89-78 vs Boston College
Clemson had a tough week once again going 1-1. Having lost three of their last four games gives me concern that this group isn't as good as I once believed. Clemson has a lot of time to make up for their poor beginning to their conference season, but the wins need to start coming now.
(21) TCU (13-3) *
Last week: W 80-71 vs Oklahoma and W 68-67 vs Houston
New to the rankings this week, the Horned Frogs had themselves a monster week taking down two top 10 teams from the AP Top 25, including a win over No. 2 Houston. TCU can be viewed as one of the stronger teams in the Big 12 this season.
(20) BYU (13-3) +2
Last week: L 81-72 at Baylor and W 63-58 at UCF
BYU went 1-1 this week, including a win over UCF after their opponent took down top-ranked Kansas earlier in the week. Winning in a hostile environment leaves me to push them up two spots.
(19) Utah State (16-1) +4
Last week: W 83-59 vs Wyoming and W 87-86 at UNLV
Utah State has lost just one game this season, which occurred at the start of the year but has won 14 games in a row since. The Aggies are led by Great Osobor who leads the team in both scoring and rebounding this season.
(18) Ole Miss (15-1) ⇑6
Last week: W 103-85 vs Florida and W 69-56 vs Vanderbilt
The Rebels and Chris Beard responded with two wins after receiving their first loss to Tennessee earlier last week. Ole Miss continues to be one of the most slept-on teams in the country and they proved that this week with two monster wins including one against a tough unranked Florida team.
(17) Creighton (13-4) +4
Last week: W 84-58 at DePaul and W 66-65 vs St. John's
The Bluejays have won four straight games since losing two in a row to Marquette and Villanova earlier this year. Two wins this week for Creighton move them up four spots. Baylor Scheierman has led the way for the Bluejays with 18.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this year.
(16) Illinois (12-4) -1
Last week: W 71-68 vs Michigan State and L 76-67 vs Maryland
Illinois went 1-1 this week which included a great win over the Spartans, but then lost at home by nine to Maryland. The Illini are still without star Terrence Shannon Jr. which of course hurts their offense severely, but forward Colman Hawkins has stepped up as one of the conference’s best duel-threat players. Hawkins is averaging 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season.
(15) Marquette (11-5) -3
Last week: L 69-62 vs Butler
Marquette has wins over Kansas, Illinois, Texas, and Providence but has found themselves their third loss in the last five games played, all to unranked teams. Marquette will have a chance to bounce back this week with two conference games, but the losses need to stop if Shaka Smart and his team want to remain in the Top 25.
(14) Oklahoma (13-3) -3
Last week: L 80-71 at TCU and L 78-66 at Kansas
A very tough week for the Sooners, losing both conference games this week in two very hostile environments. Losing at Kansas shouldn’t put a damper on Oklahoma, but losing two straight games after previously having just one loss on the season moves them down three spots.
(13) Wisconsin (13-3) +4
Last week: W 71-60 at Ohio State and W 71-63 vs Northwestern
The Badgers continue to prove me wrong as they racked up two more conference victories this week including a double-digit road win against a tough Ohio State team. The offense has been the story this season as the Badgers have improved their offensive game tremendously in comparison to how they have looked in past years, currently averaging 75.3 points per game. Outside of Purdue, the Badgers have looked like one of the strongest teams in the Big 10 conference.
(12) Baylor (14-2) +2
Last week: W 81-72 vs BYU and W 62-59 vs Cincinnati
The Bears are led by Ja'Kobe Walter who is averaging 15.3 points per game this season and has been one of the country’s most exciting players to watch. Baylor has now won five games since losing to Duke earlier this season and this team is starting to make a case for being one of the best teams in the Big 12 conference.
(11) Arizona (12-4) -3
Last week: W 92-73 vs Utah and L 73-70 at Washington State
There is no surprise that Arizona can put up points, currently leading the NCAA in points per game at 91.2. However, the Wildcats have now lost four of their last eight games and concerns are starting to spike as the team continues to play poor defense which allows weaker teams to compete with them. Only dropping them three spots may be generous, but going 1-1 this past week lands them here.
(10) Auburn (14-2) +3
Last week: W 66-55 vs Texas A&M and W 93-78 vs LSU
Auburn was bumped three spots this week and now has entered my top 10 as this team keeps looking stronger and stronger every week. The Tigers play fast-paced basketball and have one of the most dominant offenses in the country, currently averaging 84.1 points per game.
(9) Memphis (15-2)
Last week: W 107-101 vs UTSA and W 112-86 at Wichita State
Memphis won both games this past week but was able to show a strong showing against Wichita State after having a horrific defensive outing against UTSA. Coach Penny Hardaway acquired mid-season transfer Nae'Qwan Tomlin from Kansas State and he has been one of the best additions in the country. Senior Jahvon Quinerly has been a star this season averaging 14.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game this year.
(8) Duke (13-3) +2
Last week: W 75-53 at Pitt and W 84-79 vs Georgia Tech
The Blue Devils have now won eight straight games including a win at Pittsburgh which is always a difficult environment to play in. Kyle Filipowski should start to be one of the few discussed in the National Player of the Year award as he is currently averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season and is one of the main reasons why Duke has looked so good this year.
(7) Tennessee (12-4)
Last week: L 77-72 at Mississippi State and W 85-79 at Georgia
Tennessee split their two conference games this week including surviving a scare when they took down Georgia on the road as they were down the majority of the second half. Despite the loss to Mississippi State, the Vols still have one of the most talented and athletic teams in the country, which is why there is no movement here.
(6) Houston (14-2) -3
Last week: L 57-53 at Iowa State and L 68-67 at TCU
Welcome to the Big 12 Houston. The Cougars had their first two road games since conference play began and were unable to come away with a win in either contest. This team is very talented, but they were due for a reality check after previously being ranked No. 2 in last week's AP Poll. Houston will have a chance to bounce back this week as their next two conference games will be at home against unranked opponents.
(5) Kentucky (12-3) -1
Last week: W 90-77 at Missouri L 97-92 at Texas A&M
Kentucky dropped just one spot this week after the monster win against Missouri, but eventually lost to Texas A&M in an OT thriller. The loss this week doesn’t leave too big of a scare as the previously ranked Aggies were looking for their first conference win of the season in a game in which they were favored. The Wildcats are led by senior guard Antonio Reeves, who is averaging 18.9 points per game this year.
(4) Kansas (14-2) -2
Last week: L 65-60 at UCF and W 78-66 vs Oklahoma
Kansas had one of the worst losses in the Bill Self era when they fell to UCF on the road earlier this week but showed promise in a bounce-back double-digit home win against an AP Top 10 team in Oklahoma. The Jayhawks have one of the best dynamic duos in the league when looking at Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar. Taking down Oklahoma after the loss at UCF lands them here.
(3) Purdue (15-2) -2
Last week: L 88-72 at Nebraska and W 95-78 vs Penn State
Purdue might be 5-0 on the season when playing against ranked opponents but has now lost to their second unranked team this season after the blowout loss to Nebraska. Despite the loss, Purdue should still be viewed as a top-four team in the country and a future one-seed in March. Zach Edey continues to be a National Player of the Year candidate averaging 22.3 points per game this season.
(2) North Carolina (13-3) +3
Last week: W 67-54 at NC State and W 103-67 vs Syracuse
The Tar Heels made a strong case this week to be the number one team in my rankings, but playing poor opponents this week moves them just three spots. The dynamic duo of RJ Davis and Armando Bacot is one of the country’s best one-two punches and the two currently average 35 total points per game.
(1) UConn (15-2) +4
Last week: W 80-75 at Xavier and W 80-67 vs Georgetown
Let’s just say UConn survived the week where everyone lost. Winning both games this week without star big man Donovan Clingan showed the versatile play style this team has. Now winning five straight games, including their most recent blowout win against Georgetown, lands them number one in my current rankings.
Others Receiving Votes
- Gonzaga
- Seton Hall
- San Diego State
- Colorado State
- Texas
Stay tuned for the college basketball rankings here at RotoBaller throughout the entire season!
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