Conference play delivered maximum unpredictability this week, with multiple top-10 teams falling to conference foes and late-game chaos becoming the theme. Illinois and Texas Tech headlined the turmoil by sealing crucial victories in crunch time, while just three unbeaten teams remain, led by Arizona and Nebraska as Miami (OH) continues to make noise. At the same time, the freshman class has thrived in high-pressure moments, further reshaping the landscape. Here’s how the Power 16 shakes out heading into Week 12.
1. Arizona Wildcats (20-0)
Arizona stayed perfect with a pair of dominant victories over Cincinnati (77–51) and West Virginia (88–53). While much of the attention continues to center on the freshman duo of Koa Peat and Brayden Burries, the Wildcats consistently showcase one of the deepest and most balanced lineups in the country. Arizona has no glaring weaknesses in its starting five, and the bench trio of seniors Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell’Orso, along with freshman Dwayne Aristode, provides added versatility and reliability. The Wildcats will look to make a major statement in conference play as they take on No. 13 BYU tonight.
2. UConn Huskies (19-1)
UConn survived another Big East test, closing out a hard-fought 75–69 overtime win over Villanova on Saturday. Over the past few weeks, Dan Hurley’s group has been pushed in tight conference battles, but consistent late-game execution from its veteran core has been the difference. Junior Solo Ball and sophomore Braylon Mullins continue to provide reliable floor spacing, while seniors Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. anchor an elite defensive frontcourt. The Huskies will again lean on that experience as they face Providence in a rematch on Tuesday, before closing January with a matchup against Creighton.
3. Duke Blue Devils (18-1)
Duke rolled past Wake Forest with a 90–69 victory, continuing its strong run through conference play. Freshman Cameron Boozer remains the focal point of the offense, combining elite efficiency with a rapidly developing perimeter shot. Sophomore big Patrick Ngongba II has complemented Boozer well in the frontcourt, but Duke has not yet needed consistent production from its surrounding pieces. That balance will be tested as No. 23 Louisville comes to town tonight, followed by a Jan. 31 road matchup against Virginia Tech.
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers (20-0)
Like Arizona, Nebraska pushed its unbeaten start to 20–0 with convincing wins over Washington (76–66) and Minnesota (76–57). Junior forward Pryce Sandfort continues to shine as a perimeter marksman while also asserting himself defensively and on the glass. Alongside Sandfort, the backcourt duo of Sam Hoiberg and Jamarques Lawrence has delivered balanced offensive production through three-level scoring and steady playmaking. Nebraska now faces its toughest stretch yet, navigating back-to-back challenges against No. 3 Michigan on Tuesday and No. 11 Illinois on Sunday to open February.
5. Michigan Wolverines (18-1)
Michigan handled its business in conference play with double-digit wins over Indiana (86–72) and Ohio State (74–62). Senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg continues to anchor the defense as one of the nation’s premier stoppers, while junior guard Elliot Cadeau has shown steady growth in his offensive versatility. Freshman guard Trey McKenney has also begun to rediscover his shooting touch, providing a valuable spark off the bench. Michigan’s backcourt will need to keep trending upward as the Wolverines prepare for a demanding stretch against No. 7 Nebraska on Jan. 27 and No. 10 Michigan State on Jan. 30.
6. Houston Cougars (17-2)
After a narrow 90–86 loss to No. 12 Texas Tech on Saturday, Houston will look to regroup following its lone setback of the week. Outside of freshman guard Kingston Flemings and senior Emanuel Sharp, the Cougars struggled to generate consistent offense. Flemings repeatedly broke down the Red Raiders’ defense and delivered a breakout 42-point performance, a showing that suggests he is ready to lead this team to major success come March. Foul trouble for junior Joseph Tugler and freshman Chris Cenac Jr. disrupted Houston’s interior presence and left its defense a shell of itself. Limiting self-inflicted mistakes will be critical as Houston prepares for upcoming matchups with TCU and Cincinnati.
7. Iowa State Cyclones (18-2)
After a rare two-loss week, the Cyclones responded with authority, rolling past UCF (87–57) and Oklahoma State (84–71). Iowa State’s frontcourt reasserted itself as junior forward Milan Momcilovic and senior Joshua Jefferson delivered a complementary inside-out attack. Momcilovic’s shooting and spacing stretched defenses, while Jefferson’s physicality, scoring versatility, and passing anchored the offense. With momentum restored, the Cyclones now turn their focus to upcoming tests against Colorado and Kansas State later in the week.
8. Illinois Fighting Illini (17-3)
Illinois opened the week with a convincing 89–70 win over Maryland before closing with a statement 88–82 victory over No. 4 Purdue. The Illini’s guard play has been a driving force, led by rising freshman Keaton Wagler (pictured) and junior Andrej Stojakovic. Wagler delivered the performance of the year against Purdue, erupting for a phenomenal 46 points and outscoring the rest of Illinois’ roster combined, while also serving as the team’s primary organizer. Stojakovic continues to provide a dynamic scoring presence capable of taking over games. Illinois will look to keep that backcourt production in sync as it prepares for Washington on Thursday before turning its focus to a redemption opportunity against No. 7 Nebraska on Sunday.
9. Gonzaga Bulldogs (21-1)
Shorthanded without their star frontcourt duo, Gonzaga managed to grind out wins over Pepperdine (84–60) and San Francisco (68–66). Senior forward Jalen Warley steadied the starting group, while senior guard Tyon Grant-Foster provided a lift off the bench. The biggest development, however, came from freshman guard Davis Fogle, who enjoyed a breakout week by consistently drawing contact and converting at the free-throw line. With key pieces sidelined, the Bulldogs will need continued growth from their young contributors as they prepare for their toughest conference test yet against Saint Mary’s on Saturday.
10. Michigan State Spartans (18-2)
Michigan State continued its run of dominant conference play with convincing wins over Oregon (68–52) and Maryland (91–48). Senior big Carson Cooper has settled in as a reliable interior presence on both ends of the floor. Alongside him, the pairing of sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. and junior forward Coen Carr has reached another level, blending Fears Jr.’s vision and control with Carr’s explosive athleticism to devastating effect. The Spartans will look to keep exploiting that connection as they turn their attention to a Jan. 30 showdown with in-state rival No. 3 Michigan.
11. Purdue Boilermakers (17-3)
Purdue endured a difficult week, dropping a 69–67 upset to UCLA before falling again in an 88–82 loss to No. 11 Illinois. The stretch highlighted ongoing concerns about consistent high-level support around senior guard Braden Smith. While seniors Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer have been steady contributors, opponents with sufficient talent are increasingly finding ways to exploit this roster’s limitations. The Boilermakers will look to reset and rebuild momentum with a home matchup against Indiana on Tuesday before heading on the road to face Maryland.
12. Texas Tech Red Raiders (16-4)
After defeating Baylor in a comfortable 92–73 win, the Red Raiders redeemed their earlier loss with a signature 90–86 victory over No. 6 Houston. Despite several haymakers from Kingston Flemings, Texas Tech took control in crunch time. Star junior big JT Toppin made a significant imprint on the outcome, dominating the offensive glass and creating easy interior opportunities. Sophomore guard Christian Anderson directed the offense effectively, while off-ball guards Jaylen Petty and Donovan Atwell found their rhythm from deep. The Red Raiders will look to replicate that collective effort against UCF on Saturday before preparing for a Feb. 2 matchup with No. 19 Kansas.
13. BYU Cougars (17-2)
BYU responded to its 84–71 loss at No. 12 Texas Tech by pulling away from Utah in a 91–78 victory. Freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa delivered a career night, firmly establishing himself as a three-level scoring threat. His 42-point outburst would have drawn even greater national attention had it not come on the same day fellow freshmen Keaton Wagler and Kingston Flemings posted their own historic scoring performances. The backcourt pairing of Robert Wright III and Richie Saunders also found its rhythm, giving the Cougars a potent top-heavy attack. While BYU’s offensive production remains concentrated among its star trio, that group’s efficiency makes the Cougars difficult to match when firing on all cylinders. Still, additional support will be critical with major tests looming against No. 1 Arizona tonight and No. 19 Kansas on Friday.
14. North Carolina Tar Heels (16-4)
North Carolina reentered this week’s rankings following a pivotal stretch that included a 91–69 win over Notre Dame and an impressive 85–80 road upset of No. 14 Virginia. Freshman forward Caleb Wilson continues to assert himself as one of the most dominant players in the country. The Tar Heels’ backcourt has also found new life, with senior Seth Trimble elevating his play and freshmen Luka Bogavac and Derek Dixon emerging as reliable contributors. As conference play moves forward, North Carolina’s offense will look to build on that momentum, beginning with a matchup against Georgia Tech.
15. Arkansas Razorbacks (15-5)
Arkansas delivered a statement performance with a dominant 93–68 win over No. 15 Vanderbilt before holding off LSU for an 85–81 victory. Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. continues to emerge as an instant offensive weapon at all three levels, while fellow freshman Meleek Thomas has gained confidence since moving into the starting lineup. Inside, senior bigs Trevon Brazile and Malique Ewin have provided steady production and physicality. The Razorbacks will need that balanced, consistent scoring to hold as they prepare for upcoming tests against Oklahoma and Kentucky.
16. Virginia Cavaliers (16-3)
After dropping their conference opener to rival Virginia Tech, the Cavaliers had been cruising through ACC play before a frustrating loss to No. 22 North Carolina halted their momentum. Freshman forward Thijs de Ridder shouldered much of the offensive burden, but inefficiency from senior guard Malik Thomas played a key role in Virginia’s second-half collapse. Defensive slippage also proved costly, as the Cavaliers surrendered 50-plus points after the break. Virginia will look to regroup and reestablish its identity as it heads on the road to face Notre Dame and Boston College.
Next Five: Vanderbilt (17-3), Kansas Jayhawks (15-5), Florida (14-6), Clemson (17-3), Alabama (13-6)
Players of the Week:
Kingston Flemings, Houston
Flemings continues to establish himself as one of the nation’s most impressive freshmen on a dominant Houston roster. In Saturday’s loss to No. 12 Texas Tech, he kept the Cougars competitive throughout, pouring in a career-high 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting from the field and 4-of-9 from three. He consistently reached his preferred spots, showcasing elite touch around the rim while drilling difficult step-back jumpers from mid-range. With his polish, scoring instincts, and maturity, Flemings has rapidly climbed draft boards as a high-end guard prospect.
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Wagler has emerged as another overlooked freshman guard who has taken the Big Ten by storm. In Illinois’ statement road win over No. 4 Purdue, he erupted for a career-high 46 points on 13-of-17 shooting while knocking down nine three-pointers, setting an AP-era record for most points scored in a road win against a top-10 opponent. Typically the Illini’s primary facilitator, Wagler caught fire early from deep and never cooled off. His versatility and confidence have fueled major momentum as conference play unfolds.
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Continuing a remarkable freshman surge, Dybantsa delivered a signature performance Saturday night against Utah, scoring a career-high 43 points on 15-of-24 shooting and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. He fully displayed his three-level scoring ability while consistently drawing contact, converting 9-of-10 free throws. Over the past two months, Dybantsa’s upside has become increasingly evident, further strengthening his case as the potential first player selected this summer.
Peter Suder, Miami (OH)
Suder followed his 37-point outburst against Buffalo with a near 27-point triple-double, adding 10 rebounds and eight assists in a 107–101 overtime win over Kent State to help Miami (OH) extend its unbeaten start to 20 games. Unlike the previous week, when his production came largely from beyond the arc, Suder attacked the rim effectively and showcased his complete offensive arsenal. With clutch performances like this, the Redhawks’ hot start shows no signs of slowing.
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Fears Jr.’s command of Michigan State’s offense has been evident all season, but it reached another level in a blowout win over Maryland. He posted 17 points and 17 assists, powering the Spartans to their largest margin of victory since 2000 under Tom Izzo. As the engine of Michigan State’s attack, Fears Jr. continues to drive winning through his vision and pace, and his growing consistency as a double-double threat points to sustained success.
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Jefferson answered the call following a shaky stretch for Iowa State, delivering a 17-point triple-double against UCF before adding 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting and a perfect 4-of-4 from three in the following outing. His offensive versatility and creativity have been evident all season, but they were especially critical this week as the Cyclones worked to regain momentum. Jefferson’s all-around impact helped stabilize Iowa State and steer it back into the win column.
Play of the Week:
Tyler Bilodeau Buzzer Beater vs No. 4 Purdue
https://x.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/2013841060825350443?s=20
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