Conference action continued to intensify this week as upsets reshaped the landscape and several teams climbed the rankings with clutch performances. Iowa State hit a rare skid, dropping back-to-back games, while Nebraska has kept rolling through the early portion of its conference slate. With the college football season officially wrapped up after last night’s National Championship, as “new blood’ Indiana claimed its first title, the spotlight now fully shifts to college basketball. Here’s how the Power 16 rankings look.
1. Arizona Wildcats (18-0)
Arizona continued its perfect run through conference play with wins over rival Arizona State (89–82) and UCF (84–77). Freshman forward Koa Peat set the tone early, consistently causing problems for Arizona State on the interior, while senior forward Tobe Awaka followed with steady production off the bench. Against UCF, the backcourt tandem of Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley relentlessly attacked the rim, keeping the pressure on throughout. The Wildcats will look to reach 20–0 next week against Cincinnati and West Virginia, with all eyes already turning to a Jan. 26 showdown against No. 11 BYU, where Arizona could tie the best start in program history.
2. UConn Huskies (18-1)
With its lone loss coming earlier in the season against the top-ranked team in the nation, UConn has remained locked in, grinding out narrow wins over No. 25 Seton Hall (69–64) and Georgetown (62–60). While the Huskies did not win in dominant fashion, their veterans once again provided stability. Senior big Tarris Reed Jr. anchored both ends of the floor, pairing strong work on the offensive glass with defensive versatility to help close out both games. UConn will lean on that interior presence again as it turns its attention to a Jan. 24 matchup against Villanova.
3. Duke Blue Devils (17-1)
Duke took care of business against the ACC’s newest additions, rolling past California (71–56) before delivering a dominant 80–50 win over Stanford. Freshman forward Cameron Boozer continues to strengthen his case as a national Player of the Year contender, impacting the game on both ends with consistency. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Isaiah Evans has found his rhythm from deep, with his perimeter volume and confidence steadily increasing. Duke will enjoy a lighter week as it prepares for Wake Forest on Saturday before a rematch against No. 20 Louisville, following up on its Jan. 6 win over the Cardinals.
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-0)
Nebraska seized control early in both outings, dismantling Oregon (90–55) before cruising past Northwestern (77–58). The Cornhuskers’ frontcourt continues to set the tone, led by Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager, who provide complementary scoring versatility. Sandfort has been lights-out from distance, while Frager uses his size and shot creation to punish opposing bench units. Nebraska will look to keep that frontcourt production steady as it faces Washington on Jan. 21 and Minnesota on Jan. 24, before turning its attention to a challenging stretch that begins with a ranked matchup against No. 4 Michigan next Tuesday.
5. Houston Cougars (17-1)
Houston put together a dominant week, opening with a 77–48 rout of West Virginia before dismantling Arizona State (103–73). The win over Arizona State marked the Cougars’ most complete performance of the season and their first 100-point outing. The guard trio of freshman Kingston Flemings alongside seniors Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp has begun to find real chemistry, while the frontcourt pairing of junior Joseph Tugler and freshman Chris Cenac Jr. continues to provide versatility and physicality on both ends. The Cougars will look to build on that momentum with a rematch against No. 15 Texas Tech on Saturday, another opportunity to make a statement.
6. Michigan Wolverines (16-1)
After a disappointing stretch that included their first loss of the season, Michigan responded with solid wins over Washington (82–72) and Oregon (81–71). The Wolverines regained their footing behind strong interior play from junior big Aday Mara and sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr., both of whom controlled the paint on both ends. In the backcourt, Elliot Cadeau took greater command of the offense, consistently creating clean looks for his teammates. Michigan will need to sustain that complementary balance as it faces Indiana and Ohio State this week, before a demanding stretch against No. 8 Nebraska and No. 12 Michigan State.
7. Purdue Boilermakers (17-1)
Purdue survived a pair of tight contests this week, edging Iowa (79–72) and USC (69–64). Senior guard Braden Smith has been the lone steady presence, consistently steering the offense and delivering in key moments. The frontcourt pairing of Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff has struggled to find rhythm in recent weeks, while Fletcher Loyer has yet to match expectations as a nightly perimeter threat. The Boilermakers have leaned on late-game execution to secure wins, but they will need greater cohesion from their veteran core as they prepare for UCLA on Jan. 20, followed by a Jan. 24 matchup against No. 13 Illinois.
8. Iowa State Cyclones (16-2)
Iowa State endured a frustrating week, tumbling in the rankings after lopsided losses to Kansas (84–63) and Cincinnati (79–70). The Cyclones struggled to generate offense early in both games, digging holes they could not escape. Junior forward Milan Momcilovic provided a rare bright spot against Cincinnati, catching fire from beyond the arc in a late push, but the usual stabilizers in senior Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey were unable to compensate due to efficiency issues. Iowa State will look to reset and respond as it faces UCF on Jan. 20 and Oklahoma State on Jan. 24.
9. Gonzaga Bulldogs (19-1)
Gonzaga continued to look comfortable, cruising past Washington State (86–65) before closing out a rematch with Seattle (71–50). The Bulldogs continue to lean on senior big Graham Ike, who has been as dominant as any interior presence in the country. As Gonzaga works to ease the offensive burden on Ike, freshman guard Mario Saint-Supery has flashed upside as a three-level scorer and emerging primary ball handler. The Bulldogs will look for increased production from their surrounding pieces as conference play moves forward, with upcoming matchups against Pepperdine and San Francisco offering opportunities to do just that.
10. BYU Cougars (16-2)
BYU’s recent run of close wins finally stalled this week. After edging TCU (76–70), the Cougars were outmatched in an 84–71 loss to No. 15 Texas Tech, where defensive issues surfaced on both the interior and perimeter. Sophomore guard Robert Wright III made the most of his opportunities, consistently attacking downhill and getting to the line, but it was not enough to overcome the broader struggles. Freshman forward AJ Dybantsa was held to his least effective outing of the season, a rarity for BYU’s offensive engine. The Cougars will need to address those gaps quickly as they face Utah on Saturday, followed by a Jan. 26 showdown with No. 1 Arizona.
11. Michigan State Spartans (16-2)
Michigan State picked up two convincing wins, routing Indiana (81–60) before handling Washington (80–63). Sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. led the way with a productive week, setting a new career high in points against Indiana while continuing to orchestrate the offense with poise. His elite court vision has helped unlock contributions from players like sophomore guard Kur Teng, who has provided reliable perimeter shooting off the bench. As Big Ten play intensifies, the Spartans will look to develop additional offensive complements with Oregon and Maryland up next.
12. Vanderbilt Commodores (16-2)
Much like Iowa State, Vanderbilt suffered its first back-to-back losses of the season, falling to Texas (80–64) and No. 19 Florida (98–94) in a disappointing week for a team previously unbeaten. The Commodores’ lack of size in the starting lineup was exposed in both games, as they were consistently beaten on the glass. Sophomore guard Tyler Tanner flashed his usual shifty shot creation at times, but Vanderbilt’s limited depth and offensive creativity made it difficult to generate easy looks. The Commodores will need to recalibrate defensively as they prepare for a Jan. 20 matchup against No. 17 Arkansas.
13. Illinois Fighting Illini (15-3)
Illinois continued to stack wins this week, taking care of Northwestern (79–68) and Minnesota (77–67). Freshman guard Keaton Wagler has emerged as the offensive focal point, pairing his unique frame with a tight handle and a reliable shooting stroke. In the frontcourt, the Ivisic brothers, Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic, continue to provide strong chemistry and valuable floor spacing. Illinois will look to keep the offense flowing through Wagler as it faces Maryland, before turning its attention to a major test against No. 5 Purdue on Jan. 24.
14. Texas Tech Red Raiders (14-4)
Texas Tech picked up two statement wins, opening with an 88–74 victory over Utah before dismantling No. 11 BYU (84–71). The star pairing of junior forward JT Toppin and sophomore guard Christian Anderson continues to present matchup problems for opposing defenses with their scoring versatility. In addition, junior LeJuan Watts has consistently delivered in critical moments, providing steady production on both ends. The Red Raiders will look to build on that momentum as they get past Baylor and prepare for a rematch against No. 7 Houston on Saturday.
15. Virginia Cavaliers (16-2)
Virginia continued its strong start to the season with quality wins over No. 20 Louisville (79–70) and SMU (72–68). The Cavaliers’ ability to space the floor and score at all three levels has given their lineup notable versatility. Senior guard Malik Thomas has remained a steady perimeter threat, knocking down threes at a high volume, while freshman forward Thijs de Ridder has emerged as a productive stretch four in the frontcourt. Virginia will need De Ridder to maximize his opportunities as the Cavaliers prepare for a major test against No. 14 North Carolina on Jan. 24.
16. Florida Gators (13-5)
Florida has quietly worked its way back into the rankings, winning three of its last four games against ranked opponents, highlighted by a thrilling 98–94 victory over No. 10 Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Gators’ junior-laden frontcourt trio of Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, and Rueben Chinyelu has been a major driving force, combining Haugh’s spacing, Condon’s versatility, and Chinyelu’s relentless motor to form one of the more cohesive frontcourts in the country. That interior strength has been complemented by improved backcourt play from Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland, helping Florida elevate its overall level of play. The Gators will look to stay hot as they prepare for matchups against LSU and Auburn this week.
Next Five: Georgia (15-3), Alabama (13-5), Clemson (16-3), North Carolina (14-4), Arkansas (13-5)
Players of the Week:
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Toppin came alive in a massive week for the Red Raiders, piling up 31 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and five blocks on 14-of-23 shooting and 3-of-4 from three against Utah. He followed that performance by leading Texas Tech past No. 11 BYU with a 27-point, 12-rebound double-double, again shooting 11-of-18 from the field and 3-of-4 from deep. Toppin’s continued evolution into a dominant interior scorer with legitimate stretch ability has elevated both his game and Texas Tech’s ceiling.
Malik Thomas, Virginia
Thomas has been a driving force behind Virginia’s rise up the conference standings, and his elite shot-making was on full display this week. Against No. 20 Louisville, he buried 6-of-8 from three, then stayed scorching hot with 6-of-10 triples in a win over SMU. The San Francisco transfer has emerged as one of the ACC’s most dangerous perimeter threats, and Virginia will need him to stay dialed in as the Cavaliers continue to prove they belong among the conference’s elite.
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Sandfort continued his outstanding season from deep, dropping 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting and 7-of-11 from three against Oregon. He followed it up by knocking down another 5-of-10 from deep versus Northwestern, helping Nebraska extend its unbeaten streak to 18 games. With the Cornhuskers’ frontcourt fully committed to spacing and volume shooting, Sandfort remains the backbone of that offensive identity.
Jeremiah Wilkinson, Georgia
Wilkinson caught fire in an overtime loss to Ole Miss, scoring 32 points on 9-of-19 shooting and 6-of-12 from three, then bounced back by leading Georgia to a dominant win over Arkansas with 20 points and four steals. The former ACC guard has shown a seamless transition from California to Georgia, using his microwave shot creation to provide instant offense and consistent sparks for the Bulldogs.
Aidan Sherrell, Alabama
Sherrell had eclipsed the 20-point mark just once this season prior to this week, but he delivered back-to-back breakout performances with 22 points against Mississippi State and 21 points versus Oklahoma. He shot 5-of-11 from the field and 10-of-11 at the line in the first outing, then followed with 8-of-12 shooting in the second. Along with his dominant interior presence, Sherrell’s increased perimeter confidence stood out, as he knocked down two three-pointers in each game, signaling a meaningful offensive expansion.
Play of the Week:
Miami (OH) Clutch in 4th/OT vs Buffalo
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