As conference play begins to take hold, chaos has started to creep into the college basketball landscape in a way that mirrors the current climate beyond the sport, but here it brings competitive excitement instead of injustice. The past week delivered no shortage of surprises, with Arizona reclaiming the top spot and Michigan tumbling after suffering its first loss of the season in stunning fashion. With just five undefeated teams still standing, the race to maintain a perfect record is officially on. Here’s how the Power 16 shakes out through ten weeks of the college basketball season.
1. Arizona Wildcats (16-0)
It did not take long for Arizona to reclaim its spot atop our rankings, as the Wildcats rolled past Kansas State (101–76) and TCU (86–73) to remain undefeated. The freshman duo of Koa Peat and Brayden Burries continues to emerge as one of the nation’s most dangerous complementary pairings, consistently pressuring defenses with their scoring and physicality. Meanwhile, junior big Motiejus Krivas has found his rhythm alongside Peat, giving Arizona one of the most imposing frontcourts in college basketball. The Wildcats will look to carry that momentum forward as they face Arizona State before heading on the road for a Jan. 17 matchup against No. 25 UCF.
2. Iowa State Cyclones (16-0)
With wins over Baylor (70–60) and Oklahoma State (83–71), Iowa State has taken an unexpected leap to start the season. Led by strong performances from Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson, the Cyclones have struck an effective balance between Lipsey’s shot creation and Jefferson’s point-forward versatility. Junior wing Milan Momcilovic has also consistently delivered as a knockdown perimeter threat, stretching defenses and opening driving lanes. Iowa State will look for its core to continue firing on all cylinders when it faces No. 22 Kansas on Tuesday.
3. UConn Huskies (16-1)
The Huskies survived a scare in a 103–98 overtime win over Providence before following it up with a more comfortable 72–60 victory against DePaul. UConn needed its impact players to rise to the moment, and they did, with Silas Demary Jr. orchestrating the offense and consistently creating open looks for his teammates. On the perimeter, Braylon Mullins and Alex Karaban have shouldered much of the scoring load from beyond the arc, giving the Huskies needed spacing and shot-making. Inside, Tarris Reed Jr. has been a dominant presence, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. UConn will look to carry that balance and consistency into upcoming road tests at Seton Hall and Georgetown.
4. Duke Blue Devils (15-1)
The Blue Devils collected two ranked wins this week over No. 20 Louisville (84-73) and No. 24 SMU (82-75). Freshman forward Cameron Boozer continued to rally off dominant performances as he showed an expansion to his game with his ability to stretch the floor consistently. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Isaiah Evans has come alive as a three-level scorer for Duke over the past couple weeks to begin conference action. The Blue Devils hope for Evans’ hot streak to stay flamboyant as they prepare for a west coast trip for their matchups against California and Stanford.
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-0)
Duke picked up two ranked wins this week, knocking off No. 20 Louisville (84–73) and No. 24 SMU (82–75) to keep its momentum rolling. Freshman forward Cameron Boozer continued his dominant stretch, showing continued growth in his game with an improved ability to consistently stretch the floor. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Isaiah Evans has come alive as a true three-level scorer to open conference play, giving the Blue Devils another reliable offensive engine. Duke will look for Evans’ hot streak to continue as it heads west for upcoming matchups against California and Stanford.
6. Michigan Wolverines (14-1)
It is remarkable how quickly a single week can change the outlook of a season. Just days ago, Michigan looked nearly unbeatable, but cracks have started to show. The Wolverines barely escaped Penn State with a 74–72 win before dropping a 91–88 loss to Wisconsin. Led by junior guard Elliot Cadeau, Michigan has shown some recent slippage in ball movement, while its interior edge with junior big Aday Mara has not been as imposing since Big Ten play began. The Wolverines will need to regroup quickly as they head on the road to face Washington on Jan. 14 and Oregon on Jan. 17.
7. Purdue Boilermakers (15-1)
Purdue picked up two eight-point wins over Washington (81–73) and Penn State (93–85) this week. Senior guard Braden Smith once again showed why he is one of the nation’s top point guards with his court vision and offensive efficiency. In the frontcourt, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff continue to control the glass, while Fletcher Loyer remains a steady perimeter threat. Purdue will lean on its veteran core as it prepares for tests against No. 19 Iowa on Jan. 14 and USC on Jan. 17.
8. Houston Cougars (15-1)
Houston opened the week with a statement 69–65 win over No. 14 Texas Tech. Freshman guard Kingston Flemings continues to elevate his play as the Cougars’ lead initiator, while Emanuel Sharp delivered a major boost with his three-point shot-making despite some recent inconsistencies. In the frontcourt, Joseph Tugler and Chris Cenac Jr. are starting to form an effective tandem, pairing Tugler’s energy with Cenac’s elite size and athleticism. Houston will look to build on that chemistry against West Virginia and Arizona State before another showdown with the Red Raiders.
9. BYU Cougars (15-1)
After a convincing 104–78 win over Arizona State, the Cougars followed it with a much tighter 89–84 victory over Utah. Freshman forward AJ Dybantsa continued his dominant start to the season, while Robert Wright III and Richie Saunders caught fire, exploiting defenses at all three levels whether attacking the rim or knocking down shots from deep. When all three are producing, BYU becomes extremely difficult to guard, and the Cougars will need that trio to deliver with TCU and No. 14 Texas Tech awaiting them this week.
10. Gonzaga Bulldogs (17-1)
Gonzaga took control in the second half of its lone game of the week, closing out an 89–77 win over Santa Clara. Senior big Graham Ike once again imposed his will inside with his physicality, though the Bulldogs would like to see more consistent production from their surrounding pieces. With conference play ramping up, Gonzaga should have opportunities to develop a more cohesive offensive identity, starting with Washington State on Jan. 15 and Seattle on Jan. 17.
11. Vanderbilt Commodores (16-0)
Vanderbilt matched the best start in school history with a crucial 96–90 win over No. 13 Alabama, then followed it with a comfortable 84–73 victory against LSU. Sophomore guard Tyler Tanner (pictured) controlled the offense under pressure, while teaming with Duke Miles to form a highly effective perimeter defensive tandem. With their backcourt leading the way, the Commodores will look to keep making history in matchups against Texas on Jan. 14 and Florida on Jan. 17.
12. Michigan State Spartans (14-2)
Michigan State put on a clinic with an 80–51 blowout of USC before closing the week with a 76–66 win over Northwestern. The Spartans’ frontcourt controlled the action, as Jaxon Kohler displayed excellent shooting efficiency and Coen Carr consistently attacked the rim and drew contact. In the backcourt, Jeremy Fears Jr. continued to break down defenses and generate steady production inside the arc. Michigan State will look to carry that momentum into upcoming matchups against Indiana on Tuesday and Washington on Saturday.
13. Illinois Fighting Illini (13-3)
Illinois steamrolled Rutgers (81–55) before knocking off No. 19 Iowa in a pivotal 75–69 win. Since its narrow loss to No. 10 Nebraska, the Illini have not wavered, with freshman guard Keaton Wagler continuing to flourish as the lead initiator while developing his three-level scoring ability. Veteran guards Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic provide balance and shot-making across the perimeter, while the international frontcourt duo of Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic remains vital for floor spacing and matchup flexibility. Illinois will look to keep that offensive versatility rolling against Northwestern on Jan. 14 and Minnesota on Jan. 17.
14. North Carolina Tar Heels (14-2)
The Tar Heels bounced back from a disappointing loss to No. 24 SMU with a narrow 87–84 win over Wake Forest. The frontcourt duo of Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar remains the lone constant in the lineup, though the lack of depth behind them continues to stand out as a concern. Even with their strong interior presence, North Carolina still needs to establish more consistent guard play as the season moves forward. Seth Trimble has provided a spark, but the Tar Heels will need more stability with Stanford and California coming up next.
15. Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-4)
Texas Tech survived a turbulent week with a 73–71 win over Colorado after suffering a disappointing 69–65 loss to No. 7 Houston. The pairing of JT Toppin and Christian Anderson remains a constant threat thanks to their scoring versatility, while transfer guard Donovan Atwell continues to provide reliable production from deep. That high-volume offensive style can create big runs, but it also brings volatility. The Red Raiders will look to tighten things up as they prepare for Utah on Jan. 14 and No. 9 BYU on Jan. 17.
16. Arkansas Razorbacks (12-4)
Arkansas opened the week with a 94–87 win over Ole Miss before being caught flat-footed in a 95–73 loss to Auburn. The freshman backcourt of Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas continues to shine, developing into reliable three-level scorers for the Razorbacks. Trevon Brazile provides versatility as a stretch big, though his impact can come and go. With limited production beyond its core, Arkansas has leaned heavily on its young guards and will need others to step up against South Carolina and No. 18 Georgia later this week.
Next Five: Louisville (12-4), Virginia (14-2), Georgia (14-2), Alabama (11-5), Florida (11-5)
Players of the Week:
Silas Demary Jr., UConn
Demary Jr. had not been playing his best basketball since his hot start to the season, but this week he rose to the moment when UConn needed him most. He exploded for 23 points, 15 assists, and five steals on 7-of-11 shooting and 4-of-6 from three in the Huskies’ 103–98 overtime win over Providence. With Solo Ball sliding more into a secondary ball-handler role, Demary Jr. has become the primary initiator for UConn, and he is thriving. Wednesday marked not only his third double-digit assist game of the season, but also a career high in assists, highlighting his growing command of the offense.
Braden Smith, Purdue
There has never been any doubt that Smith is one of the nation’s premier point guards, but his early-season play did not quite match his own lofty standards. That changed this week. He opened with 23 points and seven assists against Washington, then followed with a dominant 26-point, 14-assist performance on 11-of-18 shooting and 4-of-8 from three against Penn State, scoring 17 points in the first half alone. Smith recently became the Big Ten’s all-time career assists leader, and it now feels fitting that he is hitting his stride as he enters the heart of his senior season.
Isaiah Evans, Duke
Evans started the year with uneven production as Duke’s secondary scorer, but he has found his rhythm in conference play. This week he poured in 23 points, six rebounds, and four steals while knocking down 4-of-10 from deep against No. 20 Louisville, then followed with 21 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three versus No. 24 SMU. When Evans is playing at this level, Duke’s offense opens up significantly, especially alongside Cameron Boozer, giving the Blue Devils a far more dynamic scoring profile.
Richie Saunders, BYU
Saunders continues to thrive as a high-efficiency scorer in a lineup loaded with offensive weapons, particularly alongside AJ Dybantsa and Robert Wright III. He delivered two monster performances this week, beginning with 31 points and eight rebounds on 10-of-13 shooting and 6-of-8 from three in a win over Arizona State. He then added a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double against Utah. Surrounded by elite creators, Saunders is consistently punishing defenses that try to overhelp, making him one of the most productive complementary scorers in the conference.
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
Tanner (pictured) announced himself on a bigger stage this week with the best stretch of his young career. He dropped a career-high 29 points with seven assists and four steals on 8-of-15 shooting, while getting to the line 15 times in Vanderbilt’s statement win over No. 13 Alabama. His ability to control the game, create offense, and stay composed in late-game situations has accelerated Vanderbilt’s rise. Without Tanner’s rapid freshman-to-sophomore leap, the Commodores would not have a signature win of this magnitude on their résumé.
Play of the Week:
AJ Dybantsa, Windmill vs Arizona State
https://x.com/BYUMBB/status/2009111955941019917
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