The primary Saturday of the brand new yr sometimes indicators the beginning of convention play for good and the primary massive day of 2025 certainly didn’t disappoint. Florida and Kentucky received the fireworks began within the morning with a 106-100 thriller and the remainder of the nation adopted swimsuit with spectacular performances from the remainder of the top-25.
The upsets will come ultimately, however for now, the true contenders are beginning to emerge, leaving us with doubtless our most correct energy rankings of the season beneath.
1. Tennessee (14-0)
Protection, allegedly, travels and that principle shall be put to absolutely the check this week for the Volunteers who journey to Gainesville to tackle 13-1 Florida who simply scored triple digits in a loss at Rupp Area. Nevertheless, there’s each cause for the Vols to trust after thrashing No. 23 Arkansas 76-52 on Saturday to tie the most effective begin at school historical past.
2. Auburn (13-1)
The Tigers hold rolling, and in dominant trend, following an impressive recreation at Duke to start December. It’s the one blemish on an in any other case excellent resume for Bruce Pearl’s group who’re in all probability the general public’s favourite in a convention with 14-0 Tennessee, which exhibits how extremely everybody thinks of them.
3. Iowa State (12-1)
It seems no person instructed Baylor that it’d want its A-game in Hilton Coliseum because the Cyclones rolled previous them 74-55 on Saturday. With one of the crucial dominant home-court benefits and a few early outcomes going its approach, Iowa State is a transparent favourite within the Huge 12 proper now.
4. Duke (12-2)
There won’t be anybody enjoying higher than the Blue Devils proper now as a terrific freshmen class retains hitting its stride in the midst of the season. An absence of stiff competitors helps however let’s not overlook the comeback win over Auburn simply over a month in the past. It’s been easy crusing since, however that would be the bulk of the ACC schedule, if not all of it.
5. Alabama (12-2)
It doesn’t matter who it’s; beating a beforehand 13-0 staff by 28 factors is spectacular regardless. It’s merely what the Crimson Tide can do on any given night time, particularly when Mark Sears is creating for others like he did on Saturday night time in opposition to the Sooners with 10 assists.
6. Marquette (13-2)
The Golden Eagles are quietly surging again towards the highest 5 with an ideal begin to Huge East play and a number of other wins over elite Huge Ten opponents. Shaka Good’s potential to reload regardless of dropping Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro is likely one of the extra spectacular, but least talked about, teaching jobs in America this yr.
7. Kentucky (12-2)
Mark Pope turned the primary Kentucky coach since Adolph Rupp to win his first three video games in opposition to AP Prime-10 opponents with a win over Florida and did so regardless of watching his protection surrender 100 factors. The Wildcats are quick and enjoyable with no person extra thrilling to look at than Koby Brea when he’s taking pictures it like he did Saturday (23 factors on 7/9 3PT).
8. Florida (13-1)
I’m certain Florida followers can recover from dropping their first recreation on the highway in January in opposition to a top-10 opponent. It’s nonetheless been fairly the beginning for the Gators who will welcome the No. 1 staff within the nation on Tuesday with a fast alternative to proper the wrongs from the weekend.
9. Houston (10-3)
Don’t look now, however Houston is beginning to seem like the perennial one-seed we’re used to seeing in March. The Cougars held Oklahoma State and BYU to a mean of simply 51 factors to kick off convention play and at the moment are second in defensive ranking in response to KenPom.
10. Illinois (12-2)
Should you didn’t keep up till midnight to look at a Huge Ten recreation on the west coast (which nonetheless sounds ridiculous to me), you missed one of the crucial spectacular wins of the season by Illinois. The Illini dismantled No. 9 Oregon 109-77 and proved to be one of many contenders within the convention this season.
11. UConn (12-3)
Even with out Liam McNeeley, Dan Hurley would’ve had a tough time explaining a house loss to Windfall on Sunday afternoon. Luckily for him, the Huskies regrouped and scored 60 factors within the second half to rally for a 3-point win and prolong their successful streak to eight video games since Maui.
12. Oregon (12-2)
Dangerous (32-point dwelling loss to Illinois) nearly turned worse (practically one other dwelling loss to Maryland) this week. Nonetheless, the general resume for the Geese continues to be one of the crucial spectacular within the nation and the turnaround Dana Altman is main deserves recognition. A highway journey to true Huge Ten nation will put that turnaround to the problem this week.
13. Texas A&M (12-2)
The SEC has loads of groups to be enthusiastic about and it looks as if the Aggies don’t get practically sufficient credit score in that higher echelon. Maybe a 20-point win over Texas to kick off convention play will change that with Oklahoma, Alabama and Kentucky subsequent up on the schedule.
14. Mississippi State (13-1)
The SEC has loads of groups to be enthusiastic about and it looks as if the Bulldogs don’t get practically sufficient credit score in that higher echelon. Maybe a 35-point win over South Carolina to kick off convention play will change that with Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Auburn subsequent up on the schedule. (Sure, that is deliberately practically equivalent to all the things mentioned about Texas A&M. That’s how comparable these two groups are.)
15. Oklahoma (13-1)
As was mentioned with Florida, each Oklahoma fan must be fairly effective with the primary lack of the season coming in January to a staff like Alabama on the highway. There’s no time to dwell on it both with a fierce Texas A&M staff coming to make issues worse on Wednesday.
16. Michigan State (12-2)
The Spartans look robust, as evidenced by one other essential highway victory over Ohio State on Friday. Much less dependance on the shotmaking of ball-dominant guards has reworked this staff and made them much more of a contender regardless of the lack of some actually gifted particular person gamers like AJ Hoggard and Tyson Walker.
Subsequent 5: Purdue, Maryland, Memphis, West Virginia, Utah State
Gamers of the Week:
Cooper Flagg, No. 4 Duke Blue Devils
The turnaround for the Blue Devils has been spearheaded by none aside from the projected high general decide within the upcoming NBA Draft. Flagg arguably performed his two greatest video games in a Duke uniform this week, propelling his staff to a pair of dominant wins over Virginia Tech and SMU with 24 factors in every contest.
Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
It was arguably an much more spectacular week for the 2 gamers sitting slightly below Flagg on our newest mock draft. First, Harper notched the primary triple-double since 1983 for the Scarlet Knights as Bailey added 24 factors and eight rebounds. With out his partner-in-crime the next recreation in opposition to Indiana, Bailey exploded for a career-high 39 factors and maybe even extra importantly, showcased an environment friendly 3-point shot on 4-8 taking pictures from past the arc.
Chaz Lanier, No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee at all times wanted a go-to scorer to emerge this offseason with the departure of Dalton Knecht to the NBA. Enter Chaz Lanier. All of the North Florida senior has performed is enhance his scoring common with the Volunteers at over 20 factors per recreation, together with a 29-point effort within the SEC opener in opposition to Arkansas. His emergence has him knocking on the door of the lottery within the 2025 NBA Draft.
Danny Wolf, Michigan Wolverines
Michigan has began two seven-footers collectively all season and whereas Vlad Goldin is extra well-known nationally, Danny Wolf launched himself in opposition to USC. The Yale switch displayed an entire arsenal of expertise, stuffing the stat sheet with 21 factors, 13 rebounds, seven assists and 6 blocks. Plus, a pair of 3-pointers. The junior is at the very least value monitoring this summer time together with his measurement and trendy play type.
Play of the Week
It’s been a season to overlook thus far for North Carolina, and even in the midst of it, they’ve stars offering unforgettable performs to entertain the followers. The newest got here from {Participant: Elliot Cadeau] who supplied a doubtlessly game-saving four-point play to knock off Notre Dame and funky Hubert Davis’ seat a short while longer. Take a look at the sensational game-winning play right here and revel in your week school hoops followers!
Video Credit score: Sports activities Will Final YouTube
