It took till the second week of January, however there aren’t any undefeated groups remaining. Which means we’ve obtained a brand new prime crew in our rankings, who additionally occurs to boast the participant of the week who offered the play of the week.
There’s rather a lot to atone for, so when you missed a sport or 100 this week, we’ve obtained you lined with all it is advisable know close to the halfway level of the school basketball common season!
1. Duke (14-2)
It’s laborious to argue that anybody is enjoying higher proper now than the Duke Blue Devils. They’ve the luxurious of weaker competitors within the ACC, however with the perfect participant within the nation and an excellent supporting solid, Jon Scheyer’s group is the crew to beat in faculty basketball as issues stand.
2. Auburn (15-1)
Even with Tennessee lastly shedding, the Tigers nonetheless sit in second attributable to Duke’s scorching sizzling play and a head-to-head matchup in favor of the Blue Devils. The eye will flip to Johni Broome’s well being shifting ahead as Auburn tries to deal with a loaded SEC schedule with out their NPOY candidate.
3. Iowa State (14-1)
It hasn’t come and not using a few scares, however the Cyclones carry on successful with their newest victory coming in an exhilarating additional time contest at Texas Tech. They’ll host Kansas on Wednesday in what ought to be a Prime-10 matchup at Hilton Coliseum and one of many video games of the week in faculty hoops.
4. Alabama (14-2)
Any week with two street wins within the SEC this 12 months must be counseled, particularly when one is a Prime-10 win over Texas A&M. Mark Sears is beginning to discover his rhythm main the offense, which makes the Crimson Tide all of the extra harmful. Two extra ranked matchups await, so there’s no time for Nate Oats’ crew to calm down and luxuriate in a formidable week.
5. Florida (15-1)
What a response from the Gators after scoring triple-digits and nonetheless shedding on the street to Kentucky final week. They put that loss behind them shortly, thrashing No. 1 Tennessee by 30 and happening the street to defeat a gifted Arkansas squad. I wasn’t satisfied earlier than, however it’s not possible to disclaim now that Florida is a legit contender within the SEC and past.
6. Tennessee (15-1)
Talking of Tennessee, the Vols take fairly a tumble for the style during which they misplaced their first sport of the 12 months. They made simply 12 discipline targets for your complete sport with the second-best particular person discipline objective share being simply 33 p.c from Zakai Zeigler.
7. Marquette (14-2)
The Golden Eagles are the final undefeated crew standing within the Massive East and will hold that rolling into February with a positive upcoming schedule. Shaka Good deserves a ton of credit score for what he’s finished in Milwaukee throughout his profession, particularly this season.
8. Houston (12-3)
That’s eight wins in a row for Houston who has dismantled its Massive 12 competitors to start the 12 months. The Cougars are enjoying in addition to they’ve all 12 months and look increasingly more like a harmful contender because the weeks go on.
9. Michigan State (14-2)
Michigan State’s on an excellent longer successful streak of 9 video games with simply two impartial web site losses to Kansas and Marquette on the resume. The standard of wins doesn’t transfer the needle, however it’s laborious to take a look at your complete physique of labor and have the Spartans any decrease than ninth within the nation’s energy rankings.
10. Oregon (15-2)
Convention realignment now has Oregon enjoying convention video games in the course of Pennsylvania on a Monday evening, and to the Geese credit score, they held on to defeat Penn State and stay towards the highest of the Massive Ten standings.
11. Texas A&M (13-3)
A valiant comeback try got here up simply brief for the Aggies and snapped a nine-game successful streak, however it additionally got here with out star guard Wade Taylor. Getting him again is the precedence, and quick, as a visit to Lexington is subsequent up on a brutal SEC schedule.
12. Kentucky (13-3)
The Wildcats adopted up a irritating loss to Georgia with continued dominance towards Mississippi State, who’ve now dropped 19 straight common season video games to the Wildcats. Mark Pope’s group now will get to return house for 2 marquee matchups towards the aforementioned Aggies and Alabama.
13. Kansas (12-3)
After shedding three of its final 5, Kansas determined to buckle down defensively, and the outcomes are staggering. The Jayhawks held UCF to 48 factors, Arizona State to 55 and Cincinnati to 40, resulting in a three-game successful streak and a date with probably the greatest groups within the nation in Iowa State to attempt to lengthen that streak.
14. UConn (13-4)
One other lengthy successful streak was snapped this week as Villanova picked up a much-needed win in an amazing Massive East battle. The Huskies bounced again with a win over Georgetown, however this merely doesn’t look practically the identical because the back-to-back nationwide championship squads that dominated faculty basketball.
15. Illinois (12-4)
After pummeling Penn State in the course of the week, Illinois seemed horrific in a 10-point house loss to 10-6 USC. Search for the Combating Illini to bounce again quick, though it gained’t be simple with two journeys to 2 historic venues in Meeting Corridor and the Breslin Heart.
16. Mississippi State (14-2)
The Bulldogs’ struggles towards Kentucky continued, snapping an eight-game successful streak, so it’ll be essential to get again on monitor quick. It doesn’t get rather more troublesome to take action than journeys to Auburn and Tennessee with one other top-5 crew in Alabama ready within the subsequent 5 video games. If Chris Jans’ guys can win simply three of these 5, I’m positive the third-year coach will probably be thrilled.
Subsequent 5: Purdue, Gonzaga, Michigan, Memphis, Ole Miss
Gamers of the Week:
Cooper Flagg, No. 4 Duke Blue Devils
It’s turning into a weekly incidence at this level, however Cooper Flagg is our participant of the week as soon as once more and he’s by no means been extra deserving than this. The freshman phenom put collectively probably the greatest particular person performances in current reminiscence with 42 factors, six rebounds and 7 assists to guide the Blue Devils previous Notre Dame. The projected No. 1 total choose is simply getting higher and it’s a scary sight for the remainder of the nation.
Ian Jackson, North Carolina Tar Heels
The turnaround in Chapel Hill will be credited to at least one particular person and that’s Ian Jackson. The freshman pressured his method into the beginning lineup and has been higher than marketed because the transfer. He reached 21 or extra factors for the fifth time in his final six video games on Saturday as he solely continues to rise in our 2025 Mock Draft.
Vlad Goldin, No. 24 Michigan Wolverines
Completely different week, totally different Michigan seven-footer getting recognition. Goldin, who adopted coach Dusty Might from FAU, loved his greatest sport as a Wolverine with 36 factors in a dominant win over UCLA on Tuesday. This crew is legit, and Goldin’s success is a giant cause why.
Zhuric Phelps, No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies
Phelps didn’t discover a shot he didn’t like towards Alabama, however his efficiency on the street towards Oklahoma was past spectacular. The SMU switch poured in 34 factors on 6-10 capturing from past the arc to present the Aggies a massively essential street win over the Sooners with out his star associate within the backcourt.
Desmond Claude, USC Trojans
There won’t have been anybody anticipating USC to knock off Illinois on Saturday morning besides Desmond Claude. The junior guard was terrific with Xavier and the change of surroundings hasn’t modified his manufacturing. A 31-point effort towards the Combating Illini raised his scoring common to fifteen.9 factors per sport, which is definitely the perfect for the Trojans.
Play of the Week
Cooper Flagg wasn’t simply the participant of the week. He additionally offered the indeniable play of the week in a blowout win over Pittsburgh. The freshman jumped a passing lane, dribbled round a person with simply two bounces previous half courtroom and soared for a poster dunk over Guillermo Diaz Graham. See for your self what the projected prime choose within the draft is able to.
Video Credit score: ACC Digital Community
