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College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 15

By Nathaniel Reeves

Feb 11, 2017; Moraga, CA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Silas Melson (0) drives the ball against St. Mary's Gaels guard Tanner Krebs (00) during the second half of the game at McKeon Pavilion. The Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the St. Mary's Gaels with a score of 74-64. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2017; Moraga, CA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Silas Melson (0) drives the ball against St. Mary's Gaels guard Tanner Krebs (00) during the second half of the game at McKeon Pavilion. The Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the St. Mary's Gaels with a score of 74-64. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Mike Brey gestures to the crowd in the second half against the Clemson Tigers at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 75-70. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Mike Brey gestures to the crowd in the second half against the Clemson Tigers at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 75-70. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
20

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last week: 17-7. 6-5 ACC
Last rank: NR

The high-octane Fighting Irish emphatically broke out of a cold spell this week with a pair of strong wins, helping them climb back into the top 20.

Notre Dame snapped a four-game losing streak on Tuesday night with an 88-81 win over a game Wake Forest squad. Mike Brey’s team then picked up its second marquee win of ACC play in a dominant 84-72 victory over Florida State in South Bend.

Bonzie Colson continued his monster season with 33 points on 12-for-18 shooting from the field in the win over the Seminoles. After keeping it close in a loss to Florida State last month by making 15 threes, the Fighting Irish surprisingly outrebounded the Seminoles this time around and made 19 of their 21 foul shots.

The losing streak was more likely a blip than a trend, as Notre Dame has the nation’s No. 15 adjusted offense per KenPom and shoots nearly 40 percent as a unit from beyond the arc. Brey has proven his ability to adjust to Notre Dame’s weaknesses in March, so the Fighting Irish figure to be a factor in the Big Dance once again.

Notre Dame will have a great chance to add two more wins with road trips to slumping Boston College and NC State this week, although nothing is a given in the ACC.