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College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 18

By Nathaniel Reeves

Feb 1, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason (0) celebrates after forcing a turnover during the second half of the game against the Baylor Bears at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 73-68. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason (0) celebrates after forcing a turnover during the second half of the game against the Baylor Bears at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 73-68. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Here’s how the top 25 college basketball teams in the nation stack up following the end of the regular season.

A memorable 2016-17 college basketball regular season has come to a close, meaning one of the most exciting times of the year in sports is right around the corner.

Conference tournaments are already well underway all around the nation, with seven of the 32 automatic qualifiers locked in following three more championship games on Monday. Action in the top eight conference tournaments gets underway on Tuesday, which will provide late challenges for a few of the best teams in the nation before heading into the NCAA Tournament.

Week 17 didn’t cause a lot of change at the top of the college basketball power rankings, with the top six teams all holding serve. Even so, Saturday provided a thrilling slate of games,with Kansas-Oklahoma State and Duke-North Carolina  standing out as two of the more entertaining contests of the year.

The upcoming week should help us learn a lot more, but here’s how the top 25 college basketball teams shake out heading into the postseason.

25

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Last week: 20-9, 9-7 Big 12
Last rank: 23

While Oklahoma State picked up a pair of losses this week, it still passes the eye test well enough to hold on to a spot in the top 25 and will be a dangerous foe come March Madness.

The Cowboys’ late rally on Tuesday night in Ames fell just short in an 86-83 loss, just their second defeat in a span of 12 games. Oklahoma State’s defense then couldn’t quite slow down Kansas enough in a five-point loss, but Brad Underwood’s squad still gave the nation’s No. 1 team a tough challenge.

With four strong options from the perimeter plus some good depth, the Cowboys feature one of the most dynamic offenses in the nation. Jawun Evans’ ability to drive the lane might be unmatched in college basketball, Jeffrey Carroll continued his strong season with 27 points against Kansas, and the Cowboys could have been looking at a different result on Saturday had Phil Forte shot just a bit better from the perimeter.

Oklahoma State took over the No. 1 spot in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted offensive efficiency ratings this week, a ranking UCLA had on lockdown for months. The Cowboys’ ceiling is limited to a defense that struggles on the interior en route to giving up over a point per possession, but an offense that shoots over 40 percent from beyond the arc is good enough to at least advance out of the first weekend.

A re-match against fourth-seeded Iowa State awaits in the Big 12 quarterfinals on Thursday, with the winner likely facing Kansas in the next round.