Week 10 College Basketball Power Rankings

What a crazy week of college basketball. Eight of my top nine teams lost with North Carolina and Texas A&M both dropping two. Never in the history of the AP poll (1948-49 season) has there not been a team undefeated entering January. We’ve also seen 13 top five AP teams lose to unranked opponents, also a record. What does all this mean for my Week 10 College Basketball Power Rankings? It means a lot of teams continue to get shuffled around while there is no clear-cut favorite to cut down the nets in San Antonio.

College Basketball Power Rankings: 13-16

16.) Tennessee Volunteers 10-4 (1-2) PR: Unranked

Tennessee sneaks into the last spot thanks largely to their 2^nd ranked strength of schedule and their big win over Kentucky at home on Saturday. Rick Barnes goes 9-10 deep led by Sophomore Grant Williams. His 17 points and 7 rebounds per game are both tops on the team. They also have four guys averaging more than 2 assists per game which ranks the Volunteers 16^th nationally in assists (17.9 per game). The schedule doesn’t get any easier with three of their next four on the road.

15.) Texas Tech Red Raiders 14-1 (3-0) PR: Honorable Mention

Texas Tech makes their debut in my college basketball power rankings after leading wire to wire and beating Kansas in Allen Field House and then handling Kansas State at home. They are led by their stellar defense. They swipe 9.3 steals per game (11^th nationally), hold opponents to 37.3% shooting (5^th nationally), and 59.2 points per game (4^th nationally). This defense will have a huge test this week as they travel to Norman to take on the Sooners followed by a home date with West Virginia.

14.) TCU Horned Frogs 13-2 (1-2) PR: 16

The Horned Frogs actually move up two spots even though they went 1-1 on the week. They won an OT game at Baylor then lost what would have been a program statement win against Kansas by 4. They out-rebounded the Jayhawks by 14 while being +11 on the offensive boards. They couldn’t stop the Jayhawks’ streaky shooting though allowing Kansas to shoot 51% from the floor and 55% from deep. Two road dates are on the slate this week with a trip to Austin to take on the Longhorns followed by a rematch with Oklahoma.

13.) North Carolina Tar Heels 12-4 (1-2) PR: 3

The Tar Heels dropped both games this week, both on the road against Florida State and Virginia. This resulted in a 10 spot drop in the college basketball power rankings. Virginia made them look silly on Saturday. UNC shot 30% from the floor while only scoring 49 points. They came into the game averaging 85! They also had a 7-19 assist-turnover ratio. The schedule lightens up as there’s no reason they won’t be favored in their next 8 games. Their 6^th ranked strength of schedule keeps them in the college basketball power rankings.

College Basketball Power Rankings: 9-12

12.) Kansas Jayhawks 12-3 (2-1) PR: 9

The Jayhawks split Big 12 games this week. They lost for the first time ever at home to Texas Tech but then followed that up with a win at TCU over the weekend. The Red Raiders beat them up on the glass winning 44-29 while snagging 18 offensive. If you didn’t think Kansas’ run of 13 straight Big 12 crowns was in jeopardy yet; you may start getting nervous now. They don’t get it done on the glass like Jayhawks of the past (38 boards per game 90^th nationally). It’s going to be tough in the Big 12 if you can’t handle the glass.

11.) Arizona State Sun Devils PR: 8

ASU dropped an OT game at Colorado then pulled out a 3 point win at Utah this week. The sweet-shooting Sun Devils were held to 36% from the floor and 27% from deep in their loss. They were also out-rebounded and lost the assist battle. Is senior Tra Holder getting any love from NBA scouts? He’s averaging over 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 45% from the floor and 44% from deep. They host both Oregon and Oregon State this week.

10.) Purdue Boilermakers 15-2 (2-0) PR: 12

One of only a few ranked teams to not lose this week, the Boilers beat up on Big Ten foes Rutgers and Nebraska. They’re playing some underrated defense this year holding opponents to 37.4% shooting (7^th nationally) while also being top ten in blocks (6.3 per game). I was surprised to see the Boilers are shooting 41.5% from down town (13^th nationally). That’s now 12 wins in a row. Boiler Up!

9.) Arizona Wildcats 12-4 (2-1) PR: 6

Arizona played both games on the road this week, winning against Utah but dropped a nail biter against Colorado. How about the Buffaloes knocking off both Arizona State and Arizona this week? Arizona allowed them to shoot 55% from the floor and 44% from deep. For starting two 7-footers, Arizona allows too high a field goal percentage at the rim while not blocking enough shots (4.6 59^th nationally).

College Basketball Power Rankings: 5-8

8.) Oklahoma Sooners 12-2 (2-1) PR: 11

Oklahoma split games this week, beating the in-state rival Cowboys at home but then coughed up 17 turnovers to Press Virginia in a loss in Morgantown. It was another big road test for stud freshman Trae Young. He committed 8 turnovers and shot 8-22 from the floor. But he still ended with 29 points thanks to 10-13 from the stripe. A big week looms for the Sooner as they host Texas Tech and TCU in Norman. This will be the 2^nd time in two weeks the Sooners have taken on TCU. That game saw Trae Young go for 39 points and hand out 14 assists in a 1-point squeaker.

7.) Wichita State Shockers 13-2 (3-0) PR: 10

The Shockers handled both AAC opponents Houston and South Florida at home this week by a combined 56 points. They’ve been sparked by the return of big dog Markis McDuffie. He’s still not starting but last year’s leading returning scorer and rebounder’s minutes are increasing by the game. WSU is handing assists out at a top 10 clip (18.6 per game). This number should improve with adding a player like McDuffie back to the lineup.

6.) Xavier Musketeers 15-2 (3-1) PR: 4

Xavier went 1-1 on the week beating Butler at home and then losing at Providence. They lost to the Friars even though they out-rebounded them by 16 and were +13 on the offensive glass. I hope nobody is sleeping on Trevon Bluiett. The senior is averaging just over 19 points and 5 boards a game while shooting 45% FG, 42% 3PT, 86% FT. The Indianapolis native has improved his scoring and field goal percentage each year while at Xavier.

5.) Michigan State Spartans 15-2 (3-1) PR: 2

Sparty had the top spot all but locked up until the Buckeyes handled them on Sunday night by 16. This loss was coming off an impressive 30 point thrashing of Maryland. MSU allowed Ohio State to shoot 53% from the field and 47% from deep. This defeat dropped their strength of schedule to 128^th. The weak Big Ten won’t help this number improve much. But at the end of the day, these guys are a serious contender with NBA talent and with how deep and big they are.

College Basketball Power Rankings: 1-4

4.) Virginia Cavaliers 14-1 (3-0) PR: Honorable Mention

Virginia finally makes their debut in my college basketball power rankings this week; coming in all the way up at #4. I’ve possibly been sleeping on these guys a bit. They had a huge week smacking in-state rival Virginia Tech on the road by 26 and then thwarting the high-powered offense of North Carolina at home on Saturday. Tony Bennett has his team playing his defense phenomenal again this year. The Cavs are holding opponents to 36.4% shooting (2^nd nationally), 29.9% shooting from deep (21^st nationally), and an outstanding 52.7 points per game (1^st nationally). These guys are definitely contenders in the ACC.

3.) West Virginia Mountaineers 14-1 (3-0) PR: 14

The Mountaineers make their biggest leap throughout this season; moving up 11 spots. Press Virginia was on full display as WVU won on the road at Kansas State and then beat Oklahoma at home. They forced 32 turnovers combined in these two wins. They now force 20.5 turnovers per game (3^rd nationally) with 10.5 of those being live-ball turnovers, or steals (6^th nationally). Senior Jevon Carter is averaging an impressive line of 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. He has to be in consideration for Big 12 Player of the Year if the Mountaineers continue to be towards the top of the conference.

2.) Duke Blue Devils 13-2 (2-1) PR: 1

For the first week ever, Duke is not my #1. But they only drop one spot thanks to their 4^th ranked strength of schedule. They lost their lone game of the week at NC State. The Wolfpack shot 51% from the floor with 6 guys scoring in double figures. Duke also had a 10-16 assist-turnover ratio. This will not get it done on the road in ACC play. Also, Duke has no bench. The bench accounted for 4 points and only 3 attempted shots last game. They have a total of 19 bench points in their 3 ACC games.

1.) Villanova Wildcats 14-1 (2-1) PR: 2

At the top of the college basketball power rankings this week are the Wildcats of Villanova. Jay Wright’s squad won his lone game of the week at home against Marquette. Jalen Brunson continues to light it up. He had 27 points on 8-15 shooting against the Golden Eagles. On the season he’s averaging 19.4 points on 59% shooting from the floor and 49% from deep. They host Xavier on Wednesday in what will be a huge Big East battle.

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