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College basketball power rankings: Gonzaga, UCLA live up to preseason hype

By Mike Phillips

SPOKANE, WA - NOVEMBER 13: Andrew Nembhard #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs eyes the court during the game against the Texas Longhorns played at McCarthey Athletic Center on November 13, 2021 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Robert Johnson/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA - NOVEMBER 13: Andrew Nembhard #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs eyes the court during the game against the Texas Longhorns played at McCarthey Athletic Center on November 13, 2021 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Robert Johnson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

10. College basketball rankings: Illinois Fighting Illini

  • Record: 2-0
  • Last Week: Won 71-47 vs. Jackson State, Won 92-53 vs. Arkansas State
  • This Week: Vs. Marquette 11/15

The Fighting Illini were ranked just outside the AP’s Top 10 last week but should slide in this week after Kentucky’s loss to Duke. Victories over Jackson State and Arkansas State in dominant fashion are great but nothing that will tell us much about the quality of Illinois this season. A matchup against Marquette, a lower-end Big East team, is a step up in weight class for Brad Underwood’s team.

9. College basketball rankings: Texas Longhorns

  • Record: 1-1
  • Last Week: Won 92-48 vs. Houston Baptist, Lost 86-74 at No. 1 Gonzaga
  • This Week: Vs. Northern Colorado 11/17, vs. San Jose State 11/20

The big takeaway for the Longhorns is that they were clearly inferior to Gonzaga in an 86-74 loss to the Bulldogs in a true road game. That isn’t surprising and is also a good litmus test that will help Texas grow as a team, a fact Chris Beard noted when he indicated he would continue to schedule games like the Gonzaga one going forward. This dip should be temporary for the Longhorns.

8. College basketball rankings: Baylor Bears

  • Record: 1-0
  • Last Week: Won 87-60 vs. Incarnate Word
  • This Week: Vs. Nicholls State 11/15, Vs. Central Arkansas 11/17, Vs. Stanford 11/20

Baylor began its national title defense with an easy home win over Incarnate Word for their only action of college basketball’s opening week. Three games are on tap this week, including a home date with Stanford on Saturday, to help the Bears get more into the flow of the season.

7. College basketball rankings: Duke Blue Devils

  • Record: 3-0
  • Last Week: Won vs. No. 10 Kentucky 79-71, Won vs. Army 82-56, Won vs. Campbell 67-56
  • This Week: Vs. Gardner-Webb 11/16, Vs. Lafayette 11/19

Winning against Kentucky at MSG was an impressive result for a young Duke team to get Mike Krzyzewski’s last year off to a fast start. The Blue Devils actually played a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, making their struggles against Campbell less concerning since it was their third game in five days. A bit more rest should help Duke cruise in two easy home games this week.

6. College basketball rankings: Villanova Wildcats

  • Record: 1-1
  • Last Week: Won vs. Mount St. Mary’s 91-51, Lost at No. 2 UCLA 86-77 (OT)
  • This Week: Vs. Howard 11/16, Vs. Tennessee 11/20, Vs. North Carolina/Purdue 11/21

Jay Wright has put together some key early tests for his Wildcats, including an overtime loss on the road against UCLA that is nothing to be ashamed of. This week’s slate brings the Hall of Fame Tip-Off over the weekend with a rugged back-to-back on tap with Tennessee on Saturday and either North Carolina or Purdue on Sunday.