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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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5. College basketball rankings: Purdue Boilermakers

  • Record: 2-0
  • Last Week: Won 96-67 vs. Bellarmine, Won 92-67 vs. Indiana State
  • This Week: Vs. Wright State 11/16, Vs. North Carolina 11/20, Vs. Villanova/Tennessee 11/21

One of the Big Ten’s co-favorites, Purdue held serve at home with nearly identical victories against Bellarmine and Indiana State. Another tune-up against Wright State on Tuesday precedes the Boilermakers’ trip to Mohegan Sun for a matchup against North Carolina in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off. Getting a matchup against Villanova on Sunday would be a boon for both programs.

4. College basketball rankings: Michigan Wolverines

  • Record: 2-0
  • Last Week: Won 88-76 vs. Buffalo, Won 77-49 vs. Prairie View A&M
  • This Week: Vs. Seton Hall 11/16, Vs. UNLV 11/19, Vs. Arizona/Wichita State 11/20

The Wolverines got a stiff test at home from Buffalo but held on before cruising to victory against Prairie View A&M on Saturday. This week will be challenging for Juwan Howard’s squad with a home matchup against Seton Hall on Tuesday before a potential neutral site showdown against Arizona in the Roman Main Event over the weekend.

3. College basketball rankings: Kansas Jayhawks

  • Record: 2-0
  • Last Week: Won vs. Michigan State 87-74, Won vs. Tarleton 88-72
  • This Week: Vs. Stony Brook 11/18

One of the most impressive results of the week was Kansas’ effortless win against Michigan State in the Champions Classic. The Jayhawks made easy work of a game Spartans’ team before kicking off their home schedule with another dominant win against Tarleton. Only one game is on tap for Kansas this week with Stony Brook coming to Allen Fieldhouse on Thursday.

2. College basketball rankings: UCLA Bruins

  • Record: 2-0
  • Last Week: Won 95-58 vs. Cal State Bakersfield, Won 86-77 (OT) vs. No. 4 Villanova
  • This Week: Vs. Long Beach State 11/15, Vs. North Florida 11/17

The early favorite for Game of the Year has to be UCLA’s overtime win against Villanova late on Friday night in a game most people outside the West Coast didn’t get to see thanks to an 11:30 p.m. ET tip. The Bruins struggled early but deserve a ton of credit for fighting back to force the extra session that they were able to dominate. Two non-conference tune-ups against Long Beach State and North Florida should add two more victories to UCLA’s resume.

1. College basketball rankings: Gonzaga Bulldogs

  • Record: 2-0
  • Last Week: Won 97-63 vs. Dixie State, Won 86-74 vs. No. 5 Texas
  • This Week: Vs. Alcorn State 11/15, Vs. Bellarmine 11/19

Crushing Dixie State won’t generate many headlines but handling a Top 5 Texas team with ease will certainly cement Gonzaga’s status as preseason favorites. Having home-court helped but anyone who watched the game could tell that the Bulldogs were clearly the superior team. Gonzaga has a pair of buy games at home this week that will serve as tune-ups for Mark Few’s squad.

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