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Projected college basketball rankings after Duke upset Gonzaga, Kansas stunned by Dayton

By Patrick Schmidt

Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero (5) reacts after scoring against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero (5) reacts after scoring against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Following the loss of No. 1 Gonzaga at the hands of No. 5 Duke and No. 4 Kansas losing at the buzzer to Dayton, projected college basketball rankings see a new No. 1 team.

Gonzaga didn’t lose their first game until the National Championship Game against Baylor last year. This year, Gonzaga suffered their first loss on Nov. 26 when they lost 84-81 to No. 5 Duke.

It was one of the best games of the young season so far and could be a preview of a matchup fans see in the Final Four in early April, perhaps even the championship game. It was also a billing of the projected top two picks in the 2022 NBA Draft between Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Duke’s Paolo Banchero.

Holmgren finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in 29 minutes. Banchero, however, had 21 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal in the three-point win. 18 of his points came in the first half when Duke took control of the game and showed Gonzaga was going to have a 40-minute fight on their hands.

Sure enough, they did. Gonzaga took a brief lead late in the second half but Duke came right back and with Wendell Moore Jr. and Mark Williams proving to be the difference for the Blue Devils.

Projected college basketball rankings after Gonzaga upset by Duke

Can Duke move all the way up from No. 5 to No. 1 after beating Gonzaga? I’m skeptical the AP voters will move them up that much, but in these power rankings, they get the top spot. If you beat the No. 1 team that already beat No. 2 UCLA and No. 5 Texas, that’s a strong statement win.

UCLA lost to Gonzaga earlier in the week so not only will there be a new No. 1, there will be a new No. 2. I’m not going to drop Gonzaga two spots for losing to Duke, so Purdue will stay at the No. 3 spot.

It gets tricky to round out the top five because of No. 4 Kansas losing on a buzzer-beater to Dayton. And then there are losses by Memphis and Alabama to shake up the bottom of the top 10. Ultimately, Alabama gets edged out of the top 10 after losing to Rick Pitino’s Iona and Memphis drops one spot. While Kansas, Texas, Kentucky and Arkansas take the No. 6-No. 9 spots.

  1. Duke
  2. Gonzaga
  3. Purdue
  4. Baylor
  5. UCLA
  6. Kansas
  7. Texas
  8. Kentucky
  9. Arkansas
  10. Memphis

Next. Top 25 college basketball teams of all time. dark

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