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College basketball power rankings: Duke or Purdue at No. 1, how far does Gonzaga fall?

By Mike Phillips

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 26: Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs moves the ball against Paolo Banchero #5 and Wendell Moore Jr. #0 of the Duke Blue Devils during the Continental Tire Challenge at T-Mobile Arena on November 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Duke won 84-81. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 26: Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs moves the ball against Paolo Banchero #5 and Wendell Moore Jr. #0 of the Duke Blue Devils during the Continental Tire Challenge at T-Mobile Arena on November 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Duke won 84-81. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 26: Wendell Moore Jr. #0 of the Duke Blue Devils concentrates at the free-throw line against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the Continental Tire Challenge at T-Mobile Arena on November 26, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Duke won 84-81. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 26: Wendell Moore Jr. #0 of the Duke Blue Devils concentrates at the free-throw line against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the Continental Tire Challenge at T-Mobile Arena on November 26, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Duke won 84-81. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

5. College basketball rankings: Baylor Bears (7)

  • Record: 7-0
  • Last Week: Won 75-63 vs. Arizona State, Won 69-61 vs. VCU, Won 75-58 vs. Michigan State
  • This Week: Vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff 12/4

Few teams gained more in a week than Baylor, which had only played buy games before dominating the Battle 4 Atlantis, including a dominant second-half performance against Michigan State in their third straight day of basketball. Efforts like that raise eyebrows and at least broach the possibility that the Bears are really capable of repeating as national champions.

4. College basketball rankings: UCLA Bruins (2)

  • Record: 6-1
  • Last Week: Won 75-62 vs. Bellarmine, Lost 83-63 vs. No. 1 Gonzaga, Won 73-51 at UNLV
  • This Week: Vs. Colorado 12/1, At Washington 12/5

The college basketball world was amped for the Final Four rematch between UCLA and Gonzaga. Unfortunately, it was a dud, with the Bruins getting blown out by 20. That result knocks the Bruins down a few pegs as they begin their Pac-12 slate this week against Colorado and Washington.

3. College basketball rankings: Gonzaga Bulldogs (1)

  • Record: 6-1
  • Last Week: Won 107-54 vs. Central Michigan, Won 83-63 vs. No. 2 UCLA, Lost 84-81 vs. No. 5 Duke
  • This Week: Vs. Tarleton 11/29, Vs. Alabama 12/4

Dominating against UCLA was a great result for the Bulldogs, who followed it up with a surprising loss against Duke in a close game. The Blue Devils did bring their A-game in that contest, which costs Gonzaga its No. 1 spot in the rankings, but they will get a shot at another marquee win on Saturday when they face off with Alabama in Seattle.

2. College basketball rankings: Purdue Boilermakers (4)

  • Record: 6-0
  • Last Week: Won 97-40 vs. Omaha
  • This Week: Vs. Florida State 11/30, Vs. Iowa 12/3

The Boilermakers made their statement two weeks ago by winning a star-studded Hall Of Fame Tip-Off event at Mohegan Sun and rose above Gonzaga and UCLA this week by taking care of business against Omaha. A matchup with Florida State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge is a good test for Purdue before they open Big Ten play against Iowa on Friday night.

1. College basketball rankings: Duke Blue Devils (5)

  • Record: 7-0
  • Last Week: Won vs. The Citadel 107-81, Won vs. No. 1 Gonzaga 84-81
  • This Week: At Ohio State 11/30

If you knock off the top dog you should rise to the top of the mountain. Duke did just that, outlasting Gonzaga to hand the Bulldogs their first regular-season loss since Feb. 22, 2020 and earn their place atop these college basketball rankings. The Blue Devils have just one game this week but it is a big one: a trip to Ohio State on Tuesday as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, where Mike Krzyzewski’s team will need to avoid a hangover to win this critical road game.

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

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