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College basketball power rankings: Is Baylor better than last year’s title-winning team?

By Mike Phillips

WACO, TX - DECEMBER 12: James Akinjo #11 and Adam Flagler #10 of the Baylor Bears celebrate a basket against the Villanova Wildcats in the first half at the Ferrell Center on December 12, 2021 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
WACO, TX - DECEMBER 12: James Akinjo #11 and Adam Flagler #10 of the Baylor Bears celebrate a basket against the Villanova Wildcats in the first half at the Ferrell Center on December 12, 2021 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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WACO, TX – DECEMBER 12: Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears celebrates with teammates as the Bears play the Villanova Wildcats in the second half at the Ferrell Center on December 12, 2021, in Waco, Texas. Baylor won 57-36. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
WACO, TX – DECEMBER 12: Flo Thamba #0 of the Baylor Bears celebrates with teammates as the Bears play the Villanova Wildcats in the second half at the Ferrell Center on December 12, 2021, in Waco, Texas. Baylor won 57-36. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

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

  • Record: 7-1
  • Last Week: Idle
  • This Week: Vs. South Carolina State 12/14, Vs. Appalachian State 12/16, Vs. Cleveland State 12/18

Mike Krzyzewski built a bye week into Duke’s schedule so the Blue Devils haven’t played since their loss at Ohio State on Nov. 30. That changes in a hurry this week as Duke wraps up its non-conference schedule with three home games in the span of five days.

4. College basketball rankings: Kansas Jayhawks (4)

  • Record: 8-1
  • Last Week: Won 78-52 vs. UTEP, Won 102-65 vs. Missouri
  • This Week: Vs. Stephen F. Austin 12/18

The only loss on Kansas’ ledger is a buzzer-beater by Dayton in the ESPN Events Invitational and the Jayhawks have responded by ripping off four straight wins. The margin of victory in those games has been at least 13 points, including a 102-65 demolition of Missouri in the first edition of the Border War since the Tigers left for the SEC in 2012.

3. College basketball rankings: Purdue Boilermakers (1)

  • Record: 9-1
  • Last Week: Lost 70-68 at Rutgers, Won 82-72 (OT) vs. NC State
  • This Week: Vs. Butler 12/18

It sure seems like No. 1 didn’t agree with Purdue, which played sluggishly before losing on a miracle heave from Rutgers at the buzzer before struggling mightily to get past NC State in Brooklyn. The Boilermakers now have five days to get ready for an in-state showdown against a challenging Butler squad in Saturday’s Crossroads Classic.

2. College basketball rankings: UCLA Bruins (2)

  • Record: 8-1
  • Last Week: Won 67-56 at Marquette
  • This Week: Vs. Alabama State 12/15, Vs. North Carolina 12/18

It feels like the Bruins have been underrated following their loss to Gonzaga but they keep demonstrating their ability to overcome adversity, including in Saturday’s 11-point win at Marquette. A 10-day layoff, combined with a travel issue that caused the Marquette game to be delayed seven hours, could have led to a lack of focus that contributed to an upset. UCLA simply took care of business, a good sign ahead of their showdown with North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic on Saturday in Las Vegas.

1. College basketball rankings: Baylor Bears (3)

  • Record: 9-0
  • Last Week: Won 57-36 vs. No. 6 Villanova
  • This Week: At Oregon 12/18

Beating a Top-10 team at home is a strong accomplishment but utterly dominating them puts the rest of the country on notice that Baylor is for real. The Bears are just starting to gel, which is a scary prospect after their blitz through the Battle 4 Atlantis a few weeks ago, and they have one more non-conference test on tap this Saturday with a trip to Eugene to take on Oregon. A win there would all but ensure that Baylor enters Big 12 play with an unbeaten record.

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