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College basketball power rankings: How good is the Pac-12?

By Mike Phillips

TUCSON, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 18: Guard Kerr Kriisa #25 of the Arizona Wildcats roars during the first half of the NCAAB game against the California Baptist Lancers at McKale Center on December 18, 2021 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
TUCSON, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 18: Guard Kerr Kriisa #25 of the Arizona Wildcats roars during the first half of the NCAAB game against the California Baptist Lancers at McKale Center on December 18, 2021 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 18: Rasir Bolton #45 of the Gonzaga University Bulldogs dribbles around Clarence Nadolny #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the Jerry Colangelo Classic at Footprint Center on December 18, 2021, in Phoenix, Arizona. Gonzaga won 69-55. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 18: Rasir Bolton #45 of the Gonzaga University Bulldogs dribbles around Clarence Nadolny #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the Jerry Colangelo Classic at Footprint Center on December 18, 2021, in Phoenix, Arizona. Gonzaga won 69-55. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

5. College basketball rankings: Gonzaga Bulldogs (6)

  • Record: 9-2
  • Last Week: Won 69-55 vs. No. 25 Texas Tech
  • This Week: Vs. Northern Arizona 12/20

The Bulldogs went to a neutral floor against Texas Tech and handled the Red Raiders with ease, further restoring faith that their losses against Duke and Alabama were simply part of a rough stretch. A date against Northern Arizona on Monday should have Gonzaga heading to the Christmas break with a win.

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

  • Record: 10-1
  • Last Week: Won 103-62 vs. South Carolina State, Won 92-67 vs. Appalachian State, Won 87-65 vs. Elon
  • This Week: Vs. Virginia Tech 12/22

The only real drama for Duke this week was trying to find an opponent for Saturday’s home game, which was rescheduled three times due to COVID issues before Elon accepted a nice paycheck for the privilege of losing by 22 to the Blue Devils. Duke should be back in a rhythm now ahead of their ACC opener on Wednesday against a talented-but-inconsistent Virginia Tech squad.

3. College basketball rankings: Kansas Jayhawks (4)

  • Record: 9-1
  • Last Week: Won 80-72 vs. Stephen F. Austin
  • This Week: At Colorado 12/21

The Jayhawks played just once last week and let Stephen F. Austin hang around for a while in an 80-72 win at Allen Fieldhouse. The effort level will need to be higher as Kansas plays its first true road game of the season on Tuesday at Colorado, which is 7-1 in Boulder this season.

2. College basketball rankings: Purdue Boilermakers (3)

  • Record: 10-1 (1-1 in Big Ten)
  • Last Week: Won 77-48 vs. Butler
  • This Week: Vs. Incarnate Word 12/20

Purdue shook off its struggles as No. 1 by emphatically dominating Butler, a solid Big East school, in a 29-point win on a neutral floor in Indianapolis. Matt Painter made sure the Boilermakers will be home for the holidays early by scheduling a buy game against Incarnate Word on Monday for Purdue’s only action of the week.

1. College basketball rankings: Baylor Bears (1)

  • Record: 10-0
  • Last Week: Won 78-70 at Oregon
  • This Week: Vs. Alcorn State 12/20

Oregon gave the Bears everything they could handle on Saturday night but Baylor still found a way to win by eight, making them the first reigning national champion to win each of its first ten games by at least eight points since the 1990-91 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. Time will tell if Baylor will be as dominant as that team was but the win over the Ducks likely locks up an undefeated non-conference schedule for the Bears.

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