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College basketball power rankings: Michigan State enters the chat

By Mike Phillips

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 11: Jaden Akins #3 and A.J. Hoggard #11 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate in the first half of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Breslin Center on December 11, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 11: Jaden Akins #3 and A.J. Hoggard #11 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate in the first half of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Breslin Center on December 11, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 11: A.J. Hoggard #11 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball over Jaheam Cornwall #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second half at Breslin Center on December 11, 2021, in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 11: A.J. Hoggard #11 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball over Jaheam Cornwall #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second half at Breslin Center on December 11, 2021, in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

10. College basketball rankings: Arizona Wildcats (7)

  • Record: 11-1 (1-0 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Lost 77-73 at No. 19 Tennessee
  • This Week: Matchups against UCLA and USC postponed

There’s no question that the Wildcats got a bad whistle against Tennessee but they did fight hard against the Volunteers. Unfortunately for Arizona, both of their matchups this week were postponed when UCLA and USC extended their COVID pauses.

9. College basketball rankings: Michigan State Spartans (HM)

  • Record: 10-2 (2-0 in Big Ten)
  • Last Week: Won 90-78 vs. Oakland
  • This Week: Vs. High Point 12/29, At Northwestern 1/2

The Spartans have quietly put together an excellent non-conference performance with their lone losses coming to Kansas and Baylor on neutral floors. Tom Izzo’s team will wrap up the non-conference slate against High Point on Wednesday before diving back into Big Ten play with a tricky road game against Northwestern on Sunday.

8. College basketball rankings: Texas Longhorns (10)

  • Record: 9-2 (0-0 in Big 12)
  • Last Week: Won 68-48 vs. Alabama State
  • This Week: Vs. Incarnate Word 12/28, Vs. West Virginia 1/1

Texas moves up a few spots by taking care of business but the fact their best non-conference win came against Stanford isn’t great. The opportunity for the Longhorns to prove how good they are begins on Saturday as they welcome West Virginia to Austin to kick off Big 12 play.

7. College basketball rankings: Iowa State Cyclones (HM)

  • Record: 12-0 (0-0 in Big 12)
  • Last Week: Won 79-48 vs. Chicago State
  • This Week: Vs. No. 1 Baylor 1/1

The turnaround for Iowa State has been incredible as first-year coach T.J. Otzelberger, who took a team that finished last season on an 18-game losing streak and has gotten the Cyclones off to a 12-0 start that includes wins over Memphis, Iowa and Xavier. The rubber really hits the road for Iowa State this week as they kick off Big 12 play by welcoming No. 1 Baylor to town for a game that could legitimize the Cyclones if they pull the upset.

6. College basketball rankings: UCLA Bruins (6)

  • Record: 8-1 (1-0 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Canceled matchup vs. Cal Poly
  • This Week: Postponed matchups against Arizona and Arizona State

The Bruins extended their COVID pause through the holiday break by canceling a matchup with Cal Poly and also had a Pac-12 forfeit win over Washington removed as the league changed its COVID policies. That pause was extended through the end of the week, meaning UCLA’s homestand against the Arizona schools was postponed and the Bruins will have played just one game in a 30-day span.