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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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DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 22: Nahiem Alleyne #4 of the Virginia Tech Hokies defends Wendell Moore Jr. #0 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 22, 2021, in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 22: Nahiem Alleyne #4 of the Virginia Tech Hokies defends Wendell Moore Jr. #0 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 22, 2021, in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

5. College basketball rankings: Kansas Jayhawks (3)

  • Record: 9-1 (0-0 in Big 12)
  • Last Week: Matchup canceled at Colorado
  • This Week: Vs. Harvard 12/29, Vs. TCU 1/1

The Jayhawks drop two spots through no fault of their own as they didn’t get to play last week since their matchup at Colorado was canceled due to COVID issues within the Buffaloes’ program. That lost opportunity means Kansas won’t play a true road game before they kick off Big 12 play against TCU on Saturday.

4. College basketball rankings: Gonzaga Bulldogs (5)

  • Record: 10-2 (0-0 in WCC)
  • Last Week: Won 95-49 vs. Northern Arizona
  • This Week: Vs. North Alabama 12/28, At San Diego 12/30, At Loyola Marymount 1/1

The WCC is a tougher league than usual this year as three other teams could join Gonzaga to make a push for the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs play three times this week, including their first two conference road games on Thursday and Saturday.

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

  • Record: 11-1 (1-0 in ACC)
  • Last Week: Won 76-65 vs. Virginia Tech
  • This Week: At Clemson 12/29, At Notre Dame 1/1

Virginia Tech gave Duke everything they could handle before falling apart down the stretch, something that could be a common occurrence for the Blue Devils since they don’t have a ranked team left on their schedule. A big part of that is due to the weakness of the ACC although Duke has a pair of tricky road games this week against Clemson and Notre Dame.

2. College basketball rankings: Purdue Boilermakers (2)

  • Record: 11-1 (1-1 in Big Ten)
  • Last Week: Won 79-59 vs. Incarnate Word
  • This Week: Vs. Nicholls 12/29

The Boilermakers absolutely dominated Incarnate Word in a buy game, which is exactly what you would expect out of a Top 5 team playing at home right before Christmas. Matt Painter’s team wraps up its non-conference schedule this week with another buy game against Nicholls before diving into the bulk of its Big Ten slate next week.

1. College basketball rankings: Baylor Bears (1)

  • Record: 11-0 (0-0 in Big 12)
  • Last Week: Won 94-57 vs. Alcorn State
  • This Week: Vs. Northwestern State 12/28, At Iowa State 1/1

The non-conference slate has gone according to plan for Baylor, which has conquered all comers with plenty of quality wins both in Waco and away from home. This week’s Big 12 opener is a massive one as the Bears hit the road to take on unbeaten Iowa State on Saturday in the game of the week.

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