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College basketball power rankings: Is Auburn better than Gonzaga?

By Mike Phillips

Jan 20, 2022; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Andrew Nembhard (3) celebrates a three-pointer against the San Francisco Dons in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Gonzaga won 78-62. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2022; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Andrew Nembhard (3) celebrates a three-pointer against the San Francisco Dons in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Gonzaga won 78-62. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JANUARY 20: Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins drives against Eli Ballstaedt #13 of the Utah Utes during the first half of their game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on January 20, 2022, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JANUARY 20: Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins drives against Eli Ballstaedt #13 of the Utah Utes during the first half of their game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on January 20, 2022, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

10. Week 12 College Basketball Rankings: Houston Cougars (NR)

  • Record: 17-2 (6-0 in American)
  • Last Week: Won 74-55 vs. South Florida, Won 79-36 vs. East Carolina
  • This Week: At UCF 1/29

It’s hard to win friends and influence people in a weak American, but Houston is a dominant defensive team that just held East Carolina to just 16 percent shooting. The Pirates may be bad, but holding a Division I team to 16 percent from the floor for a whole game is ridiculous, and it will be fun to see the Cougars face a solid UCF squad this weekend.

9. Week 12 College Basketball Rankings: Michigan State Spartans (HM)

  • Record: 15-3 (6-1 in Big Ten)
  • Last Week: Won 86-74 at No. 8 Wisconsin
  • This Week: At Illinois 1/25, Vs. Michigan 1/29

Losing to Northwestern at home isn’t great but no one is talking about that game now after Michigan State went on the road to beat a surging Wisconsin team. That victory has the Spartans in first place in the Big Ten ahead of a trip to Champaign against a ticked-off Illinois on Tuesday night.

8. Week 12 College Basketball Rankings: UCLA Bruins (7)

  • Record: 13-2 (5-1 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Won 63-58 at Utah, Won 71-65 at Colorado
  • This Week: Vs. Arizona 1/25, Vs. California 1/27, Vs. Stanford 1/29

Road games in conference play are never easy so UCLA shouldn’t take too much heat for slipping one spot after a pair of tight road victories. Their rescheduled showdown with Arizona at Pauley Pavilion on Tuesday night will have a lot to say about who wins the Pac-12.

7. Week 12 College Basketball Rankings: Duke Blue Devils (6)

  • Record: 15-3 (5-2 in ACC)
  • Last Week: Lost 79-78 (OT) at Florida State, Won 79-59 vs. Syracuse
  • This Week: Vs. Clemson 1/25, At Louisville 1/29

A weak ACC is a very bad thing for Duke, which suffered another conference loss at Florida State, since they have little to gain and everything to lose from league games. The rest of the conference knows that wins over the Blue Devils are the only real resume boost they can get in the ACC so every league game will be a challenge from here on out.

6. Week 12 College Basketball Rankings: Purdue Boilermakers (4)

  • Record: 16-3 (5-3 in Big Ten)
  • Last Week: Won 96-88 (2OT) at No. 17 Illinois, Lost 65-62 at Indiana, Won 80-60 vs. Northwestern
  • This Week: At Iowa 1/27, Vs. Ohio State 1/30

The Boilermakers won one of the best games of the season in a double-overtime thriller at Illinois and predictably came out flat in a loss to Indiana three days later. It does feel like something is missing for Purdue and they have to try to find that next gear if they want to truly be considered a national title threat.