Fansided

College basketball power rankings: Auburn cause for concern, UCLA falling

By Mike Phillips

ATHENS, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 05: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers attacks the basket against Kario Oquendo #3 and Jabri Abdur-Rahim #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Stegeman Coliseum on February 05, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 05: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers attacks the basket against Kario Oquendo #3 and Jabri Abdur-Rahim #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Stegeman Coliseum on February 05, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 01: Guard Adonis Arms #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball during the first half of the college basketball game against the Texas Longhorns at United Supermarkets Arena on February 01, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 01: Guard Adonis Arms #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball during the first half of the college basketball game against the Texas Longhorns at United Supermarkets Arena on February 01, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

10. Week 14 College Basketball Rankings: UCLA Bruins (3)

  • Record: 16-4 (8-3 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Lost 76-66 at No. 7 Arizona, Lost 87-84 (3OT) at Arizona State
  • This Week: At Stanford 2/8, At No. 19 USC 2/12

The Arizona trip was a disaster for the Bruins, who lost by 10 to the Wildcats (which is understandable) before going down in triple-overtime to an Arizona State team that entered the contest at 6-13 (not great Bob). UCLA is back on the road again this week with a tricky game against surging Stanford on Tuesday before a crosstown showdown with USC on Saturday night.

9. Week 14 College Basketball Rankings: Texas Tech Red Raiders (HM)

  • Record: 18-5 (7-3 in Big 12)
  • Last Week: Won 77-64 vs. No. 23 Texas, Won 60-53 at West Virginia
  • This Week: At Oklahoma 2/9, Vs. TCU 2/12

The Chris Beard revenge game went very well for the Red Raiders, who drilled the Longhorns in a raucous United Supermarkets Arena, but bouncing back from that emotional win to pick up a victory against a desperate West Virginia team on the road was highly impressive. This week’s games seem easier on paper but Mark Adams knows that nothing is easy in the rough-and-tumble Big 12.

8. Week 14 College Basketball Rankings: Houston Cougars (9)

  • Record: 20-2 (9-0 in American)
  • Last Week: Won 73-62 vs. Tulane, Won 80-58 at Cincinnati
  • This Week: At SMU 2/9, Vs. Memphis 2/12

The Cougars keep on rolling along in the American, beating whoever comes their way, which is necessary to maintain their high seeding but doesn’t show a ton of their championship potential. This week offers a pair of interesting matchups with a trip to the American’s lone bubble hopeful, SMU, on Wednesday before uber-talented but underachieving Memphis comes to town on Saturday.

7. Week 14 College Basketball Rankings: Duke Blue Devils (8)

  • Record: 19-3 (9-2 in ACC)
  • Last Week: Won 57-43 at Notre Dame, Won 87-67 at North Carolina
  • This Week: Vs. Virginia 2/7, At Clemson 2/10, At Boston College 2/12

After weeks of playing with their food, the Blue Devils finally demolished teams they were clearly better than, adding a pair of good road wins at Notre Dame and North Carolina. If this trend continues across three more winnable games this week Duke could skyrocket into a national title threat.

6. Week 14 College Basketball Rankings: Kansas Jayhawks (10)

  • Record: 19-3 (8-1 in Big 12)
  • Last Week: Won 70-61 at No. 20 Iowa State, Won 83-59 vs. No. 8 Baylor
  • This Week: At No. 23 Texas 2/7, Vs. Oklahoma 2/12

What a difference a week makes for Kansas, which was embarrassed at home by Kentucky before demolishing the Bears at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday. Combining that effort with an impressive road win at Iowa State without Ochai Agbaji restored some serious faith in the Jayhawks in these parts.